Leading business intelligence firm MEED has announced the launch of the 2016 edition of the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq, the region's only awards program that recognizes project excellence and benchmarks best practices in project delivery. Last year, Saudi Arabia emerged among the big winners in the 2015 edition of the awards program, by winning three awards. Siemens Energy Hub Project by Siemens Energy won the GCC's Daman Industrial Project of the Year. The Jabal Omar Phase 1 Project by Jabal Omar Development Company was selected as the Building Project of the Year winner while the Qurayyah Independent Power Plant Project by Hajr Electricity Production Co. was recognized with the Power & Water Project of the Year award. "The GCC is home to some of the world's most impressive and unique buildings, and MEED's awards program is designed to recognize the highest quality developments leading the projects market in Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the region. It has distinguished itself as the premier recognition program in the projects market because it evaluates the outcome of the construction process, rather than the process itself. MEED is proud to have created an independent judging process, with the help of the Societies of Engineers across the GCC," said Richard Thompson, Editorial Director, MEED. The construction sector remains one of the brightest spots for Gulf states, where $2.65 billion-worth of schemes are underway or in the pipeline. And although lower oil prices may continue to be a challenge, ongoing projects will have enough impact to stimulate economic growth and help alleviate the concerns of the industry by replenishing diminishing order books. This could only mean that the list of completed schemes will continue to grow, and thousands of teams will play their part to ensure major schemes are completed to the highest quality. To ensure such stringent quality standards are maintained, the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq, launched its latest search for the Gulf's highest quality projects. "We are proud to support the awards program for the past three years now. The awards have definitely shed the spotlight not just on excellence and quality, but also on the valuable contribution to the economic development of the Region that such projects make. The awards also send a clear message to the market that quality is essential in all parts of the project management process; from design planning to engineering and construction. We wish all participants the very best of luck," said John Iossifidis, Group Head of Corporate and Investment banking at Mashreq. For Saudi Arabia's largest planned projects, authorities are close to awarding contracts for the construction of more metro lines in Makkah and firms have been invited to express interest in and prequalify for construction work on a metro and light rail network in Jeddah. An urban rail network is also planned for Medina, although this project is at a much earlier stage. These rail schemes require significant volumes of funding, and will test the kingdom's commitment to infrastructure spending in 2016.Using the private sector to fulfill its infrastructure development commitments will also be considered increasingly if oil prices remain depressed next year. This year, the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq, has included new categories allowing a wider range of projects to be recognized as the region's highest quality projects. In broadening the scope of the recognition program, the region's premier quality awards for projects hope to reflect the diversity of schemes that have been completed throughout the Gulf. Among the new categories include Upstream Oil and Gas Project of the Year, Downstream Oil and Gas Project the Year, Airport Project of the Year, Tall Building Project of the Year, Retail Project of the Year, Mixed-Use Project of the Year, Education Project of the Year, Residential Project of the Year, Commercial Project of the Year; Rail, Metro, Tram Project of the Year; and Road, Bridge, Tunnel Project of the Year. Owners and proponents of completed projects in the Saudi Arabia from January 2011 to December 2015 have until Jan. 21, 2016 to submit their entries. Winners will be announced on May 25, 2016 at the MEED Quality Awards for Projects after the MEED Construction Leadership Summit, a high-level gathering of the Gulf region's construction leaders that seeks to promote an open dialogue between leading contractors, consultants and clients to explore the strategic direction of the region's construction industry. For more information on entry requirements and procedures, please visit MEED Quality Awards.
