Dubai holds second Dubai International Project Management Forum

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Emaar Properties, will hold the Dubai International Project Management Forum next November in culmination of the success of the first edition.
In its second round, the Forum will maintain the diversity in project management while focus on innovation and creativity in keeping with the drive of the UAE Government designating 2015 as a year of innovation, and the Dubai Innovation Strategy aimed at ranking Dubai as the most innovative city worldwide.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said: "The holding of the Dubai International Project Management Forum signals the keenness of the Dubai city to play a pivotal role in steering the innovation and development drive in the region, and identify the ingredients of expediting this drive on sound scientific bases in line with the highest standards and practices. This can be achieved through attracting top experts and specialists, who have wide international repute and competency, to international forums and events which can be utilized as effective platforms for the transfer of knowledge.
''It also stems from the keenness of Dubai to act as a communication link assisting in the transfer of expertise, concepts and visions amongst international gurus of various industries, and accordingly live up to its billing as an Arabian city with a global profile.'' "The inaugural edition of the Forum was all success in terms of super organization, massive attendance (more than 1500 participants, 70% of whom were CEOs, Project Managers), and the diverse cast of topics, events and activities run during the Forum which discussed issues relating to managing of engineering and construction projects, and managing of projects in technical, sports, energy and sustainability aspects in five workshops, seven discussion panels, and concurrent stream sessions involving 56 speakers as a whole,'' he added.
"Based on the results of surveys and questionnaires probing the views of participants as well as the analysis of deliverables and findings concluded from the management and organization of the first edition of the Forum, the RTA decided to hold the Forum annually in November each year. The second edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum will discuss a whole host of new topics spanning the aviation sector, innovation and creativity, health care, education, financial services, hospitality, investigations, and digital projects. The Forum will continue to debate issues relating to smart cities, Expo 2020, Project Management Office, Governance and Management of Corporate Projects, infrastructure and engineering projects.'' "Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the follow up of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, and HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council, the RTA has spent about AED 73 billion in upgrading the infrastructure of roads and transport in Dubai since 2006 in line with the commitment of our prudent leadership to bring happiness to people. These projects are topped by the Dubai Metro project which is the longest driverless metro project worldwide stretching 75 km, the Dubai Tram project which is the first tramway outside Europe powered by ground power cables stretching along the entire track with no catenary cables involved. It is also billed as the first tramway worldwide that uses a technology of automated screen doors at passenger platforms synchronized with the opening and shutting mechanism of the tram doors. The RTA has also accomplished a sprawling network of roads, bridges and tunnels and the future plan of the RTA encompasses a wide spectrum of projects and initiatives focused on improving the efficiency of the public transport system, and broadening the scope of e-services and smart phone apps.
The RTA will design and undertake the public transport projects required for hosting Expo 2020 including the extension of the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, upgrading roads surrounding or leading to Expo site, completing the Dubai Water Canal Project running 3 km from the Sheikh Zayed Road, passing across the Safa Park and Jumeirah 2 and terminating at the Arabian Gulf. The RTA is also planning to buy additional trains up to 2020, and widen the bus network to cover 16 new areas besides improving the services in 19 areas by 2020," added Al Tayer.