The 16th edition of the annual Big Project Middle East Awards (BPME Awards) took place at the Ritz Carlton JBR on 11 February and recorded nearly 180 people in attendance from key Middle East Markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.
Excellence was recognised and celebrated across 23 different categories, split across five groups: individuals, sustainability, developers, companies and projects.
The event was organised by CPI Trade Media, a construction focused media company, which publishes Big Project Middle East (BPME) and several other construction titles. Trimble supported the event as a Presenting Partner.
The BPME editorial team confirmed that over 150 nominations were received across the awards’ 31 categories, however the editorial team confirmed that following two rounds of judging, excellence was only recognised across 23 distinct categories – with the weakest nominations and categories being dropped following a tally of the judges’ votes.
The judges for the 2026 BPME Awards were:
- Cheryl Cairns, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins
- Christian Somerville, Head of Project Management UAE at Compass
- Gurminder Sagoo, Chief Commercial Officer, Middle East & South Asia at Egis
- Laura Morgan, Cost Estimation Lead, Middle East at Focal
- Rola Nasreddine, Executive Director at Springs Global Consultancy
- Clayton Vallabhan, Deputy Editor, Construction Division at CPI Trade Media
- Jason Saundalkar, Editorial Director at CPI Trade Media
- Priyanka Raina, Associate Editor, Construction Division at CPI Trade Media
“For the 16th edition of the Big Project Middle East Awards, we made a few changes to our long standing format and for the first time – where voting showed a strong second contender – we recognised an honourable achievement recipient, in addition to the overall category winner. Conversely, in categories where one winner stood out and/or the other nominations in that category weren’t up to the mark, the BPME team decided on recognising excellence without publishing a shortlist. In total, the BPME Award recognised excellence by awarding 23 trophies and 14 honourable achievement plaques. Congratulations to everyone that made the shortlist and were recognised with an award,” said Jason Saundalkar, Editorial Director at CPI Trade Media.
The shortlist, honourable achievement recipients and award winners for the 16th edition of the Big Project Middle East Awards are as follows:
Individual Awards
Big Project Middle East’s Young Professional of the Year
- Keerthana Krishnan R S, DCIB Construction
- Muhammad Hisan, Eiman Builders & Developers
Winner: Keerthana Krishnan R S, DCIB Construction
Big Project’s Mentor of the Year
- Ahmed ElHadidi, WSP
- Amr Metwally, Engineering Contracting Company
- Lavinia Melilla, Parsons
- Moawya Hamza, AECOM
Honourable Achievement: Amr Metwally, Engineering Contracting Company
Winner: Dr. Lavinia Melilla, Parsons
Big Project’s Team of the Year
No shortlist
Winner: HTS Interiors
Big Project Middle East’s Woman of the Year
- Anita Nouri, Green Growth Planning Consultancy
- Johanna Niebuhr, CSQ Project Development Consultancy
- Maitha Al Shamsi, Parsons
- Mariam Azmy, Innovo Group
- Sandra Woodall, tangramMENA
Honourable Achievement: Sandra Woodall, tangramMENA
Winner: Mariam Azmy, Innovo Group
Big Project Middle East’s Executive of the Year
- Ammar Al Assam, Dewan Architects and Engineers
- Nidal Hassoun, Engineering Contracting Company
- Nitin Nadukandy, HTS Interiors
- Ryan Bray, CSQ Project Development Consultancy
Honourable Achievement: Ryan Bray, CSQ Project Development Consultancy
Winner: Nidal Hassoun, Engineering Contracting Company
Sustainability Awards
Sustainable Contractor of the Year
- Hassan Allam Construction
- ISG Middle East
- Peninsula Engineering Group
- Sobha Constructions
Honourable Achievement: Hassan Allam Construction
Winner: Sobha Constructions
Sustainable Project of the Year
- The Peninsula, Plot B, Engineering Contracting Company
- Stonehenge Residence SH I, Segrex Development
- Waves Opulence Project, Sobha Constructions
- Yanmu East Logistics Park, Hassan Allam Construction
Honourable Achievement: The Peninsula, Plot B, Engineering Contracting Company
Winner: Waves Opulence Project, Sobha Constructions
Developer Awards
Mid-sized Developer of the Year
- Aurora Real Estate Development
- TownX
Winner: Aurora Real Estate Development
Large Developer of the Year
No shortlist
Winner: Danube Properties
Company Awards
Skills Development Programme of the Year
No shortlist
Winner: Hassan Allam Construction
Fit-Out Contractor of the Year
- DCIB Construction
- DEPA
- ECC Fit-Out& Construction
- Frankly Built Contracting
- HTS Interior
- Khansaheb Interiors
- Top Rock Interiors
Honourable Achievement: DEPA
Winner: Khansaheb Interiors
MEP Contractor of the Year
- China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E.
