Questions, answered plainly.
Short answers first. If yours isn’t here, email [email protected].
About
Who is Faisal Saleem?
Faisal Saleem is a technology and business operator based in Dubai and a COO at a technology consultancy. He works remotely with clients worldwide where technology, commercial decisions, contracts, operations and execution meet. He started in infrastructure and engineering (Linux, VMware) and has since worked as an architect, consultant, delivery lead, commercial lead, operator and executive, running operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
What kinds of problems does Faisal Saleem help with?
Faisal Saleem helps with problems that look technical but are also about cost, ownership, customers or contracts. Examples: late cloud migrations, vendor proposals that look cheaper than they are, disaster recovery that isn’t moving, managed services that don’t make money, unhappy key customers, and practical AI adoption.
Does Faisal Saleem help with AI adoption?
Yes. Faisal Saleem helps organisations decide whether and where to use AI by treating it first as a workflow, data and accountability question, not a model question. That usually happens in a Decision session or an Operations & technology diagnostic.
Services and pricing
What services does Faisal Saleem offer?
Faisal Saleem offers six remote services: embedded leadership (fractional COO, three months or more, scoped individually), an advisory retainer (monthly, priced by conversation), an operations & technology diagnostic (one to two weeks, from USD 4,500), mentoring (two sessions a month, USD 600 per month), a decision session (review plus 90 minutes, from USD 900) and a focused session (60 minutes, USD 300).
How much does it cost to work with Faisal Saleem?
Faisal Saleem’s indicative prices, in US dollars, are a focused session at USD 300, a decision session from USD 900, an operations & technology diagnostic from USD 4,500, mentoring at USD 600 a month, an advisory retainer priced by conversation, and embedded leadership scoped individually. Scope and commercial terms are always confirmed in writing before work begins.
Does Faisal Saleem work as a fractional COO?
Yes. Faisal Saleem provides fractional or embedded operating leadership (a fractional COO role) for three months or more, remote, when an organisation needs execution alongside leadership. It is scoped individually and usually starts with a diagnostic or scoping conversation.
Can I start with something small?
Yes. The smallest way to start is a 60-minute focused session for USD 300. A decision session, from USD 900, suits a specific document or choice. Many longer engagements begin with an operations & technology diagnostic.
Does Faisal Saleem offer mentoring?
Yes. Faisal Saleem mentors technologists moving into leadership: two video sessions a month for USD 600 per month, minimum three months, starting with a free 30-minute intro call, and focused on leadership, commercial responsibility and broader decisions.
Working together
Does Faisal Saleem work with clients outside the UAE?
Yes. Faisal Saleem works remotely with clients worldwide, including the US, the UK and Europe. He is based in Dubai. His background includes customers and partners across the Middle East, US, Europe and Asia.
Which time zones does Faisal Saleem work in?
I’m based in Dubai (GMT+4) and work with clients across the US, UK, Europe and beyond. We agree a time that suits your time zone.
Does Faisal Saleem work remotely or in person?
Faisal Saleem’s services are remote, by video, so they work from anywhere. There is no on-site work at this time.
In which language does Faisal Saleem work?
English.
Which industries does Faisal Saleem work with?
Faisal Saleem mostly works with IT services and managed service providers, cloud and infrastructure businesses, telecoms, and government and public-sector technology programmes. The questions he helps with (cost, ownership, delivery, contracts, customers) apply well beyond any one sector.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes. Faisal Saleem treats everything shared in an enquiry or engagement as confidential. He has a standard mutual NDA he can share, and is happy to review a client’s own. The situations and cases on this site are illustrative, not client specifics.
Scope and limits
Does Faisal Saleem give legal advice?
No. Faisal Saleem does not give legal advice. Where contracts are discussed, his perspective is commercial and operational: scope, milestones, SLAs, payment structure, renewal and exit. It is best used alongside your own lawyer.
Does Faisal Saleem take on conflicting engagements?
No. Faisal Saleem checks for conflicts of interest before accepting any work.
Getting started
How do I start working with Faisal Saleem?
To start, email [email protected] with a few lines about the situation, or use the request button on any service page, which fills in the subject line for you. You’ll usually get a reply within two working days. Scope and terms are confirmed in writing before work begins.
How is payment handled?
Faisal Saleem invoices in US dollars, and all fees are paid in full in advance. Focused sessions and decision sessions are paid in full when booking, and the booking is confirmed once payment is received. The operations & technology diagnostic is paid in full before work starts. Mentoring, the advisory retainer and embedded leadership are billed monthly, in advance.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Cancellation and rescheduling terms depend on the service. Focused session: free up to 24 hours before, no refund inside 24 hours, though one reschedule may be offered. Decision session: full refund before the material review begins, and the call can be rescheduled with 48 hours’ notice after that. Operations & technology diagnostic: full refund if cancelled 5 or more working days before the start date, and a partial refund for work not yet started once work has begun. Mentoring: minimum three months; after that, stop at any time, effective before the next month is billed, with a missed session carrying over to the following month, once. Advisory retainer and Embedded leadership: 30 days’ written notice, taking effect no earlier than the end of the agreed minimum term (three months unless agreed otherwise). Anything outside these terms is handled on request, at his discretion, where there’s a legitimate reason.