Construction Business News ME - June 2022

INTERVIEW Going beyond sustainability with regenerative develpment

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

PROJECT Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s non-profit city TALKING POINT Making a local impact

JUNE 2022

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CBNME FM POWERLIST CELEBRATING THE BEST OUR TOP 30 RAKINGS IN THE FM INDUSTRY SHOWCASES HOW EACH COMPANY IS STRIVING FOR GROWTH, SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION

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IN THIS ISSUE

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24 POWER 30 28 FM The UAE Facilities Management Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.50% over the forecast period from 2022 to 2027

14 INTERVIEW GOING BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY WITH REGENERATIVE DEVELOPMENT Chad Oppenheim, principal and founder at , Oppenheim Architecture, discusses the Desert Rock project, a regenerative resort in Saudi Arabia’s desert that is now under construction in collaboration with The Red Sea Development Company

18 PROJECT PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN NONPROFIT CITY appoints Dalkia EDF Group to implement sustainable solutions

20 INDOOR AIR QUALITY

industry. An upward trend in growth has meant that the industry needed to keep up with the demands

24 TALKING POINT MAKING A LOCAL IMPACT How Husqvarna is driving change within the construction community

26 REPORT SAVILLS Luxury brands to focus new store activity in large domestic driven markets in China, the Middle East, and North America

62 MACHINERY

Healthy Air Tuna Gulenc, vice president of Daikin Middle East & Africa, discusses the company’s latest offerings, the emphasis on indoor air quality, and a market overview of the Middle East

NEW LINNHOFF DRX AND TSD ASPHALT PLANTS TO BE BUILT IN INDIA Lintec & Linnhoff used Excon India 2022 in Bengaluru to announce the launch of its new Linnhoff DRX DurableMix asphalt plant series

22 DRONES

64 TRAINING PROGRAMME

HOW DRONES ARE REVOLUTIONISING CONSTRUCTION The past few years have been phenomenal for the construction

INTERTEK AND KNAUF launch qualification programme to elevate standards in the construction industry CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022 | 3

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EDITOR’S NOTE

THE FUTURE OF FM

CEO

Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net DIRECTOR

Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Joaquim D'Costa

jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Rabih Naderi

rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 EDITOR

Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net ASSISTANT EDITOR

Jochebed Menon

I

n this special edition of FM Giants Middle East magazine we examine what the future lies in facilities management and how the accelerated growth is creating more positive market opportunities for FM Companies and Suppliers.

The purpose of this special edition was to foreshadow CBNME’s Innovation in FM Forum 2022 under the tagline The Future of FM Summit. The forum will gather FM professionals from all over the Middle East to discuss on June 10th at Sofitel Dubai the Palm.

Under the tagline ‘The Future of FM Summit’ FM C-Level Executive and

Professionals from all over the Middle East will gather to talk candidly about the usage of technology, sustainability, and how leadership decision making is allowing FM Companies to be more independent when it comes research and development of their own technology, We’re excited to tap into this industry and to bring the readers a fresh and new perspective on the challenges faced in this industry.

EDITORIAL DESIGN

Christian Harb

MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Aaron Joshua Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net PHOTOGRAPHER

Alexander Bungas

SUBSCRIBE

subscriptions@bncpublishing.net

Kasun Illankoon

Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196

CBNME.COM Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website and social media platforms CBNME @CBNME CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME

For all commercial enquiries, contact jo@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved © 2022.

Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors.

Construction Business News ME and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Construction Business News ME. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

Images used in Construction Business News ME are credited when necessary. Attributed use of copyrighted images with permission. All images not credited courtesy Shutterstock.

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10 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

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INTERVIEW

Going Beyond SUSTAINABILITY With R e g e n e r a t i v e Development

BY ROMA ARORA

Chad Oppenheim,

PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER AT , OPPENHEIM ARCHITECTURE, DISCUSSES THE DESERT ROCK PROJECT, A REGENERATIVE RESORT IN SAUDI ARABIA'S DESERT THAT IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

Tell us all about the Desert Rock Mountain Resort?

Desert Rock is a regenerative resort located in the desert of Saudi Arabia.

It is currently under construction in partnership with The Red Sea Development Company. The resort’s goal is to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment, all while allowing guests to connect with nature and the local culture of the region. The resort’s architecture is fully integrated into the rocks and mountains, using the excavated material to build the structure. Stone is used for interior and exterior walls 12 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

and floors, while ground stone and existing sand are used for concrete aggregate, the main building material for the entire structure. Beyond the sustainable materials and construction methods, the incorporation of energy, wildlife, and historic preservation identifies Desert Rock as a pioneer in regenerative tourism.

Phase one of the Desert Rock project is on track to welcome guests by the end of 2023. Veiled behind a hidden valley and nestled between the glorious mountains of the desert, the resort offers its occupants a choice of 48 villas and 12 hotel rooms to

connect to nature and the history of the land. Ground level dwellings, hotel suites, excavated rooms in the rock massif and a number of other accommodations will also be available. To ensure uninterrupted views, most roads leading into the resort will be pushed to the edge of the main wadi and hidden behind landscape mounds. This will also minimise sound and light pollution, allowing guests to fully absorb the dramatic desert landscape. Although regeneration and sustainability were the top priorities, the resort still is extremely luxurious.

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IMAGE COURTESY LUXIGON

CHAD OPPENHEIM is a Miamibased architect whose work has been praised for its ability to transform the prosaic into the poetic. Through passion and sensitivity towards man and nature, Oppenheim creates monumental yet silent architecture that elicits a site’s inherent power.

GOING BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY WITH REGENERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Can you describe the design process for Desert Rock, some challenges you had, and the sustainable solutions you landed on?

Our design philosophy is based on building with the land, not just on it. This led the design process in the creation of a resort that is truly regenerative at its core. We let the site guide our design and used its existing elements to add to the resort’s natural authenticity. We wove this ideology throughout the project and incorporated regenerative ideas into the elements that power the resort. Water retention and distribution systems will be utilized to harvest rainwater to renew and flourish the surrounding Wadi that will be used throughout the resort. On top of its sound and light pollution reduction and energy conservation, the resort will also house a 100-hectare Landscape Nursery that will provide 15 million local and native plants for the resort and the local community. The resort will also include a circular waste management system

to achieve zero waste contribution to landfills. Sustainability was not our only goal for the resort, but also regeneration.

How does technology help you deal with design challenges and meet sustainability goals?

Technology has been the catalyst for allowing the quick exchange of ideas/ updates among the team regardless of where everyone is located. With offices and partners across the globe, we are still able to brainstorm and ultimately design Desert Rock from different locations around the world. The use of technology also aided in the visualisation of the project and helped us realize our ideas in a more tangible way.

Where do you think the movement is going? What is the next evolution in design and architecture?

Architecture is definitely headed in the direction of working to reverse human effects on the environment. Recently, there’s been a hyperfocus on how

individuals can implement sustainable living into their personal lives, and as that’s achieved, a push for hotels, restaurants and other commercial spaces to respond to this demand is likely. This next evolution in design and architecture now includes consumers’ values and encourages them to engage with environments without disturbing the history or wildlife, giving them an inside look at sustainability and its effect on all aspects of life. This is especially relevant for hotels and travel destinations— we can use smart, regenerative architectural strategies in an attempt to combat the energy taken to travel there. >>>

The project defines new territory for sustainability and sustainable tourism at every level; across planning, construction, and operation.

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022 | 13

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INTERVIEW

In 2022, we believe a lot of architectural trends offer minimalism, a connection to nature, and options to reduce energy-consumption, so we’re really happy with the progress the industry has made in recent years.

Dispersed facilities minimise the resort’s footprint and invite wider site exploration, adventure, and discovery; introducing guests to all the cultural, archeological, and geological dimensions of this awe-inspiring place.

IMAGE COURTESY LUXIGON

How would you preserve Saudi Arabia's culture and heritage while bringing contemporary design to life?

Desert Rock’s design was centered around the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia and the surrounding ecosystems. We understand the importance of the Kingdom’s history as a hub for trade routes and a meeting point for many civilisations. Our team took the concept of regeneration one step further by supporting the local communities around the resort. With an understanding of the ancient history of the desert, the excursions that the resort offers will integrate the rituals of the local community by offering visitors educational tours led by local residents. There, they will be able to learn about the incense trade route and the Nabateans - an ancient Arab people who inhabited northern

14 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

Arabia and the southern Levant. The resort, instead of disrupting, also supports Saudi Arabia’s ecosystem by regenerating its native flora and

encouraging visitors to explore the beauty of the country by offering dune buggy tours along with spaces to stargaze and hike.

Is there any trend in architecture that you are against?

In 2022, we believe a lot of architectural trends offer minimalism, a connection to nature, and options to reduce energy-consumption, so we’re really happy with the progress the industry has made in recent years. Trends that perpetuate adverse impacts on the environment or ignore/disrupt the area’s heritage and surrounding environment are ones that we would say we do not support.

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GOING BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY WITH REGENERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Can you describe the evolution of your work?

Our work has evolved many times since the inception of the firm in 1999. We’ve always led with the idea of creating breathtaking projects that highlight the earth's natural beauty while still maintaining a luxurious atmosphere.

Luxury at the forefront of our designs is always important, but as climate change has become an integral part of life over the past few decades it has ultimately reshaped our process. An emphasis on sustainability has become more prominent, and our designs reflect that, just as they do with increased focus on wellbeing and health. Each new climate issue adds a new facet to our designs, with our team working to solve these problems and changing the role that architecture plays as an impact on them. With new designs in new areas, the evolution of our work encompasses what we’ve learned in past projects and applies that to uncharted territories of architecture design that we’re looking forward to continuing to explore.

What is the most powerful and amazing thing about the architecture in the region?

Just as the Desert Rock resort does, much of the architecture in Saudi Arabia highlights the beauty of its culture by working with its desert climate

Most construction materials will be recycled from the site, so that building impact is minimal and new forms embody the same colours and minerals as their surroundings.

and geography. The architecture is timeless in a sense, as it embraces the history but also shows the potential for architecture to develop as the years pass.

We have a project in Aqaba, Jordan that exemplifies this – the Ayla Golf Clubhouse, a mixed-use resort at the intersection of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. After a full look through of the site, shotcrete pumps were decided as the sole machinery used to build the clubhouse, with everything else done by hand. The project was made with the land’s mineral-rich soil and its concrete shell works with Jordan’s climate with openings to capture coastal breezes and screens to filter sunlight. The Ayla Golf Clubhouse pairs with the desert landscape to emphasize its natural beauty, just as much of the architecture in the area does.

Are you planning to expand in this region? What kind of projects would you like to do?

Desert Rock itself is a growing project.

We’re on track to complete phase one by the end of 2023, but there are plans for additional phases to expand what the resort has to offer. With its rich history and abundance of natural features, continuing to build projects to aid in increasing tourism in Saudi Arabia is something that we’d like to do to encourage people to immerse themselves in new, interesting cultures and environments.

Is there anything that you are afraid of regarding the future?

While the shift to sustainable tourism is encouraging, there is a concern that when the demand for eco-friendly amenities isn’t as prevalent, that hospitality architecture will revert back to a main generator of wasteful and unsustainable practices. That said, rather than fear it, we use the future as a point of encouragement recognizing that there is no threshold for greatness but rather an endless journey of new developments and creativity. We look at the wonderful projects our firm has designed since its inception, and use them as inspiration to create more innovative, regenerative projects.

