The future of project management in the Middle East

Embracing the future of project management: insights from the APM seminar in the UAE

Monday 12th February 2024 marked a significant milestone for project management professionals in the Middle East, as the Association for Project Management (APM) hosted its inaugural event in the vibrant city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Our team was among the attendees, looking forward to a night of learning, networking and deep dives into the evolving landscape of project management.

A night of firsts and forefronts

The APM's launch event in the UAE promised an exciting opportunity for professionals in Dubai and beyond to come together. It lived up to that promise, offering a platform to network, explore APM's offerings and gain insights from leading professionals in the industry.

Networking with peers

The seminar facilitated multiple ideas, experiences and aspirations. Adam Boddison, CEO of APM highlighted how project management was in the top 3 of Forbes most in demand skills in 2024. This was very encouraging information which demonstrated the opportunities for aspiring and experienced project managers. We heard from an experienced and diverse panel who answered questions around how we can retain project managers in the profession and how we can develop more females into senior roles as the higher salary roles are still dominated by males.

Discovering APM's offerings

Learning about the benefits of APM products and services was a highlight. APM's commitment to advancing the profession through education, certification and resources was evident. The discussion on chartership and its advantages underscored the value of recognised professional standards and how they elevate our work and the profession at large. The APM seminar highlighted a range of educational pathways and resources designed to support ongoing growth and expertise in our field. For our team, this underscored the importance of continuous learning to stay at the forefront of project management practices.

‘For Training Bytesize, this event has reinforced our dedication to empower project professionals through learning across multiple industries and disciplines. Continuous development was a key topic with and as Adam Boddison says ‘Learn, un-learn and re-learn’. We met a great group of project professionals and even though we already have many clients in the Middle East, it showed us the opportunities that Middle East has for us as a Project Management training provider.’

Insights from Victoria Graham

During our recent trip, Training Bytesize also attended the Project Controls Expo, where we set up shop to showcase our Project Management and Project Controls training courses. It was our chance to let the attendees know about the skills we could offer them and answer their burning questions.

The best part? Chatting with everyone, from different industries and backgrounds, each with their own project management challenges and goals. We soaked in the discussions and learned a lot.

The conference was buzzing with talks on everything from AI in project management to tackling sustainability in oil and gas projects. One big takeaway? The region is booming with development, which means more projects and more project managers needed. Great news for Training Bytesize! We left feeling pumped, eager to see what unfolds in the coming years.

Our Regional Director for APAC and the Middle East, James Kinch, also made a visit to Saudi Arabia, just a short hop from Dubai. Our partners at MILE (Madinah Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship) welcomed him warmly. We've been teaming up with MILE to run project management courses in Riyadh, London and beyond.

The project management course was delivered in February, 2024, and it's just the start of something great. With the region's exponential growth and a population willing to adapt, both Training Bytesize and MILE are in for an exciting journey.

While in Saudi, James checked out one of Riyadh's mega projects, the Diriyah Gate. It's a fantastic setup around the UNESCO World Heritage site of At Turaif, reflecting the modern Saudi Kingdom's original capital. The project aims to blend heritage with a modern twist, conserving the natural environment along the way. It's a spot where history meets the present, and you can wander around, soaking in Saudi's unique history on an engaging and interactive walking tour.

Saudi Arabia's future is lined with huge projects like 'The Line' and 'The Mukaab.' There's a lot more in the pipeline for this rapidly expanding region. We're thrilled to team up with our partners in the country, helping project managers level up and being part of the region's success story.

If you’re looking for a training partner in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world please reach out to us: learning@trainingbytesize.com