The winners of the 2017 MEED Quality Awards for Projects are the result of an extensive search for the highest-quality GCC projects completed in the past five years. The chosen schemes have all shown a commitment to quality from the concept and design stage through engineering and construction to completion.

In its seventh year, the awards programme continues to highlight projects that can demonstrate their contribution to the GCC economy, environmental awareness and success in architecture, engineering and construction. This year, the programme saw a 45 per cent increase in entries compared to the 2016 edition.

The 2017 awards ceremony took place at a glittering ceremony held on 3 May at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. The UAE topped the region with eight GCC award winners, followed by Qatar with five and Kuwait with three. Bahrain and Oman each had one regional winner. Saudi Arabia took home three awards including the MEED Quality Project of the Year, which went to the Sadara project, a massive petrochemicals scheme that is a joint venture of Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Company.

Judging process

The programme is an open competition and the winners were chosen by an independent panel of project professionals, who represent each of the region’s markets. The judges made their decisions following a detailed assessment of entries submitted by project teams from across the GCC.

Support from the Society of Engineers is an important part of the awards, and thanks goes to the societies around the GCC for the vital role they play in promoting quality in the region’s construction markets. Many of the judges hold high positions in these institutions. MEED would like to thank the judges and all the individuals, teams and organisations who worked hard to prepare their entry forms. Special recognition must also go to the tens of thousands of workers at all levels of management and on-the-ground execution, from the GCC and beyond, without whom none of the projects in the region could have been built.

The distinguished judging panel comprised:

• Mark Jamieson, UAE representative, Institution of Civil Engineers
• Terry Willis, director, Middle East, Africa and CIS, EIC UK Middle East
• Suzannah Newboult, partner, construction disputes, DLA Piper
• Abdul Rahim Sabouni, regional representative, Chartered Institute of Building
• Andrew Jeffery, managing director, Capital Projects Advisory, Deloitte Corporate Finance
• Rob Jackson, director, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Rayed al-Arashi, council board member and chairman of arbitration committee, UAE Society of Engineers
• Masoud al-Hermi, president, Bahrain Society of Engineers
• Saad Saud Muhailbi, chairman, Kuwait Society of Engineers
• Sulaiman al-Hudhaili, representative, Oman Society of Engineers
• Ahmad Jassim al-Jolo, chairman, Qatar Society of Engineers
• Faisal Alsharif, assistant secretary-general of projects, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce

The winners

Award for Sustainability: Doha North sewage treatment works

Entrant: Public Works Authority (Ashghal)

Project owner: Ashghal, Assets Affairs

Besix Innovation Project of the Year: Dubai International airport automated people mover

Entrant: Bombardier Transportation

Project owner: Dubai Airport

Building Project of the Year: Etihad Museum

Entrant: Al-Shafar General Contracting

Project owner: Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)

Commercial Project of the Year: Dubai World Trade Centre’s One Central phase 1, The Offices 1 project

Entrant: Al-Futtaim Carillion

Project owner: Dubai World Trade Centre

Education Project of the Year: Abu Dhabi Education Council phase 3

Entrant: Dewan Architects & Engineers

Project owner: Abu Dhabi Education Council

Healthcare Project of the Year with Al-Bawani: Medical City fit-out

Entrant: Ashghal

Project owner: Public Works Authority on behalf of Hamad Medical Corporation

Hotel Project of the Year: Al-Baleed Resort

Entrant: Musstir

Project owner: Musstir

Leisure & Tourism Project of the Year: Dubai Water Canal

Entrant: Parsons

Project owner: RTA

Logistics Project of the Year: The Qatar Gabbro Terminal (bulk material handling system)

Entrant: Six Construct

Project owner: Qatar Primary Materials Company

Mega Project of the Year by MVP Tech: Az-Zour North One power and water plant

Entrant: Shamal Az-Zour al-Oula

Project owner: Shamal Az-Zour al-Oula

Mixed-Use Project of the Year: City Walk

Entrant: Parsons/Arcadis/WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff in conjunction with Meraas

Project owner: Meraas Development

Oil and Gas Project of the Year: Sadara project

Entrant: Sadara

Project owner: Saudi Aramco/Dow Chemical Company

Power Project of the Year: Az-Zour North One power and water plant

Entrant: Shamal Az-Zour al-Oula

Project owner: Shamal Az-Zour al-Oula

Residential Project of the Year: Three Gardens

Entrant: AGi architects

Project owner: AGi architects

Retail Project of the Year: City Walk phase 2 retail development

Entrant: Al-Futtaim Carillion

Project owner: Meraas Holding

Road, Bridge, Tunnel Project of the Year: Salwa Road

Entrant: Ashghal

Project owner: Ashghal

Small Project of the Year: Chef Middle East HQ and food cold storage, production and distribution facility

Entrant: McLaren Group

Project owner: Chef Middle East

Social, Culture & Heritage Project of the Year: Muharraq Model Youth Centre

Entrant: Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs

Project owner: Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs

Transport Project of the Year: Design and build of Terminal 5 and related facilities at King Khaled International airport

Entrant: TAV/Al-Arrab Contracting joint venture

Project owner: Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs

Water Project of the Year: Doha North sewage treatment works

Entrant: Ashghal

Project owner: Ashghal, Assets Affairs

Supplier of the Year Award: Almajdouie Logistics Company

Entrant: Almajdouie Logistics Company

MEED Quality Project of the Year: Sadara project

Entrant: Sadara

Project owner: Saudi Aramco/Dow Chemical Company