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PROJECT

PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN NONPROFIT CITY

appoints Dalkia EDF Group to implement sustainable solutions > With sustainability as one of its core pillars, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City aims to be a LEED Gold City > The City has appointed Dalkia and ADC Energy Systems to design, build and operate the first phase of the district cooling plant of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City 16 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

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UPSCALE VIBES | LIFESTYLE DEVELOPERS & YOO STUDIO

P

rince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City has appointed Dalkia EDF Group to implement the highest standards of sustainability solutions at the newly launched destination. As part of the City’s vision to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, several sustainability initiatives will be rolled out across the development, commencing with a district cooling plant to be built by Dalkia EDF Group and its partner ADC Energy Systems.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City attended by senior officials including the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille; David Henry, CEO of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City; Sylvie Jehanno, Chairwoman and CEO of Dalkia EDF Group, and Ibrahim Sleiman, Executive Chairman of ADC Energy Systems.

This project is part of the City’s approach to promoting sustainable development, offering an effective alternative to conventional airconditioning solutions and creating opportunities for green jobs. It is expected to save up to 100,000 tons of CO2 over a 10-year period.

David Henry, CEO of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City, said: “Through our pioneering initiatives in promoting the City’s sustainability features, we aim to set a new model for the region and take tangible measures to achieve the Kingdom’s vision to be Net Zero by 2060. The district cooling is one of the first steps we are initiating, with several more to follow, that will help cut the City’s carbon emissions by as much as 50 per cent. Our goal is to serve as a model in sustainable development by achieving LEED Gold certification with eco-conscious energy and water use solutions.”

Sylvie Jehanno, Chairwoman and CEO of Dalkia EDF Group, stated: “We are honored to sign this agreement with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

Nonprofit City to provide, alongside with ADC Energy Systems, solutions that enable a sustainable environment for residents and visitors of the City. This is a stepping stone in our strategy to develop in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the energy transition theme of Vision 2030.”

Ibrahim Sleiman, Executive Chairman of ADC Energy Systems, stated: “We are privileged to be part of the development of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City and to team up with the Dalkia EDF Group delivering more of our extensive EPC record in district cooling and to be part of the Kingdom’s energy conservation initiatives.”

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City will have a connected load demand of almost 40,000 tons of refrigeration when fully occupied. This demand will be met by two district cooling plants with an interconnected network to facilitate the availability of chilled water throughout the City.

The first phase of the district cooling plant is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year in addition to a chilled water network. The plant will use treated sewerage effluent as condenser cooling water as a water conservation measure. Another feature of the system will include thermal energy storage, which will reduce power consumption during peak periods by producing and storing chilled water at off peak periods and using this chilled water during peak power demand.

Advanced control systems will be used to operate and monitor the district cooling systems.

Dalkia EDF Group, a leading provider of energy services in France, will operate and maintain the future district cooling network. The engineering, procurement and construction company ADC Energy Systems will be in charge of the construction work.

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City is located in the Irqah neighborhood, adjacent to Wadi Hanifa, on an area of around 3.4 square kilometers.

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022 | 17

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY

wider refrigeration solutions and air purifier ranges. To spread the word, we look forward to kicking off our brand awareness campaign that explains who we are: experts in the air quality industry.

As goes with any business, we have worked hard to overcome certain challenges that we faced over the course of the year. Some of these challenges involve the supply chain – however, given that Daikin is well-positioned globally, with factories in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and China we are in a strong position to manage our supply chain with a plan in place to better serve our customers.

HEALTHY AIR

TUNA GULENC, VICE PRESIDENT OF DAIKIN MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA, D I S C U S S E S T H E C O M PA N Y ’ S L AT E S T O F F E R I N G S , T H E E M P H A S I S O N I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I T Y, A N D A M A R K E T O V E R V I E W O F T H E M I D D L E E A S T

What are the goals and objectives of Daikin for 2022 and do you believe you are on track to achieve these goals?

At Daikin, we categorise our business goals and objectives through three different pillars, which include growth, localisation, and business lines. To set the stage, our goals towards sales growth have been accelerating as planned, as we saw Daikin’s sales transcend by 123% in just one year. As we put each market under the microscope, we have noted that our sales grew by double-digits across all territories – which motivates us to continue the pace and thrive above and beyond in 2022.

Since the start of 2022, we have aimed to complete and strengthen our localisation direction in key markets 18 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

following a successful opening in Nigeria last year. For the remainder of the year, we at Daikin hope to achieve this goal by building strong channels with partners and further aim to strengthen our business in North Africa and transform our solutions to better fit the market as we work towards establishing an office in Morocco. In addition, Daikin aims to launch/ amplify its ‘Breathe Health’ brand campaign across key markets to further raise awareness and understanding of its objectives. Adding to this, increasing sales and service manpower in KSA, Qatar, and Egypt in alignment with our vision for Fusion 25: expanding our presence in the region.

In addition, Daikin works towards its business line goals by investing in

What are your thoughts on the market overview in the Middle East?

The Middle East as a whole has been gradually recovering and with significant uptake in tourism, especially in the UAE. Aside from the UAE, we see that the KSA market is booming, and we have also seen room for opportunity in the Qatar market, given the upcoming World Cup. In addition, Africa is one of our top emerging markets for air conditioners with Nigeria being one of the strongest, followed by Egypt.

As a whole, the region is moving towards more sustainable practices and regulations, having COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE. Moreover, we see an increasing focus on health and overall well-being, driving more demand for air quality products. There have also been large developments within the hospitality & residential sectors which further support the current/growing state of the market. Our innovative full food chain solutions ensure food safety in transit, storage, display and processing, and we aim to offer the most convenient and efficient solutions to fulfil any requirement of the market.

Tell us about the latest products that are being manufactured by Daikin?

At Daikin, we aim to help people to breathe easy in high regard and in line with our vision, we have launched several innovative solutions in recent times covering a new range of air purification solutions for both commercial and residential use, Hygienic Air Handling Units for healthcare applications, and WWW.CBNME.COM

HEALTHY AIR | TUNA GULENC

inverter split types of air conditioners.

All new systems provide high energy efficiency, comfort and IAQ levels.

We have seen that choosing the right air conditioning (HVAC) systems and purifiers for your home or office can vastly improve your quality of life.

Daikin’s MC55VB poses a unique double method by having high power plasma discharge technology, and the patented streamer technology that provides further purification to open spaces. Taking up a small amount of space and very quiet, Daikin’s MC55VB takes three steps to decompose harmful substances – with powerful suction, effective capturing of pollutants with the electrostatic HEPA filter, and decomposition by oxidation removing up to 99.97% of fine particles with the streamer technology.

How do these products increase energy efficiency?

Daikin was among the first to respond to the growing demand for air quality solutions by tapping into the power of technology to provide products and services designed to improve air quality and promote efficient cooling and energy consumption. Daikin’s products use the latest technology to ensure optimum efficiency, using unique swing compressors and R32 refrigerants along with online energy monitoring and management via different cloud solutions.

How is Daikin taking steps to achieve its sustainability goals?

Daikin’s sustainability goal is to provide safe, healthy air environments while striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero. This goal aims at reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 throughout the entire lifecycle of its products. To achieve this goal, we need to act in every aspect of our business operations. From materials procurement to development, production, transport, installation use, recovery, and recycling.

In fact, 98% of the product lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions occur from the energy consumed during operation and from the emissions resulting from the use of refrigerants.

To reduce the environmental impact of using air conditioners, Daikin is developing and adopting the inverter

technology in its wide product range to help reduce energy consumption during operation time.

Refrigerants are essential to the heat exchange of air. However, when emitted into the air, refrigerants affect global warming. Daikin is gradually designing all its products to use lower global potential refrigerants such as R32.

“Loop by Daikin” is our revolutionary refrigerant program and an essential part of our commitment to creating a sustainable future, via Recovering, Reclaiming, and Reusing the refrigerants in our new all-in-one service solutions.

Daikin’s mid to long term strategy to reduce its net emissions to zero consists of the following blocks: 1) Through Supply chain - Decarbonize its operations via a green and efficient supply chain including production 2) Through Products – Increase the energy efficiency of products, development, and adoption of refrigerants with a lower global warming potential 3) Through Solutions- Use of energy management systems to carry efficient operation of buildings, provision of energy services throughout the value chain 4) Emissions offset the remainder by recovering and reclaiming refrigerants, spreading the use of heat pumps and water heaters, use of renewable energy and protecting forests Daikin’s efforts to spread the use of high energy-efficient air conditioners using low global warming potential refrigerants have improved its contribution to greenhouse gas reductions by 70 million tons-Co2 in the fiscal year 2020.

To reach carbon neutrality in 2050 while maintaining sustainable growth, Daikin has set goals to reduce its net emissions by 30% in 2025 and by 50% in 2030 vs its baseline emissions in 2019.

With your vast experience in Daikin, how has the industry evolved in the past 10 years and where do you see it going in the next decade?

Over the past decade, we have not only noted a shift in consumer behaviour through the increased demand for a complete solution or service - from on-site support and installation to troubleshooting and maintenance but

“At Daikin, we aim to help people to breathe easy in high regard and in line with our vision, we have launched several innovative solutions in recent times covering a new range of air purification solutions for both commercial and residential use.” a rise in demand for ACs overall. As such, experts at Daikin have ensured our customers are satisfied from point of purchase to providing exceptional post-purchase services. Daikin has also taken a focussed approach on energy efficiency, which is why low GWP “R32” has replaced other refrigerants and heat pumps in Europe are replacing fossilfuelled based boilers. With that in mind, we at Daikin have shifted our focus from product sales to solution sales. Over the past 10 years, Daikin has not only doubled revenue, but acquired several HVAC-R businesses across the globe, including Airfel in Turkey, Goodman in North America, Zanotti in Italy, and AHT in Austria.

Over the next decade, we foresee exponential growth in the Middle East and Africa regions as the global demand for air conditioning is on track to triple through 2050 according to the International Energy Agency.

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DRONES

HOW DRONES ARE REVOLUTIONISING CONSTRUCTION B Y D R . A N A S B ATAW, D I R E C T O R – C E N T R E O F E X C E L L E N C E I N S M A R T C O N S T R U C T I O N ( C E S C ) AT H E R I O T- WAT T U N I V E R S I T Y D U B A I

T

he past few years have been phenomenal for the construction industry. An upward trend in growth has meant that the industry needed to keep up with the demands. According to the latest statistics, the UAE construction market is expected

20 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

to reach a value of USD 133.53 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.69 per cent over the forecast period (20222027). The introduction of various technologies in the construction industry has also been extremely beneficial.

Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Machine

Learning (ML) has positively impacted the sector and supported its growth.

However, the industry has been slow in embracing new digital technologies compared to other sectors, even though the long-term benefits are significant.

One technology that has disrupted the industry is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as drones.

Drones provide construction teams with an overhead view of job sites, people, materials and machinery used.

In addition, developers and contractors can use drones to record images and videos that help enhance everything from grading plans and operations to working conditions of the people .

A report by McKinsey showcased that the construction industry battles with a great deal of inefficiency. For example, large construction projects WWW.CBNME.COM

SUSTAINABILITY SECRETS BEHIND GERMAN PAVILION

“Drones can regularly or instant check a construction site from above to survey the area for lost items and establish visual contact. Drones can also keep track of equipment location, helping individuals locate equipment when required.” typically take 20 per cent longer than expected to complete and are up to 80 per cent over budget. As construction sites provide a lot of data, developers and contractors stand to gain from data collected by drones. Drones are outfitted with downward-facing sensors, such as RGB, multispectral, thermal, or LIDAR, helping them capture a substantial amount of aerial data in a shorter period than it would take for people to do manually. Furthermore, a tool that site surveyors usually rely on when determining the contours and temperament of a construction site is two-dimensional (2D) maps. But there are high chances of these maps being inaccurate or out-of-date due to various gradual changes that may have occurred on the land, which could lead to disastrous and costly errors needing change when the project has advanced.

