More than 1,500 leading players from the project management sector are taking part in the fourth edition of Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF) which opened on November 20 in Dubai, UAE.

A broad spectrum of keynote speakers, ministers and executives of mega global firms and organisations will discuss a variety of important project management (PM) themes, including its future besides Expo 2020 projects, and emergency and crisis management.

The event is being hosted by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emaar Properties, DP World, and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

A key highlight of the event was the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the opening session.

He was accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chief executive of Emirates Group, watched a film highlighting the major ongoing infrastructure projects in Dubai.

He also honoured winners of the inaugural edition of the Dh2-million ($544,381) Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Innovation in Project Management.

"Making A Difference" is the main theme of the event, which comprises 30 project management (PM) sessions, five specialist training courses and five keynote speeches.

The topic, "PM for Youth" has been added to the agenda, following the signing of an MoU with the Emirates Youth Council. Induction sessions will highlight PM principles, project success enablers and the importance of applying PM practices to various fields.

Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said: "Holding the forum stems from the keenness of Dubai to play a key role in leading the development drive in the region and expediting growth rates on a sound, scientific basis for the highest standards and practices."

"For this purpose, a high-class line-up of experts and specialists of international repute have been attracted to utilise their expertise in running effective knowledge-transfer platforms. The forum depicts the commitment of Dubai to be a communication links for sharing experiences, thoughts and visions between gurus of different global industries, which fits well with the profile of Dubai, as an Arab city with a global orientation," he added.

The largest global gathering of PM’s top intellectuals in the region, DIPMF aims to support the exceptional role of PM in achieving an effective and sustainable future, said Al Tayer.

"It offers a platform for sharing experience and discussing solutions for building cities, along with infrastructure and community services in the future," stated the top official.

"It sheds light on top international standards of strategy, innovation and management, with the aim of improving the procedure through which projects can have a lasting impact on their respective community," he added.-TradeArabia News Service