The accolade celebrates the company’s advanced project management practices and its growing global leadership in operational excellence.

The award was presented during the Project Management Offices Summit 2025 held at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh. This global event brought together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to honor organizations that have achieved exceptional success in strategic project management.

Emad Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Transformation and PMO at Saudia Holding, expressed pride in the recognition, emphasizing that the win reflects years of dedicated effort and collaboration.

He highlighted the strong support received from the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and the group’s Director General, which has played a crucial role in Saudia’s ongoing transformation.

Al-Ghamdi described the award as a reflection of Saudia’s commitment to advancing its strategic Transformation Program. He noted that the company has achieved new levels of maturity, capability, and excellence in portfolio and program management.

He added that Saudia Group has implemented advanced portfolio management tools, predictive analytics, and is preparing for AI-driven dashboards to enhance visibility, decision-making, and proactive governance. These tools ensure that every project contributes directly to the group’s long-term goals of sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized that the Project Management Office (PMO) plays a central role as an enabler of strategy across the organization.
The PMO ensures that each initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and national development objectives.

According to Al-Ghamdi, Saudia’s future PMO strategy revolves around three key pillars — sustainability, intelligence, and impact.
These guiding principles aim to transform the PMO into a dynamic and strategic engine that drives innovation and creates measurable value.

He further explained that the group plans to deepen its digital intelligence, expand local content, and enhance performance through technology-driven processes. This includes the adoption of data-based insights, AI technologies, and advanced governance systems to set new standards for regional PMO performance.

Looking ahead, Al-Ghamdi shared a clear vision for Saudia’s next phase of growth. “Our vision is to reach new heights and farther destinations,” he said, “making the PMO a strategic engine that accelerates transformation, empowers teams, and sets benchmarks for excellence across the region.”

He also offered guidance for emerging PMO leaders, encouraging them to lead with purpose and adaptability. He stressed that success in modern project management is no longer about control, but about collaboration, innovation, and maintaining a strong focus on organizational value.

The Global Project Excellence Awards, now in their fifth cycle, recognize both local and international organizations that demonstrate exceptional skill in project and portfolio management. The event celebrates innovation and leadership while promoting global standards in governance, accountability, and performance excellence.

Under the patronage of Badr Al-Dulami, Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Services for Roads Affairs, the summit honored 24 organizations and 15 individuals for their outstanding contributions. The event coincided with International Project Management Day, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a hub for innovation and leadership in the global project management community.

The recognition of Saudia Group underscores the Kingdom’s broader commitment to advancing national industries through innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability.

It also reaffirms Saudia’s reputation as a leader in implementing modern management practices that drive long-term success and contribute to the nation’s economic vision.

As Saudia continues its journey toward greater innovation and global competitiveness, the Strategy Excellence Award stands as a testament to its dedication to quality, transformation, and purpose-driven leadership.

With its focus on sustainability and intelligence, the group is well positioned to continue setting new benchmarks in project management excellence across the aviation industry and beyond.

Speaking at the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference in Riyadh, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah highlighted the growing importance of railways in supporting national industrial growth and achieving Vision 2030 objectives.

He noted that the Kingdom’s advanced railway network plays a key role in connecting industrial clusters, transporting raw materials to factories, and moving finished goods to key urban and port destinations.

“To develop national industrial capabilities and enhance Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness, we have launched specialized industrial clusters focused on transforming raw materials into high-value-added products,” the vice minister said.

“The railway network integrates these clusters into a unified ecosystem, accelerating industrial efficiency and sustainability.”

The vice minister emphasized that the localization of railway manufacturing and technology offers vast investment opportunities in sectors such as locomotive production, signaling systems, and wheel assembly — all of which support Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of diversifying its economy through domestic production and innovation.

Industry experts and global leaders echoed the sentiment, highlighting the Kingdom’s forward-thinking approach to rail development.

Junaid Khan, engineer and commercial manager at Metrolinx, discussed how value engineering and digital technologies can create efficient frameworks for railway innovation.

He emphasized the need for early-stage collaboration between design, operations, and engineering teams to ensure cost-effective, future-ready projects. “It’s crucial to view projects through a life cycle perspective,” Khan noted.

“Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can enhance decision-making, reduce waste, and improve predictability in every stage of infrastructure development.”

The conference also explored the integration of cybersecurity in rail systems, ensuring that rapid technological advancement is matched with robust safety measures.

Alaa Khaled, Global Ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI and Cybersecurity Director at Maaden, stressed the importance of preparedness in crisis management.

“We must be ready for every possible scenario,” she said, citing lessons learned from the global COVID-19 pandemic. Khaled advocated for hybrid systems combining open-source and vendor models, emphasizing that strong cybersecurity practices can coexist with innovation.

Martin Jackson, Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Director at Capital Metro Company, discussed the role of predictive analytics and AI in balancing modernization with passenger safety.

“Technology can sometimes falter,” he said, “but our systems are designed with safety as the top priority.” Jackson described Riyadh’s metro as “a closed and secure system,” highlighting its importance in facilitating transportation during major upcoming events like the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.

Jackson also revealed that the Riyadh Metro incorporates in-house language models to process data securely, avoiding external vulnerabilities while improving operational efficiency.

“Railways have existed for over 150 years, but predictive analytics now allows us to manage risk intelligently and embrace innovation confidently,” he said.

In a significant cultural milestone, the conference saw the signing of an agreement between the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and the Saudi Railway Company.

The partnership aims to integrate traditional Saudi arts within national transport systems, empowering local artisans and showcasing the richness of the Kingdom’s heritage through joint workshops and cultural initiatives.

As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its railway infrastructure and adopt next-generation technologies, the sector stands as a model for how innovation, safety, and culture can coexist harmoniously.

The discussions at the Riyadh conference reinforced that railways are not just a means of transport — they are a vital link in driving industrial growth, enhancing connectivity, and shaping the sustainable future envisioned under Saudi Vision 2030.