In coordination with Qatar Engineering Society, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is organizing the 12th Gulf Engineering Forum during 21-23 December 2008.  Under the auspicious of HE Sheikh Jasem bin Jabor Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, the forum is to be held at Ritz Carlton. More than 700 participants from GCC countries shall attend the forum to discuss about engineering projects and sustainable development.  Winners of the Gulf Engineers Excellence Award, a new initiative by the forum, shall be declared during the inauguration. 
In the 12th forum under the banner "gulf engineer and the challenges of sustainable development", the participants will discuss a number of themes including ‘the role of engineering bodies in educating the importance of sustainable development’, ‘engineering projects and sustainable development’ etc. The forum shall review the role of research and studies in engineering focusing on the development of policies and strategies aimed at achieving sustainable development in GCC countries.
Mr. Hamad Rashid Al Kuwari, the public relations manager of Ashghal said that all preparations are completed for the Forum, pointing out that a number of GCC ministers are expected to attend the forum.  Mr Al Kuwari said at a news conference held at Ashghal that this annual event is the meeting point of engineers to exchange experiences, to develop skills and to share ideas leading to improve the outputs of engineering works in GCC.
For his part, Engineer Ahmed Jasem Julu, the president of Qatar Engineering Society and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, said the forum, which is held in GCC countries on a rotation basis, coincides with an unprecedented rise in various areas of engineering works.
He further clarified that the forum usually focus on things like professional training and development of engineering professionals in GCC and issues regarding challenges and difficulties faced by the Gulf Engineer. However, the 12th Forum hosted in Doha will come out with important recommendations related to engineering and sustainable development, the official claimed.
The challenges faced by the Gulf engineer include competition from foreign engineering bureaus, issues of training, habilitation and development of engineers, particularly fresh graduates and creating appropriate working environment, Eng Julu said.
For his part, Eng Anas Ismail Al-Kilani, designs department manager at Ashghal and member of the high-level coordination committee of the forum, clarified that the committee has already received 22 theme papers to be presented in the forum. The Forum will also announce the winners of Gulf engineering excellence award, which comes this year under the banner of "sustainable development".   Eng Kilani further clarified that the award covers two areas, the first award goes for the best project design in the engineering service sector, whether implemented or under implementation, and the second prize shall go for individual’s creativity. The value of the award shall be Fifty Thousand Qatar Riyals or its equivalent, winner certificate and shield with logo of award.  The jury for the award shall consist a number of experts and members of the Gulf engineering bodies, according to uniform criteria for evaluation. The forum will also honor a number of leading engineering experts in the GCC.
It is worth mentioning that the forum is the effort of Gulf Engineers Union that came to existence in 1997 as an umbrella body of engineering associations and bodies in the GCC.
The Union decided to conduct annual forum in every gulf countries with rotation. Thus, the first and foundational forum was held in the state of Kuwait in 1997 and the last one (11th forum) was held in the Sultanate of Oman in the year 2007.
The Secretariat of the Union played major role in strengthening the engineering works in the Gulf in various aspects: in terms of prioritizing the engineers’ problems; developing their technical and professional know-how; providing professional training to increase expertise; exchanging engineering experiences between professional bodies at international and GCC levels; developing appropriate mechanisms to enhance the performance of the engineering service sector and upgrading its performance level and pursuing with other professional bodies in the allocation of engineering services for major developmental engineering projects in the GCC and abroad.
The Gulf Engineers Union aims at strengthening the role of engineering bodies to participate in the formation of rules, regulations and laws of engineering; consolidation of practicing the profession and maintaining professional ethics; upgrading the application level with the public and private sectors to promote the role of the GCC engineering bodies in contributing to the areas of community service and organizing the professional practices.