UAE Chapter Award
Regional organizations secured top honors at the 2026 PMI Awards during the global summit held from October 21 to 24 in Detroit, Michigan. The annual event, hosted by the Project Management Institute (PMI), recognized outstanding initiatives, chapters, and professionals across the Middle East and North Africa for their execution of complex infrastructure and operational programs.
Saudi Arabia Wins Top Honors at 2026 PMI Awards
Saudi Arabia secured several major recognitions at the ceremony. Saudi Aramco earned the Project of the Year Award and took first place in the Construction category for its Hawiyah Unayzah Gas Reservoir Storage Program. In addition, the Saudi Irrigation Organization won in the Sustainability category for its initiative to rationalize irrigation water consumption and improve operational efficiency.
Furthermore, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development received two titles: World PMO of the Year and Middle East PMO of the Year. The recognition highlighted the ministry’s project management office performance, leadership, and value delivery across public administration initiatives tied to the Kingdom’s modern economy.
Energy and Environmental Project Delivery
The Hawiyah Unayzah Gas Reservoir Storage Program managed seasonal natural gas demand by utilizing a depleted reservoir for storage and reproduction during peak periods. Specifically, the initiative was designed to support operational resilience and energy security through specialized engineering practices.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Irrigation Organization carried out its water conservation project in direct partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The program focused on increasing irrigation efficiency, introducing modern tracking mechanisms, and advancing sustainable farming practices to resolve critical water management challenges.
Regional Leadership and Chapter Recognitions
Beyond national infrastructure, individual leaders and regional branches received recognition at the 2026 PMI Awards. Mona Zbidi of the PMI Tunisia Chapter received the Chapter Leadership Impact Award for the MENA region, acknowledging her volunteer contributions to the regional professional community.
At the same time, the PMI UAE Chapter reached the final selection stage for the global Chapter of the Year Award. The designation noted the chapter’s active role in organizing professional development, knowledge exchange, and technical networking across the regional workforce.
“The achievements recognized at this year’s PMI Awards reflect the strength of project leadership and expertise across the Middle East and North Africa. From energy security and sustainability to building stronger professional communities, these projects demonstrate what our region is capable of delivering.”
Hanny Alshazly, Managing Director for MENA at PMI
Long-Term Focus on Professional Capabilities
The annual program has acknowledged international project excellence since 1974. As regional governments implement large development programs, formal project management standards have grown increasingly central to regional education and workforce development efforts.
Alshazly noted that PMI continues to focus on developing subsequent generations of project managers across MENA to meet regional transformation targets. The institute stated that building project capabilities remains essential to turning large-scale regional development initiatives into durable operating outcomes.
