Saudization, women’s empowerment a focus at Marjan

Saudization, and the development of Saudi talent, have been important objectives at Marjan.

It has included increasing the hiring of Saudis, establishing agreements with local institutes, and the deployment of Saudi men and women in the international locations where the project is being executed. 

“The Marjan Project is unusual in all aspects,” said Ahmed Khaiyat, a project engineer working from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “The program strives to contribute to not only the oil sector but also to the gas sector, and is expected to have a positive impact on the Kingdom’s and global energy supply and demand,” he noted. 

Project engineer Albara K. AlShukr, working in India, said the Marjan project is challenging as its scope includes new complex facilities, such as the GOSP-4, as well as brownfield facilities requiring a lot of meticulous attention.

“Problem solving is one of the most highly appreciated values in project management, and my team has faced and solved many issues and challenges that resulted in a more efficient and an economical design,” recounted AlShukr.

Empowering females

Environmental coordinator Ftoun B. Almaimoni, said: “As an environmentalist working in Offshore Project Management, I think it was important for me to properly understand the department’s activities to understand the potential impact toward the marine environment, and therefore strive to apply the appropriate mitigation measures and initiatives.”

Cost engineer Aisha A. Alomair, said: “The strong support from management and colleagues has enabled me to work in a historically male-dominated industry. If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere, but by setting a clear target and working hard you can overcome any obstacle.” 

Design engineer AlShayma AlDossary, working with a UAE contractor in Dubai, feels satisfied about her progress so far in the complex offshore project. “I’ve learned a lot in two years in terms of general knowledge about offshore oil and gas construction projects, project workflow between different functions, and a hands-on experience in structural steel fabrication,” she said.

Caption for top photo: Saudization, and the development of Saudi talent, have been important objectives at Marjan as the project progresses.