Drones click images from numerous angles. Through these images, software create 2D and 3D maps with geolocation information and the maps developed through these images allow accurate measurements of distances, surfaces, elevations and volumes.

Monitoring of progress on a site is also comparatively easier with the usage of drones. Site managers have the key responsibility to have to regulate and confirm completed work, and they need to be constantly aware of all the work taking place. The faster the managers can check and validate a task, the faster the construction workers can move ahead to the next task. This not only saves times but also allows the site managers to keep a full track of the work being done and completed. Managers can also conduct regular surveys to collate a record of progress.

Furthermore, remote collaborations have also improved due to the usage of drones. Traditionally, surveyors, construction leads, and architects

had to be physically present on-site to gather information on the progress of a particular site; however, with the involvement of drones capturing overview images with – the progress can be directly connected to the phones or computers and monitored remotely. This also helps different people involved in the construction process by allowing them to watch the site in real-time at any given point.

Another important aspect of construction sites is to be safe for the workers. Safety is critical to a construction environment. To understand the site conditions and rule out dangers, inspection personnel needed to be physically present. However, when they are multi-storey sites, or deep excavations it can be difficult for safety personnel to reach the areas. Drones can now scout areas that are difficult to reach, helping developers and site managers to understand and eliminate risks to the workers. Drones can float up close and hover to safely inspect the area with various imaging abilities, including thermal cameras that can

detect disruptive heat signatures and other construction gaps that are invisible to the naked eye.

Drones can also be key in managing and keeping track of assets. Various sources state that the loss or theft of tools and equipment is a challenge that’s estimated to cost the global construction sector millions of dollars every year. As construction sites are huge, assets can be difficult to manage and locate and easily go missing. Drones can regularly or instant check a construction site from above to survey the area for lost items and establish visual contact. Drones can also keep track of equipment location, helping individuals locate equipment when required.

As they are extremely technologically advanced, drones can also support various digital tracking applications that can detect the locations of items even when visual contact might not be possible. For example, a well-equipped drone can instantly scan large areas for items fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags or even use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to find tools and equipment.

Drones are proving to be a technology that will continue to evolve and become more advanced to support various aspects of construction. From visual applications to safety support, drones will continue to be key in the future of one of the fastest-growing industries globally.

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TALKING POINT

MAKING A LOCAL

impact

How Husqvarna is driving change within the construction community B Y O R TA N S A K AT S I , H R & O P E R AT I O N S M A N A G E R , H U S Q VA R N A C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O D U C T S , M E A R E G I O N

T

he working world is a male-dominated space, with women comprising 47% of the total workforce. One of the industries that is famously dominated by men is the construction industry, of which women make up only 10.9% of the talent pool. Taken into tally with total female employment, the industry only sees 1.25% of the benefit of female employees. The drivers of such distinctive figures include bias, pay gaps, poor training, and others, based on gender. Still, women are persevering in the industry, breaking through glass ceilings across the world. In the UK alone, Randstad found that women in construction management roles increased by 9% between 2018 and 2020.

22 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

As we get closer to achieving gender diversity across the workforce, there is evidence that recruiting women is highly beneficial. McKinsey & Co. revealed that the most gender-diverse companies are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability than companies with less diversity. The same report stated that construction companies that placed more women in executive roles had above-average financial performance compared to those that didn’t. Those that had 30% or more of executive roles held by women had a 48% better chance of being more profitable than those that were less diverse.

This year, two million new jobs are expected to open in the construction industry and organizations are looking to hire more women than ever before to utilize WWW.CBNME.COM

MAKING A LOCAL IMPACT

their skills. After the stellar year that construction had in 2021, employing more women may just be the best way to continue on an upward trajectory.

If we look at the state of women in construction globally, of the total female employees in the industry, little less than 87% are in office positions and around 2.5% of tradespeople are women. Women also comprise only around 14% of staff executives and 7% of line executives. To compare, men hold 33% of staff and 46% of line executive positions. However, this has increased over the last 5 years globally, with companies welcoming more women into such roles.

In the UAE, the construction industry is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 1.8%Y-o-Y from 2022 to 2031, which will see its value rise from US$40bn in 2022 to US$46bn in 2031. This shows that there will be a solid creation of jobs in this arena. The country is a regional pioneer for women in the workforce and has implemented a myriad of initiatives and entities in each city to support the country’s working women.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2021’s index results in Economic Participation and Opportunity showed that 58% of

“HUSQVARNA IS A FLAT ORGANIZATION, MEANING THAT WE EMPOWER PEOPLE IN THEIR ROLES AND THEIR TITLES ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS PERHAPS IN OTHER COMPANIES, SO PEOPLE ARE TREATED FAIRLY DESPITE SENIORITY.” the gender gap has been sealed, with the UAE being one of five of the mostimproved countries. For example, the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) holds an annual Women Leadership Exchange Programme to guide women on sustainable leadership practices and offers great networking opportunities.

Dubai Economy and the Dubai Business Women Council have teamed up for various webinars and workshops for women during the pandemic as well.

Historically women have primarily had back-office roles influencing parts of a project but never being the face of one. There is a lack of diversity in construction leadership, which compresses the thought process and progress.

As a Swedish company, Husqvarna Construction Products has diversity & inclusion integrated into its

culture, believing in equality for every employee, not just women. We are recognized globally for having one of the best working environments and this is currently a strong movement in our company, positioning women in leadership roles is a top priority globally and locally. In the UAE, we have four women that are all in key leadership roles and our Global Vice President is also a woman so there is diversity and inclusion from the very top. Having more women in leadership roles has proven to bring a more balanced thought process and skill set to the organization.

Husqvarna is a flat organization, meaning that we empower people in their roles and their titles are not as important as perhaps in other companies, so people are treated fairly despite seniority.

As an HR & Operations Manager, I am people-oriented and empathetic in order to build collaborative relationships & achieve Husqvarna’s mission and vision in the most efficient way. While recruiting, we are always looking for candidates who bring a different perspective and are qualified for the role they have applied for, no other factors or biases come into play. We have always put the need for the right skill sets at a leadership level as our focus so we can navigate business in today’s environment effectively.

Though the reality of a gender-diverse construction industry comes a step closer as time moves forward, there is still much to be done to truly integrate women. To expand recruitment criteria and better employee retention, companies need to be aware of the factors that slow diversity and inclusion down.

Eliminating gender bias, full-fledged training programmes, support groups more tailored towards female employees and having women involved in the hiring process can set the tone and position the company in the right way.

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022 | 23

CBNME

REPORT

SAVILLS

Luxury brands to focus new store activity in large domestic driven markets in China, the Middle East, and North America

I

n 2022, luxury retailers are likely to continue expanding their global footprints with new store activity in large domestic markets in China, the Middle East and North America, according to Savills recent report on the global luxury retail market.

Following on from the spending patterns of the past few years, China is expected to become the world’s largest luxury market by 2025, according to Bain & Company. In recent years, new store activity globally has largely followed the Chinese luxury consumer into destination markets. However, with the pandemic restricting international travel, the firm recorded that 21% of the total luxury

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goods spend last year took place inside of China.

Whilst China was the only market to increase its share of new openings last year, in quantum terms, there is also a reported bounce in new store activity in the Middle East, albeit its global share held at 3%, highlighting the under-tapped potential of the region.

In 2021 in the Middle East, there was increased activity in Saudi Arabia where historically Dubai was the focus for new store openings. Particularly, there was a very marked increase in the dominance of ultra-luxury with such brands accounting for 92% of new store openings in the Middle East.

Kenny Lam, Retail Advisory, Savills Middle East, says, “In Dubai, many luxury brands are represented by monobrand stores through local franchises and partners but with the recent change in government policies, we are seeing international brands come in directly looking to take back full control of their stores. As was the case with China, activity in these markets last year was also focussed on those markets with large and relatively affluent domestic populations, and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain all currently represent such opportunities for luxury retailers. The trend of new store openings in the region is expected to remain in focus as brands continue to explore the opportunity for directly owned stores.”

The top three luxury houses, LVMH, Kering and Richemont, continued to expand their share of new openings.

Together they accounted for 41% of all new openings globally in 2021, up on their 2019 share of 33%. The three players dominating the share of retail openings last year comes as no surprise considering their brand acquisitions prior to the pandemic. Given that they have accelerated their M&A and funding activity over the last 12-18 months, it certainly suggests that their dominance is likely to increase.

The Savills report also indicated that there was an uplift in luxury retail opening activity in North America in the latter part of 2021, with year-end numbers largely in line with that seen in 2019, however its global share of new openings was down from 25% in 2019 to 14%. While the major destination cities in the region, such as New York and Los Angeles, continued to attract activity, new openings were seen in cities relatively underserved yet still with relatively affluent populations such as Dallas and Houston.

Meanwhile, Europe has seen the most significant decline in new openings since 2019, with its global share of new store openings down from 35% to 14% in 2021. This reflected the decline in tourist spend in several European destination cities through the pandemic, a key driver of luxury spend performance in some markets.

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TOP 30 FACILITY MANAGEMENT LEADERS IN THE REGION

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01

JAMAL ABDULLA LOOTAH

GROUP CEO | IMDAAD

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amal Abdulla Lootah is the Group CEO of Imdaad, a Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable facilities management services that enhance operational efficiencies of physical assets.

Ranked first in CBNME’s FM Power 30, Lootah was previously the Director of Human Resources and General Administration at Dubai World, a global investment company launched in 2006 with more than 50,000 employees in over 100 cities and a revenue of US$18 billion (2008), 28 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

Lootah started his career with the Security Department of Dubai Port Authority and is highly renowned for his outstanding leadership style, excellent administrative skills, and the ability to build and maintain a company culture with a 95+% employee satisfaction rate.

A big believer in innovation and foreseeing change, Lootah is a lifelong learner who reads extensively about past and present business and technology leaders like Steve Jobs and Jack Welch. A father of seven children and a frequent participant in local marathons and equestrian adventures, Lootah enjoys spending quality time

with his family, and is an avid fan of classic cars, Arabian horses, and motorcycles.

During the past year, Imdaad has consolidated its market leadership by successfully onboarding prestigious new clients including Abu Dhabi Business Hub, a premium Mussafah district business park that serves as home to some of the emirate’s most exciting new start-ups and ventures.

The company also remains the preferred service provider for the nation’s major seaports, harbors, and financial institutions.

Imdaad has also played a significant role in the success of Expo 2020 Dubai by delivering on its five-year Total Facilities Management (TFM) services contract at Expo Village, its official residential district. Encompassing a total area of around 4,892,040 square feet, the contemporary gated community features several clusters of residential units together with a diverse range of retail outlets and community amenities.

Isnaad, a subsidiary of Imdaad and an award-winning Soft Facilities Management service provider, strengthened its presence across key sectors and steadily expanded its footprint in the region. The company won contracts worth AED 60 million throughout 2021 and renewed over 75% of its existing contracts, expanding its market presence throughout the country.

2021 was a highly positive year for Imdaad despite challenges facing the FM sector resulting primarily from slowing global economic growth, with a considerable increase in new contracts and renewals resulting in an impressive 95% customer retention rate.

