THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS JULY 2021 | CBNME.COM
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24 Innovation in Facilities
Management Awards 2021
The Innovation in FM awards 2021 is one of the leading events applauding the achievements of the region’s FM professionals. With over hundreds of nominations, 22 recipients were recognised for their achievements and contributions towards the continued success of the construction and facilities management industry.
8 EXPO 2020
22 OP-ED
“CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE” New Zealand at Expo 2020
THE RISING THREAT OF INFLATION JULIAN HASLAM-JONES a Global Construction Consultancy company, gives us the run down on the rising threat of inflation and the effects on the construction industry
10 TALKING PONT NEW GENERATION FM TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS have the key to solve current FM industry woes
12 PROJECT LIFESTYLE DESTINATION THE ASSIMA PROJECT is a new world-class lifestyle destination in Kuwait nearing completion
14 TECHNOLOGY JEDDAH SUPERDOME LOSBERGER DE BOER delivers record-breaking Jeddah Superdome event venue
18 INTERVIEW CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY Prabu Ramachandran, CEO and Founder of Facilio Inc.
50 REVIEW SETTING THE BENCHMARK A glimpse of what we can expect at Reem Island’s latest architectural landmark Pixel by Imkan Properties
52 TRUCKS CUTTING EDGE FAMCO launches new range of heavy - duty Volvo Trucks models in the UAE
56 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD In conversation with Fredrick Vimal, General Manager, SalesRenault, Al Masaood Automobiles
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EDITOR’S NOTE
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
CEO
Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net DIRECTOR
A
n increasing number of project managers, government agencies, architects, and designers are incorporating sustainable design and construction trends into their buildings. The worldwide growth of green building is only expected to continue. The construction sector has committed
to helping meet sustainability targets, through global agreements such COP21, the Sustainable Development Goals and Habitat III. However, like many sectors, challenges of meeting the sustainability standards exist in the construction industry. Sustainable projects should be financially viable to contractors and operators. This is feasible if we consider: (a) reduced life cycle costs (b) long-term benefits and (c) society’s demands. In the UAE, such projects do exist like Masdar and Sharjah Sustainable City. Masdar City will not consume a drop of oil, with an ultimate goal of realizing “zero carbon, zero emissions”. Sharjah Sustainable City will act as pioneers for the industry to showcase how you can build sustainably without compromising on lifestyle. There is no doubt that we see an increase in sustainable focused projects especially if in the long run the developers are able to save money and make real estate spaces cheaper for the final buyer.
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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. Printed by UPP
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EXPO 2020
“CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE” NEW ZEALAND AT EXPO REVEALS HOW ITS PAVILION THEME WILL BE BROUGHT TO LIFE
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ith just four months to go until the start of Expo 2020 Dubai, New Zealand is unveiling more detail about how the nation’s theme of Care for People and Place will guide all the engagement, activities, and events undertaken at the mega event inside the New Zealand pavilion and beyond. The theme is inspired by the indigenous environmental ethos of kaitiakitanga, the understanding that humans and nature are inextricably connected. It is a deep belief that humans have a responsibility to care and protect the land, sky and water and that nature will, in turn,
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provide and care for humans to sustain and safeguard a future for all. This Care for People and Place forms the theme for New Zealand’s pavilion and activities at Expo 2020 Dubai. “Our new video is a teaser as to what visitors can expect when they come to the New Zealand pavilion and an insight into our theme. As an inclusive and multicultural society, New Zealand takes a long-term, multi-generational view to both social and environmental issues, some of which can be seen in the footage. Our pavilion experience at Expo 2020 will demonstrate how we apply Care for People and Place to all facets of life, particularly when it comes to business, social inclusion, women’s empowerment, youth development, food
production and agriculture, our primary export sector. We believe this approach is helping to unlock significant economic advantage for New Zealand to leverage at Expo 2020,” said Clayton Kimpton, New Zealand’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 Dubai. The visitor experience within the New Zealand pavilion has been inspired by a key example of kaitiakitanga as in 2017, a world-first legal status was accorded to the Whanganui River in New Zealand. Under the legislation, the Whanganui River was and is recognised as a living entity, called Te Awa Tupua. The innovative legislation obligates the government, local authorities, and all communities of the river to work together under Tupua Te Kawa, the innate values of Te Awa Tupua. This important historical move from leading indigenous communities within New Zealand will form the base of a beautiful, immersive visitor experience which will leave guests with a deeper understanding as to why kaitiakitanga is so important to the planet. The experience will also show how and why New Zealand continues to push innovation and technology across a range WWW.CBNME.COM
“CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE” | NEW ZEALAND AT EXPO 2020
of important business sectors such as agtech, healthcare and food and beverage production in order to care and protect. “The idea that we are indivisible from the natural world is expressed through every aspect of our pavilion experience - from the architecture and building façade which is designed to ripple with a pulse coupled with the thoughtprovoking cinematic storytelling, to the entertainment and cultural programme that highlights a huge breadth of talent and an outstanding restaurant which celebrates New Zealand produce that is always made with care,” continued Kimpton. The New Zealand Pavilion will also feature a full-service restaurant operated by Emirates Flight Catering, where visitors can taste the outstanding quality of the country’s food and beverage offering. Named “Tiaki” meaning to care, safeguard, protect and preserve in te reo Māori, the restaurant demonstrates New Zealand’s special connection to the land and sea – a relationship founded on respect and understanding that when nature thrives, we all thrive. The country’s lush, green pastures, fertile soil and cool, clear waters combine to grow outstanding, great-tasting, nutritious produce, from a trusted and safe source. Beyond the design, experience and restaurant in the New Zealand pavilion, Care for People and Place lives throughout the country’s programming, entertainment and business interactions at Expo 2020. In another world-first, New Zealand is leading on, and working with, international Indigenous and Tribal peoples to deliver the first ever Global Indigenous Symposium at a World Expo. Known as Te Aratini, it will be a culturally significant moment, which is set to elevate the contributions, unlimited potential, and insights that Indigenous Peoples offer in solving current and future global issues. The symposium will be held in November 2021, during Expo 2020’s Tolerance and Inclusivity Week. In the spirit of inclusivity, Te Aratini will support attendees to develop a deeper and more holistic understanding of Indigenous Economic Inclusion and the converging roles of culture, community,
commerce and conservation in the protection, maintenance and resurgence of the world’s indigenous economies from an indigenous perspective. Expo 2020 Dubai presents a monumental opportunity for New Zealand to build on its already reputable international brand and generate economic benefits through increased trade and investment, particularly for its rapidly growing export sectors of agritech, healthcare, manufacturing and food and beverage. New Zealand exporters are expected to travel to Dubai during the six months of Expo 2020 to engage with international business leaders, promote innovations and seek investment. Care for People and Place also extends to future generations through extensive learning experiences and opportunities which will be showcased at Expo 2020. These programmes have been designed to support the growth of future leaders and include the Global Kaitiakitanga Project for young entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to world issues and a trainee chef programme which will see four talented young chefs from New Zealand work alongside professional chefs from Emirates Flight Catering in the Tiaki restaurant for a once-in-lifetime experience which will springboard their careers. A vibrant entertainment and cultural programme highlighting the country’s unique talent, creativity, diversity, and contemporary nature will surprise and delight the crowds and digital participants at Expo 2020 giving insight on how caring and entertaining people
is part of New Zealand’s rich culture. The programme has been curated and developed by New Zealand-born choreographer Parris Goebel who has placed particular emphasis on dancers, singers and street artists with Māori and Pasifika roots. One of New Zealand’s best-loved groups, Six60, was recently confirmed as part of the special line-up. The band gained recent international attention by being one of the first groups to play to large crowds in sold out stadiums, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the support of youth, empowering women and promoting gender equality is another area where New Zealand will be showing Care for People and Place. As a country with a long-standing commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, New Zealand will use its experience to lead a special event in conjunction with International Women’s Day in March called ChangemakeHER, which will see inspirational females from around the world share their tales, experiences, and learnings in the hopes of inspiring future female leaders. The country will also curate a World Majlis at Expo 2020 to promote gender diversity working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in partnership with Australia. New Zealand’s participation in Expo 2020 is supported by corporate sponsorship from several iconic New Zealand brands that are known as the Care Collective who each have their own approach to kaitiakitanga.
