Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has selected ‘Cultural Diversity’ as a theme for the 6th Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF). The event will be held from 7 to 10 December 2019 in collaboration with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), DP World, Emaar Properties, and Projects Management Institute (PMI). During the event, winners of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Innovation in Project Management (HBMAIPM) will be honoured with prizes totalling AED 2.6 million  (about U$710,000). Registration for the Forum will open on May 1st 2019 online through the website (www.dipmf.ae).

The selection of ‘Cultural Diversity’ as a theme for the forum concurs with the declaration of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, designating 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance'. It is also a manifestation of the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for making the UAE a reference in the culture, policies, laws and practices of tolerance worldwide.

“Organising the Dubai International Project Management Forum reflects Dubai’s endeavours to play an active role in leading the development in the region and providing the tools of accelerating this drive on sound and scientific basis. The event also serves as a platform for sharing expertise, ideas and visions between global industry leaders; which fits well with the image of Dubai as an Arab city with a global profile. The forum has grown into a global platform for identifying top practices and innovative solutions in Project Management (PM). The engagement of global experts and the innovative ideas presented will contribute to the accomplishment of mega projects,” said Al Tayer.

Key Topics

“The sixth edition of the forum will discuss a host of key topics relating to visionary leadership, economic diversity, future mobility, Dubai; A Land for Talents, review of HBMAIPM Showcase, specifications of The Millennial Project Manager, Future Trends in Project Management, Design Thinking and Agile Project Management, Mega Event Project Management, Human Resources in Project Management, and Hybrid Project Management. Other topics include  Collaborative Project Management , and Asset Project Management. On the sidelines of the forum, activities include Master Classes in Agile Project Management, Benefits Management, Artificial Intelligence, Disruptive Technology Project Management and Governance of Organisational Project Management (OPM),” he explained.

Huge Success

“Project Management is crucial for the realisation of visions and strategic plans. It helps to achieve the organisational objectives of any organisation or company,” said Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Rail Agency cum Chairman of the Organising Committee of DIPMF.

This role requires an OPM system, project portfolios and programmes, qualified PRoject Mangement personnel such as Programmes Manager, Project Manager and PMO Director. Such personnel have to have the skills and leadership to make an effective and comprehensive contribution to PM; which has to be agile and adaptable to local and international changes.

“Over the last five editions, the forum has been hugely successful in terms of Project Management specialists and international speakers and topics discussed. The last edition saw the organisation of 42 sessions comprising 6 keynote speeches, 7 master classes, 3 discussion panels, 24 parallel sessions and 2 closed sessions. About 2000 intellects of PM in the region and the world over took part in the event,” he added.

2.6 m Dirhams

During the event, winners of the 3rd Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Innovation in Project Management will be awarded. The purse of this award has grown by 29% to hit AED 2.6 million (about $710,000). It seeks to identify, reward and empower innovation in Project Management set up a database for top practices and business models in PM, and create a platform for sharing innovative ideas and training on PM skills.

The award comprises four categories. The first one is Organisations; which includes three sub-awards namely The Innovative Project Management Idea, The Innovative Programs Management Idea, and The Innovative Projects Portfolio Idea. The second category (individuals) comprises two awards: Innovative Project Manager, and Innovative PMO. The third is Teams comprising the Innovative Team Award. The fourth is the Academic Category; which comprises the Scientific Research for Innovative PM Award, and the Innovative PM (Academic Category) Award.