This string of successes has continued well into 2022. In only the last few months, the company has expanded its business scope considerably by inking a number of lucrative deals with major cultural entities such as the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, leading educational institutions such as The Indian High Group of Schools, and the Green Community, one of Dubai’s most high-profile residential areas.

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02 TARIQ CHAUHAN

GROUP CEO | EFS FACILITIES SERVICES GROUP

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Tariq is relentlessly working to build the case of upskilling in the FM industry and raising the bar in built environments and workplaces.

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ariq Chauhan is a Harvard alumnus, entrepreneur, and well-known Indian businessman. He is the CEO and Co-founder of EFS Group, a visionary leader in the industry, having built EFS in less than a decade from 100 million to crossing a billion in revenues. Mr Chauhan

TARIQ IS RELENTLESSLY WORKING TO BUILD THE CASE OF UPSKILLING IN THE FM INDUSTRY AND RAISING THE BAR IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS AND WORKPLACES. HE HAS SET NEW BENCHMARKS IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT THROUGH QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY, PEOPLE INITIATIVES AND INNOVATION. is also well-acclaimed as a thoughtleader, writer, columnist and visionary in global facilities management. Tariq’s work in FM and Business Prudence is well acknowledged. He has authored over 100 articles in various publications, including his regular columns in UAE Major dailies.

Tariq is among the Top CEOs ranked in 2021 by Forbes Middle East and the Top 5 Indian Executives in the Forbes Ranking from 2014 to 2019. He is ranked 12th by Construction Business News amongst the Top Business Leaders. He was awarded the Industry Leader of the Year 2020 by Innovation in Construction & FM Awards and ranked second in Construction Business News FM Power 30 (2021).

For almost three decades, Tariq has been championing upskilling and welfare of blue-collar workers within his organization as well as on global platforms like the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the Harvard India Conference, the Indian Consulate in Dubai and Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP) or the Indian Council for International Co-operation and Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention organized by the Ministry of External Affairs.

In addition to platforms like Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and many others.

EFS has acquired several honours due to Chauhan’s pioneering leadership that includes the Taqdeer Awards and Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards (2018), Top 50 Private Companies by Forbes Middle East, Best FM Company of the Year

by BNC Publishing and the Expo 2020 Better Together Awards for Worker Welfare Initiative of the Year and Service Provider of the Year (2019), and the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards (2020). EFS has also received the prestigious Taqdeer Award for its contribution to Expo 2020, Dubai’s Worker Welfare and Health & Safety standards, implementing the best labor practices and exceptional service towards Expo 2020 while maintaining highly engaged and motivated staff. The Taqdeer Awards is an initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, honoring laborers and construction industry-related companies for excellence.

Tariq is relentlessly working to build the case of upskilling in the FM industry and raising the bar in built environments and workplaces.

He has set new benchmarks in facilities management through quality service delivery, people initiatives and innovation.

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30 Over the last two years, Stuart has driven sustainable business growth against the backdrop of the pandemic.

As global economies recover and businesses get back to the ‘new normal’, Stuart has spearheaded initiatives and continuous improvement programmes that have enabled Emrill to grow yearon-year.

Stuart has led from the top, setting an example to employees at every level of the business. While he actively encourages employees to take ownership of their responsibility and empowers them to navigate their own career paths, he is known for being accessible and approachable, thanks to his hands-on approach to mentoring and the professional development of Emrill’s excellent people.

Stuart has prioritised transparent and open communication with clients—not just in the contract winning stage but also during the delivery of services to ensure Emrill continues to meet the needs of its valued partners and clients and adapt to the evolving requirements of the dynamic facilities management market.

03 STUART HARRISON CEO | EMRILL

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s the head of Emrill’s executive leadership team, Stuart Harrison is responsible for driving Emrill’s performance, and delivering operational excellence and robust financial performance. With over 29 years’ experience in a range of technical, operations and senior business roles across a wide range of projects in facilities management, construction and engineering, including management services in critical environments, such as international gateway airports, hos32 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

pitals and healthcare facilities, Stuart draws from a deep understanding of the facilities management sector and expertise in client relationships to ensure Emrill delivers unrivalled services.

Stuart is a chartered professional, CMI manager and is also a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. He developed the first NICEICaccredited electrical training course in the UAE, which was introduced at Emrill to further raise electrical contracting standards in the Middle East.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE: Operational excellence achievements: > Tech Companion app launch. > Efficiency-enhancing app extended to vertical communities. > Emrill Hub launch. > Don’t Walk By mobile app and portal. > Behaviour-Based Safety app and portal.

Promoting Safety By Choice—Not By Chance Building on the success of Emrill’s award-winning Safer Together and Happier Together with Emrill, Stuart has been a champion of Emrill’s latest safety initiative: ‘Safety By Choice— Not By Chance’.

These focused initiatives include: > CPD-certified Health & Safety Risk Management in FM. > Frontline Heroes Workplace Safety. > Behavioural Based Safety (BBS). > Road To Zero. > Not One Fall. > Health and safety workshop for supply chain partners.

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30 Gary has overseen all the growth and changes and built a formidable team at ServeU with a purpose to serve the industry well and keep updating with the latest changes, understanding customer behavior, and aligning with the needs of the industry.

04

GARY READER

GENERAL MANAGER | SERVEU

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ary Reader has been a part of the Facility Management (FM) industry for the last 30 years, which includes his current four-year journey with ServeU, a wholly owned subsidiary of one of leading real estate developers in the UAE - Union Properties.

ServeU is regarded as one of the leading facilities management companies in the UAE, with a rich history of FM expertise spanning over 40 years.

Since its inception, the company’s top-most prior-

ity is to provide the best and most effective maintenance, engineering, cleaning, and ancillary services directly aligned to clients’ business objectives. The FM industry has been quite challenging over the years, but we have been growing, diversifying, and have aligned with new trends and technologies in the region. We have sculpted the perfect balance between technology and human assets, streamlining and regulating the maintenance, all while activating a quick response process.

Gary has overseen all the growth and changes and built a formidable team at ServeU with a purpose to serve the industry well and keep updating with the latest changes, understanding customer behavior, and aligning with the needs of the industry. Furthermore, Gary is responsible for client management, operations, and overall performance of the company as with his extensive experience in the UAE brings a holistic understanding of service delivery at important multiple venues with high footfall.

Gary strives to achieve operational excellence to not only ensure world class standards but also drive the growth of the business. He is committed to enhance the values and the mission of ServeU by ensuring their team members work in synergy with each other to deliver the best services.

The company has a lot of potential and has a big role to play in the ever-evolving FM industry, which keeps adapting to accommodate new trends and to cater to the changing needs of the partner industries.

During Gary’s tenure at ServeU, he’s encouraged partnerships and collaborations as it will enable the company to further contribute to the development of the UAE’s FM sector.

ServeU collaborations pave the way for them to enhance our management services.

2020 was a challenging year for ServeU, however, through the team’s smart decision making and coordination, ServeU have achieved quite a lot. Their decision to heavily invest in service delivery automation has brought major improvements in their operations. This has resulted in ServeU securing a customer satisfaction rating of 93 per cent.

Through ServeU performance, they have won several longterm contracts with clients from different portfolios in the second half of 2018. Their recently added clients include a large and well-established theme park in Dubai, a leading government transportation provider, a top UAE bank with 56 sites across seven emirates, as well as a prominent higher education provider.

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05 TAREK AL ASSIL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | EJADAH ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP

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arek Al Assil is an FM Professional and executive leader offering 14+ years of experience in managing and leading various facilities for both Private and Public Entities in the GCC. His experience includes FM operations, Engineering and Senior Business Roles.

Tarek joined Ejadah management in 2018, he was appointed to lead and develop departments such as business development, mobilization along with leading operations for portfolios such as Emaar, Meraas, Merex, Nakheel etc… In his years of experience his role has evolved and currently designated as Executive Director of Ejadah 34 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

overseeing primarily the Commercial Division of the Organization.

Business expansion is one of Tarek’s key strengths – Tarek lead and launched new business solutions like Shabaka (a B2C solution for In-unit maintenance and management), Staffing solutions and Work at heights.

Ejadah being a well-established and leading company in the region Tarek’s goal will be to maintain its ranks as one of the regional leaders in FM and to expand further with new business and client-oriented solutions.

Tarek told BNC, “Our hard work during pandemic and beyond was well recognized by our clients. We were entrusted by many major develop-

ers for the management of their FM Contracts. To cater these contracts and support our many new business expansions we recruited and deployed over 4000+ FM professional. We are proud that we are amongst the Organizations to support UAE’s job market by opening many job opportunities especially during difficult times like COVID outbreak and while its aftereffects still last in the job market. Our success in the past years is clearly depicted by the strength that we have grown into”.

“UAE’s built structure has been investing and implementing the adoption of automated building solutions. We have seen a demand and higher growth in the Hard FM Sector due to the same. Ejadah is chosen by many elite buildings due to our technical ability. We will be further investing and expanding our skill base in Hard FM category. On the other hand, Ejadah is now preparing to take a bigger leap in Energy based solutions for our FM clients and to support various green initiatives. With our ongoing effort to adapt to the new normal in cleaning industry and for keeping it at the highest standards, we have received remarkable response from our client.

To go further, we are also focusing on launching new Robotic Solution to promote operational efficiency in cleaning sector”.

He also added that “we are not only thinking about us, but we also think beyond. We are constantly promoting and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) from FM Industry.

We have registered, evaluated, and on-boarded several SME’s to be a part of our constant effort in providing best customer focused services. SMEs are provided with benchmarks on service levels; our intent is to give them a fair chance to be amongst the leaders and exhibit their abilities”.

Tarek has a strong technical and operational background in FM. He has an eye to detail especially when it comes to operational efficiency, creative service delivery and cost saving solutions. Tarek has directly supported the win of many contracts for Ejadah by presenting to its client with unique and efficient solutions.

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The new architecture of the EBS system, combined with disc brakes on all wheels, greatly improves the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s safety in the most demanding applications.

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06 MOHAMMED ALSHARAF

DIVISIONAL CEO | IFM HOLDINGS

S

ince Mohammed Alsharaf joined the company, he has fronted major expansions for iFM Holdings while focusing on services of the highest quality and growing both organically and inorganically to bring outsourced functions in-house with a goal of maximising profitability.

As part of its extension strategy, iFM Holdings acquired Inspire Integrated that accelerated its service offerings and industry-specific scalability.

New contracts through Tafawuq doubled the size of the organisation while 800TEK expanded to the Northern Emirates.

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In addition to 100% client retention, it won some prominent contracts such as the UAE Pavilion at EXPO 2020, a long-term MoU signed with First Abu Dhabi Bank and FAB Properties and multiple projects in Egypt.

As the Divisional CEO, Mohammed believes in transformational leadership to boost employee morale and nurture a culture of development across his teams. Under his leadership, the employee turnover has marginally reduced. iFM Holdings and its parent company, Eltizam Group, value their teams and take measures to make their jobs as inspiration driven as possible.

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30 “To me, communication is the key aspect to ensure customer happiness – as a leader, if one motivates through open communication we are eliminating room for error, avoiding challenges and ensuring outstanding experiences for our stakeholders. In addition to exceeding our customers’ satisfaction, the company has seen a growth of 400% in the past four years. Not only have we progressed financially, we have also transformed to paperless FM operations as part of our commitment towards the technological evolution of processes within the industry,” said Mohammed.