- Innovo Group
- Royal Advance Electromechanical
- United Masters Electromechanical
Honourable Achievement: China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E.
Winner: Innovo Group
Infrastructure Contractor of the Year
- China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E.
- Hassan Allam Construction
Winner: China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E.
Mid-sized Contractor of the Year
No shortlist
Winner: Hennessey
Large Contractor of the Year
- ALEC Engineering & Contracting
- China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E.
- Engineering Contracting Company
- Hassan Allam Construction
- Innovo Group
Honourable Achievement: ALEC Engineering & Contracting
Winner: Innovo Group
Project Awards
Fit-Out Project of the Year
- Avli Bahrain, Grok for Project Management Services
- Desert Rock, Red Sea, DEPA
- Dubai Founders HQ, DCIB Construction
- Heriot-Watt University, Khansaheb Civil Engineering
- Innovative Learning Center Al Safa, Dutco Interiors
- Office Fit Out Business Park Dubai Hills, Frankly Built Contracting
- Office Square – Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, HTS Interiors
- Oman Public Prosecution HO Building, Engineering Innovation Design & Consulting
Honourable Achievement: Innovative Learning Center Al Safa, Dutco Interiors
Winner: Desert Rock, Red Sea, DEPA
MEP Project of the Year
- Aquaarabia, Dewan Architects + Engineers
- The Wasl Tower, SEED Engineering Consultants
Winner: The Wasl Tower, SEED Engineering Consultants
Refurbishment & Retrofit Project of the Year
- Al Maryah Tower, CSQ Project Development Consultancy
- Al Multaqua Ballroom & Al Wasl Redevelopment Project DWTC, DCIB Construction
- Al Salamlek Palace, Hassan Allam Construction
- Innovative Learning Center Al Safa, Dutco Interiors
- Julphar Avenue and Towers, RAK, HTS Interiors
- King Abdullah Financial District Residential Uplift Project, Parsons
- Tashas Café Galleria Mall Refurbishment, Grok for Project Management Services
Honourable Achievement: Innovative Learning Center Al Safa, Dutco Interiors
Winner: King Abdullah Financial District Residential Uplift Project, Parsons
Project of the Year – Water
- Buriydah& Al Madinah Project, Hassan Allam Construction
- Dammam ISTP Project, Metito Utilities
- Shuqaiq 4 SWRO, ACCIONA and RTCC JV for Saudi Water Authority
Winner: Shuqaiq 4 SWRO, ACCIONA and RTCC JV for Saudi Water Authority
Project of the Year – Infrastructure & Transport
- Al Faya Razeen, Innovo Infra
- North Luxor Axis Project, Hassan Allam Roads & Bridges
- Riyadh Metro, Parsons
Honourable Achievement: Riyadh Metro, Parsons
Winner: Al Faya Razeen, Innovo Infra
Project of the Year – Leisure, Retail & Hospitality
- Aquarabia, Dewan Architects + Engineers
- GEM Khufu Solar Boat Museum, Hassan Allam Construction
- Shebara Resort, Red Sea, DEPA
- The District – The Dubai Mall, Dutco Interiors
- W Marriott Hotel, KAFD, Parsons
- Zayed National Museum Water Feature, Innovo Group
Honourable Achievement: Shebara Resort, Red Sea, DEPA
Winner: Zayed National Museum Water Feature, Innovo Group
Project of the Year – Commercial
- Acquisition Dune Management Services Dubai Hills Business Park Office, Frankly Built Contracting
- Lusail Commercial Boulevard, Parsons and Qatari Diar
- Office Square Nation Towers Mall, Abu Dhabi, HTS Interiors
- The Dubai Exhibition Centre Legacy Expansion – Phase 1, Khansaheb Civil Engineering
Honourable Achievement: Lusail Commercial Boulevard, Parsons and Qatari Diar
Winner: The Dubai Exhibition Centre Legacy Expansion – Phase 1, Khansaheb Civil Engineering
Project of the Year – Residential
- Al Mamsha, Alef Group
- Azizi Milan, Azizi Developments
- Curve DiLusso, Alpago Group
- Grand Bleu Tower, Engineering Contracting Company
- Louvre Residences, Innovo Group
- Serenia Living, Khansaheb Civil Engineering
- The Address Beach Resort Marassi, Hassan Allam Construction
- The St. Regis Branded Residences, SEED Engineering Consultants
Honourable Achievement: The St. Regis Branded Residences, SEED Engineering Consultants
Winner: Serenia Living, Khansaheb Civil Engineering
To learn more about the Big Project Middle East awards, click here.