Dubai has been chosen as the first Middle East city to host the Project Management Institute’s Global Congress.

The opening session of the congress will focus on the extensive planning and preparations for World Expo 2020 from ministry officials overseeing the projects, in addition to showcasing project plans for the future Expo site and Al Maktoum International Airport.

The PMI Global Congress 2014 - EMEA, is scheduled to take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 5 - 7  and is the region’s premier project management educational and networking event.

There is an urgent demand for project managers with technical project management, business management, and leadership skills in the EMEA region, where, according to PMI’s Industry Growth Forecast: Project Management Between 2010-2020, there will be nearly 3 million new project management jobs with no one available to fill them, and highlights a particular skills shortage in the Middle East.

At the upcoming Congress project managers will hone the multi-faceted, inter-disciplinary project skills needed to fill these roles and help their organizations succeed in an increasingly challenging, complex marketplace, learning amid the vibrant backdrop of Dubai, host city for Expo 2020, and directly from the experts who are responsible for project implementations that total an estimated $6.5 billion, said a statement.

This year’s Congress will feature a unique opening session focused on the extensive planning and preparations for World Expo 2020. This session will be the first of more than 60 learning opportunities across 17 content areas that are available to attendees during the three-day Congress.

In addition to the daily focus sessions, PMI Global Congress 2014—EMEA will also feature:
• Address by Mark A.Langley, president and CEO of Project Management Institute
• Networking reception: “Iconic Dubai: A Cosmopolitan City”
• “Building Your Network, One Person at a Time,” sponsored booths in the Exhibition Hall.¬
• Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, chairman of Dubai Roads and Transit Authority, presenting an overview of the bidding process for Expo 2020
• Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, presenting details about the plans/projects attached to airport expansion and growth opportunities related to Expo 2020

Other scheduled speakers include:
• Dr Nasser Saidi, providing an analysis of the social impact and risks associated with a project having the scope and complexity of Expo 2020
• James Burke, science and technology historian, futurist and author, presenting “Staying Ahead: Innovation for the Day after Tomorrow”  -TradeArabia News Service