The company has come a long way in the industry, where facilities management was more about preventative maintenance as compared to today’s more technology focused solutions that use IoT and smart building solutions. iFM is constantly evolving and implementing proptech solutions that will enable it to monitor KPIs and measure competencies throughout the company.

As of 2021, iFM Holdings carried out 88,000 PPM tasks per annum, 41,200 reactive tasks per annum and has grown to 6,500+ employees, delivering service with a passion. As part of its expansion strategy and vision for the business, it intends to take its exemplary FM services to global destinations.

“At iFM Holdings, we are known for our company values – we are resultsoriented, reliable, innovative and dedicated. With an aim to increase revenue 2.5-fold by 2026, we have a lot of plans in the pipeline one of which includes expansion to the healthcare and education sectors,” said Mohammed.

Moving forward, the company is looking at inorganic growth of its portfolio through mergers and acquisitions and smooth post-merger integration; aggressive expansion in high growth territories including Egypt and Saudi Arabia and technological advancements through PropEzy. “Furthermore, we are looking to add value to the portfolio through adding new contracts, vertical

integration, entry into new territories and investing in companies that are beyond our portfolio. Sector convergence and growth into adjacent business activities are the key strategic drivers for our decisions in pursuing acquisitions in the real estate sector.

It also paves the way for us to enter

new markets and helps us focus on accelerating growth in the upturn and positioning for the future. For example, our acquisition of Inspire Integrated Solutions opened a window for us to provide services to the infrastructure sector,” concluded Mohammed.

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07

MOHAMAD ABOU LABAN

CEO | DEYAAR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

W

ith more than twenty years of experience working in the GCC’s facilities management industry, Mohamad held senior positions in various local and multinational organizations. He is known for his passion towards his customers and the service quality delivered to them. Mohamad has a proven track record in implementing international best practices, improving safety standards, increasing profitability and driving efficiency. For the past 4 years, Mohamad has held the position of CEO at Deyaar Facilities Management and is also the recipient of CEO of the Year 2021 by CBN ME. At Deyaar FM our aim is to achieve sustainable growth. We have started off this year on a high note and expect to continue with the same momentum whereby exceeding the expectations. For any company the biggest asset is their staff and it is important that we take care of them.

With the recent weekend changes, Deyaar FM decided that our white-collar staff will work a 4 and half day week to increase productivity and motivation within the work week. We have already noticed a positive change with this decision.

From a growth perspective, it was important for DFM to add more services in-house, hence we have started in- house chiller maintenance and façade cleaning and repairs as a new segment. Moreover, we also aim to penetrate into new sectors and provide those Clients with tailor made solutions. Deyaar FM will continue investing in technology, particularly in the augmented reality domain with an aim to improve service delivery, increase customer satisfaction and to reduce costs. As part of enhancing and streamlining our internal

processes, we have now launched our new comprehensive app enabled HR system whereby all the activities are done online and in real time.

We have seen the FM market re- emerging strongly out of the pandemic. At Deyaar FM we have been successful in achieving the expected growth for the year 2021.

Deyaar FM recorded a 60% increase in manpower for the year 2021 achieving an 18% overall business growth where we have signed 29 new contracts. We have also ventured into new sectors within the UAE market like Healthcare and Retail.

Deyaar FM successfully attained the ISO 41001 Facility Management certification as well as the BICSc certification thus reaffirming our commitment to providing quality services to our Clients. These accreditations will help us standardise our policies and procedures further enhancing our service delivery. We now have two fully equipped training centres where all our staff shall undergo professional training.

We have successfully executed a transformational strategy to meet the highest international standards and best practices, which positioned the company as one of the UAE’s leading FM service providers known for delivering high quality service and cost-effective tailored solutions.

MOHAMAD HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES, IMPROVING SAFETY STANDARDS, INCREASING PROFITABILITY AND DRIVING EFFICIENCY. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022 | 39

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08 STUART MCGREGOR

GENERAL MANAGER | BK GULF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

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B

K Gulf Facilities Management (BKG FM) is recognised as a truly integrated facilities management service provider.

The ability to undertake specialized engineering services, based on local and international standards and supported by certified, qualified, experienced staff, has been the result of achieving a strategic objective of distinguishing themselves by offering engineering services on par with traditional MEP companies, but within a facilities management service delivery methodology and framework.

For BKG FM, 2021 continued to be a success with new and key contract wins, including clients like The Accor Group, Brightstart , Etihad Arena , Jumeirah Group and Multiplex. The forecast going forward is positive, with a focus on increasing the portfolio with our existing clients, as well as breaking new ground within other areas and regions of the market which align with both our Business Development game plan and overall strategic objectives.

During 2021 we have focused on digitalization and successfully implemented our ARTech assist and several other innovative technologies which have significantly increased our productivity and allowed us to fully integrate various systems, resulting in a proactive and seamless approach to taking over projects and collecting functional, relevant, and uncompromised data, delivered from day one of any new contract.

Our portfolio has significantly increased, reaching a total of over 35 million sqm managed facilities.

BKG FM takes pride in retaining and increasing manpower, along with increased employee motivation and boosted loyalty which has reflected into higher productivity and profitability.

The approach is to not only train, but mentor and promote young FM Professionals.

After experiencing 38% growth in revenue during the previous year, we have continued to secure further new contracts in 2022 and grow our secured portfolio. We have experienced new contracts from existing clients and others from completely new clients. BKG FM continues to exceed approved budgeted requirements of our shareholders both in revenue growth and profit.

We are hugely excited by some behind the scenes development that we are currently undertaking with a European partner which compliments the Emirates Supreme Council of Energy plans to cut carbon emissions by 30% by the end of 2030, as part of the UAE’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and will take our FM business to a completely different level to that of our competitors. More will be seen of this when we are ready to launch.

We will also continue our focus on digitalisation and implementation of latest technology, allowing a proactive and seamless approach to new projects as well as excellent service delivery.

Stuart McGregor told Construction Business News ME: “We continue to progress and grow and have some great opportunities ahead of us. The work we are doing with a European partner will be our next big step in asset management and will certainly be a differentiator for us in the market. We continue to find differentiators that enable us to be a progressive and forward-thinking business, and I applaud our clients who work with us and understand the value that we add to their assets and businesses, as well as the savings we create for them through excellent facilities management. Later this year we will launch our game changer and I’m truly excited about it.”

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09 ENG. ANSARI

CEO | ADEEB GROUP

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ith a master’s degree in engineering, Ansari entered the working space as a humble engineer in the UAE 30 years ago and has earned his way to be designated as the Chief Executive Officer of Adeeb Group.

Ansari experience over the years has ranged in serving numerous clients in industries such as construction and Facilities Management. These years of gaining knowledge have helped to attain the Fellow membership status in IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management).

As the CEO of Adeeb Group, Ansari is tasked to ensure sustainable growth of the company and fueling the Facilities Management market in the region.

Ansari told Construction Business News ME: “I’ve worked toward our vision in line with our organization’s values and have put huge efforts into engaging our stakeholders in alignment with our vision and strategy. The industry is growing at a rapid pace and the expectation from our customers are also increasing, these demands adopting changes from technology to process to upgrading human skills. My industry operates heavy on manpower and ensures the welfare of our staff and supporting their growth is my mission.”

As a business leader with a technical background, Ansari analyses market trends and helps his peers to adopt these changes for the betterment of our community and industry.

Sponsoring innovations and creativity is key to the development of Adeeb’s business and the output and thus driving these innovations are very important for me.

Developing a future-ready culture is

critical currently and the Adeeb group has been open to the same.

Ansari commented: “People are my strength and ensuring they get adequate training is key to my success, we initiated the concept of “Sharing knowledge is Caring” where we encourage team members to train their peers and share their experiences.

Using this process we managed to provide over 9500 hours of training to all the staff across the board. These included topics, such as best practices, grooming, HSE, mental health, and so much more. Apart from that specific technical training online and in-person are being provided.”

Most important changes and achievements during Ansari’s tenure: > Implemented ISO 41001:2018 Facilities Management Standard and be the first company in the Abu Dhabi region. > Attained the Certification of BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science) in October 2019 > Achieved OSHAD Certification from Abu Dhabi Municipality. > Successfully implemented waste management program by complying Tadweer norms > Attained the Certification of BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science) in October 2019. > Achieved ICV (In-Country Value) Rev.3 certification by ADNOC with 40.02 scorings. > Conducted ICV session by ADNOC at our Auditorium for various suppliers. > Employee Recognition Award program was organized to recognize long service employees of 10 years and awarded with Trophy and Incentives. > Organized COVID-19 committee to combat the situation and developed Business continuity plan to overcome the business interruption and service

the clients without any hassles. > Achieved WHO appreciation Certification for the COVID19 partnering platform. > We are in process of ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management standard and to be the first company in the Abu Dhabi region. > Monitoring and controlling the operations of Facilities Management and also dedicated to examining that the quality and customer satisfaction are achieved at a higher level > One of the Top 10 participants certification in EEG’s Recycling Campaign > Employee of the Month program has been initiated to recognize employee performance and incentives are given to the best performers. 104 employees are yearly chosen as the best employee of the month. > Certificate of Appreciation received from “SAAED” Association. > Signed an MOU with Focus for Technological up-gradation in October 2020. > OSHAD Certification from Abu Dhabi Municipality > Co-organized Panel discussion in association with EEG in support of Environmental awareness > Employee engagement programs like indoor, outdoor sports, Employee rewards programs and long-time employee appreciation with rewards programs > Graduate Engineer Trainee Programs / Internship for Students > World Heart Day / Awareness talk in HO to all staff by NMC Hospital by Dr. Kalyan Dutta > Heat stress Training offered to QHSE Team by Abu Dhabi Municipality in order to implement at our sites. > Conducted various COVID19 awareness sessions and distributed necessary protective measures for the employees. > Achieved COVID19 Participating partner certification from World Health Organization. > Organized a Free PCR Test campaign at our Head Office and continued to be conducted every alternate week in association with Yas Clinic.

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MOHAMMAD ABDUL KARIM KHAMIS

CEO | EMIRATES NATIONAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (ENFM)

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ohammad Abdul Karim Khamis is a young Emirati from Dubai and one of the visionaries, energetic and respected Facilities Management experts in the UAE marketplace. He has completed his graduation of Bachelor in Civil Engineering & Master’s in Strategic Management as well as a certified professional in Owner Association by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority RERA, well trained in Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) from International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) in New Orleans, LouisianaUSA and Facilities Management Transformation from Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA) which helped him to have overall 15 years hands on experience in Operational and Managerial level to lead the Integrated Facilities Management business.

His 15 years of journey in the industry with the both Govt. and Private sectors has driven with leading innovation and business excellence activities focusing in launching the innovative ideas and cost-effective solutions leaving positive impact on end users.

Presently manages EnFM covering all the functions. He reports to the board and responsible for the strategic growth of the business in UAE. He is pioneer in establishing the FM business entities, prior to EnFM he was successfully institutionalized established Deyaar Facilities Management as standalone entity of Deyaar Development PJSC. Emirates National Facilities Management (EnFM) has been driven with cultural values through the visionary leadership has led to implement strong resilience business continuity plan in overcoming emergency crisis and disaster management resulted in growth in spite of Covid-19 scenario. Currently, EnFM manages over AED 225M worth of contracts covering 800 sites across the UAE. Headquartered in Dubai.

