Dubai, UAE, 12 February 2026 – Mariam Azmy, Chief People Officer, Innovo, has been named Woman of the Year at the 16th Edition of the Big Project Middle East Awards, held at the Ritz-Carlton JBR, Dubai on 11 February 2026.

The award recognises Azmy’s exceptional contribution to the UAE’s construction sector over a career spanning more than two decades, where she has driven the transformation of construction industry culture by embedding people-first values, wellbeing, and a human-centric approach to the workplace.

Innovo’s Mariam Azmy Named Woman of the Year at Big Project Middle East Awards 2026

As one of the few women to hold a C-suite position in the region’s construction industry, Azmy has championed gender diversity, sustainability, and workplace wellness as strategic imperatives.

She has championed transformative initiatives that place wellbeing and purpose at the core of performance, including 24/7 mental health support for employees and their families and targeted recruitment and mentorship pathways that empower more women to thrive in construction.

“This Award belongs to every person who believed that construction could be an industry defined by its people, not just its projects,” said Mariam Azmy. “At Innovo, we have proven that investing in our people and our workplace is not a cost, it is the foundation of long-term competitiveness.”

Under Azmy’s people-first leadership – grounded in her belief that true productivity comes from people feeling supported, healthy, and empowered – Innovo earned the prestigious Top Employer UAE 2025 certification from the Top Employers Institute.

The Big Project Middle East Awards received over 150 nominations across 31 categories, evaluated by five independent judges.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About Innovo:

Innovo is an industry leader in construction and development across the built environment, specialising in the design, engineering, construction, development and infrastructure financing of major real estate projects across four continents.

A front-runner and innovator in the built environment, Innovo’s vast and varied portfolio includes more than 130 ongoing projects, encompassing luxury residential developments, villa communities, educational facilities, hospitality, commercial and transport hubs, and critical urban infrastructure.

Innovo is headquartered in London, UK with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Cairo, Dakar and Luanda. For more information, visit the Innovo website or @innovogroup.

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