FACILITIES & SERVICES
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ooking after buildings after they have been built is big business nowadays, and looking to get bigger as laws are introduced to encourage centralisation of those who fix things. Strata practices are being adopted more and more by interested groups who are being taught the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of hiring a plumber, gardener, electrician, mechanical engineer and other tradesmen and professionals who see to our homely and workplace needs. Wouldn’t it be nice to just call one company to organise all the others. Well, yes, actually, it would be nice. It happens elsewhere – Australia has an established strata system for looking after its buildings, projects and people – and it going to happen in Dubai. Imdaad, an integrated facilities management company under Dubai World, has announced plans to recruit more staff this year to match projected growth in its operations. The decision will raise its staff count by 25 per cent by the end of 2009 compared to the number of staff in 2008. Imdaad sees this as a strategic necessity designed to meet the increasing demand for its services across an expanding geographical footprint. Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Chief Executive Officer of Imdaad, said: “The decision to increase our manpower base is a forward-looking strategy. The company has set ambitious targets for expansion in the region and to cement our leading position in the facilities management sector. Augmenting our human resources will enable us to meet our contractual commitments and deliver services of the highest standards.” The recruitment plan is consistent with the steady expansion of Imdaad’s workforce over the past
two years in line with its increasing operations. The company’s current manpower base shows an increase by 26 per cent compared to the number of employees in 2007. Armed with several new high-profile FM contracts, Imdaad has already set it expansion plans rolling by adding to its service fleet, which presently has 129 vehicles, including tipper trucks, skip loaders, dump trucks, tipper trucks with cranes, double cabin pick-ups, sand sweeping machines, beach cleaners, buses, tankers and compactors. New compactors and other vehicles have been ordered to strengthen waste collection and disposal services. In line with Dubai’s commitment to sustainable development, Imdaad has stepped up efforts to deliver ‘green services’ to ensure environment protection, and implement all safety and health parameters at its various projects. The Beati environmental awareness initiative it launched in Dubai schools has generated a tremendous response from the student community. Imdaad provides integrated facil-
ity management solutions and consultancy from the conception to the completion of projects, as well as customised long-term FM solutions. The company’s client base includes major corporate and service establishments such as Nakheel, Jafza, DP World, UAE Region, Dubai Customs, Limitless and Tamweel. Among major projects on its portfolio are Palm Jumeirah, The Gardens, Atlantis, International City, Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, Ibn Batuta Mall, Dubai Maritime City and Wasl-DREC. The increasing emphasis by the UAE Government in the UAE on green building regulations has boosted demand for facilities management (FM) services not only in buildings under construction but in existing buildings as well, noted Sungwon OBO, a member of Makateb Holding. Sungwon OBO pointed out that while it will primarily focus on providing facilities management services to buildings in various stages of construction that are committed to adopting new green building regulations, it is also expecting a heightened demand for its consultancy services from owners of existing buildings who wish to reap the benefits of a sustainable facility. Eric Raes, CEO of Sungwon OBO, said, “With the UAE Government’s growing focus on green buildings and sustainability, both developers, and in several cases, owners of existing buildings, are keen to improve day-to-day operations in energy consumption, water use, indoor environment, and waste management. Incorporating sustainable practices in existing facilities will result in significant financial benefits in the long run, and building owners will not be burdened by the costs involved in replacing existing building systems if the improvements are made one
step at a time. The company intends to complement government initiatives to promote sustainability by offering our expertise to developers in designing and constructing facilities that truly adhere to internationally accepted green building standards.” Raes highlighted that in the case of new buildings, the development of truly sustainable facilities must start at the drawing board to ensure that buildings are designed to match their intended purpose, which will ultimately help cut down maintenance costs, improve building efficiency and ensure sustainability. He noted that the success of this process to a large extent depends on the expertise of architects and building designers to effectively integrate green building concepts in the design. A green building is an outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during its lifecycle. This is achieved by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources; protecting occupants, health, improving employee productivity, and reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. Aside from a comprehensive range of FM services, which include mechanical and electrical maintenance, cleaning, security and energy management, Sungwon OBO also provides consultancy service during the design and construction of building developments to help improve the building’s lifecycle. The expanded line-up of services is part of its growth initiatives in the UAE’s FM market, where the company aims to grow between 15 to 20 per cent within the next three years.
DUBAI REAL TIMES
Facilities management in demand
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