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His 15 years of journey in the industry with the both Govt. and Private sectors has driven with leading innovation and business excellence activities focusing in launching the innovative ideas and cost-effective solutions leaving positive impact on end users. various projects with the magnitude of up to AED 35M/- (single contract value). Our state of the art CAFM System increases the operational efficiencies alongside helps us in faster decisions through real-time data driven dashboards. Our 10 years of journey in delivering the services across the UAE has developed the resilience in adopting the changes required to meet and exceed the client expectations including during the unforeseen situations.

2021 was a remarkable year in the history of Emirates National Facilities Management (EnFM) as we take business to the next level of journey in the UAE Market. EnFM has witnessed highest growth in terms financials and overall organizational development ensuring the progressive customer satisfaction with increase in confidence with our clients.

EnFM has won 20 contracts by entering in to Energy, Oil and Gas Sectors. Further, Inhouse service delivery capability has been increased with addition of delivering of Engineering solutions, Chillers and Façade Cleaning Divisions.

On operational side we achieved 90% SLA/KPIs and the mobilization time frame has been reduced by 50% with implementing the innovative solutions.

Implementation of CAFM System, Mobile applications for customers, sub-contractors & operations team and Real time Dashboards.

Which has led to achieve the Zero Paper Consumption at EnFM office and sites Operating sites.

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“WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LEAN SIX SIGMA, EVERY DAY WE EMPOWER OUR EMPLOYEES TO LEAD PROJECTS TOWARDS NOT ONLY FINANCIAL SAVINGS BUT ALSO TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.”

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GREG WARD

MANAGING DIRECTOR | TRANSGUARD GROUP

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reg joined Transguard Group as Managing Director in 2016, with over 25 years’ experience working across diverse industries. Transguard Group, is the leading business solutions provider in the UAE, offering support services in Facilities Management, Security, Cash Services, Hospitality, Manpower, Aviation, as well as catering (via Taste of Home), consumer services (through Transguard Living) and more. It is one of the few companies in the UAE that reported a profit despite the severe challenges and impact of the global pandemic.

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During this time, Tranguard Group launched two of our four new businesses: The first is Transguard Events and the second is Luxury Yacht Staffing Solutions.

Greg told CBNME: “With the Introduction of Lean Six Sigma, every day we empower our employees to lead projects towards not only financial savings but also to customer satisfaction, process improvement, and operational excellence.

When people talk about growth, they talk revenue and profit. When I talk about growth, I talk people, revenue, and profit. Therefore, we came up with the Centre of Excellence and we spend so much money on developing our staff, so that our customers get the quality they’re after.”

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DULSCO

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ulsco’s key role in Expo 2020 Dubai highlighted the company as the region’s leader in sustainable living. As the Expo’s Official Waste Management Partner, Dulsco exceeded expectations by successfully diverting 90.9% of all waste generated prior to and during the event, away from landfills. The company strategised ways to recycle all forms of waste, including paper, plastic, glass, organic, and construction debris. Dulsco placed

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solar-powered compactible bins across the Expo grounds, used biofuel to power their vehicles and electric buggies to transport waste within Expo to their facilities for sorting. They also spread awareness to educate millions of visitors about sustainability practices. At the core of Dulsco’s ethos is sustainability, the spirit of which the company anticipates will continue into 2022 and well into the future, to pave the way for a more eco-conscious UAE.

RENAUD CAPRIS CEO | ENOVA

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ince July 2019, Renaud Capris leads Enova, a joint venture between Majid Al Futtaim and Veolia created in 2002, providing energy and facility management services for a wide portfolio of public and private clients across the Middle East.

Renaud joined Enova after nearly two decades within the Veolia Group, working in positions across the Energy business in France and Eastern Europe. Renaud previously led Siram by Veolia in Italy, focusing on energy efficiency across a wide portfolio of industries in the region.

Renaud holds an Engineering degree from Ecole Spéciale de Mécanique et d’Electricité (ESME Sudria) in Paris, France.

Since his start as CEO of Enova, Renaud placed a high importance on continuing the digital transformation journey with a strong focus on being customer-centric and supporting clients following the motto #SustainingYourGrowth. Both focus areas became even more visible and crucial during the Covid pandemic, when Enova rose to the challenge and presented as a true partner to clients across all industries.

Another area Renaud is promoting as the company’s leader is the staff well-being. Not only during the pandemic but all year round, he is leading by example and putting staff’s health & safety first.

In addition to a general growth mindset and strategy, Renaud is also passionate about driving sustainability in the MENA region, supporting both private and public entities in reducing their carbon footprints through Energy Performance Contracts. Ideally, all pure FM contracts should be completed by energy and water conservation measures as well as on-site Solar PV plants.

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30 “IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY PERIOD, WITH NOT ONLY NEW CONTRACT WINS BUT ALSO THE LAUNCH OF ABFM NEW SERVICE OF LUXURY HOME MAINTENANCE SERVICES, ‘REPARA’ DIRECTED AT DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES FOR HIGH END PROPERTIES.”

14 TONY MARTIN

CEO | AL BONIAN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

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ony Martin, appointed as CEO at Al Bonian Facilities Management (ABFM) in July 2018 has been working in senior roles in the region since January 2008 starting out at BK Gulf, QBG FM and Idama to now ABFM. Tony put emphasis on personal progression and the building of all aspects FM to the ABFM team, ensuring that training was funded, and individuals had the opportunity to learn and progress their careers.

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extremely challenging period, and as such, proactive strategies and measures had to be aggressively implemented to ensure business continuity, and progression toward and into 2022.

Tony told CBNME: “It has been a very busy period, with not only new contract wins but also the launch of ABFM new service of Luxury Home Maintenance Services, ‘REPARA’ directed at delivering high quality services for high end properties. During the previous 12 months ABFM have successfully renewed all existing contracts and added substantial properties to their portfolio through new wins.”

The most iconic being Meydan Grandstand, golf course and Race-

course which is proven to be an enormous challenge to ensure readiness for the Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race in the world. Due to the importance of these recent tenders and wins, and in the attempt to move on from Covid19, Tony personally overseen the entire bidding and negotiation process, to lead his team to success.

The expansion of ABFM in the previous 12 months has been considerable, this in addition to a very high volume of variable works within fixed contracts and winning work for one-off projects within their portfolio, building on the relationship with the client.

This has seen an increase in resources of 18% and increase in revenue of 31% in the period of 12 months. By default this also meant that the business support and corporate numbers have increased considerably, especially with doubling the numbers in the 24/7 helpdesk facility, that ABFM have had to expand their office space and double its capacity.

Tony has brought to ABFM, focus, a desire to be successful, deliver quality services and grow exponentially within the region. Leading by example and showing his team that anything is possible.

Even though the competition is either global funded or nationally led FM organisations, do not let this intimidate. Use this in the quest, and fuel for success.

2022, is proving to be under the leadership of Tony Martin, a very exciting and successful year for ABFM in its continued growth within the region.

The company under the stewardship of Tony for these past 4 years has quadrupled its revenue, showing healthy profits, continued success and increasing of its portfolio with some very high-profile clients.

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30 “WE HAVE VALUES THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF THE COMPANY, AND I BELIEVE I HAVE PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN ACCENTUATING THESE THROUGHOUT EACH BUSINESS ENTITY UNDER IREC HOLDINGS AND ITS PEOPLE.”

15 NASER BARHOUM

DIVISIONAL CEO | IREC HOLDINGS

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ltizam Group’s new structure gave rise to iREC Holdings in Q3 2021 to control and oversee the group’s real estate management activities, including community and property management business lines and leading advisory services. Since inception, we have acquired numerous companies and partnered with prominent brands that allow us to capture both market breadth and depth with the aim of increasing the overall portfolio.

As the Divisional CEO of iREC Holdings, Naser is com-

mitted to delivering the highest standard of services to all stakeholders and to lead by example so that all the business entities within the company are motivated to pursue a customer-focused strategy.

“To me, customer satisfaction is a key performance indicator and this is something that should be embedded in a company’s culture – from top level to blue collar colleagues, everyone’s goal should be the end-user,” said Naser With a customer-centric mindset, iREC’s strategic priorities in the upcoming years include greater penetration into the leasehold market segment, expansion beyond the UAE & Oman into key markets in Egypt & KSA, the expansion of revenue streams through consultancy, inorganic portfolio growth through mergers and acquisitions, multiplied annual revenues and a focus on customer experience and happiness.

“We have values that are at the core of the company and I believe I have played a large role in accentuating these throughout each business entity under iREC Holdings and its people. We strive to provide the highest quality of services according to international standards; we ensure transparency, professionalism, accountability and trust; we constantly monitor trends while keeping up with innovation and adapting to change and mainly, we are driven by the company’s success. It wouldn’t be reasonable to say that I brought about a change within the company because it is a collective effort of all our team members,” said Naser Most of the leaders within the company, including Naser, truly believe in the power of people. The secret to their organisation’s revolutionising success is their work family.

“The change that I have brought about is to invest in our people, in training, developing and nurturing them. It’s a simple equation, if the people are happy the company is happy and when the people grow, the company grows. We are confident we can achieve this on account of our people, our ability to transform and with the integration of the dynamic technology available to us,” explains Naser.

With the fast-paced tech-world, like most industries, technology is redefining how property and community management is performed around the world. Clients, end-users and staff are expecting to get more done online, without the need for face-to-face interaction, physical offices and paperwork.

“In our industry, the key technology trends are virtual reality, aerial drones, cloud-based management software, smartphone technology, sustainability and blockchain. To understand that change is an inevitable part of growth, to embrace that change and to nurture it – this is when you know an organisation is reaching for the stars. By accepting the everchanging tech-industry and incorporating it within our day-to-day business, we are jumping on the bandwagon for the sky and beyond,” concludes Naser.

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30 PRABHU’S CAREER SPANS OVER 18 YEARS OF PRODUCT, BUSINESS, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON ENTERPRISE-SCALE SOFTWARE FOR IOTBASED CONNECTED SERVICES, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SOLUTIONS, AND TELECOM NETWORK MANAGEMENT.

16 PRABHU RAMACHANDRAN FOUNDER AND CEO | FACILIO INC.

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rabhu Ramachandran is the founder and CEO of Facilio Inc. Facilio is an AI-driven property operations platform that allows real estate owners to aggregate building data, optimize performance, and control portfolio operations - all from one place. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Padova, London, Dubai, Chennai & Singapore, Facilio is a global company backed by leading investors including Accel Partners, Tiger Global Management, Dragoneer Investment, and Brookfield.

Prabhu’s career spans over 18 years of product, business, and customer experience focused on enterprise-scale software for IoT-based connected services, sustainable building solutions, and telecom network management.

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Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, he was the Director of WebNMS, the IoT division of Zoho Corporation.

At Zoho, he was responsible for and directly oversaw strategy, innovation, product, marketing, and revenue operations of end-to-end telecom and IoT building solutions that a number of enterprises rely on for connected services to this day.

Prabhu is an advisor and technical committee member at Net Zero Buildings of the Indian Green Building Council and is known for helping, educating, and speaking at various events on improving operations and sustainable practices in real-estate. A pioneer in the field of SaaS and IoT, he strongly believes that technology can be leveraged to drive environmentally responsible facilities that create a positive impact on the world.

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Delivering Exceptional Integrated Facilities Management Solutions

with Comprehensive Global Standards

iFM is a wholly owned Holding Company under Eltizam Asset Management Group. iFM is a tech focused facilities management company with entities focused on the full spectrum of physical asset classes.