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TALKING PONT
New Generation FM Technology Platforms HAVE THE KEY TO SOLVE CURRENT FM INDUSTRY WOES b y TA R I Q C H A U H A N , G R O U P C E O O F E F S FA C I L I T I E S S E R V I C E S G R O U P
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odern Age CAFM technology platforms can address FM industry woes. For years, I have been advocating the case of a much more emphatic transformation of technology in the FM industry. In the wake of recent challenges faced by the industry such as a drop in gross margins due to client pressure, demand for a linear organization to cut overheads, rising skills gaps, workforce availability and productivity, everchanging landscape of built environments, technology indeed has the solution for most of these issues. Technology in FM, commonly known as Computer-Aided 10 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021
Facility Management (CAFM), can address these challenges. However, the moot point is the choice of technology and its implementation. The selection of the right technology and the solutions itself is critical as this must capitulate all business aspects. The platform must factor in mapping business needs, scalability and ability to integrate with all third-party applications. No matter how great the tech offering be, this requires an effective implementation across the project life cycle in context to project management and apt postimplementation strategy to address teething issues and ensure a successful launch with all stakeholders on board. A credible technology platform can
offer a comprehensive solution to all stakeholders, from the Client and its endusers to Service Provider and its supply chain. The selection of appropriate technology, successful deployment, and implementation of CAFM technology in an organization is highly dependent on its ability to ensure a 360-degree review of business organization at the operational level and the strategic business level. During implementation, the great focus should be on ensuring the end product aligns with the core fundamentals of integrating people, place, process and technology. While implementing integrated FM solutions, businesses must ensure that the coupled systems are resilient and malleable to avoid scenarios where the failure of one platform generates a ripple effect within the integrated system ecosystem. More focus must be placed on WWW.CBNME.COM
NEW GENERATION FM TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS HAVE THE KEY TO SOLVE CURRENT FM INDUSTRY WOES
building flexibility through a powerful business process engine supporting the platform that will ensure business to maintain robust change management. It will help collect and exchange data in the value loop to accommodate the continuous evolution of data standards and avoid obsolesce. Modern-day FM technology platforms indeed have the capability, but the industry needs to rethink its strategy. FM industry must step away from its fixation with asset management at the core of its FM platform. These need to centralize their operations under one platform through proper integration and bring all facets of their business into the core offering. The industry needs to realize that FM business has added much more to its menu than just asset management. An integrated FM model both for clients and service providers, contract management, is the core of
business operations. It is the services that are the main drivers, not assets, as many tasks are independent of assets. Especially in Soft and Office support services, the Contract Management Module is at the centre stage of the technology platform. It must be the principal focal point where all FM Contract parameters from Contract master to SLAs are provided. There should be independent submodules within the Contract management module such as Asset Management, Tasks & Performance Management and CRM. In the life cycle of integrated FM, the asset management module shall provide the building life cycle management to operating standards for PPM and reactive tasks based on given asset protocol, compliance, and regular task upgrades. This will also provide additional functions to support long-term building asset life cycle regime to monitor CAPEX costs and conditional assets survey periodic ranking reviews, asset uploading, and tagging. The sub-module of task Management primarily focuses on tasks performed in soft and support services that are usually independent of assets and mainly based on frequencies as per contract-specific KPIs. The Performance management submodule embeds the reviews of all contractual Service Level Agreements. Besides, it ensures real-live monitoring of closed and open tasks, reviews other KPIs through dashboards, and supports the contract CRM needs. The comprehensive technology offering does not mean a single-source platform but a well-calibrated business offering backed by a robust backend technology database solution with a complete middleware and supported through multi-party front end applications for mobility, AI and BI. Let me elaborate. How does comprehensive CAFM offering stand to address modern-day FM woes? For instance, besides the live environment on monitoring tasks, this will also help alleviate the financial prudence aspect. It brings better transparency about the CAPEX and OPEX cost of the built environment, a significant issue in cost management by building owners. The bonus will be the ability to forecast building lifecycle costs well in advance, a boon to all stakeholders. To operations,
it will help in live monitoring of the performance of tasks both in terms of time, quality and prices. To clients, it will provide complete transparency of costs, performance and indeed measure performance whilst also reducing HSE risks. Each of these provisions described above will help to enhance the value of assets that both end-users and critical stakeholders seek.
Tariq Chauhan, Group CEO of EFS Facilities Services Group
The integration of new-age tools such as AI, BI, and IoT sensors allows the operations team to make informed decisions. AI & BI tools can evaluate the data being collected, including information being transmitted from IoT sensors to allow for smarter resourcing decisions and provide the right tools for more informed decision-making for the operations team. All of this needs to feed through the CAFM system’s Contract management module to align the same with the overall SLAs and KPIs for the required service delivery. A fundamental factor to reckon for a success of a CAFM system is also stakeholders engagement during the business continuity. In the due process of operations, it is equally essential for Business stakeholders not to deviate from the due business mapping embed in the system and ensure appropriate data integrity and not allow people to compromise on its integrity. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 11
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PROJECT
LIFESTYLE DESTINATION THE ASSIMA PROJECT
A NEW WORLD-CLASS LIFESTYLE DESTINATION IN KUWAIT NEARING COMPLETION
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hile shopping malls in Kuwait now reign as preeminent cultural destinations, the entire retail sector is witnessing a major transformation in an effort to cater to an increasingly selective clientele that now demands a world-class lifestyle experience – not just a venue. Within this vein, Kuwaiti real
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estate giant, Salhia Real Estate Company, is collaborating with mega retail project expert, Pace, to deliver yet another ambitious, mixed-use development: The Assima Mall and Tower. The project, currently under construction, is already carving a unique place for itself on the national landscape, well before works are completed. Set to become a world-class destination for high-end shopping, entertainment, and leisure, the Assima development will
feature three distinctive components: a shopping mall, a commercial tower and a five-star residence hotel. The project takes its name from the Arabic word for capita city – in an effort to reflect its small city persona; bringing all the conveniences of a mini-city in the heart of downtown Kuwait, while offering variety of other key services, as well as a number of lifestyle and leisure facilities. Having delivered a multitude of successful retail and mixed-use projects across the region, Kuwait-based regional multidisciplinary firm, Pace has been brought on board by Salhia Real Estate to develop and tailor the existing designs of the project with innovative concepts that fit the needs of the Kuwaiti market. With a reputation amongst industry leaders as a firm that designs for speed and opulence, Pace is also overseeing construction works and ensuring topclass quality delivery to the highest of international standards of excellence. Speaking about the project, Chairman of Salhia Real Estate Company, Ghazi Al Nafisi, said: “As visionary developers, we believe that the mallsWWW.CBNME.COM
LIFESTYLE DESTINATION | THE ASSIMA PROJECT
of-tomorrow must be experiential and customer-focused. That is why we have created unique entertainment-oriented offerings at Assima to engage visitors at every possible touch point. Moreover, the project will actively boost the commercial value of Kuwait’s capital city and heighten its alure as a vibrant business and commercial hub. In terms of progress, we are pleased to have reached significant milestones with the Assima project. Every measure was taken to ensure the project’s adherence to the timeline in the safest and most efficient manner, given revised project timelines as a result of the pandemic”. According to Al Nafisi, the project is on track for completion by the end of 2021. On his part, Pace CEO, Architect Tarek Shuaib, said: “As partners of development, we are always keen on playing an active role in the ongoing efforts develop the region’s retail and entertainment sectors, as well as promote both foreign and domestic tourism. Upon its completion, Assima will become the latest in our portfolio of first-class mixed-use developments that are now considered prime destinations for leisure, tourism and entertainment, for both locals and international visitors”. The site for the Assima project is characterised by high street visibility and full prominent frontages at the junction of two main traffic arteries. A key component in this prime development is the Assima Mall, which offers visitors a high-end multifaceted lifestyle experience with large commercial and recreational spaces distributed over five floors. This includes urban parks, rooftop cafes, restaurants, a large-scale hypermarket, cinemas, entertainment, as well as various F&B and retail experiences, it will also house the Marriot Executive Hotel and Apartments, comprised of 11 floors located above the retail podium, with 164 suites with their services of restaurants, multi-purpose halls, and an on-site health club. On the other hand, the Assima Tower boasts 54 floors of office spaces, with a spectacular panoramic view of the city. Referring to its architecture and design elements, Shuaib said: “We succeeded in developing innovative
“AS PARTNERS OF DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE ALWAYS KEEN ON PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE ONGOING EFFORTS DEVELOP THE REGION’S RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS, AS WELL AS PROMOTE BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TOURISM.” and original architectural concepts, blending elements of Kuwaiti heritage with the contemporary design expected of a modern metropolis such as Kuwait City. Moreover, we sought to keep sustainability as a core driving notion behind the development of this project. It will sprawl across green lands, in compliance with the principles of sustainable development and natural ventilation, with technologies being used to ensure energy consumption, including the use of ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roofing for natural lighting, Therma-insulation for all
opaque envelop, and double glazed curtain walls/windows with air cavity for energy savings and optimisation of indoor air quality”. Furthermore, Shuaib added that the project boasts other architectural elements, such as a three-story tall waterfall flowing between cafés and fine dining restaurants, as well as panoramic high-speed lifts overlooking the entire mall, in addition to highrise floors that give visitors a sense of luxury and indulgence. The mall’s walkways are also designed to flow smoothly into the twirling internal corridors, harmonious with the play of light and surrounding nature. With construction works for the mall nearing completion, Shuaib underscored that the highest international construction technologies were employed on the project to ensure its delivery to the highest international standards. With structural works fully completed for the mall, and at 83% completion for the Tower that is 96.3% for the project overall), Shuaib noted that works currently underway include the deluxe interior works and finishes for the facades, along with other technical installations and utilities development.
