Dubai: A new award aims to promote innovation in project management by encouraging the use of smart and sustainable solutions and recognising innovators in project management locally, regionally and internationally, it was announced on Saturday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, has issued Decree No (18) of 2016 on the establishment of the “Hamdan Bin Mohammad Award for Innovation in Project Management”.

The award aims to promote innovation in project management by encouraging the use of smart and sustainable solutions and recognising innovators in project management locally, regionally and internationally.

It also seeks to provide a platform for sharing, exchanging and implementing new project management ideas and expertise.

The Decree specifies the categories of the award, which include: Innovative Project Manager, Innovative Project Management Office (PMO) Manager, Innovative Project Team, Innovative Project Management Idea, and Innovative Portfolio Management Idea.

Crown Prince of Dubai and the Patron of the award, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum also issued Decision No (2) of 2016 approving the award’s rules and regulations, which cover nomination criteria, the award jury, categories and the official language of the award.

Under the decree, a board of trustees will manage the award. The board will have up to five members in addition to a chairman and vice-chairman. Three members of the board will be from the Road and Transport Authority (RTA). The members will be appointed for a term of three years through a decision issued by the patron of the award.

Announcement of winners

The decree also specifies the roles and duties of the board of trustees and the secretary general, who is appointed by the award patron.

Winners of the award will be announced at the annual Dubai International Project Management Forum hosted by RTA or on another occasion chosen by the board of trustees.

All nominees who meet the award criteria will be considered for the award irrespective of whether they have won an award previously.

RTA is tasked with providing administrative and technical support for the award, and will organise the award ceremony.

As per Decision No (2) of 2016, Arabic is the official language of the award. The board of trustees can also approve the use of another foreign language in addition to Arabic. The decision also outlines nomination procedures.

The board of trustees is tasked with the formation of the ‘Technical Consultative Committee’ that will conduct a technical review of all award submissions. The committee will have a minimum of three members, qualified and experienced in the areas of innovation, sustainability and creativity.

The members of the committee are required to maintain strict neutrality and cannot nominate anyone or endorse any nomination.

The board of trustees is also tasked with forming the jury panel, which apart from its chairman, and vice-chairman, will have up to five members. The jury panel will evaluate nominations referred to it by the ‘Technical Consultative Committee’, and recommend the winners to the board. Specialised jurors

The jury has the right to recommend that an award be shared in cases where there is a tie between nominees. The jury can also withdraw awards if it has been found that the nominee has not met the award criteria.

The jury panel has the right to recommend specialised jurors for categories that require special expertise. The decision of the board of trustees is final.

The decision also specifies the procedures for committee meetings, request of data, approval of the final list of winners and award submissions. The rules and regulations of the award cannot be altered or waived without a decision issued by the Patron of the award.

The decree and the decision are effective from its date of issuance, and will be published in the Official Gazette.