Thirty three of the Gulf’s most important projects of recent years have scooped major national awards for their achievements and are now in the running for regional recognition.

The GCC winners of the annual Meed Quality Awards for Projects 2015 will be awarded on May 27 at The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE, in association with Dubai lender Mashreq.

The UAE’s national winners include: The Beach by Meraas Holding (entered by Benoy); Emal Phase 2  by Emirates Global Aluminium; Park Hyatt - Saadiyat Island  by Abu Dhabi National Hotels (Ehaf Consulting Engineers); Upper Zakum Artificial Islands by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (National Marine Dredging Company); Substation for Presidential Palace by Transco (Emirates Technical Associates); SP229 C1-C2 BHS Link Enclosure by Dubai Aviation Authority (Bin Touq Fire & Safety); Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi by Mubadala (ETA Engineering); Al Barari  by Al Barari Firm Management; Al Raha Beach by Aldar Properties (Aecom); and Emirates AquaTechnologies Caviar Factory by Bin Salem Holding (Emirates AquaTech).

The national winners from Saudi Arabia include: The 95 MW Temporary Power Plant in Al Kharj by Saudi Electric Company (nominated by Zahid Group of Companies); Aramco Psychiatric Facility by Johns Hopkins Aramco Hospital/Samso (Shade Corporation); Qurayyah Independent Power Plant by Hajr Electricity Production Company; Jabal Omar Project Phase One by Jabal Omar Development Company (Schneider Electric); Siemens Energy Hub by Siemens Energy (Hyder Consulting); extension of roads under Arriyadh Old Airport (ERAOA)  by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh; and Jeddah Storm Water Drainage Programme (JSDP) - Eastern Channel - Package Nine by Emarat of Makkah Province/Saudi Aramco (Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trading, Industry & Contracting).

In Qatar, the winners are: The engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) for the new Central Industrial Building 33/11 KV power distribution substation at Halul Island by Qatar Petroleum (Galfar Al Misnad); Al Sadd Multipurpose Hallby the Qatar Olympic Committee (Astad Engineering and Project Management Company); and The New Doha International Airport Passenger Terminal Complex - CP 18 by the New Doha International Airport Steering Committee (Sky Oryx Joint Venture: Taisei – TAV JV).

Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies building and energy management system (Solar Micro Grid System), both entered by Astad Engineering and Project Management Company complete Qatar’s national winners’ list.

In Oman, the national winners include the Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort by the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran); the Barka III and Sohar II by the Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) nominated by Siemens Energy Solutions; and the Al Siraj Logistics & Warehousing Project by Al Siraj Holdings.

In the neighbouring Kuwait, the national winners, all nominated by Pace, the Kuwaiti engineering, planning and design practice, include the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, storm-water, drainage, sewer and other services for Subiya Highway  by the Ministry of Public Works; the structural renovation of the Grand Mosque by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs; and The Avenues by Al-Rai Real Estate Company.

Finally, Bahrain’s national winners include the Awali Oil Field Project by Tatweer Petroleum (New Water Corporation); Survey and Land Registration Bureau headquarters by the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (Ministry of Works); and Bahrain Distributed Solar Energy Pilot Project by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco).

The Ministry of Works’ Mina Salman Interchange and Muharraq STP (sewage treatment plant) and sewer conveyance projects (entered by Muharraq STP Company) complete the kingdom’s national winners’ list.

Meed said all the projects were assessed against criteria that included engineering and construction challenges, as well as economic, social and environmental impact.

"Complying with the highest quality standards in the projects market is critical not just to the success of individual projects, but also for their invariable impact on the society at large, in terms of the economic, social and environmental benefits they provide," remarked John Lossifidis, the executive vice president, Group Head – Corporate & Investment Banking, Mashreq Bank, a strategic partner of the Meed awards.

"We salute all the national winners for delivering projects that conform to the highest international standards for quality and for their long-term impact on the future success of the country," he added.

2015 National Winners Meed Quality Awards for Projects

Drake & Scull Leisure & Tourism Project of the Year
•Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort  – Oman
•The Beach  – UAE
•The Avenues  – Kuwait

Ramboll Sustainable Project of the Year
•Energy Management System (Solar Micro Grid System)  – Qatar
•Muharraq STP and Sewer Conveyance – Bahrain
•Al Barari  - UAE

Hyder Transport Project of the Year
•Construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, storm water, drainage, sewer, and other services for Subiyah hghway - Package  Three – Kuwait
• Al Raha Beach – UAE
•Extension of roads under Arriyadh Old Airport (ERAOA)  – Saudi Arabia
•New Doha International Airport Passenger Terminal Complex – CP 18 – Qatar
•Jeddah Storm Water Drainage Programme (JSDP) – Eastern Channel – Package 9 – Saudi Arabia
•Mina Salman Interchange  - Bahrain

Social Infrastructure Project of the Year
•Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies – Qatar
•Survey & Land Registration Bureau headquarters – Bahrain
•Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi - UAE

Award for Innovation
•Emirates Aquatechnologies Caviar Factory  – UAE
•Awali Oil Field - Tatweer Petroleum Project - Bahrain

Small Project of the Year
•Aramco Psychiatric Facility Project – Saudi Arabia
•95 MW Temporary Power Plant in Al Kharj  – Saudi Arabia
•SP229 C1-C2 BHS Link Enclosure  – UAE
•Structural renovation of the Grand Mosque – Kuwait
•Awali Oil Field - Tatweer Petroleum Project – Bahrain
•Al Siraj Logistics & Warehousing – Oman

Industrial Project of the Year
•Emal Phase Two – UAE
•Siemens Energy Hub  - Saudi Arabia

Building Project of the Year
•Al Sadd Multipurpose Hall  – Qatar
•Jabal Omar Project Phase One – Saudi Arabia
•The Beach - UAE

Power and Water Project of the Year
•Qurayyah Independent Power Plant - Saudi Arabia
•N7204. 1D, Presidential Palace – UAE
•Bahrain Distributed Solar Energy Pilot Project – Bahrain
•Barka III and Sohar II – Oman
•Epic for the new CIB 33/11 KV PDS at Halul - Qatar

Oil & Gas Project of the Year
•Upper Zakum Artificial Islands  - UAE
•Awali Oil Field - Tatweer Petroleum Project - Bahrain

The national winners will now compete with the rest of their counterparts in the other GCC markets for the regional awards in various categories.

"These awards recognise the best achievements in project delivery in the region and I’m delighted these Emirati projects have received the recognition they deserve," remarked Richard Thompson, the editorial director at Meed.

"All stand a very good chance of wider recognition at the GCC level in May. The projects that are being built today are laying the foundation for the future and Meed is honoured to be able to recognise and celebrate the very best project achievements the region has to offer," he added.-TradeArabia News Service