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TECHNOLOGY
Jeddah Superdome Losberger De Boer delivers record-breaking Jeddah Superdome event venue
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osberger De Boer, the leading supplier of temporary and permanent buildings for events, public, commercial and industrial applications, has delivered the record-breaking Jeddah Superdome venue in Saudi Arabia, handing over
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the dome’s frame three days ahead of schedule and completing the project on time despite disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeddah Superdome has claimed the Guinness World Records™ titles for the world’s largest geodesic dome and largest dome with continuous roof. It is a multi-
purpose event space and will play an integral role in the Jeddah Season events programme. From live shows, concerts and sporting events to brand activations and exhibitions, the dome will host some of the Kingdom’s stand-out events. Although Saudi Arabia announced Jeddah Season, originally scheduled to take place in June and July 2020, plans were cancelled as part of the country’s measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak, work on the ambitious Jeddah Superdome project continued with an aim to continue the attempt to break the Guinness World Records™ title, and ensure it is complete when Jeddah Season returns. WWW.CBNME.COM
JEDDAH SUPERDOME | LOSBERGER DE BOER
Waleed Khaled, Losberger De Boer Middle East’s Regional Sales Director
“JEDDAH SUPERDOME STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE KINGDOM’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENT VENUES, SO IT WAS VITAL WE WORKED WITH A CONSTRUCTION PARTNER WHO FULLY UNDERSTOOD OUR VISION AND COULD DESIGN SOMETHING THAT MET OUR REQUIREMENTS EXACTLY.” In February 2020, Losberger De Boer was awarded the dome construction project by Jeddah Superdome’s operator, Sela Sports Company, the leading events management company based in Saudi Arabia. Losberger De Boer’s scope included the design and build of the structure, along with a project management and consulting role, coordinating with third-party subcontractors assigned by Sela Sports Company. In addition to manufacturing and constructing the dome’s frame, Losberger De Boer also installed the PVC covering, walls and doors. With a diameter of 210 metres and offering a covered area of 34,636 square metres and a surface area of 39,753 square metres, the dome has a ring beam built of 326 tonnes of steel to support the structure rings. Waleed Khaled, Losberger De Boer Middle East’s Regional Sales Director, said: “It has been an honour to work with Sela
Sports Company on such a groundbreaking project. Losberger De Boer’s in-house design team along with our trusted consultant Geometrica designed the dome’s concept, working closely with the client to meet every aspect of the brief and create an events space, the likes of which have not been seen in this region before. The adaptability of the space means it can be used for any large-scale event and can be repurposed quickly and efficiently for the next event. “Within weeks of the project commencing, the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Movement restrictions and periods of lockdown followed. However, even while work on the majority of projects in the Kingdom stopped, Losberger De Boer continued to work onsite, adhering to government regulations and guidelines. We were able to complete the frame three days ahead of the revised schedule despite the chal-
lenging conditions and have gone on to complete the remaining works within the agreed timeframes.” Committed to meeting revised timeframes and keeping construction on track, Losberger De Boer fabricated much of the dome’s frame onsite in a purpose-built fabrication facility. To mitigate the risks of delays in the supply chain, Losberger De Boer also sourced components from alternative suppliers less impacted by manufacturing facility closures and logistics interruptions. Losberger De Boer also successfully prioritised the health, safety and welfare of its team and subcontractor labour onsite. Before construction commenced, every person received comprehensive training, ensuring Losberger De Boer’s stringent health, safety and quality standards were adhered to throughout the build. While construction was ongoing, accommodation standards were closely monitored and additional precautionary measures were put in place. Khalid A. Alaraifi, Sela Sports Company’s Chief Marketing Officer explained Jeddah Superdome’s national importance as it will contribute to the Kingdom’s trade, culture and tourism development and why it was critical to select the right partner. He said: “Jeddah Superdome stands out as one of the Kingdom’s most prestigious event venues, so it was vital we worked with a construction partner who fully understood our vision and could design something that met our requirements exactly. We have worked with Losberger De Boer on other groundbreaking projects in Saudi Arabia, such as the MDL Beast festival. We have been impressed with the team’s in-depth comprehension of our goals, flexibility and ability to deliver stand-out structures while working within tight timelines. This was done thanks to God and then thanks to the unlimited support of the wise leadership and the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud.” Sela Sports Company is now inviting sponsors to enter into exclusive naming rights partnerships for Jeddah Superdome now it has officially started hosting events and exhibitions. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 15
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INTERVIEW
CONNECTED/TECHNOLOGY New construction projects are deploying connected software technology, as a mandatory budgeted item, from their commencement: Prabhu Ramachandran, CEO and Founder of Facilio Inc.
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CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY | PRABU RAMACHANDRAN
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uilding automation, and connected technology, were once thought of as only being relevant to the postconstruction phase of a building’s lifecycle. But with convenience, efficiency, and sustainability, becoming core concerns; the real estate landscape is evolving to smart buildings becoming the norm. And a large proportion of projects are now embedding automation and connected tech, right from the construction phase. More and more consultants are mandating that vendor-neutral, and connected operations & maintenance (O&M) platforms, which extract realtime insights from system data, be incorporated when properties become functional and are ready for launch. Much like mid-segment SUVs/cars today, which are all entering the market with connected-car capabilities - such as the ability to provide driver stats, unlock through phone, emergency assistance, etc. - so that owners can better run and operate their vehicles, we’re seeing new construction buildings open with a connected platform as a default tech infrastructure, to manage and operate properties. The perception around connected tech has evolved from a “nice-to-have” feature, which only a few progressive builders implemented in landmark buildings, to a default pre-requisite for any large construction
project. This technology has become so essential to creating modern infrastructure that it is now a ‘musthave’. Integrating connected tech early not only ensures that the construction phase is efficient and produces high-quality results, but it also helps FM Teams - and actual facilities management - integrate with operations right from the start, to deliver more value and efficiency, postconstruction. Prabhu Ramachandran, CEO, and Founder of Facilio Inc., the AI-based property operations platform, sat down with CBNME, to share his insights into the growing trend of construction projects deploying connected technology and automation, as a mandatory item. >>>
“The O&M teams are now able to leverage the power of cloud-based centralized software platforms, to integrate multiple building systems such as HVAC, fire response, security, etc.— under a single command and control mechanism.” CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 19
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INTERVIEW
WHAT SORT OF INTEREST ARE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LIKE FACILIO’S GETTING FROM BUILDING DESIGN AND TECH CONSULTANTS? “We have attracted considerable attention from building design and tech consultants. We have had some success with new building projects where the smart building consultants specified connected operations platforms such as Facilio, which can integrate with other automation systems, give teams access to a unified view of O&M, and centralize building operations. Smart building consultants and designers are playing an increasingly crucial role in the post-construction operations of buildings. And these professionals are now some of the strongest advocates in the industry, for the digitization of facilities management, tech-led sustainability management, workflow automation, mobile apps, data-driven predictive maintenance, and tenant engagement; as a default critical need for buildings to deliver longterm and sustained outcomes, through and beyond the construction phase. The industry, as a whole, has become aware and stresses the importance of enhanced asset lifecycle, improved operational agility, and seamless, uninterrupted occupant experiences.”
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CAN YOU SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF A BUILDING PROJECT, IN WHICH FACILIO’S SOFTWARE WAS DEPLOYED TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGYENABLED DIGITAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE? “One striking example that springs to mind is our involvement in the ICD Brookfield Place project, at Dubai’s Commercial Business District. Facilio was selected by ICD Brookfield as the centralized operations management platform, to deliver real-time intelligence and optimize building performance, for the luxury lifestyle project. The property officially opened its doors and welcomed tenants with a clearly defined O&M strategy, and a unified technology stack in place. The O&M teams are now able to leverage the power of cloud-based centralized software platforms, to integrate multiple building systems such as HVAC, fire response, security, etc.—under a single command and control mechanism. Such platforms help implement IoT, AI analytics, and Cloud connectivity, in conjunction; allowing building operators to collate real-time operational intelligence, and use it to continuously optimize asset performance, and enhance the occupant experience.”
WHAT GROWTH PROSPECTS DO YOU SEE, FOR THE USE OF AUTOMATION AND CONNECTED TECHNOLOGIES, FROM AN EARLY STAGE IN THE BUILDING LIFECYCLE? “With the recent trends of post-pandemic real estate operations, I see the model as an evolution that will become the default for the industry. It’s an approach that gets the O&M team, and facilities management processes involved right from the post-construction phase. It allows asset owners, building operators, and FM teams to extract the maximum value, in terms of operational efficiency, as well as to maintain and enhance the value of the properties. New building projects are embedding IoT and AI-enabled software-driven operations; remote monitoring and control; predictive maintenance capabilities; and cloud-enabled mobile apps; for better engagement with occupants. The benefits range from enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and profitability, as well as outstanding tenant experiences – in other words, positives that impact all stakeholders across the board. So, rather than simply seeing growth prospects, I sense that we will see an industry-wide transformation, which will make these capabilities standard features for all new building projects, in the future.”
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For queries please call 800 DEYAAR ( 339227 ) www.deyaarfm.com
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OP-ED
Julian Haslam-Jones, Regional Director and UAE Country Manager
THE RISING THREAT OF INFLATION Julian Haslam-Jones, Regional Director and UAE Country Manager at Driver Trett, a Global Construction Consultancy company, gives us the run down on the rising threat of inflation and the effects on the construction industry
I
t has been well documented in the past months that the extraordinary stimulus measures to assist the global economy in recovering from the pandemic are fuelling price rises in many economies. Inflation refers to a rise in the average level of prices sustained over time, which also corresponds to a fall in the internal (domestic) purchas-
ing power of money. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation reflects a reduction in the purchasing power per unit of money – a loss of real value in the medium of exchange and unit of account within the economy. The historic trend in advanced economies is that inflation has been declining as shown in the below graph.
