Dubai: The GCC region will see the completion of $1 trillion (Dh3.67 trillion) worth of projects by 2020, which will be the highest per capita construction spending in the world, MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2012 said in a statement on Saturday.
This includes projects worth $106 billion in Qatar that are yet to be awarded.
"The projects completed and now under way in the six countries that make up the GCC have special significance. To an extent [this is] unmatched anywhere else on earth," said Edmund O'Sullivan, chairman of the judging panel of the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, an independent programme established in 2011 to recognise project excellence.
Evaluation of outcome
The MEED Quality Awards for Projects is the only awards programme in the GCC to recognise completed projects and it evaluates the outcome of the construction process, rather than the process itself. The projects are judged by an independent judging panel comprising representatives from the projects industry for the national and regional level competition. According to MEED Projects, a comprehensive tracking system of projects that are either under way or planned in the region, significant investments in oil and gas, heavy industry, electricity generation and water desalination, social infrastructure and transportation links will be made between now and 2022.
With the growing size and complexity of projects in Qatar and the impact they have on diversifying its economy, effective and efficient execution of both planned and ongoing projects will be critical to the country's success.
Innovations
O'Sullivan says the projects will be evaluated not just in terms of their size and aesthetics.
"This is not about being the biggest or tallest. We review the projects on the basis of economic, social and environmental impact; as well as innovations and achievements in design, engineering and construction. These are benchmarks that will have an impact of the long-term success of not just the projects industry, but the GCC as a whole," he said.
Submissions for projects of the year awards programme in the following segments are now being sought: oil gas, industry, power and water desalination, water reuse, leisure and tourism, transport, social project, building and sustainable project.
Deadline extended
The 2011 award winners included the Burj Khalifa, Kuwait's National Library, and Qatar's Mesaieed A, an independent power project.
The deadline for submission of entries has been extended up to Thursday to accommodate the growing number of entries. Winners will be announced at the annual MEED Quality Awards for Projects on May 21 in Abu Dhabi.
