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Monday, June 11, 2007
Mounir Ajam named International Correspondent for PMForum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Mr. MOUNIR A. AJAM, MS, PMP has been named an International Correspondent for PMForum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mr. Ajam is an engineer and project management expert with 20 years of experience in the engineering, construction, oil, gas, petrochemical, and project management industries. In 1998 he achieved the internationally recognized Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification, a highly valuable credential awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) and in 2007 he graduated from PMI’s Leadership Institute Masters Class.
Mr. Ajam joined SUKAD FZ-LLC as its Chief Executive Officer in 2005. SUKAD is an Innovation Center based in Dubai Knowledge Village and provide services across the Middle East. SUKAD specializes in project management consultancy, training, and performance improvement.
His clients include Saudi Arabian Parsons, Saudi Royal Commission of Jubail & Yanbu, Dubai Holding, National Commercial Bank, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Jumeirah Group, TECOM Investments, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Aramex International, TATWEER, among others.
Prior to SUKAD, Mr. Ajam provided professional services in various global locations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, South East Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise ranges from managing small projects to working on mega capital projects with many of the world leading organizations, such as: Exxon, BASF, Shell, and Saudi Aramco. His experience includes projects in remote and multiple locations, major modularization, joint ventures and alliances, multi-cultural and multi-national teams, and multiple projects.
Immediately prior to SUKAD, Mr. Ajam was responsible for Performance Improvement and Human Resources Development at one of Saudi Aramco’s project management departments. In this role, he led the implementation of a professional Employee Development Program, professional certification, and other performance improvement initiatives. Due to his contributions, employee satisfaction jumped significantly and the number of employees with PMP® certifications in all of Saudi Aramco grew by more than 400% in just two years.
Mr. Ajam holds a Master of Science in Engineering & Construction Management from the University of California at Berkeley and is an honors graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston, USA. He is a member of the Project Management Institute and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers International (AACE), and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Professionals.
Mr. Ajam is a true professional leader in the community where he lives and works and is heavily involved with the PMI® at the regional and global levels. Globally, he served on the advisory group to PMI’s Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) program.
Regionally, Mr. Ajam served on the Board of Directors for the PMI-Arabian Gulf Chapter, with responsibilities for training and certification across the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under his leadership at PMI-AGC, Mr. Ajam helped grow the number of certified PMP® by almost a factor of 3 within 9 months). Currently, Mr. Ajam is one of a team of volunteers leading the way toward the creation of a PMI chapter in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Ajam is a native speaker of Arabic and fluent in English.
According to Wikipedia, Dubai can either refer to one of the seven emirates that constitute United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, or that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai city" to distinguish it from the emirate. The modern emirate of Dubai was created with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. However, written accounts documenting the existence of the city have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE.
Dubai shares within a federal framework, legal, political, military and economic functions, with the other emirates, although each emirate has jurisdiction over functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi and, with Abu Dhabi, is one of only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the UAE. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. The city's current ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, like his older brother and preceding ruler Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
Thirty years ago, there was no sign of Dubai on the sands of the Arabian Peninsula. It is with the vision of the Late Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Maktoum that Dubai is what it is today; a regional economic powerhouse and a truly world-class city. The area had been covered with sand about 5,000 years ago and the coastline had retreated inward, creating a part of the city's coastline.
Dubai's gross domestic product as of 2006 was US$46 billion. Revenues from oil and natural gas accounted for less than 3% of the emirate's revenues. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali free zone (JAFZ) and, increasingly, from tourism and other service businesses. Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects and sports events.
Dubai is an important tourist destination and its port, Jebel Ali, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world. Dubai is also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance, with the establishment of a new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The government has set up industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai Internet City, combined with Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village and other knowledge/technology/media related clusters as part of TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority) is one such enclave whose members include IT firms such as EMC Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft, and IBM, and media organisations such as MBC, CNN, BBC, Reuters and AP.
The government's decision to diversify from a trade-based but oil-reliant economy to one that is service and tourism-oriented has made real estate more valuable, resulting in the property appreciation from 2004–2006. Large scale real estate development projects, undertaken by firms such as Emaar Properties, Dubai Properties, Nakheel, and others have led to the construction of many skyscrapers.The luxury hospitality brand Jumeirah Group developed the Emirates Towers and the world's first 7 star hotel, the Burj al-Arab (pictured at left). Burj Dubai, also being constructed by Emaar Properties, is expected to become the world's tallest structure. Nakheel is famour for its Islands Projects like the Palms and the World.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a Middle Eastern country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. It borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. The country is rich in oil and, although it lacks other natural resources, it expects recent additional economic diversification to draw more financial and banking firms. The UAE, a desert-and-coastal nation, has become a highly prosperous country after gaining foreign direct investment funding in the 1970s.
The Presidency and Premiership of the United Arab Emirates is hereditary to the Al Nahyan clan of Abu Dhabi and the Al Maktoum clan of Dubai respectively. The Supreme Council, consisting of the rulers of the seven emirates, also elects the Council of Ministers, while an appointed forty-member Federal National Council, drawn from all the emirates, reviews proposed laws. There is a federal court system; all emirates except Dubai and Ras al-Khaimah have joined the federal system; all emirates have both secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts.
The United Arab Emirates has a highly industrialized economy that makes the country one the most developed in the world, based on various socioeconomic indicators such as GDP per capita, energy consumption per capita, and the HDI. At $168 billion in 2006, the GDP of the UAE ranks second in the CCASG (after Saudi Arabia), third in the Middle East—North Africa (MENA) region, and 38th in the world.
