Establishing a Center of Excellence for a Special Economic Zones Authority in the GCC to Drive Best Practice Adoption
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
A Special Economic Zones Authority in the GCC sought to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) to serve as a knowledge hub for Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The initiative aimed to support national transformation vision objectives by promoting best practice policies, knowledge transfer, and talent development in industrial and economic zone management. Through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model, the project was designed to enhance SEZ governance, streamline policy adoption, and build institutional capabilities.
PROJECT APPROACH
The project was executed in four key phases:
- Design & Planning – Developed a CoE blueprint, positioning the Special Economic Zones Authority in the GCC as the SEZ knowledge leader and aligning it with international best practices.
- Expert Team Selection – Recruited market-leading specialists to form the core team responsible for policy and regulation development.
- Operation & Management – Established and operated the CoE with subject-matter experts, providing knowledge-sharing platforms, training programs,and best practice implementation strategies.
- Transfer & Institutionalization – Successfully transitioned a fully functional CoE back to the Special Economic Zones Authority in the GCC, ensuring long-term sustainability.
OUR METHODOLOGY
A comprehensive framework was applied, integrating:
- SEZ Development Framework – Designed a governance model for special economic zone management and regulatory oversight.
- BOT Framework – Structured a step-by-step transition process from external operation to full control.
- Learning & Knowledge Transfer – Created training programs, workshops, and policy dissemination strategies to empower SEZ stakeholders.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Facilitated collaboration among government agencies, private investors, and SEZ operators.
- Benchmarking & Best Practice Identification – Conducted global benchmarking to establish a world-class SEZ governance model.
THE RESULTS
The project successfully delivered a fully operational Center of Excellence, enabling Special Economic Zones Authority in the GCC to:
- Disseminate best practice policies across SEZs, improving governance and regulatory frameworks.
- Enhance knowledge transfer across the SEZ ecosystem, ensuring continued talent development and capacity building.
- Position Nation’s SEZs as globally competitive economic hubs, aligned with the national transformation vision program.
- Develop key national talent and industry experts, strengthening long-term economic sustainability.
