Abdul Karim Erqini

Somali engineer building critical infrastructure in conflict zones through innovative engineering

Abdul Karim Erqini (born 1985) is a Somali civil engineer making transformative contributions to infrastructure development in unstable regions. As founder of Karama Engineering, he specializes in rapid-response construction techniques for schools, hospitals, and water systems in areas affected by conflict and drought. His team developed a low-cost reinforced concrete formula using locally available materials that can be fabricated on-site even without electricity.

Erqini's most notable project is the first 3D-printed school in Hargeisa, completed in just 3 weeks using a mobile 3D printer. This approach reduces construction costs by 40% and labor needs by 70%. He also created the Water Innovation Hub in Mogadishu, developing solar-powered desalination units that provide clean water to 50,000 people daily. His work has been featured in Engineering News-Record and the BBC's Future Planet series.