CURRENT GLOBAL MARKET As the Financial Times has recently reported the December meeting of the Federal Reserve’s most important economic committee was routine. Policymakers agreed that the economy could cope with rising levels of spending “without
The 30 year demise of inflation across advanced economies Annual % change in conusmer prices Inflation in OECD economies
Decade averages 14 12 10 8 6 4 2
1971
1980
1990
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2000
2010
2020
any strong general upward pressure on prices”. Although prices of a few raw materials were rising sharply, “finished goods have not been subject to pervasive upward cost pressures”. Generalised inflation, the committee concluded, was not a serious concern. However, it is over-stimulation of the world economies which is changing this view. Karen Ward, chief European market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management stated recently “We’ve always assumed that the structural supply side enhancements such as technology and globalisation are so great that we could never overwhelm them with demand, but it still must be the case that you can overwhelm supply with demand and ultimately generate inflation”. Alongside a recovery of energy prices to pre-Covid levels, there has been a shortage of products such as wood WWW.CBNME.COM
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE | YOUSIF AHMED AL-MUTAWA, CEO, SHARJAH SUSTAINABLE CITY
products and many metals for example. These have been the adjoining causes of higher inflation, however financial markets worry that the real cause has been the pandemic-related fiscal and monetary stimulus which has led to a much faster economic recovery than was thought possible at the end of 2020. How is this affecting the Construction Industry? It has been reported that prices of construction materials from steel and wood to concrete and copper have begun to rise sharply in recent weeks as the economic rebound both in Europe and elsewhere — including the US and China — triggers a building boom. According to the FIEC, bitumen prices have risen 15 percent in only three months, cement prices were up 10 percent in a single month and wood prices were up over 20 percent. This is one of the reasons why the FIEC wrote to the European Commission stating, “This phenomenon is jeopardising the construction sector’s contribution to economic recovery and is threatening the potential impact of European recovery programmes.” Is the risk of inflation present in the UAE Construction Market? Having spent a very busy week meeting leading developers, operators and contractors in the UAE market, based on the feedback from conversations on this topic the answer is a resounding “yes”.
The measures implemented to prevent COVID-19 have resulted in the supply of materials into the country being more complex and taking longer. Further, mobilizing labour especially from outside the country is more challenging due to people not wanting to travel and the length of time it takes to mobilise people into a position where they are able to start work. This has resulted in an increase in costs of the materials and labour, which is impacting the value of constructing many projects. How does the Contract deal with inflation? In many construction projects in this region, due to the lump sum nature of the contract price, the risk of any increase in the price of materials or labour is generally taken by the Contractor. Give the current warning signs detailed above, that inflation is coming, the parties in construction contracts may have to revisit the management of this risk and consider who is best placed to manage this risk. One solution could be a fluctuation provision. Such clauses in construction contracts allow the contract sum to be adjusted to take account of changes to the price of labour, materials and other costs on the construction project. Calculating the increased cost may be achieved by using an index based formula, or by using a published list of market prices for various items. There are fluctuation provisions in
standard forms such as JCT, NEC and FIDIC. It is vital to consider when drafting a fluctuations clause whether and how the fluctuations provisions shall apply in the event that there is a delay in completing the works. By way of example, the contractor should not ordinarily be entitled to benefit from its breach and be paid more as a result of any fluctuations provisions where it is in delay but the parties should consider whether inflationary costs are factored into the amount of liquidated damages which the employer would be entitled to in the event of delay to completion. Using FIDIC as an example, the Red, Yellow and Pink Books allow the cost under the contract to be adjusted for any rise or fall in the cost of labour, goods and other inputs into the works. However, for this clause to apply, the parties need to complete the table of adjustment data/schedules of cost indexation in the contract. If this is not completed then fluctuations are deemed not to apply. FIDIC deals with the issue of fluctuations when the contractor is in delay by providing that any adjustments to prices after the date for completion are made using either: 1. The indices or prices applicable 49 days before the date for completion; or 2. The current index or price. In any of the FIDIC contracts, where currencies need to be converted from a foreign currency to the local currency relevant to the contract, the parties need to bear in mind that there will be some element of price risk. The parties can state the exchange rate in the appendix to tender/contract data and then that rate is applied to the costs under the contract. If in practice the exchange rate then moves up or down, one party will gain and one will lose out depending on which way it moves (if the parties do not include the exchange rates at the outset, then the rate current at the base date determined by the central bank of the relevant country is deemed to apply to the contract). The parties could make changes to the standard terms to apportion or allocate this fluctuation risk if required. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 23
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
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CBNME EJADAH
FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“Ejadah bagged the most coveted FM Company of the Year Award from CBNME’s highly prestigious event— Innovation in Facilities Management Awards. In this challenging year, we all have been impelled to up our game. We have seen this year as an opportunity for growth and advancement in the FM industry. To be rewarded with the most coveted FM Company of the Year Award as a recognition of our hard work and dedication is such an honour. It is a corroboration that Ejadah is living up to its name!” – Tarek Nizameddin
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
ADEEB GROUP
FM CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR
“It was a pleasant moment for Adeeb Group to receive the Award of FM Consultant of the Year as we deserve the title to own since we have had a presence in the market for nearly 30 years and have expertise in solutions for all the FM technical requirements. Our Senior FM Team keep delivering the consultancies to all our clients as our
continuous process apart from service deliveries and have achieved high-level cost efficiency and have improved the life cycle existence of the buildings. The award is indeed an honour for our performance and dedicated efforts that we have given to our community’s sustainable development.” – Eng. Ansari, CEO, Adeeb Group
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CBNME EMRILL
HSE INTIATIVE OF THE YEAR
“Safety is at the core of everything Emrill does, and ‘Safer Together with Emrill’ enabled us to bring every Emrill employee together with the common shared goal of ensuring everything we do is with the safety of our people, our clients and the UAE’s residents and visitors in mind. We understand knowledge is critical to Emrill being able to deliver world-class services safely, so we’re commited to giving every employee access to a credible source of information and the tools they need not just to work safely but also to apply that knowledge
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to their lives outside work. Under the umbrella of the ‘Safer Together with emrill’ initiative, we launched a Front Line Supervisor training module, Emrill’s Eployee Assistance Programme that gave employees access to mental health support from healthcare professionals, and ‘Happier Together with Emrill’ to further support employees’ emotional wellbeing. These combined efforts and initiatives enabled us to achieve over 18 million safe manhours during the pandemic.” - Faisulla Sharif, IMS Manager
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
ENGIE SOLUTIONS MIDDLE EAST TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION IN FM
“We are honoured to be recognised for our technology-driven solutions and innovations. We at ENGIE Solutions are challenging the Middle East market by introducing unique solutions to optimise energy use, reduce client costs across their portfolio, and free up resources. This year, we’ve been recognised for our implementation of artificial intelligence and augmented reality (AR) to help our technicians monitor and control plant rooms entirely. This is a
novel solution that is as much about speed and reliability as it is about saving costs for our clients. Furthermore, we are using AR to exponentially develop and assist our clients in maintaining the building’s life cycle in an advanced way. And last but not least, we have introduced advanced space management services using AR 3D modelling and communication Facilities Management Information Systems (FMIS).” - Bart Holsters, General Manager – UAE
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CBNME EFS FACILITIES SERVICES GROUP EDUCATION INIITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
“As we continue to strive to create new and innovative methods of upskilling our workforce, this award encourages us to continue this journey as part of our People First approach. Our group vision to transform the FM industry is taking shape with every initiative that impacts the lives of those involved in the FM ecosystem. The SEED program was designed to empower all EFS ground Supervisors by selecting participants to take part in a four-month-long blended learning program. The blended learning path is divided into CLASSROOM LEARNING - 20% of the time with Lecture learning format on key topics on modules
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that require class intervention and face to face interaction with the instructor. 30% is represented by ONLINE LEARNING created as a Self-paced concept in the style of “anytime anywhere” learning modules, including case studies, videos and research papers. ON-THE-JOB LEARNING represents 50% of the SEED program and includes Simulation and Practical Demonstrations, Group Discussions, Team Building Activities, Live work. We are thrilled to see our SEED program recognized by the industry leaders, and we hope to continue to create new paths of industry standards.”
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
IMDAAD
SANITATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“Imdaad is proud to be recognized for our industry-leading capabilities, consistent growth, and commitment to delivering outstanding services through innovative and sustainable waste management solutions. By winning the ‘Sanitation and Waste Management Company of the Year’ award for the second year in a row, we have once again demonstrated our commercial strength and continued service excellence.
This award also acknowledges our superior operational efficiency, innovative thinking, and ability to launch new services to fulfill the evolving needs of our clients. Imdaad’s sustained success is a tribute to our dedicated employees and customers, and a promise to continue serving our clients with high standards of quality and safety.” - Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Group CEO, Imdaad.
