The highest quality projects in the GCC — valued at over $ 34 billion — are vying to become the best in the region when the MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2012 announces the GCC winners in 11 categories later this month. The only awards programme in the GCC to recognise completed quality projects, the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Ernst & Young and its distinguished panel of judges, consisting of respected experts in the projects industry, are evaluating a total of 23 projects for the different award categories, namely:

HLG Leighton Contracting Oil & Gas Project of the Year, Industrial Project of the Year, Power and Water Desalination Project of the Year, Water Reuse Project of the Year, Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year, Transport Project of the Year, Metito Social Project of the Year, Emirates Steel Building Project of the Year, KIMMCO Sustainable Project of the Year, Outstanding Achievement of the Year, and the MEED Quality Project of the Year, sponsored by Ernst & Young.

Oman national winners competing in different categories include the Royal Court Affairs’ Royal Opera House (GCC Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year); the Nimr Produced Water Treatment Project (GCC KIMMCO Sustainable Project of the Year) award; the Nimr C Full Field Water Injection Project (GCC HLG Leighton Contracting Oil & Gas Project of the Year); and the Amal Power Station (GCC Power and Water Desalination Project of the Year).

“Each finalist was judged not only on the basis of its size and project value. Careful consideration was given to its economic, social and environmental impact. Innovations and achievements in design, engineering and construction were also taken into account by the judges in determining the winners. The high level of scrutiny and analysis, in addition to the quality of the judging panel make the MEED Quality Awards for Projects a true barometer of project excellence,” said Edmund O’Sullivan, chairman of the judging panel of the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Ernst & Young.

While the mega billion dollars poured into completing the projects is an achievement in itself, awards headline sponsor Ernst & Young, the global leader in financial advisory services, believes it is equally important to highlight the national winners’ contributions to raising quality standards in the conception, financing, and execution of projects in the region.

“Quality and sustainability for instance are becoming increasingly important barometers by which projects are either considered a success or a failure, so recognising project excellence is a great way to raise quality standards in the projects industry. We’re happy to be a part of a growing focus on this critical aspect as more and more projects are conceived and executed in the region in the years to come,” said Abraham Akkawi, Partner and MENA Head of Infrastructure and PPP Advisory Services, Ernst & Young.

These projects will compete with 19 other national winners — with a combined value of more than $ 33 billion — from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. GCC winners will be announced at the annual MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Ernst & Young on May 21, 2012 at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa.

In addition to headline sponsor Ernst & Young, as well as category sponsors Metito, KIMMCO, Cadillac, HLG Leighton Contracting and Emirates Steel, the MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2012 is endorsed by the Society of Engineers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.