Project Management Institute (PMI) is strengthening its Authorized Training Partner (ATP) network across the Middle East and North Africa as demand for skilled project professionals rises alongside the region’s infrastructure, digitalisation, AI, sustainability and economic diversification projects.

PMI brought together its regional ATP community at the inaugural PMI MENA ATP Leadership Roundtable at Dubai World Trade Centre on September 10 to discuss workforce development, certification demand and the changing skills requirements of organisations across the region.

MENA could need 600,000 more project professionals

PMI estimates that up to 30 million additional project professionals could be needed globally by 2035.

In MENA, the project professional workforce is expected to increase from around 1.3 million currently to as many as 1.8 million by 2035, potentially creating demand for up to 600,000 additional professionals.

The organisation said developing this talent will be important to supporting the region’s ambitious development and economic transformation plans.

PMI works with nearly 200 training partners

PMI currently works with close to 200 Authorized Training Partners across 17 MENA markets.

The ATP network forms part of a wider ecosystem involving companies, universities, government entities, PMI Chapters and the professional community. It provides professionals with access to PMI-standard certifications while helping organisations develop project capabilities at scale.

Hanny Alshazly, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at PMI, said the region’s transformation is creating significant opportunities but depends on having the required skills and talent.

“Our Authorized Training Partners play an important role in building that capability,” Alshazly said, adding that collaboration can help expand access to professional development and strengthen workforce capabilities across the region.

Roundtable focuses on workforce transformation

Discussions at the Dubai meeting covered enterprise upskilling, workforce transformation, ATP growth and new ways to reach professionals and organisations across MENA.

Participants also took part in workshops and leadership discussions examining market barriers, partner requirements and opportunities for closer collaboration.

The event included a focus on strengthening ties between ATPs and PMI Chapters, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the PMI UAE Chapter and PMI ATP PM Tricks.

PMI expands professional learning portfolio

PMI said its ATP offering now covers more than nine product lines, reflecting the changing needs of organisations and professionals.

The portfolio includes the Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), PMI Construction Professional (PMI-CP) and PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI) certifications, as well as sustainability-focused learning.

PMI also highlighted the availability of leading certification courses, including PMP and CAPM, in Arabic alongside other supported languages.

PMP instructor-led training to change from December

Another development discussed at the roundtable was the planned evolution of PMP instructor-led training.

From December 2026, live instructor-led training used towards PMP eligibility will be delivered through PMI's Authorized Training Partner network as part of efforts to strengthen quality and consistency in PMP preparation worldwide.

The change places the ATP network at a more central position in PMI’s professional certification ecosystem.

PMI recognises regional training partners

The roundtable concluded with the 2026 PMI MENA ATP Partner Recognition Awards, recognising organisations for their contributions to professional development and workforce capabilities.

The recipients were:

Alshazly said the recognition reflects the wider impact of PMI’s partners in developing professionals, strengthening organisations, preparing future talent and expanding the reach of project management across the region.

Project skills become increasingly important to MENA growth

PMI said the ATP Leadership Roundtable is part of its broader effort to build a more connected regional project management ecosystem linking training providers, professional communities, employers, governments and academic institutions.

With MENA’s project workforce potentially needing to expand by hundreds of thousands of professionals over the coming decade, PMI’s strategy places professional training and certification at the centre of efforts to build the skills required for the region’s next phase of economic and organisational transformation.

PMI MENA Project Management Institute PMI Dubai PMI Authorized Training Partner ATP MENA project management UAE project professionals MENA project talent UAE workforce development MENA PMP ce