The UAE currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance and Industry, real GDP rose by 35 per cent in 2006 to $175 billion, compared with $130 billion in 2005. These figures would suggest that the UAE had the fastest growing real GDP in the world, between 2005 and 2006. Although the UAE is becoming less dependent on natural resources, petroleum and natural gas exports still play an important role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the UAE diversify its economy. Nationwide, there is currently $350 billion worth of active construction projects. (More information about Dubai and the UAE can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org ).
Mounir Ajam lives in Dubai and can be contacted at mounir.ajam@sukad.com. We at PMForum welcome Mounir to the PMF Global Correspondents Network.
In August 2006, PMForum announced the formation of a global network of International Correspondents to provide news and information from around the world of project management. PMF now has correspondents in over 15 countries. More information about this program and about other international correspondents can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.
Established in 1995, www.pmforum.org was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management and continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum is a company formed to operate and administer the pmforum.org website. PMForum also produces the monthly online PM World Today eJournal where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading PM authorities from around the world can be found; free subscriptions are available at www.pmworldtoday.net.
His clients include Saudi Arabian Parsons, Saudi Royal Commission of Jubail & Yanbu, Dubai Holding, National Commercial Bank, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Jumeirah Group, TECOM Investments, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Aramex International, TATWEER, among others.
Prior to SUKAD, Mr. Ajam provided professional services in various global locations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, South East Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise ranges from managing small projects to working on mega capital projects with many of the world leading organizations, such as: Exxon, BASF, Shell, and Saudi Aramco. His experience includes projects in remote and multiple locations, major modularization, joint ventures and alliances, multi-cultural and multi-national teams, and multiple projects.
Immediately prior to SUKAD, Mr. Ajam was responsible for Performance Improvement and Human Resources Development at one of Saudi Aramco’s project management departments. In this role, he led the implementation of a professional Employee Development Program, professional certification, and other performance improvement initiatives. Due to his contributions, employee satisfaction jumped significantly and the number of employees with PMP® certifications in all of Saudi Aramco grew by more than 400% in just two years.
Mr. Ajam holds a Master of Science in Engineering & Construction Management from the University of California at Berkeley and is an honors graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston, USA. He is a member of the Project Management Institute and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers International (AACE), and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Professionals.
Mr. Ajam is a true professional leader in the community where he lives and works and is heavily involved with the PMI® at the regional and global levels. Globally, he served on the advisory group to PMI’s Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) program.
Regionally, Mr. Ajam served on the Board of Directors for the PMI-Arabian Gulf Chapter, with responsibilities for training and certification across the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under his leadership at PMI-AGC, Mr. Ajam helped grow the number of certified PMP® by almost a factor of 3 within 9 months). Currently, Mr. Ajam is one of a team of volunteers leading the way toward the creation of a PMI chapter in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Ajam is a native speaker of Arabic and fluent in English.
Dubai shares within a federal framework, legal, political, military and economic functions, with the other emirates, although each emirate has jurisdiction over functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi and, with Abu Dhabi, is one of only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the UAE. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. The city's current ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, like his older brother and preceding ruler Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
Dubai's gross domestic product as of 2006 was US$46 billion. Revenues from oil and natural gas accounted for less than 3% of the emirate's revenues. Dubai's oil reserves have diminished significantly and are expected to be exhausted in 20 years. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali free zone (JAFZ) and, increasingly, from tourism and other service businesses. Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects and sports events.
Dubai is an important tourist destination and its port, Jebel Ali, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world. Dubai is also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance, with the establishment of a new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The government has set up industry-specific free zones throughout the city. Dubai Internet City, combined with Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village and other knowledge/technology/media related clusters as part of TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority) is one such enclave whose members include IT firms such as EMC Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft, and IBM, and media organisations such as MBC, CNN, BBC, Reuters and AP.
The Presidency and Premiership of the United Arab Emirates is hereditary to the Al Nahyan clan of Abu Dhabi and the Al Maktoum clan of Dubai respectively. The Supreme Council, consisting of the rulers of the seven emirates, also elects the Council of Ministers, while an appointed forty-member Federal National Council, drawn from all the emirates, reviews proposed laws. There is a federal court system; all emirates except Dubai and Ras al-Khaimah have joined the federal system; all emirates have both secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts.
The United Arab Emirates has a highly industrialized economy that makes the country one the most developed in the world, based on various socioeconomic indicators such as GDP per capita, energy consumption per capita, and the HDI. At $168 billion in 2006, the GDP of the UAE ranks second in the CCASG (after Saudi Arabia), third in the Middle East—North Africa (MENA) region, and 38th in the world.
The UAE currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance and Industry, real GDP rose by 35 per cent in 2006 to $175 billion, compared with $130 billion in 2005. These figures would suggest that the UAE had the fastest growing real GDP in the world, between 2005 and 2006. Although the UAE is becoming less dependent on natural resources, petroleum and natural gas exports still play an important role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the UAE diversify its economy. Nationwide, there is currently $350 billion worth of active construction projects. (More information about Dubai and the UAE can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org ).
Mounir Ajam lives in Dubai and can be contacted at mounir.ajam@sukad.com. We at PMForum welcome Mounir to the PMF Global Correspondents Network.
In August 2006, PMForum announced the formation of a global network of International Correspondents to provide news and information from around the world of project management. PMF now has correspondents in over 15 countries. More information about this program and about other international correspondents can be found at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm#5.
Established in 1995, www.pmforum.org was the world’s first website devoted to professional project management and continues to be one of the world’s most popular sources of project management news and information. PMForum is a company formed to operate and administer the pmforum.org website. PMForum also produces the monthly online PM World Today eJournal where articles, case studies, papers and viewpoints by leading PM authorities from around the world can be found; free subscriptions are available at www.pmworldtoday.net.