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SANJEEVV BHATIA CHAIRMAN OF SB GROUP | CEO OF NETIX GLOBAL

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eadquartered as Netix Global BV in SchipholRijk (Netherlands), Netix Global is aiming for a connected world with sustainability and carbon neutrality as the central focus. Netix Global is a leading solution provider that specializes in the digital transformation of energy management and automation in homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure development and various industries. Building on the strengths of an open framework and IoT technology-driven approach, Netix Global is a premier provider of best-in-class building automation systems, solutions and services.

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A ceaseless and ambitious serial entrepreneur, Sanjeevv Bhatia is the Chairman of SB Group and CEO of Netix Global BV, a vendor neutral iIBMS automation solutions provider, with a strong focus on solutions for sustainable smart buildings, smart cities and energy efficiency, including an intelligent Integrated Command & Control Center (iICCC) for remote monitoring & management of facilities. He is the force behind an impressive portfolio of companies, offering cutting edge products and services across the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA. Sanjeevv is also the Managing Director and Partner at Teknoware Middle East, and CEO of ODS Global WWW.CBNME.COM

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30 DMCC, Exenture Global BV, Netix Global BV and Exenture Films India Pvt Ltd, Sanjeevv’s urge to address unmet needs through innovation has found expression in an array of market leading ventures.

After Sanjeevv founded the SB Group in 2008, the group’s expertise increased and opportunities arose, the subsidiaries were conceived, developed, and grown.

“Today, regardless of their standalone capabilities and scope, I have embedded sustainability, energy efficiency, and savings as the cornerstones of each,” said Sanjeevv.

“I realised it’s not enough to just rely on the goodwill that ODS global has enjoyed so far and expanded the team with a wider knowledge base so that a customer would never have to rely on a 3rd party for any service. Through our “Right to Repair” and “Are you tired of your current BMS” campaigns, we have managed to educate our customers that they too have the option to have a fully functional system on their premises and it won’t cost them an arm and a leg.”

Sanjeevv had been studying the Software as a Service (SAAS) model for many years now and was convinced this is the future, that it is beneficial to a client with multiple properties.

“Today our integrated intelligent Control Command Center (iiCCC) is so advanced and versatile that customers see the benefits right away. And with every passing month, more and more AI-based algorithms are added, making our platform highly effective. Customers can enjoy the benefits from Day 1 of implementation,” Sanjeevv explained.

“Teknoware Central Battery System is well accepted and part of over 90% of consultant specifications in the market for new projects. Despite this, our team ensures that we visit our consultants and clients regularly and help design projects in the most cost-effective and energy-efficient manner,” Sanjeevv concluded.

“I REALISED IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST RELY ON THE GOODWILL THAT ODS GLOBAL HAS ENJOYED SO FAR AND EXPANDED THE TEAM WITH A WIDER KNOWLEDGE BASE SO THAT A CUSTOMER WOULD NEVER HAVE TO RELY ON A 3RD PARTY FOR ANY SERVICE.”

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SANJAY BHATIA

GENERAL MANAGER | CONCORDIA

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oncordia provides high quality integrated facility management services to over 45 million square feet of commercial and residential properties. Concordia also manages one of the largest pieces of privately owned interconnected infrastructure around the world.

Our service delivery processes are built around accredited International Standard frameworks of ISO and BICSc. This enables our team of 1,400 strong personnel to consistently deliver high-quality, value-added services to our diverse range of customers.

Concordia currently services over 60 towers with its innovative methods, efficient processes and high quality opera-

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tional delivery. We provide a full suite of in-house services including MEP, Fit-out Management, Cleaning and Security, in addition to more specialized services such as Building Mobilisation, Rope Access, Parking Management, and Security Systems Maintenance & Pool Maintenance.

What sets them apart is their investment in people, advanced technical capability, training standards and dedicated support through our unique CAFM and first class customer service infrastructure.

Concordia Services touch the lives of over 150,000 people every single day, 365 days a year. We see this as a privilege and our team works hard to ensure that Concordia makes a positive difference to every life that it touches.

ENG. ABDULLA BIN ABED CEO | HIGH-POWER SERVICE (HPS)

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igh Power Services (HPS) is the Facility Management and Construction arm of Dubai Limited Investment, a holding company managing a diverse portfolio of services, assets, and investments in the U.A.E Eng. Abdulla Bin Abed, CEO of High-Power Service (HPS), has propelled the company to great heights making HPS stand out from the competition.

HPS started its journey with Operation and Maintenance services catering within the group and has grown to offer other business streams and complimentary services such as Hospitality Services, Utilities Management, Specialized Engineering & Design Consultancy, and Project Management in a short span of time to meet market demands.

High Power Services reports a 45% revenue growth within the last four years, a remarkable achievement for the company, in addition has ambitious plans to set up their own construction division along with constructing their own office building which is anticipated to kick off in a month from now. This will mark another outstanding milestone for the company.

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> Adding Revenue Streams and Services In-house; including specialised services > Increasing the number of Clients in HPS Portfolio Eng. Abdulla Bin Abed’s strategy is to fully focus on building a positive and supportive workplace environment, constantly working to improve processes, systems, develop new and innovative ways to provide their clients with the best possible service.

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“THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SPIRIT OF SERVICE LET THEM SUPPORT THEIR CLIENTS, ADDING VALUE IN EVERY PROJECT AND WORKING WITH THE MAXIMUM SECURITY, FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN ANY WORLDWIDE LOCATION, TO GUARANTEE CLIENTS’ SATISFACTION IN EACH OPERATION THEY MANAGE.”

20 ALI DACHE

MANAGING DIRECTOR SOLMED ALLIANCE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

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s the Managing Director for Solmed Alliance - Planned, updated, and directed regular tasks to ensure key completion of activities of Solmed Alliance within in line with corporate standards. Lead the business development and marketing activities to achieve revenue growth and long-term

targets. Contribute to the expansion of a long-term strategy and plans for the organisation on within the core values and objectives. Formulate detail report related to management tasks and submit final updates to sales, HSEQ, communication, logistics, I.T, finance and operations manager.

SOLMED Alliance is a Facility Management Company with international

networking-chain of offices and warehouses in the most convenient worldwide locations. Their knowledge and spirit of service let them support their clients, adding value in every project and working with the maximum security, following international standards in any worldwide location, to guarantee clients’ satisfaction in each operation they manage.

Proven track record of analyzing business requirements and establishing quality standards to improve staff performance, maximize corporate income and reduce overall cost. Demonstrate success in formulating training programmers to enhance workers morale and respect, while with high technology applications. Articulate communicator, skilled in quickly engaging team members and developing strong relationships with internal and external customers.

Proven expertise in: > Hospitality Policy & Business Planning > Budgeting & Contribution Estimation > Occupational Health & Safety Compliance > Hospitality & Facilities Management > Hydraulic/Electrical Services Management > Emergency Response & Waste Supervision > Cost Reduction & Profit Optimisation > Staff Leadership and Training

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30 The cost driven UAE market is now leaning towards achieving reduction in overheads by implementing energy retrofits for their properties (Improve Energy efficiency and/or decrease energy demand). As part of the energy retrofit process the Bin Dasmal contracting establishment provides services to assess the energy efficiency in a building to identify the most cost effective energy conservation measures by reducing the gap and assuring ROI to the minimum time.

21 SAHUL HAMEED

GENERAL MANAGER | BIN DASMAL CONTRACTING FACILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

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he Bin Dasmal contracting company have been committed to providing our customers with consistent quality services which are key contributors towards operational success of all organizations. BDC will continuously evolve through the refinement of their process through customer development initiatives and constant self-evaluation. With these values BDC strives to maintain its recognition in the FM building service industry.

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Low Voltage maintenance systems (BMS Access control, intercom) The principal role of a building management system is to regulate and monitor heating ventilation and air conditioning.

Along with BMS, Bin Dasmal contracting provide end to end security services.

The Bin Dasmal Contracting group are also involved in preventive and reactive maintenance services mainly consisting of firefighting systems, escalator/ elevator maintenance, fire alarm and firefighting, Duct cleaning and generator/UPS system.

Building cleaning services The Bin Dasmal contracting establishment provides a range of building cleaning services which improves the productivity, health and overall work experience of the employees. List of services include General cleaning, Office cleaning, Kitchen cleaning, Window cleaning, Floor stripping and waxing, flor polishing, Corridors and stair cleaning, Hard floor refinishing and parking area.

The BDC establishment look forward to extend and expand their expertise in the coming years in the FM sector with better IAQ solutions and sustainability initiatives combined with better energy saving options for the clients. The Bin Dasmal Contracting Company have been committed to providing our customers with consistent quality services which are key contributors towards operational success of all organizations.

BDC will continuously evolve through the refinement of their process through customer development initiatives and constant self-evaluation. With these values BDC strives to maintain its recognition in the FM building service industry.

Given the Covid -19 Pandemic situation, The Bin Dasmal Contracting group have been proactive in seeking the latest technology to improve overall IAQ. They have achieved this by combining industry grade sensors, (IoT), intelligent analytics and utilizing their already extensive knowledge and experience gained in the UAE market. Poor Indoor air quality would result in major health complications such as allergies and respiratory diseases. The BDC establishment offer clients a customized energy plan which best fit their technical requirement and budget.

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ASHOK KUMAR JHA OPERATIONS HEAD UNIVERSAL VOLTAS LLC

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shok handles multiple E & M Projects, which includes, MEP Projects in Fit out segment, EPC Projects of Oil & Gas (Onshore & Offshore fields). Five major projects are undergoing in Oil & Gas segment with ADMA OPCO, ADNOC Gas Processing, ADNOC Sour Gas, Al Jaber Energy etc.

As Head of Operations, Ashok has endeavour for the right technology, apt skills and right fitment of people so they can attain operational effectiveness and in turn achieve customer satisfaction. Using sustainable practises & environment friendly products to reduce carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency & enhance asset life. FM & Retrofit projects is the cornerstone for Universal Voltas operations and Ashok had led this business for close to nine years. During his tenure, operations has scaled up significantly and the revenue of FM & Retrofit business has grown from 45 mil-

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AYOUB AL MULLA COO | WORLD SECURITY

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youb Al Mulla joined World Security as Chief Operating Officer in 2019, bringing with him vast management experience gained from his 25 years with DP World. At World Security he leads strategic business planning and brand enhancement, diversification of product line, and cost optimisation.

Ayoub, who studied at Wharton School of Business under DP World’s Dubai Leaders Programme, is dedicated to

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PARRIS ULLRICH REGIONAL DIRECTOR | MENA, MACE

ondon- headquartered construction, consultancy and facilities management company Mace offers services across entire property lifecycles to help its clients, people, communities, and society.

“We work with our clients to help them achieve their corporate real estate ambitions, from addressing the climate emergency to challenging workplace operations, our collaborative and data-driven approach to managing corporate re-

lion AED to 120 million AED approx, which is close to 3X growth and accordingly the bottom line has also increased.

continuous improvement focused on enhancing revenue and streamlining business operations. He oversees business-wide changes to modernise procedures to boost performance, identify shifting market opportunities and sharpening the competitive edge of the company A forward thinker, he was previously VP-MEA Region, Jafza for 11 years, during which time he led the development of the flagship Jafza One facility. His other past assignments include Manager, Al Awir Free Zone, and as Superintendent in Charge of General Cargo at PCFC. Ayoub studied Business Administration and holds a Graduate Diploma in Maritime & Port Management from Singapore.

al-estate across the globe is famed for driving productivity,” says Parris Ullrich, Regional Director for MENA, Mace.

