Four Qatari projects worth over QR13bn bag awards

Four of Qatar’s “high quality” projects valued in excess of QR13.4bn have been declared national winners in a GCC-wide awards programme that recognises completed quality projects.

The 2013 Meed Quality Awards for Projects has been organised in association with Ernst & Young.

This year’s Qatar national winners include the Qatar Electricity Transmission Projects owned by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, which will vie in the “GCC power and water desalination project of the year category”; and the Doha Towers project owned by Sheikh Saoud bin Mohamed bin Ali al-Thani (nominated by China State Construction Engineering Company), which is now shortlisted in the “GCC building project of the year” award.

Two other projects named joint national winners in the transport project category will compete for the “GCC transport project of the year” award — they are the Ras Laffan Port Expansion Project owned by Qatar Petroleum (nominated by Consolidated Contractors Co) and the Primary Infrastructure Works — Construction Package 2 Project owned by Lusail Real Estate Development Co (nominated by Al Jaber and Partners).

These projects were shortlisted 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 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 (Infrastructure) and PPP Advisory Services, Middle East and North Africa, Ernst & Young.

Besides Qatar, national winners were also selected from projects completed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

“The national winners of all the GCC countries deserve the highest commendations for completing projects which will have a tremendous impact on the continued development of the region,” said Edmund O’Sullivan, chairman of the judging panel.

GCC winners will be announced at the annual Meed Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Ernst & Young on May 14 at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.