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CBNME TAREK NIZAMEDDIN, EJADAH PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
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“I am very honoured to win this award and I would like to thank CBNME for this recognition. This award was won on behalf of the whole Ejadah family as all the achievements would not have been possible without the support of the whole team, and I dedicate this award to them. Thank you again for this very remarkable award. It is a call to do more and achieve more.” – Tarek Nizameddin
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CBNME AG FACILITIES & CONTRACTING SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
“We are honoured to win the Sustainable Initiative of the Year at the 2021 Innovation in Facilities Management Awards. Sustainability is at the core of our business’ agenda and the Ghaf Tree Project is an innovative, transformation project that will play a vital role in combating climate change in the country for generations to come. We are proud to be part of leaving such a significant legacy for the future. This win is a testament to our commitment towards ensuring a sustainable future for the
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communities in which we operate. As we move into a post-COVID-19 environment, climate change is at the top of the agenda for governments and policy makers across the globe – but the responsibility for action does not just sit solely at policy or government level, it is an essential obligation for both businesses and individuals alike. Only together, can we shape a better world for tomorrow.” - Mohamed Adil Haneef, Chief Operating Officer
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
MOHAMAD ABOU LABAN, DEYAAR FM CEO OF THE YEAR
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Innovation in the FM Awards and to the Jury for considering me worthy of this award. It is an even greater honour to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honourees, most of whom are industry leaders. This award particularly recognizes the work that my team and I have put in over the last year and resembles a token of all our efforts. I would like to thank the team at
Deyaar FM and my family for their trust and belief in me. Our work is far from over, but what we have accomplished together has made a difference to our Partners and Clients.” As H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid rightly said, “The race for excellence has no finish line”. So, let us continue this journey with more dedication than ever.” - Mohamad Abou Laban, CEO, Deyaar Facilities Management
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CBNME STUART HARRISON, EMRILL VISIONARY LEADER OF THE YEAR
“I’m honoured to be named Visionary Leader of the Year, but this award really goes to every Emrill employee whose hard work, dedication, willingness to adapt and capabilty to embrace new technologies has made this achievement possible. I’m proud of how the region’s facilities management sector has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m especially proud of all of my colleagues. Every day, Emrill has been safely and effectively operating on the frontlines, providing the UAE’s residents and visitors with a safe environment that reduces the
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risks of cross-contamination and infection. While Emrill’s leadership team and I launched a robust business continuity and COVID-19 response plan at the outset of the pandemic, the excellent people I work with ensured the successful execution of this plan, which enabled us to continue offering worldclass services without interruption. Therefore, this award is really for every Emrill employee, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for doing such a fantastic job.” - Stuart Harrison, CEO
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CBNME ARKAN
SECURITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“ARKAN were delighted to be awarded the prestigious award of Security Company of the Year at the CBNME Innovation in Facilities Management Awards ceremony. To be recognised by our industry peers and professionals is an excellent achievement and we were very honoured and proud to receive such recognition. None of us could have imagined the impact that a global pandemic would have on our industry, staff and customers. Despite these challenges, we were able to adapt and evolve introducing innovative and new service lines, products, processes, and procedures for all our customers at the height of the pandemic.
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Our staff were the real heroes and we had to ensure that they remained safe and secure whilst deployed on the front line. We ensured they were provided with all the PPE required whilst on duty and also ensured that they were fully supported with medical assistance and support when required. We engaged early with both SEHA and DHA and were able to provide their COVID-19 vaccination as quickly as possible. This proved to be a great success!” To summarise, the last year tested our people, processes, leadership, and commitment. The ARKAN team rose to these challenges, and we are extremely proud the have been recognised and rewarded for our collective efforts. A fantastic achievement by all involved!”
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CBNME THOMAS PENNY, BK GULF FM YOUNG FM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
“I am truly proud to have won this award. I am grateful to BKG FM management for their on-going daily support and encouragement as well as the company’s approach on mentoring and promoting young FM professionals. I share this honour with the dedicated team members who supported BKG
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FM to attain its success, continued performance and customer satisfaction during the past year. Receiving this award has really motivated me and I am excited for my future in the FM industry and the opportunities that may present themselves.” - Thomas Penny
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
THOMAS JOSEPH, EMRILL FM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
“I’m delighted to receive this award. It’s such an honour to be recognised among the other great facilities managers in the region. The past twelve months have been unlike any year before, and the pandemic has brought a unique set of challenges and evolving market requirements. I am proud to work for a company that has not only offered frontline services to clients but has also prioritised the health, wellbeing and development of its people. It has taken a great deal of dedication, commitment and out-of-the-box thinking to
consistently meet the expectations of Emrill’s clients, and I could not have achieved this award without the support of Emrill’s leadership team and my colleagues. I have been empowered to share my ideas for continuous improvement initiatives and, as a result, have launched several innovations across my contracts, which have benefitted Emrill and its clients. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together in the coming twelve months.” - Thomas C Joseph, Senior Facilities Manager
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CBNME SERVEU FM & EMIRATES POST GROUP CLIENT - CONTRACTOR PARTNERSHIP AWARD
VERTECO
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
ENGIE SOLUTIONS MIDDLE EAST ENGINEERING SERVICE OF THE YEAR
“Winning the ‘Engineering Service of the Year’ award reflects our commitment to providing impressive performance improvements and energy savings for our clients. Reducing our clients’ life-cycle costs has naturally grown into ENGIE Solutions’ DNA. We have engineered a state-of-the-art predictive AI platform which seamlessly integrates with our Augmented Reality (AR) and Digital Twin
pilots to provide better insights and operational performance. ENGIE Solutions has been leading the carbon neutral transition by delivering bespoke engineering services to 200+ prestigious projects and will continue to challenge conventional frequency-based standards and building control systems using digitally driven solutions.” - Bart Holsters, General Manager – UAE
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CBNME SERVEU FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CLEANING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“A combination of key factors has contributed to us scoring major wins at Innovation in Facilities Management Awards 2021. Our achievements in the areas of service excellence, sustainability, customer satisfaction, and digitalization, to mention a few, have not only cemented our leadership, as evidenced by our over 900 active projects and at
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least 600 clients, but have also led to numerous honours. Our new awards are also the result of the commitment of our 6,000-strong workforce. To them, we dedicate these recognitions. Our latest feat will further inspire us to continuously provide FM solutions that are second to none.” – Gary Reader, General Manager of ServeU
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
EMIRATES INTERNATIONAL FACILITY MANAGEMENT FASTEST GROWING FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“Emirates International Facility Management LLC (EIFM) is a subsidiary of the Das Holding Group. Established in 1996 as one of the leading companies in UAE providing a comprehensive range of high-quality, cost-effective, and integrated facility management solutions to the UAE business community. Through using technology to the greatest extent possible in process and the diverse, well-trained team of technicians, and covering a wide variety of solution offerings, EIFM has developed a strong reputation in catering
bespoke solutions tailored to improve the time and efficiency to meet client’s business needs. EIFM is ISO 9001:2015 Certified, and recently awarded the fastest growing FM company of the year through focusing on the 6 key success factors which are: leadership and strategic thinking, management team and operational skills, customer loyalty and new businesses, smart adoption of technologies, hiring growth, and commitment to employees’ training and Development.” - Altaf Hussain Bhat, the General Manager of EIFM.
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CBNME JAMAL ABDULLA LOOTAH, IMDAAD INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR
“I am honored to be recognized as the ‘Industry Leader’ by the Innovation in FM Awards. It is gratifying that this recognition comes at a time when Imdaad continues to demonstrate industry-leading capabilities, sustained growth, and extraordinary resilience under challenging circumstances, thanks to our team’s commitment to keeping the momentum going, helping us maintain financial strength and easily adapt to
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new situations. I am grateful to our brilliant team and our clients for supporting me throughout my successful journey of humble contributions to the company and the industry. This recognition will serve as a huge source of encouragement in Imdaad’s journey ahead, as we prepare to embrace a future of endless opportunities and unmatched service excellence.” - Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Group CEO, Imdaad.
