Dubai roundtable highlights collaboration and talent development to meet the region’s growing project demand.
Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading authority in project management, brought together its regional Authorized Training Partner (ATP) community in Dubai for the PMI MENA ATP Leadership Roundtable, reinforcing the importance of professional learning and collaboration in developing the project talent required to support the Middle East and North Africa’s rapidly evolving economies.
Held at Dubai World Trade Centre on 10 September 2026, the gathering brought together PMI leaders, Authorized Training Partners from the corporate, government and academic sectors, and representatives from the PMI UAE Chapter. Discussions focused on workforce development, certification demand, future talent and the changing requirements of organizations across the region.
MENA may need up to 600,000 additional project professionals by 2035
The event comes as demand for project professionals continues to accelerate. PMI estimates that up to 30 million additional project professionals will be needed globally by 2035. In MENA, the project professional workforce is expected to grow from approximately 1.3 million today to as many as 1.8 million by 2035, potentially requiring up to 600,000 additional professionals to support the region’s ambitious development agenda.
PMI works with nearly 200 Authorized Training Partners across 17 MENA markets
PMI currently works with close to 200 Authorized Training Partners across 17 MENA markets. Together with corporations, universities, governments, PMI Chapters and the professional community, the ATP network forms an important regional ecosystem for developing project capabilities and providing access to PMI’s global standard certifications.
Hanny Alshazly, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at PMI, said: “Across MENA, transformation is happening at extraordinary speed and scale. Infrastructure, digitalization, AI, sustainability and economic diversification are creating tremendous opportunities, but delivering on these ambitions depends on having the right people and skills. Our Authorized Training Partners play an important role in building that capability. By working together, we can expand access to high-quality professional development, strengthen workforce capabilities and develop the project talent our region needs for the future.”
The roundtable explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration between PMI and its partners, with sessions addressing enterprise upskilling, workforce transformation, ATP growth and new approaches to reaching professionals and organizations across MENA.
The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PMI UAE Chapter and PMI ATP PM Tricks, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing the project management profession across the region. Participants additionally took part in interactive workshops and leadership discussions examining market barriers, partner requirements and opportunities for greater collaboration.
PMI’s professional development portfolio now spans more than nine product lines, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®, PMI Construction Professional (PMI-CP)™, PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI)™, and sustainability-focused learning.
PMP instructor-led training will transition to PMI’s ATP network from December 2026
A key development discussed was the upcoming evolution of PMP® instructor-led training. From December 2026, live instructor-led training used toward PMP eligibility will be delivered through PMI’s Authorized Training Partner network, as PMI strengthens quality and consistency in PMP preparation worldwide. PMP® and CAPM® certification courses are also available in Arabic alongside other globally supported languages.
Recognizing Regional Excellence
The roundtable concluded with the 2026 PMI MENA ATP Partner Recognition Awards, celebrating organizations demonstrating leadership, innovation and measurable contributions to professional and workforce development.
The recipients were:
- PM Tricks – PMI MENA ATP Partner of the Year 2026, recognized for strong FY2025 and 2026 performance, learner reach and contribution to professional certification.
- PwC Academy – Excellence in Workforce Development, recognized for using PMI certifications and learning to develop workforce capabilities at scale.
- Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) – Excellence in Future Talent Development, recognized for preparing the next generation of project professionals and achieving the highest learner enrollment across PMI’s academic ATP portfolio.
- Engineering Tracks – ATP Impact Award, recognized for thought leadership, sustained performance, community engagement and its longstanding contribution to the project profession.
Hanny added: “These recognitions are about more than performance as training providers. They reflect the impact our partners are having across the region, developing professionals, strengthening organizations, preparing for future talent and expanding the reach of the project profession. It is a great example of what we can achieve when PMI’s global standards come together with strong local expertise and market knowledge.”
The ATP Leadership Roundtable forms part of PMI MENA’s broader efforts to build a more connected regional project management ecosystem, bringing together learning partners, professional communities, employers, governments and academic institutions to strengthen capabilities and support sustainable economic and organizational transformation.
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