DUBAI – The 2013 MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Ernst & Young, have announced the national winners of the only GCC-wide awards program that recognizes completed quality projects. Thirty of the highest quality projects in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been declared national winners. These projects were short-listed by an esteemed panel of judges, all respected experts in the projects industry, on the basis of their economic, social and environmental impact; as well as innovations and achievements in design, engineering and construction. The UAE led the GCC with nine national winners, followed by Saudi Arabia and Oman with six apiece. Qatar scooped four national awards, while Bahrain and Kuwait had three and two, respectively. “The GCC's rapid progression demands high integrity and constant innovation, as projects play a crucial role throughout the region. Despite the growing competitiveness of project excellence, this has been strongly reflected within the competing projects. It is our great pleasure to congratulate the winners for their distinguished accomplishments and outstanding results,” said Abraham Akkawi, Partner and Head of Infrastructure and PPP Advisory Services, MENA, Ernst & Young. The UAE national winners include the Dubai International Airport – Concourse A Project from Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects Corporation which is now shortlisted for the GCC Transport Project of the Year category; The Gate District Towers 3, 4, 5 and 7 Project owned by Sorouh Real Estate (nominated by Hill International) which will vie for the GCC Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year award; the Etihad Towers Project from Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan Projects Department (nominated jointly by AECOM and Hill International) which is now shortlisted for the GCC Building Project of the Year honors. Also winning on the national level are the Ducab HV and EHV Facility owned by Ducab HV (nominated by Hyder Consulting Middle East) which will be competing for the GCC Industrial Project of the Year award; Gulf Petrochem Project at Fujairah which will move on to the regional competition for the Mashreq Oil & Gas Project of the Year award; Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre owned by the Zoo & Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain WildLife Park & Resort (nominated by Ed. Zublin AG), now a regional contender in the GCC Social Project of the Year category. National winners from Saudi Arabia include the Development of King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project (Makkah) owned the Saudi Binladin Group which will compete in two categories, the GCC Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year and the GCC Social Project of the Year; the Ma'aden Ammonia Plant Project owned Ma'aden (nominated by Samsung Engineering) which will vie for the Mashreq Oil & Gas Project of the Year award; and the Information Technology and Communications Complex owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Pensions Agency (nominated by Drake and Scull International) which qualifies for the GCC Social Project of the Year category. The King Saud University (KSU) Girls Campus Project owned by the King Saud University (nominated by Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia), was also named one of the national winners and is now shortlisted for the GCC Sustainable Project of the Year award; and the Dhahran Sports Facility owned by Saudi Aramco (nominated by Shade Corporation) which is in contention for the GCC Small Project of the Year award. – SG