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800 ADEEB
Hard Services & Soft Services
Facilities Management
ELV & Specialized Systems
MEP Contracting
FLS Systems
IT Systems
Abu Dhabi | Dubai | Al Ain | Mussafah | Ajman | Western Region CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 47
CBNME EJADAH
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
“We are very humbled and honoured to receive such great accolades at the Innovations in Facilities Management organized by CNBME. This award provides invaluable recognition to our team for their commitment and relentless support provided in this pandemic. It is a testament to all the efforts of the Customer Experience team and the consistent approach of creating excellent customer service for
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all the communities we serve. Being awarded in the segment of Excellence in Customer Service is a great motivation to continue cementing our position, as Ejadah is an organization that is defined by its core values - Trust and Safety for our valuable customers and its employees. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to next year’s event.” - Tarek Nizameddin
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INNOVATION IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AWARDS 2021
FACILIO
SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
“I would like to thank the Innovation in FM Awards 2021 jury and organizers, on behalf of the entire Facilio family, for their recognition of our contributions, with the Software Solutions Award. The industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation that will redefine the way-built spaces are utilized and managed in the future. At Facilio, we are committed to delivering the solutions that will empower a modern and better way to operate buildings, by harnessing the power of realtime data. The Middle East is making extraordinary
progress and is setting the global benchmark when it comes to innovation in infrastructure, sustainability, and real estate operations. This dynamism is a constant inspiration for Facilio, to produce a world-class product, and refine our capabilities, to meet the needs of tomorrow’s world. My heartfelt thanks to all our customers, partners, and the dedicated and inspired team, here at Facilio. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their vision and drive to transition towards data-driven operations.” – Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder & CEO, Facilio Inc
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CBNME
REVIEW
SETTING THE BENCHMARK A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AT REEM ISLAND’S LATEST ARCHITECTUAL LANDMARK – PIXEL BY IMKAN PROPERTIES
O
n the far-east corner of Reem Island, a future architectural landmark is in the making. A project that raises the quality benchmark for mixed-use residential developments in the region. PIXEL, the seven-tower development by IMKAN Properties in collaboration with famous Rotterdam Architects MVRDV, continues the story 50 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021
of the new Makers District community. IMKAN activated the District last year through the launch of Cove Beach, which despite the challenges of Covid-19 has proved to be the number one beach club hotspot in the city. As we approach the site, it is clear that the concrete structure of PIXEL’s seven towers is now complete. The stepping profile of the towers from the rear of the
site toward the coastline, (from 20 stories on Tower 4 to 10 stories on Tower 1) is very evident. From afar and closer still, the development commands a very different feel and scale to other towers on the island. On Towers 5 and 6, where offsite factory made bathroom pods are connected, mechanical, electrical and plumbing works are in and finishes being installed, and where pre-cast façade panels, window frames and glazing are being fixed at a rapid rate, the controlled nature of the periphery facades belie the complex nature of what will be the jewel within PIXEL. MVRDV once described the project as ‘the oyster and the pearl’. Their projects often have a moment of surprise or a ‘reveal’. PIXEL will be no different. The incredibly rich design of the patterned WWW.CBNME.COM
SETTING THE BENCHMARK | REEM ISLAND’S LATEST ARCHITECTUAL LANDMARK
“WE HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MORE MONTHS BEFORE WE THEN START TO SEE THE ‘PEARL’ IN THIS PROJECT - THE BEAUTIFUL COLOURED TILES WHICH WILL LINE THE INNER PLAZA ELEVATIONS, PROVIDING SHADING AND SCREENING FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.” ABOUT IMKAN
façade panels (the oyster’s skin) is now clear given how advanced the works are on multiple towers. However, what we can now also glimpse as we drive past is a teaser of what is to come: the extraordinary articulation of the inner elevations that cascade from the upper levels down into the inner plaza. For now, we can only see the skeletal concrete frames, however we are told that the smooth white cladding to these frames will soon be underway. “We have to wait a few more months before we then start to see the ‘pearl’ in this project - the beautiful coloured tiles which will line the inner plaza elevations, providing shading and screening for residents and visitors, but “good things come to those who wait…” says Nigel Craddock, Design Director. ‘We also have another feature which is yet to be revealed, related to
our soft landscaping strategy within the plaza and the creation of a habitable microclimate– we’ll announce that soon” says Craddock “it’s going to be beautiful”. Parvin Mansoor Al Awadhi, Head of Development adds “the IMKAN team working on Pixel have put forth their best effort to ensure that the development has continued with minimal interruptions at this critical juncture. The commitment and dedication of all those involved with the project - from our engineers, technicians and site team finalizing the building works, to the IMKAN customer representatives meeting potential buyers at the Pixel show apartment – is proving instrumental in meeting all the project milestones, which will culminate in the project’s final successful handover.”
Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer IMKAN has earned its reputation with a portfolio of 26 projects spanning three continents, the company’s ethos and vision being to create soulful places that enrich people’s lives. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Capital Group, IMKAN’s proposition is built around a unique research platform that identifies the needs and desires of its customer segment, from millennials to discerning highnet-worth individuals. Among the company’s key projects are two developments in Makers District – The Artery, a multi-use building that integrates a makers’ space with a parking garage, and Pixel, the company’s first mixed-use destination. Other key developments are Nudra, an exclusive beachside community, home to 37 luxury villas ; Sheikha Fatima Park, the capital’s first urban park that seeks to enhance community interaction; and AlJurf at Sahel Al Emarat, which comprises timeless villas and land plots set in a preserved and natural ecosystem nestled between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. AlJurf’s most recent addition is SHA Emirates which, once open in 2023, will be the second international SHA clinic following the flagship award-winning SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain.
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CBNME
TRUCKS
CUTTING/EDGE
FAMCO launches new range of heavy-duty VOLVO TRUCKS models in the UAE
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CUTTING-EDGE | HEAVY-DUTY VOLVO TRUCKS MODELS IN THE UAE
F
AMCO has launched its new cutting-edge Volvo Trucks range on June 15, as it reinforces its market-leading position in the Emirates. The new-generation FH, FM and FMX heavy-duty trucks have been redesigned to deliver even higher levels of productivity, class-leading safety features, as well as a more driverfriendly experience with an enhanced driver interface, interior space and overall visibility. These advanced models deliver a stronger return on range, giving users an environmental and financial saving in the process. “Revealing these new trucks in the presence of members of the Volvo Trucks international team is not only an honour, but also a return to some form of normality for us at FAMCO,” said Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director of FAMCO and Commercial Vehicles. “FAMCO and Volvo Trucks truly are a team working closely together on a daily basis. And that is the secret to the success Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director of FAMCO & Commercial Vehicles
of these two brands, which then benefits our customers. Bringing class-leading products to the market and providing the support and guidance our customers need, regardless of their industry or usage.” “In these challenging times, launching our new FH, FM and FMX models in the UAE has been a real team effort from everyone involved,” Frank O’Connor, Vice President - Middle East and Turkey, Volvo Trucks International.. “With a strong focus on the driver environment, safety and productivity, this new line-up will help us to deliver on our promise to be our customers’ best business partner. We can do this by, by helping them to develop the best drivers - responsible driving behaviour can help reduce emissions and fuel costs, as well as helping reduce the risk of accidents, injury and unplanned downtime, all of which will make them more competitive and profitable.” Volvo Trucks’ flagship model, the new Volvo FH is the next generation of truck designed with the driver in mind. This model features a re-imagined cab, innovative safety features and a driver focused working environment. A key aim of the new design is to give the driver a more productive, safe and comfortable life on the road. The new generation Volvo FH combines the most successful elements from the previous FH series with smart technologies and a functional, human centric design. The result is an intelligent and sophisticated truck that helps the driver deliver outstanding performance under any conditions. The bold new look of the exterior is characterized by the signature V-shaped headlights which have now been moved outwards to align with the feature line of the cab doors. The turn indicators have also been moved to the door, giving the truck both improved aerodynamics and a more confident look. The wiper panel is cleaner and slimmer while a bigger iron mark makes the new Volvo FH easily recognizable even from a distance. Moving inside the cabin is easier than ever with the new slimmer, ergonomically designed I-Shift gear selector. There is also a wide range of customization options with new fabrics and colours.
The attention given to drivers is most obvious in the updated interior working environment. Their workspace is centered around a modernized dashboard which features a fully digital 12-inch high resolution instrument display. The instrument display allows the driver to choose between four different screen views (two as standard), depending on the driving situation and the information they prefer to have displayed. An optional 9-inch side display can provide infotainment, navigation assistance, transport information and camera monitoring. The display, that is easy to reach, allows the driver to interact in numerous ways: with the intuitively positioned buttons on the steering wheel, through voice control, or directly via the touchscreen and display control panel. The All new FH globetrotter cabin includes re-designed gear selector, spacious storage spaces, 3 USB slots, 33 Liter refrigerator and other features which helps the driver to have a fatigue free driving experience. Coming to fuel saving, the trucks come with the Innovative Volvo Torque Assist feature, which helps in saving fuel up to 8% in a 100T application, with potential to increase this saving to a big extent. The factory fitted cab park coolers on the FH trucks ensure that the drivers still have an AC supply even when the truck engine is shut down, thus saving customers considerable amount of fuel loss. Further enhancing Driver comfort, the Downhill Cruise control is re-introduced as a standard feature on all the new models. It prevents the truck from exceeding the speed set by the driver and can be used in combination with the service brakes, and an option of improved Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) that works at all speeds, even down to zero km/h. The Electronically controlled Brake System (EBS), which is a prerequisite for safety features such as Collision Warning with Emergency Brake and Electronic Stability Control, now comes as a standard with Drum brakes on the new trucks. Volvo Dynamic Steering, with the safety systems Lane Keeping Assist and Stability Assist, is also available as an option. >>> CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 53
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TRUCKS
Other features like AGM batteries, Clutch able air compressor helps in reducing the downtime as well as increasing the efficiency of the vehicle. The new Volvo FM is designed to attract drivers with a new cab and better visibility. The new Volvo FM heavy duty truck will be the ultimate workplace on wheels in all segments. The all new redesigned cab has raised A-pillars that give it up to one extra cubic meter of space and more light. It also comes with smart technology that underpins Volvo’s focus on creating the ultimate space for drivers. The exterior of the next generation Volvo FM has a new aerodynamic shape, with distinctive lines on the front and a single sleek character line sweeping the side of the all new cab. In addition, the V-shaped headlamps are positioned for optimal aerodynamics, and the larger brand identity panel and upper front grille with a new mesh pattern give the truck a bold, confident look. The Globetrotter new sleeper cab has been upgraded with a raised bed and improved storage possibilities that include a large storage compartment underneath the bed and an upper rear storage with LED panels in the compartment dividers. Additionally there is a 28 Liter refrigerator also equipped specially for UAE market. To move from the seat to the bed is easier than ever with a new slimmer, ergonomically designed I-Shift gear selector. Cab comfort is further enhanced through reinforced insulation that helps keep out cold, heat and noise. The interior is highlighted by a new dashboard offering more storage space, new colors and a modern dynamic display. The cluster includes a 12-inch high-resolution instrument display with a user-friendly interface where the driver can easily see important information and select between different screen views, depending on the driving situation. The instrument display, which comes ready for future updates and connected services, is designed to simplify the driver’s interactions and minimize distractions when accessing critical information To provide economic advantage to the customers, features like Volvo Torque Assist & clutch able air compressor are equipped to save fuel and AGM batteries 54 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021
are added in place of conventional enhanced flooded batteries which have excellent cycling ability and cold cranking performance. Tire pressure monitoring system has also been added which makes it possible for the driver to supervise the tyre pressure through the instrument display. A correct tyre pressure gives an optimal use of the tyre and leads to increased lifetime and decreased fuel consumption. The all new Volvo FMX with an entirely new cab, increased payloads and innovative safety features will improve customer expectation in areas such as sustainability, cost efficiency, safety and productivity. The new Volvo FMX is built on an entirely new cab platform, based on Volvo’s long and successful experience of delivering robust and functional construction trucks. The new Volvo FMX comes with increased space in the day cab and storage of up to 800 liters. Drivers also get improved visibility thanks to a lowered door line and new rear view mirrors. The visibility can be improved further by adding a camera as an option on the passenger side which provides a complementary view of the side of the truck. The interior is characterized by a new dashboard with more storage space, new colours and a modern cluster.
