How PMOs Drive Real Business Impact in Mega Projects: Lessons from Dubai’s Real Estate Digital Transformation

The Risky Planner

In this episode of The Risky Planner, Nate Habermeyer talks to Albert Brier, who is live from Dubai, where he's leading the setup of a PMO for one of the most ambitious real estate developments in the world. ThSey explore how digital transformation is redefining project management in MENA, with a strong focus on project controls, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management. Albert shares insights on building high-functioning PMOs that move beyond reporting to drive real business value—by staying relevant, flexible, and deeply connected to execution.

They dive into:

• The difference between project management and project controls—and why scale matters
• How business analysts and data maturity play a pivotal role in complex, multi-stakeholder programs
• Common pitfalls in PMO implementations (like building systems no one uses)
• The balance between standardization and customization in PMO frameworks
• Real-world examples of change management, cost control, and joint venture governance structures

Whether you're a director, manager, or business analyst overseeing large capital projects, this episode delivers practical lessons on aligning PMOs with outcomes that matter.

Presented by Dokainish & Company www.dokainish.com

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