MEED has announced the national winners and finalists for this year's MEED Projects Awards, in association with Mashreq – honouring completed projects in the Gulf region. On the shortlist are 23 tourism schemes, reflecting the recent growth in the region's travel and tourism (T&T) sector.

“The 2018 awards programme saw a 24 per cent increase in shortlisted organisations compared to the 2017 edition, a testament to the quality of completed projects being delivered across the GCC,” says Becky Crayman, programme director at MEED.

The UAE dominates the honours list for the tourism sector, with 14 successfully completed projects competing to become GCC winners in the programme. With 771 hotels, the UAE boasts the largest number of hotels in the Middle East.

The Middle East's T&T sector is set to see some exciting additions in terms of tourism, culture and heritage developments, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where $7.4bn is being invested in hotel and tourism projects. Areas of focus include the Al-Ula development, which will include 50 natural islands and heritage sites.

A total of 94 projects from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are competing for honours in 16 different categories of the annual MEED Projects Awards, in association with Mashreq.

The GCC award winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on 2 May at The Westin Mina Seyahi, Dubai.

Project:  Hamad Town Model Youth Centre

Entrant: Ministry of Youth & Sports Bahrain

Project owner: Ministry of Youth & Sports

Project location: Bahrain

Project: Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed Cultural Centre

Entrant: SSH

Project owner: Amiri Diwan

Project location:  Kuwait

Project: Dubai Opera

Entrant:  Consolidated Contractors Company

Project owner: Emaar

Project location: UAE

Project: Jahra & Farwaniya Courts Complexes

Entrant: Pace

Project owner: Amiri Diwan for the benefit of The Ministry of Justice (Kuwait)

Project location: Kuwait

Project: Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture & Recreation

Entrant: Larsen & Toubro (Oman)

Project owner: Royal Court Affairs

Project location: Oman

Project:  Bluewaters Luxury Hotel, Family Hotel and Serviced Apartments

Entrant: Atkins

Project owner: Meeras / North 25

Project location: UAE

Project:  Burj al-Shaya

Entrant: Gensler & Associates International

Project owner:  MH Alshaya Company

Project location:  Kuwait

Project: Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences

Entrant: Goettsch Partners

Project owner:  General Organisation for Social Insurance

Project location:  Saudi Arabia

Project: Al-Habtoor City – Hotels

Entrant: HLG Contracting

Project owner: Dubai National Investment Company

Project location: UAE

Project:  Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai

Entrant: Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai

Project owner: Meraas

Project location: UAE

Project:  Anantara al-Jabal al-Akhdar Resort

Joint Entrant: Atelier Pod & Engineering Innovation Design & Consulting

Project owner: Ministry of Defence Pension Fund

Project location:  Oman

Project:  Four Seasons Abu Dhabi

Entrant: Faithful+Gould

Project owner:  Al-Sowwah Square Properties (A wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala)

Project location:  UAE

Project:  Nurai Island Resort by Zaya

Entrant: Al-Jihan Gulf Horizon General Contracting

Project owner: Zaya Real Estate Development

Project location: UAE

Project: Viceroy Hotel Resorts & Residences Palm Jumeirah

Joint entrant: China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East/P&T Architects & Engineers

Project owner: Assas Investments

Project location:  UAE

Project:  Al-Habtoor Polo Resort & Club

Entrant: Al-Habtoor Group

Project owner: Al-Habtoor Group

Project location: UAE

Project: Louvre Abu Dhabi

Entrant: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers

Project owner: Department of Culture & Tourism

Project location: UAE

Project: Motiongate, Dubai Parks & Resorts

Entrant: Laing O’Rourke Middle East

Project owner:  Motiongate/DXB Entertainments

Project location:  UAE

Project:   Umm al-Emarat Park (previously named Mushrif Central Park)

Entrant: Al-Dhabi Contracting

Project owner:  Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan al-Nahyan

Project location:  UAE

Project:  Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre

Entrant: Oman Tourism Development Co (Omran)

Project owner:  Omran

Project location:  Oman

Project: IMG Worlds of Adventure

Entrant: IMG Worlds of Adventure

Project owner: IMG Worlds

Project location: UAE

Project:  Dubai Opera

Entrant: Consolidated Contractors Company

Project owner:  Emaar

Project location:  UAE

Project:  Modon Lake

Entrant: Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon)

Project owner: Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon)

Project location:  Saudi Arabia