It includes a dynamic 12-inch highresolution instrument display with a userfriendly interface allowing the driver to immediately see relevant information and select between four different screen views, depending on the driving situation. The new FMX also comes equipped with a new traction control panel that helps the driver easily and quickly handle potentially dangerous situations, both on and off the road. The driver can gain more traction by engaging the differential locks in an easy way, by turning a knob, viewing the traction status on the instrument display at the same time. A new steering wheel with a neck tilt option offers the driver a more ergonomic driving position. The new Volvo FMX features the heaviest addition to Volvo’s chassis range – a 38-tonne bogie that allows for a Gross Vehicle Weight (GCW) of up to 58 tonnes. This is the biggest GVW offering here in the Middle East. For particularly rough applications like mining, the Volvo FMX comes with an optional steel roof hatch with an emergency exit handle that removes the entire hatch. By designing the robust new FMX construction truck that can carry more tonnes and maneuver more easily, while keeping the driver safe and comfortable, Volvo Trucks can help increase both productivity and profitability in the construction industry.
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MOVING FORWARD In conversation with
Fredrick Vimal
General Manager, Sales-Renault, Al Masaood Automobiles
Tell us how, as the General Manager of Sales for Renault, have you positioned the brand to be a leading player in Abu Dhabi? Taking the lead in Abu Dhabi’s automotive market requires a combination of various but interconnected strategies. For our part, back in 2018, we focused on increasing Renault’s market share in the emirate at a time when the brand didn’t enjoy the popularity that it does today. We laid down the groundwork, embraced a new strategy and chose the right people to join our working team. We also closely examined our fundamentals to align them properly with the vision of Al Masaood Automobiles. Blending our out-of-thebox sales ideas with our commitment to think ahead and anticipate market needs made a huge difference in our efforts as well. Our work towards boosting Renault’s sales in Abu Dhabi revolved around three pillars: optimising costs; focusing on new business lines and revenue streams; and creating a new retail format. In a short period, our efforts had yielded great outcomes. Today, we are consistently growing Renault’s market share in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Western Region. In 2020, we were able to boost the brand in Abu Dhabi despite a decline in the overall industry sales due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. What we have achieved today is due to our continuous efforts to meet business and market needs, setting clear-cut visions and targets, and offering market-based products. Complementing these initiatives is the dedication of our sales and after-sales teams. The launch of the new Renault Duster Cargo reflects our resolve to address the ever-changing preferences and requirements of our target customers, and we will endeavour to initiate more innovative strategies to sustain our lead. How important is the customer relationship with the buyers and what steps are taken to ensure there is a strong relationship between the buyer and supplier? Building long-lasting relationships with our customers is vital to us. In line with the vision and objectives of Al Masaood Automobiles, we have been implementing initiatives to enhance customer experiences whilst establishing their trust and
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MOVING FORWARD | IN CONVERSATION WITH FREDRICK VIMAL
launching our home test drives in which we deliver the vehicles to customers’ residence for test driving and introduced contact less information sharing through QR codes for various model specifications. These initiatives have made many of our clients happy and satisfied with our service whilst preserving their safety. Our variety of finance options, as well as professional and well-established aftersales service centres, are also part of our unique value propositions. We frequently receive a 10 out of 10 customer satisfaction rating for going the extra mile for our customers.
“THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW RENAULT DUSTER CARGO REFLECTS OUR RESOLVE TO ADDRESS THE EVER-CHANGING PREFERENCES AND REQUIREMENTS OF OUR TARGET CUSTOMERS, AND WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO INITIATE MORE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN OUR LEAD.” confidence in our brand. One such initiative is the R-store, the first concept store for Renault in Abu Dhabi. The R-Store,
which complies with the global standards implemented across all Renault outlets globally, is designed to provide our customers with a personal experience and connection with the brand. Another is providing them with a onestop solution to help find the right model for them without any hassle and through the assistance of our knowledgeable staff. Our test drives that allow buyers to experience the car and its features before the actual purchase are also key to sustaining their satisfaction with us. At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, we responded by
Tell us about the ‘R-Store’ and some of the features about this and how innovative this idea is? The ‘R-Store’ showroom is designed to provide an exceptional customer experience. When customers enter the store, they are immediately welcomed and assisted by our team representatives. At the store’s ‘Brand Bar,’ customers can get all the information they need by using the tablets available within the premises. We have also adopted the ‘themed zones’ concept. It is not just a mere showroom, it has a dedicated headlines zone, passion zone, sports zone, Z.E, for electric green cars, commercial zone, and many more. >>>
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Tell us about the new ‘Renault Duster Cargo’ Model features. Also, how does this boost the last mile delivery services? The all-new customised 2022 Renault Duster Cargo SUV, the only auto transmission SUV B offered as a Light Commercial Vehicle from the Renault Marque, is our response to the growing demand for last mile services due to increased digital shopping activities. Through its new modern features, the Duster Cargo model enables companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to deliver their products to people’s homes for a safe shopping experience. Now exclusively available across Al Masaood Automobiles’ Renault showrooms in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the model has four-cylinder engine automatic transmission and eco-mode and cruise control/speed limiter features. It is highly fuel-efficient with a consumption rating of 15.9 kilometres (kms) per litre. The unit, which has a maximum boot capacity of 1,623L, also comes with Electronic Stability Program, amongst other functionalities. This vehicle, a first of its kind in the region, is a joint initiative of Al Masaood Automobiles and Renault teams, to meet current market needs and reflects our move to expand our product mix. There are several features that make this model special. The first is its size. The
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compact size of this SUV makes its agile and flexible to be used for various functions. With its ground clearance, customers will not have to worry about driving the car in urban roads or in the rough unpaved roads. Its rear cargo compartment is a plug-and-play feature that we have customised in the car. So, if customers wish to return the car back into a passenger vehicle, it can be easily achieved by them. This ultimately increases the functionality and ensures residual value is not compromised for our customers. What are some of the key trends you see in the near future when it comes to vehicle models like the Renault Duster Cargo? We see the line blurring between business and personal vehicles as the e-commerce industry continues to boom. Renault Duster Cargo can be utilised for both individual and company purposes. This model can carry products to be delivered to customers whilst maintaining its elegant look from the outside, unlike typical delivery vehicles. Its interiors are also beautifully crafted with comfy options and other modern features such as Bluetooth connectivity and audio control to boost the experience. Furthermore, being an SUV, it offers many innovative safety aspects such as airbags and an anti-lock braking system whilst providing adequate cargo space for business purposes.
“NOW EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ACROSS AL MASAOOD AUTOMOBILES’ RENAULT SHOWROOMS IN ABU DHABI AND AL AIN, THE MODEL HAS FOURCYLINDER ENGINE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ECO-MODE AND CRUISE CONTROL/SPEED LIMITER FEATURES.” At Al Masaood Automobiles – Renault Abu Dhabi, we have integrated all these features into one, competitively priced model. Tell us about the business relationship between Renault Abu Dhabi and Renault Middle East? The alliance between Al Masaood Automobiles and Renault has been formed more than a decade ago. Both are deeply rooted industry players. Al Masaood Automobiles has been in the market for almost 40 years now whilst Renault is part of the Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance which is regarded the third largest vehicle manufacturer worldwide. At Al Masaood Automobiles, we have integrated the global expertise of Renault Middle East (RME) into ours as well as adopted and localised its plans and goals to provide value-added products and services to our Abu Dhabi customers. We continue to collaborate with RME to align our objectives and achieve desirable results. Our joint efforts have transformed the Renault brand in Abu Dhabi and have crafted a real success story. Due to our initiatives to strengthen Renault’s market standing in Abu Dhabi, we were adjudged the winner of the Renault Global Partners Award - “P.A.R.I.S. Challenge” in 2019. Last year, Renault Abu Dhabi also received the COVID Safe Environment Certificate given by RME. The certificate is a validation that we have successfully implemented and accordingly trained all our staff members in line with the brand’s COVID-19 safety standards and protocols. WWW.CBNME.COM
here’s to a cleaner future Choosing a gas powered truck will put you and your fleet in the forefront of sustainable truck operations, reduce your CO2 emissions and achieve Euro 6 Emission Legislation without using Adblue or Particulate Matter. Well suited for both urban and regional operations. It can be matched with R, G, L or P cabs and combined with either the Scania Opticruise gearbox or automatic transmissions. For more information about our Alternative Fuels options, please visit www.scania.com/ae/en/home/products-and-services/articles/alternative-fuels.html
15%*
Natural gas (CNG/LNG) Natural gas is methane from pockets in the Earth’s crust. Although it is a fossil fuel, it emits up to 15% less CO2 compared to regular diesel.
