Leaders

In response to accelerating digital demands, proliferating date needs, and the emergence of transformative technologies, the satellite industry is undergoing a strategic shift. Companies are advancing beyond traditional models, deploying agile systems, leveraging real-time data, and integrating with 5G networks.

To navigate complexities, forward-thinking organizations are prioritizing sustainable space operations, cross-sector partnerships, and agile infrastructure to secure a future-ready ecosystem. Agile infrastructure is becoming essential to support ground segments and virtualized satellite networks to support rapid scaling, reduce latency, and unlock new revenue models.

As a seasoned business leader and current CEO of Universal Group, Reema Omari has propelled the company into a position of industry leadership. Her agility and presence of mind has overseen remarkable expansion while maintaining a commitment to pioneering communication technologies and world-class customer engagement. Reema has previously worked in several companies in Dubai that enriched her management and technical skills.

In 2014, Reema founded Universal Satcom, a provider of end-to-end VAT system integration and solutions. Being one of the few women at the helm in satellite communications, Reema has carved a niche for herself in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The journey has been driven by passion, persistence, and a commitment to creating long-term impact

Take us through your professional journey. What key expertise do you bring to the table as a business leader?

I graduated in Jordan from Jordan University of Sci­ence and Technology. My academic foundation in en­gineering and equality management helped to refine my leadership style which is anchored in strategic planning and execution, team development, and exper­imental interpersonal skills.

Early in my career, I was recognized as a natural communicator, a trait I continue to value in business.

My professional journey has been defined by deep-rooted expertise in strategic planning, opera­tional execution, and team leadership. I specialize in business development and customer acquisition, with a strong focus on building high-impact relationships.

My core strength lies in developing new business channels and nurturing client relations, particular­ly with senior decision-makers and stakeholders. My expertise spans market intelligence, trend analysis, and end-to-end service and receivables management, which I leverage to identify emerging opportunities and inform strategic pivots.

Complementing this is my abil­ity to oversee end-to-end operations including service delivery and receivables management. Over time, I have refined my capability to identify and develop new mar­kets, consistently adopting a proactive strategy to drive business growth ensuring efficiency and profitability.

Introduce us to Universal Satcom and your journey of establishing the company. What key responsibilities do you shoulder as the founder & CEO?

Positioned as an industry leader, Universal Satcom specializes in delivering end-to-end VAT system inte­gration and solutions. As founder and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Satcom, I have built the company into a leading satellite communications provider.

My entry into satellite communications was guided by a remarkable mentor, the late CEO of QSAT. Though I was never officially an employee, he treated me as a partner, empowering me to lead long before I became a founder myself. His belief in me sparked the journey that led to founding Universal Satcom.

In my role, I am responsible for charting the compa­ny’s strategic direction and driving operational excel­lence. I lead strategic planning, business development, and sales execution across multiple business func­tions, to ensure our solutions remain competitive and our growth trajectory strong.

Equally important is my leadership of the sales and marketing organizations, ensuring team is empowered, metrics-driven, and focused on both customer satisfac­tion and revenue generation. My mission is to sustain innovation, increase market share, and enhance prof­itability through disciplined execution and visionary leadership.

What is your approach to leadership? How do you balance the various responsibilities of the role while driving growth at Universal Satcom?

My leadership approach is deeply rooted in empower­ment, inclusivity, and collaboration. I view leadership not as a directive, but a facilitator, enabling people and organizations to thrive.

Through transparent commu­nication and focused delegation, I drive progress to­ward shared goals without compromising individual engagement. Sustainable growth requires a disciplined approach, forward-thinking, continuous innovation, and a commitment to excellence.

I prioritize high-level strategy and team alignment, leveraging strong com­munication to unify efforts and drive progress. Balanc­ing responsibilities on such a dynamic setting requires a disciplined approach based on delegation, transpar­ency and a relentless focus on goals.

I focus on the bigger picture rather than daily oper­ational details, which naturally draws team members who value strategic leadership and are motivated to grow alongside it. I take pride in a strong, unified team.

By showing equal respect to all, from the most junior roles to top executives, I build trust and loyalty across the organization, ensuring agility and excellence to go hand in hand. I ensure this through thoughtful plan­ning, an unwavering commitment to innovation, and a performance-driven culture grounded in excellence and accountability.

What are the toughest challenges you encounter in your role as the CEO of Universal Satcom? How do you navigate through these roadblocks?

In today’s fast-paced digital economy and environ­ ment marked by technological disruption and height­ened competition, staying relevant requires deliber­ate and forward-thinking leadership. Adapting to the fast-changing tech landscape is a persistent challenge.

To effectively navigate this complexity, I invest heavily on ongoing skill development across organization, en­suring we lead with innovation.

Equally pressing is the need to maintain a compet­itive edge that requires fostering a culture of values, experimentation, fresh thinking, and swift responsive­ness to adapt to market shift. By encouraging a mindset of adaptability and fostering cross-functional collabo­ration, we unlock new ideas and drive differentiation in a crowded marketplace.

Being one of the few women in a heavily male-driv­en industry came with is set of biases and set of challenges. Yet, rather than perceiving it as a set­back and a limitation, I saw it as an opportunity to stand out and set me apart. Initially, there was scep­ticism about my role and expertise, but over time, I let my performance and consistency speak louder than those presumed assumptions.

I used it as a fuel to prove that leadership, vision, and strategic deci­sion-making transcends technical origins. Today, people who once doubted my capabilities and vision, acknowledge my success and it validates my journey.

Over the years, what have been some of your most important career milestones?

My journey has been defined by several strategic milestones, like securing industry-specific and re­vered certifications, launching innovative products and steadily expanding our footprint across diverse regions. I earned a strong academic foundation with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering (2002) and a master’s in Equality Management (2012).

One defining moment was leading the QSAT Commu­nications to achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification. Over time I have built a multidisciplinary approach to lead­ership. For Universal Group, consistently introduc­ing new products and expanding market reach has been a defining achievement in our strategic growth.

How do you foresee Middle East’s tech landscape evolving? How is women’s representation evolving in Middle East’s business world, especially in leadership roles?

The Middle East is on a clear trajectory marked by in­creased technological integration and economic diver­sification. As regional economies invest heavily in in­novation ecosystems, the groundwork is being laid for the Middle East to emerge as a global center for entre­preneurship and digital advancement.

As it positions itself as an innovation global hub, the business envi­ronment is also witnessing a positive shift in women’s representation, particularly in leadership role which is encouraging and growth-oriented.

There is a growing awareness of the critical role women in shaping inno­vation and leadership. Although systemic challenges persist, there as a heightened acknowledgment of the strategic value that female leaders contribute to resil­ience and growth.

I personally see, the landscape is shifting with women making strides in industries once dominated by men. The path to leadership serves as a model for as­piring women, encouraging them to carve out their own space and pursue ambitious goals. The mindset moving forward must be, the sky is the limit.

Rema Omari, CEO , Universal Satcom

Rema Omari stands at the forefront of communication services industry as the CEO of Universal Group. Her commitment and determination are propelled by innovation and service excellence, determined to influence strategic execution and client-focused delivery. One of her major milestones is when in 2007, she took on the role of Manging Director of QSAT, where she successfully led the company through seven years of sustained growth.