Project Showcase

A sincere thank you to Knight Frank MENA for hosting our latest APM Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Network event and to our speakers for sharing valuable insights on Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in Project Management. This event was held on 24 June 2026.

A key theme emerged throughout the event: improving project outcomes by enabling better decisions earlier. From Early Contractor Involvement to AI-enabled project delivery, the discussion centered on how we create greater certainty through collaboration, governance, and timely decision-making.

 
Key takeaways included:

• ECI as a strategic delivery tool to improve certainty, collaboration and governance.
• AI as an enabler of faster, more informed decision-making rather than a replacement for project professionals.
• The increasing importance of execution certainty as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programmes move into large-scale delivery.

It was encouraging to see strong engagement from project professionals across the Kingdom, with thoughtful discussion on how our industry can continue to improve delivery outcomes through innovation, collaboration and effective governance.

We look forward to continuing the conversation at our next APM KSA Network event.

 

 The Speakers have very kindly allowed their presented material to be made available for viewing. The slides on Slideshare are now available in our APM resources area and also embedded below for reference.

Speakers:

Mohamed Nabil, Regional Partner, Head of Project & Development Services MENA, Knight Frank

Mohamed leads Knight Frank's Project & Development Services across MENA. With a BSc in Architectural Engineering, qualifications in PMP and LEEP AP, and 26+ years of experience, Mohamed's design background provides clients with a detail-oriented approach to project development. His professional experience spans international project management, and architectural and engineering firms such as JLL, HDR and Mazaraki FBK. During each tenure, he has managed complex teams to bring projects to life.

He is a Certified Project Manager and LEED Accredited Professional with industry experience covering numerous sectors and delivering projects for clients within Egypt and the Gulf. Mohamed has a proven track record for delivery of projects in the High Rise, Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Educational, Governmental, Sports, Science and Technology, Banking and Retail sectors, in both construction and Fit out.

Andrew Barwick, Regional Head of Programme Management for the Middle East and Africa, Knight Frank

Andrew Barwick is a senior construction and professional services business leader with over 18 years of regional experience delivering complex projects and driving commercial value across the Middle East and Africa. At Knight Frank, he specialises in aligning strategy, services and delivery to ensure large scale projects and programmes achieve their intended commercial and operational outcomes.

As Head of Project and Development Services (P&DS) and Partner in Saudi Arabia, Andrew leads the delivery of major development programmes, fit-out services and major Client engagement. His focus spans industrial, logistics, infrastructure and real estate assets, ensuring that governance, programme controls and performance management are embedded from inception through to completion and operation.

In his role as Regional Head of Programme Management for the Middle East and Africa, Andrew oversees the structuring and execution of complex programmes for government entities, developers, global investors and regional operators. He works closely with senior stakeholders to establish programme frameworks, drive delivery performance and manage risk across multiple jurisdictions and asset classes.

Operating at board and advisory level, Andrew also brings a strong focus on programme governance, delivery assurance and commercial discipline. He is recognised for aligning diverse stakeholder groups, structuring effective delivery platforms and ensuring that strategic ambitions are translated into tangible, measurable results.

With a permanent presence in the region, Andrew and the Knight Frank teams provide hands on, delivery focused support across the full lifecycle of projects, from early-stage strategy and feasibility through to execution and operational readiness.

Prakash Senghani, CEO of Navatech

Prakash Senghani is the Founder of Navatech, an AI company focused on transforming how safety information is captured and used across construction projects. With more than a decade of experience around safety and operational environments, he recognized a common problem: safety information exists everywhere on site, yet it is rarely organized in a way leaders can act on. Navatech was created to solve that gap by structuring everyday safety data and turning it into meaningful insight for project teams and decision makers.

Mohammed Zahid Khan

Mohammed Zahid Khan (MZK) is a highly experienced construction project management professional with over 20 years of proven leadership in delivering complex, landmark projects across multiple sectors. Currently with Knight Frank leading Project Management pillar, he has held senior roles within leading multinational organizations and is recognized for driving project excellence, strong governance, and successful outcomes on high-profile developments.

In addition to his core expertise, MZK is passionate about digital transformation in construction. He has successfully led the implementation of advanced systems, including PMIS, ERP, and AI-driven solutions, to enhance efficiency, transparency, and overall project performance.

Dr. Christopher Payne

Before joining Knight Frank MENA, Dr. Chris was Chief Economist at Peninsula Real Estate, a REIT, with lead responsibility for strategic asset allocation and investor relations. He wrote extensively on the GCC economy and real estate; regularly appearing on local and international media; and was part of the Peninsula’s core IPO preparation team. Previously, Chris was the chief economic advisor to the Governor and CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority. Prior to that, he held the position of Head of Research and Consultancy at the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies. Chris has also worked in the U.S. and the UK. Working for Bloomberg LP in Washington DC, he wrote extensively on banking regulation, monetary and fiscal policy; often presenting his findings on Capitol Hill. In the UK, he worked for JPMorgan and F&C Asset Management, covering emerging market equities; and PWC, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Yasser Ezzat

Yasser Ezzat is a seasoned project, programme, and development management leader with over 22 years of experience, including more than 15 years in Saudi Arabia. As Associate Director at Knight Frank Project & Development Services, he advises on complex developments, portfolio governance, and strategic procurement models including ECI, FPLS, CM, and D&B. His experience spans major mixed-use developments, infrastructure portfolios, and PIF-linked initiatives. Yasser is known for aligning procurement, commercial strategy, risk management, and delivery governance to achieve stronger project outcomes. He holds PMP, PMI-RMP, VMA, and Assoc.RICS credentials.