Prof. Al-Shamsi worked in the academia for almost 15 years. He got the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada at age of 29. He has published several peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals and co-invented multiple advanced technologies in the fields of nano technologies, combat desertification, climate change, green solutions, and environmental remediation. He received extensive executive educations in a number of prestigious management schools including Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

He held several governmental positions in Saudi research and innovation system as deputy director of research institute and deputy director-general of the general directory of research grants. He held the position of Associate Professor in King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST).