Project managers in the Arabian Gulf region must expand their knowledge base—and be ready for change

Home to many of the world's megaprojects, the Arabian Gulf seemed like it might be largely immune to the economic meltdown wreaking havoc on the rest of the world.

There were as many as 2,000 projects underway simultaneously worth nearly US$1 trillion between 2000 and 2007 in the region, according to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia-based Charles R. Franklin, PMP, a contributing author to the book Project Management Circa 2025.

But nothing lasts forever, as evidenced by the fiscal woes of Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Saudi Arabia's project-rich neighbor.

"We know from experience that if the work dries up, the number of contractors will be reduced, and when things are better, we won't have them around to do the work," he says.

With an eye on keeping their contractors afloat in difficult times, project managers are developing more flexible project execution strategies.

Project managers based in the region also won't be able to rely solely on their areas of expertise, Mr. Franklin says.

In the chapter he co-authored with Naceur Jabnoun, PhD, and Shriram R. Dharwadkar, PhD, "Project Management in the Arabian Gulf Region, circa 2025, the authors say: "The thrust of projects as we look ahead to 2025 will be dominated by building and infrastructure projects, rather than the hydrocarbon facilities which have been the rule for many years."

Project managers in the region should continue to build up cultural awareness-Saudi Aramco alone claims to have more than 50 different nationalities among its employees.

"Project managers of the future in the Arabian Gulf region will need these same skills along with technological competencies and the ability to embrace change rather than run from it," Mr. Franklin says.

And there are signs that the profession as a whole is already adapting.

"In the past few years we have seen PMI add professional credentials for program management, risk management and scheduling, and I would expect that there will be several more added by 2025," Mr. Franklin says.

By being forward-looking, project managers can base their business plans and roadmaps for system development on the future, rather than the present.

The Arabian Gulf region has come a long way in a short period of time. Project managers can as well.