“Over 30 years, our growth has been fueled by an adventurous spirit and the relentless pursuit of a better way.

Today, we employ over 6,300 talented and passionate people across five global hubs in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, the Americas, Sub Saharan Africa, and Asia Pacific. Every day we’re moving closer towards our vision: leading the way to a more connected, resilient, and sustainable world.”

For Mace, the best opportunity for the business is utilising technology in building operations, whether that’s to optimise processes and generate efficiency, or to improve workplace experience or support sustainability goals.

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4S is the World’s leading, integrated security providor specializing in the delivery of security and related services to customers in more than 110

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MOHAMMED KABEER CEO | YAEMCO LLC

n 1997, Mohammed started his entrepreneurial venture with Yousuf Ahmed Electro Mechanical (YAEMCO) L.L.C, which deals with building maintenance in Abu Dhabi. The company grew upon his excellent vision, hard

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GEORGE THOMAS VICE PRESIDENT | EPSCO

PSCO started out in 1995 from very humble beginning driven by passion a clear vision, dedication, and hard work by all the staff that joined us having a strong belief in quality and value for money. The company was focused on two areas – water and air that were permanently linked to quality, environment, health, and safety. Over the years

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countries including UAE, where we offer wide range of services and solutions to more than 20 different sectors across the region.

G4S is the leading integrated security and outsourcing company in the UAE, where more than 800 customers, including private companies and the majority of Government departments depend on G4S to provide them with a safe and secure way to deliver their services.

work along with very sensible and analytical thinking with an attitude creating unique footprints in whatever he is engaged in, fashioned him as a well differentiated progressive entrepreneur. YAEMCO LLC achieved heights in the following years, thanks to the excellent effort led by Mohammed’s leadership.

Today as the company completes 24 years of services in UAE, YAEMCO LLC has grown completely into an Integrated Facilities Management company dealing with corporate clients and executing various Facilities management projects in UAE.

the company has grown into an international group in twelve countries on three continents with 18 branches specializing in services with quality, environment, and safety issues at the forefront of the business.

George joined the company in 1999, and has a double Master’s in Economics (MA) and Business Administration (MBA).

He has rich experience of 30 years in various organizational functions. He is trained in USA and certified as an ASCS and CVI. A certified asbestos inspector, he is also a lead auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. He leads the EPSCO team since 2009.

ENGINEERING TECHNIQUE SERVICES (ETS) FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

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TS is an established pest control, facility management and trading company in the UAE. Its vision is to create a healthier and more successful region by assisting customers with all their needs within their areas of expertise. ETS strives to understand how each of its clients’ unique situation which is why it approaches each job with that in mind.

The company provides individualised service to address the specific needs of its customers while offering advice on how to prevent further issues in the future.

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It endeavours to provide customers with advanced technology and employ a team of field officers to ensure it is working in the most effective way. ETS’ pest control team has developed relationships with equipment and chemical manufacturers to better its understanding of the options available.

All its maintenance staff are thoroughly trained prior to working on any systems while the interior fit out design team understands how to create a space that suits the needs of the customers.

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BENOY KURIEN GROUP CEO | AL HAMRA

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enoy Kurien, as the Group CEO of Al Hamra, has been the driving force behind the company’s remarkable growth in the past year.

In addition to demonstrating extraordinary resilience to the challenges posed by the pandemic, he steered Al Hamra to impressive growth, new partnerships, and strategic deals, with a focus on creating long-term value for the organisation as well as to enhance customer standards.

His strategic vision was reflected in a two-pronged approach: One, supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s destination strategy and positioning Al Hamra as the creator of premier lifestyle destinations, quality products and world class services in the region.

Two, creating exceptional value for investors, residents and visitors through its strategic associations with industry leaders to bring them diverse experiences.

Today, Al Hamra’s iconic projects, with an investment value of over $700 million, are catalyst of economic growth, create jobs and support core sectors including retail, hospitality, real estate, and leisure.

Under his leadership, Al Hamra partnered with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), offering the unparalleled opportunity to secure a 12-year residency visa and a business licence when customers purchase a ready-to-move-in seafront or golf-course view home in any of the Al Hamra’s master-planned communities. This has been a significant driver of new business growth, rallying investors from across the world.

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CONRAD PALLARES SAINZ DE LA MAZA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | ACCIONA

handle the Business Development for all the branches ACCIONA has in the Middle East. During my tenure in the company, we have open in Oman in 2017 and in Saudi in 2019. At this moment we are keen on expanding our business in Saudi Arabia which we believe to be the market with more opportunities soon. In Oman we are maintaining

our operations in Muscat and Salalah and recently we have started in Sohar. Lastly in Qatar we have grown quite substantially since our inception in 2013. We have a workforce of over 4,000 staff and we have recently been awarded 2 very large long term contracts in the aviation industry in country, which will allows to diversify our project portfolio.

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CBNME

MACHINERY

NEW LINNHOFF DRX AND TSD ASPHALT PLANTS TO BE BUILT IN INDIA LINTEC & LINNHOFF USED EXCON INDIA 2022 IN BENGALURU TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW LINNHOFF DRX DURABLEMIX ASPHALT PLANT SERIES. IT ALSO LAUNCHED ITS LOCALLY MANUFACTURED LINNHOFF TSD1500 MOBILEMIX ASPHALT PLANT. THE PLANTS WILL BE BUILT BY ITS NEWLY APPOINTED LICENSED MANUFACTURING PARTNER, GAINWELL ENGINEERING PRIVATE LIMITED.

Linnhoff DRX DurableMix Asphalt Plant There will be two models in the new series: the DRX1500DS, with a maximum capacity output of 120 tons per hour; and the DRX2000DS, with a maximum capacity output of 160 tons per hour. Both units offer productive operation with a batch cycle time of between 45 and 55 seconds and share a host of trademark features familiar to Linnhoff customers.

Foremost of these is the double screen drum, which combines the drying and screening of aggregates in a single drum to deliver the highest levels of operating efficiency. The inclusion of the double screen drum eliminates the need for a hot elevator or vibrating screens, which 60 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JUNE 2022

translates to lower operating costs and reduced maintenance requirements for Linnhoff customers.

Environmental credentials are boosted thanks to a pollution control unit that includes an ambient-air cleaning system to purify exhaust gas and filter dust.

This means clean air is released into the atmosphere. Precision and quality of the asphalt mix is assured thanks to a design that includes a separate weighing system with load cells for aggregates, filler and bitumen. Customers can be assured of reliability through Linnhoff’s long-standing business model that combines German engineering with local manufacturing using the highest quality materials and components.

Linnhoff TSD MobileMix Asphalt Plant Lintec & Linnhoff also launched its locally-built TSD1500 MobileMix plant from the Linnhoff brand at Excon India 2022. These units appeal to customers in India thanks to their high mobility attributed to four fully integrated main mobile modules with built-in chassis.

The TSD1500 features a maximum capacity of 120 tons per hour and is designed to conform to international land transportation requirements. Only prime movers are required for quick mobilisation and demobilisation. By offering important advantages in terms of enhanced mobility, the TSD1500 is ideal for use in remote locations or short-term projects.

All units come equipped with a hydraulic power pack self-jacking system, which avoids the need for high-capacity cranes during installation and dismantling. As with the new DRX models, they also include doublescreen drum technology for reduced fuel consumption and maintenance.

Lee Yen Meng, CEO at Lintec & Linnhoff Asphalt Pte Ltd said: “We’ve designed these new units to meet the needs of Indian customers, with a strong focus on productivity, speed and ease of use. These asphalt mixing plants are well-suited for all types of projects, and will be a great addition to the existing population of over 400 Linnhoff asphalt plants in India.”

Manav Kohli, Chief Operating Officer – CI, Gainwell Commosales Pvt Ltd commented: “We are very excited to be partnering Lintec & Linnhoff with their legacy brands spanning over 100 years of heritage, and with a long-standing history and reputation in India.

This partnership will enable us to extend comprehensive solutions to our customers. The DRX and TSD series of asphalt plants feature fast set-up and dismantling, and each unit is manufactured at the Gainwell facility in Asansol, providing for faster delivery.”

All Linnhoff asphalt mixing plants will be sold and serviced locally in India by Gainwell Commosales Pvt Ltd. WWW.CBNME.COM

Excelair. The Air You Breathe.

Excelair, Air Filters have been delivering high quality Air Purification Solutions across the globe for over 40 years. EXCELAIR, air filters provide a complete range of air filtration products from G2 up to H14 grade. We are also specialized in manufacturing customized filters, filter boxes and kitchen extract systems. Our comprehensive range of the EXCELAIR HEPA filters with high capacity and the latest development of high efficient filters with a MERV ratings up to 16A offers clients with a sustainable solution with a healthier atmosphere. CMS takes pride in having the only fully automated air filter test rig operating in Middle East, providing international standards of Air filter testing and air validation solutions to the market. With our 3 factories in UAE, we can offer the best lead time and timely delivery to meet the critical demands of our customers.

What matters is the air you breathe... EXCELAIR

AIRFILTERS | AIR OUTLETS | HVAC DUCTING | FLANGING SYSYTEMS | MEP ACCESSORIES | ADHESIVE TAPES | LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS CMSGLOBAL.COM | INFO@CMSGLOBAL.COM

CBNME

TRAINING PROGRAMME

“THE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERTEK WILL IMPROVE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH ACCREDITED QUALIFICATIONS. THIS INITIATIVE WILL HELP TO CREATE AND RETAIN A GREATER TALENT POOL FOR THE OVERALL INDUSTRY AND TO SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR THE REGION WHEN IT COMES TO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.”

INTERTEK AND KNAUF LAUNCH QUALIFICATION PROGRAMME TO ELEVATE STANDARDS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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ntertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, announced today that it has partnered with Knauf, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of building materials, to launch a training programme for contractors, installers and professionals. The programme is the first to offer Intertek Qualified Personnel (IQP) courses for drywall installers in the Gulf Corporate Council (GCC) region, and it is an extension of Intertek’s global initiative to independently qualify personnel to the highest industry standards. Trainees can enrol to become qualified for compliant installation of Knauf’s building materials.

The first group of graduates received their IQP certificates at a special ceremony yesterday.

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The qualification programme is designed for technical professionals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain and is delivered in the new Knauf Training Centre. Hundreds of professionals from the region are expected to complete this qualification every year, where they will learn how to optimise installation efficiency, how to reduce wastage and apply best practice to all installations in line with fire safety requirements. The training programme is an expansion of Knauf’s own education and examination programme for the installation of its systems, certified by Intertek for compliance with international fire standards.

Intertek’s IQP Programme increases the proficiency of participating installers and inspectors in installation practices, to

ensure that their work is at the highest level of quality and safety assurance.

Qualified professionals will be required to undergo a refresher training session every two years to maintain their qualification. The IQP Programme gives relevant authorities independent assurance that the installations meet all industry requirements and have been carried out by qualified professionals.

Amer Bin Ahmed, Managing Director at Knauf Middle East & India, said: “We are very pleased to offer IQP accredited courses in partnership with Intertek at the new Knauf Training Centre. The new programmes will ensure higher quality and safety standards for buildings, enable us to continue our vision for Quality, Sustainability, Health, and Safety, and train professionals with excellence through a growing range of courses.

The new partnership with Intertek will improve skills and knowledge through accredited qualifications. This initiative will help to create and retain a greater talent pool for the overall industry and to set a high standard for the region when it comes to professional training.”

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Living on the Leading Edge of Design KOHLER

For more details, please visit kohlercompany.com.