Sourcing Connections, TransformationX and GEP lauded at CIPS MENA Awards

At a ceremony held in Riyadh, the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) unveiled the winners of its annual MENA awards, with Sourcing Connections, TransformationX and GEP named the region’s consultancy winners for 2025.

A globally operating not-for-profit organisation with over 64,000 members in 180 countries, CIPS is the professional body for the procurement and supply management profession. Its annual awards, known as the CIPS Awards, spotlight excellence and innovation in the industry, and are held in multiple regions worldwide.

Hosted at the Mandarin Oriental in Riyadh on Monday, the CIPS MENA Awards saw leading organisations such as Royal Commission for AlUla, Etihad Airways, e& and the Ministry of Finance Dubai among the distinguished winners.

The winner: Sourcing Connections

In the category for consulting firms, ‘Consultancy Project of the Year’, the top prize went to Sourcing Connections, a procurement boutique based out of Dubai. Established in 2017, Sourcing Connections serves clients across the GCC with a senior team, currently comprising five consultants and a network of associates.

Sourcing Connections won the award for its impact working together with the Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites. “We are deeply grateful for this recognition,” said Mark Fadel, founder and managing director of Sourcing Connections.

“Yet the true reward of the project has been the privilege of working alongside Saud Tabbakh, Mohammed Alroqaiti, Abdulrahman Altassan and Raed Anwar Obaid at the Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites. Their vital role in enabling the annual visitation of over 35 million people to Makkah delivers an extraordinary social impact, touching and transforming countless lives. Thank you for allowing us to be part of such meaningful work,” he continued.

Highly Commended awards

The Highly Commended awards went to TransformationX, a relatively young boutique firm founded by a former BCG executive, and GEP, a US-headquartered consulting firm with a focus on technology transformation.

TransformationX received its award for a project it delivered with a semi-government entity in Saudi Arabia. The organisation had engaged TransformationX to fundamentally transform its procurement function.

The consultancy firm delivered a bold, two-pronged strategy: a category management-led transformation to streamline sourcing, and a zero supplier complaints initiative to rebuild trust across the supplier ecosystem. The project employed AI-powered analytics, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven sourcing strategies – resulting in over 20% cost savings.

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from CIPS MENA and the industry,” said Arun Bruce, founder and chief exectuive of TransformationX. “This commendation affirms our belief that procurement, when reimagined with innovation and intent, becomes a powerful engine for long-term value and growth.”

GEP meanwhile has over the past years bagged multiple CIPS awards across geographies (including the flagship Global CIPS Award last year), with its Middle East team now recognized for a major procurement transformation at a client in the GCC.

Raina Saxena, Senior Director for Consulting at GEP, stated: “It is incredibly rewarding to see our impactful work and strong partnerships in the Middle East being acknowledged. Grateful to our clients and teams who continue to drive excellence.”

The CIPS MENA Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of the procurement and supply chain industry, received a record 150% jump in nominations across all categories this year.

In a separate benchmark of the leading procurement consulting firms in the Middle East, Bain & Company and Boston Consulting Group were recognised as industry leaders – although this ranking follows a different scope (projects and other factors) and methodology.