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MACHINERY
BOBCAT LAUNCHES NEW RANGE
OF SWEEPER ATTACHMENTS NEW SWEEPERS JOIN BOBCAT’S UNIQUE ROAD MAINTENANCE PORTFOLIO
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obcat has launched a new range of five sweepers that form part of the company’s portfolio of road maintenance attachments, the most comprehensive on the market. The new sweepers are designed for versatility and are approved to use with many different Bobcat tool carriers, including skid-steer and compact track loaders, compact
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wheel loaders, small articulated loaders and rigid frame telehandlers. Now part of Bobcat’s unrivalled road and pavement equipment selection, the sweepers complement a wide choice of products for this sector, including planer, wheel saw, soil & asphalt spreader, grader, trencher and angle broom products. Combined with the growing line-up of Bobcat tool carriers, these provide high performance solutions for
asphalt, concrete, road, pavement surface repair and many other applications. Not only excelling in road applications, the new Bobcat sweepers cover a wide range of jobs from cleaning, recycling, construction and demolition to many tasks in the agriculture market. ROAD AND PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE - A NONSTOP GROWING MARKET The market for asphalt and concrete surface repair work continues to grow throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. According to the European Asphalt Pavement Association, in Europe alone the network of motorways, regional and local roads stretches for a total length of around 5.5 million km, more than 90% of which is surfaced with asphalt and the number keeps increasing every year. ”All asphalt surfaces need to be maintained and repaired regularly to extend their lifetimes. At Bobcat, we WWW.CBNME.COM
BOBCAT LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF SWEEPER ATTACHMENTS
continue to invest in expanding our range of road maintenance attachments as we see growing demand. We now offer the widest portfolio of compact solutions for road repair on the market, providing a choice of products from planers, sweepers and wheel saws to our recently added light compaction line-up,” says Daniele Paciotti, Bobcat Product Line Manager for Attachments. NEW BOBCAT SWEEPER RANGE Bobcat sweepers are the perfect attachments for any surface maintenance project. The five sweeper models in the new Bobcat range provide sweeping widths from 110 to 215 cm, with bucket capacities from 0.22 to 0.44 m3 for collection of debris. All model sizes are now available with unified platform features. The new sweepers feature tougher, longer life heavy-duty bristles, and in response to customer feedback, Bobcat has developed a new optional integrated water tank unit, installed on top of the sweeper itself, with a cleverly designed, optimally front-positioned sprinkler system. Bobcat sweepers can sweep and collect dirt or other debris in both forward and reverse directions. They are ideal for cleaning parking lots, pavements, docks and warehouses, as well as industrial and recycling facilities, construction and demolition sites and animal sheds in agriculture.
Durable and easy-to-use, the redesigned Bobcat sweeper attachments employ the very successful Bobcat plug & play system, which enables the operator to install and change attachments in less than a minute. The key to this is Bobcat’s ACD – Attachment Control Device – feature with 7pin connector, which recognizes the attachment connected and allows the operator to utilize all of the features of the attachment from within the cab right away. With the company’s recent expansion in the wheel loader market, Bobcat now has the largest loader portfolio of any manufacturer in the world, providing a phenomenal choice of tool carriers to choose from. BOBCAT PLANER ATTACHMENT RANGE Ideal for repairing not only potholes, surface cracks and ice damage, but also for milling surfaces and for working around manholes, the wide range of planers from Bobcat covers cutting widths from 35 up to 120 cm. Other uses include creating cuts for recessed lane markers; matching uneven pavement surfaces; producing vertical edges for pavement repairs; cutting drainage in parking lots and for tapering edges of roadways. BOBCAT SOIL & ASPHALT SPREADER Designed to save time and labour costs, the Bobcat Soil & Asphalt Spreader, with a standard operating width of 190
Bobcat sweepers can sweep and collect dirt or other debris in both forward and reverse directions. cm or optional width of 196 cm, can be used to lay asphalt and other materials to create pavements; to widen and repair existing roads; to backfill, pave over and cover trenches and to lay sub-base materials. Thanks to its offset feature, this attachment can also lay asphalt without the loader needing to pass over the spread material – thus ensuring an unblemished and smoother finish. BOBCAT WHEEL SAW RANGE The rugged, powerful Wheel Saw attachments from Bobcat cut through asphalt, concrete, frozen ground, wire mesh and other hard materials with more precision than either air or hydraulic breakers. They can be used for road repair and cutting trenches for laying water, gas, electric and fibre-optic cable lines. The trench cleaner raises and lowers hydraulically and, depending on the model, cutting depth ranges from 15 to 80 cm. Bobcat also offers wheel saws with segmented wheels allowing the user to quickly change the width of the wheel (50, 80, 100 or 120 mm) in the field, instead of replacing the complete wheel in a workshop, a saving of 10 hours in the process. NEW BOBCAT LIGHT COMPACTION RANGE Compaction of subbases and asphalt is a must in road maintenance applications. To meet this demand, Bobcat has launched the company‘s new Light Compaction Product Line. This latest expansion of the Bobcat product range is designed to meet work requirements on any job site. Compacting asphalt and base materials improves their capacity to withstand heavy traffic and improves their general durability. Altogether, the Bobcat light compaction range comprises seven different product families and offers 37 models in total, from vibratory rammers weighing 29 kg up to 2.6 tonne tandem rollers. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021 | 61
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REPORT
OPPORTUNITY RISES IN EGYPT
SAVILLS EGYPT REAL ESTATE SECTOR’S STRONG PERFORMANCE UNDERPINNED BY RESILIENT ECONOMY AND STRONG DEMOGRAPHICS
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avills, one of the world’s leading real-estate consultancies, launched its first Egypt Property Report. This report offers a comprehensive look at the Greater Cairo real estate market, with in-depth analysis of the residential, offices and retail sectors. During a press conference to announce the release of the Savills Egypt Property Report, Head of Savills Egypt, Catesby Langer-Paget said: “Marking our third year in Egypt, this report will be the first of many, as this industry continues to thrive and develop. Globally, we release hundreds of reports annually from our 650 global offices, which real estate professionals and investors rely on for 62 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | JULY 2021
current market trends and predictions for the future to help make the right decisions.” Langer-Paget commented on the fact that the Egyptian economic expansion will moderate to around 4.5% between 2021 and 2022, but, starting 2023, GDP growth is likely to return to its pre-pandemic rates of above 5.5%. He added: “We can very much see the impact of Egypt’s economic expansion on the real estate market, as the market is maintaining its position and is regarded as an attractive investment. Also, one should note that the decrease of interest rates in the market is positioning real estate assets as the safe haven for investments across the country, driving
demand for local investors, Egyptian expatriates as well as foreign investors.” In addition, Head of Operations at Savills, Sherine Badreldine explains: “Reports show that the real estate market is maintaining its position and even growing in some sectors; as in the case of the residential market where demand for units has remained strong across Greater Cairo, bringing the current residential stock to 7.1 million units. Furthermore, following the government’s expansion vision and the Egyptian New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), private developers are offering a variety of large mixed-use developments across both West Cairo and New Cairo, leading to a strong increase in the supply of Grade A residential developments, accounting to around 1.0% of the total supply in 2020.” Badreldine added: “The same applies for the office market: the demand for office space remains strong and is gradually increasing on an annual basis across Greater Cairo. There has been a steady growth in the number of foreign corporations recently establishing their operations in the city or expanding their footprint.” Finally, Zeinab Adel, Head of Strategic Consultancy at Savills explained: “The upcoming years will continue to witness an increase in residential demand driven by population growth. For the office market, the demand for office space remains strong, nonetheless, patterns of supply and demand within the key office hubs are changing. With a current office supply stock of 1.7 million sqm (end of 2020), developers are preferring to move away from Downtown Cairo and Giza towards mixed-use organised office parks, that offer a variety of amenities and sufficient parking space in Sheikh Zayed City and New Cairo.” Adel concluded that the report also linked the change in the retail sector to the change in demographics due to a growing and affluent Egyptian middleclass youth. This shift has been more prevalent in the last few years, especially in 2019, with the significant increase in the city’s retail GLA with the handover of Mall of Egypt and Almaza City Centre, in addition to retail strips in New Cairo and the expansion of Cairo Festival City. WWW.CBNME.COM
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Surface Solutions, Designed By Nature
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Introducing
New Renault Duster Cargo Your go to delivery solution!
An efficient, reliable & modern fleet solution This is a first-of-its-kind Cargo SUV model which is now available across Al Masaood Automobile , Renault showrooms in Abu Dhabi & Al Ain.
Automatic Transmission Bluetooth Call us at 800 300 500 to place an enquiry
½ a ton boot capacity
Or visit our website https://abudhabi.renault.ae/DusterCargo.html
Fuel Efficiency Cruise control with speed limiter
