Across the Middle East, mega projects are transforming cities at unprecedented scale and speed. Alongside ambitious sustainability targets and landmark infrastructure, developers are increasingly recognizing that long-term success depends not only on engineering and capital, but on people. Community Engagement: A Key to Mega Projects’ Success argues that effective engagement with local communities is no longer optional. It is a core strategic capability that directly influences delivery timelines, social license to operate, and long-term project value.
The report highlights a clear shift in how sustainability is defined in mega developments. While environmental goals such as decarbonization, green building standards, and biodiversity protection remain central, the social dimension of ESG has moved to the forefront. In regions with deep-rooted cultural, social, and historical contexts, early and sustained community engagement is critical to aligning project ambitions with local priorities. When done well, communities become partners and advocates, helping projects navigate complexity, reduce friction, and build enduring legitimacy.
Drawing on experience from large-scale developments across the GCC, the report outlines six key considerations for building an effective community engagement roadmap. These include rigorously assessing community needs, anchoring engagement in the project’s core strategy and corporate DNA, maintaining consistent two-way dialogue, meeting communities in familiar and accessible settings, ensuring visible leadership sponsorship, and embedding engagement across the organization rather than isolating it within a single function. Together, these elements shift engagement from ad hoc consultation to a structured, value-creating discipline.
The report also emphasizes that community engagement must be treated as a long-term, evolving process. Mega projects unfold over decades, and engagement strategies must adapt as communities, expectations, and project phases change. A rigorous approach, supported by research, clear governance, KPIs, and continuous feedback, enables developers to move beyond risk mitigation toward shared value creation. Ultimately, projects that invest in genuine, sustained community engagement are better positioned to deliver on ESG commitments, strengthen trust, and secure lasting success.