Facility Insight Aug 2014

MIDDLE EAST

VOLUME 01 ISSUE 02

AU

GU

14 20 T S

The voice of the industry

CAN MANAGEMENT CHANGE AVERT STAFFING CRISIS? PRIVATE SECTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAUDI FM NEW EMRILL BOSS REVEALS HIS HI-TECH VISION EMIRATISATION AND HOW FM SECTOR MUST MEET ITS QUOTA

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but still profitable?

WE DISCOVER TWO COMPANIES FINDING NEW WAYS TO PROCESS OUR WASTE

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Contents AUGUST 2014 2

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Welcome to Facility Insight’s second issue,

by MEFMA President Jamal Lootah

Data ownership and an alternative ‘green’ view

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NEWS

Retrofit old buildings, a Marina quartet and Qatari joint venture

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NEWS

Unveiled, new Mall of the World in Dubai

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NEWS

Manlift and MEFMA’s IPAF and PASMA training scheme

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COMMENT

Don’t waste time in meetings, by Liz Kentish

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EXHIBITOR FOCUS

INTRODUCTION

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FM EXPO 2014 How success really can be measured as new show stands alone

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INTERVIEW

Facility Insight meets new Emrill boss Jason Ruehland

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REACH NEW HEIGHTS

Rapid Access signals another phase of growth for powered access company

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WORLD FM DAY

Pictures from the Ibis Hotel, at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

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FM giant Imdaad reveals details of its $27m waste processing plant

New and aimed at you

FEATURE

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MONEY FROM WASTE

Green is good but green that makes money is even better. Mil-tek’s solution

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EMIRATISATION AND YOU

Private sector must double the number of UAE nationals it employs

PRODUCT REVIEW

40

FM AWARD EVENINGS

Short on surprises, big on social interaction

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MEFMA STAR

Ali Al Suwaidi explains more about this vital benchmark for our industry

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PERFORMANCEBASED CONTRACTS

Does a shortage of staff mean a re-evaluation management techniques?

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SAUDI ARABIAN FM

Why a self regulatory framework for the sector is vital for growth

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Events, conferences, seminars and exhibitions

Facility Insight, The Voice of the Industry, is the official publication of the Middle East Facility Management Association FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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INTRODUCTION

FM sector has grown up…

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n this, our second issue, we give focus to three corner stones that professionalise facilities management in the Middle East: benchmarking, training and regulation.

These three separate considerations are all a consequence of our industry coming of age and no longer can commentators call FM “new” to countries like the UAE and Qatar.

As a consequence our industry is being noticed for the contribution it is making to the living and working standards of the built environment in the Middle East. If we want to continue being masters of our own destiny, we must prove to policy makers that self-regulation in FM is more conducive to the real estate and infrastructure sector than tight government control of standards.

It is part of the reason we are promoting healthy competition by creating a recognisable stamp of certification that will represent a standard in the Middle East.

This same certificate will provide tenants’ peace of mind that the building they occupy will be maintained to a level that allows operational efficiency or provides a comfortable living environment. Likewise, landlords can use the certificate to help market their properties and maintain value. My colleague on the MEFMA board, Ali Al Suwaidi is spearheading the initiative and writes in this issue about the SRS system.

Likewise, we have a perspective from Saudi Arabia – a market that has the highest potential for outsourcing rates in the Middle East. At the industry’s infancy it is imperative that it seeks government recognition for the contribution it

MIDDLE EAST FACILITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PO Box 1166, Dubai, UAE Phone: +971 4 3409595 Email: Info@mefma.org CONTACT US: Director, Sinead Bridgett.

Phone: +971 50 8491447 Email: sinead@mefma.org

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And we must master our own destiny

will have on the life cycle of new buildings and the degree of efficiency, both economically and sustainability, to which these new cities operate.

We also discuss the development of talent in the industry, a topic close to my heart. With the UAE’s recent upgrade to emerging market status and the corporate governance issues that arise with transitional economies, it is now more important than ever that the FM industry looks to build a workforce that adds tremendous value to the emerging economy.

With over 60% of that workforce made up of the lesser-paid operational and maintenance staff, it is imperative that a new strategy is implemented to ensure that crucial personnel are retained within the sector as the industry continues to grow, rather than a churn from overseas. Some suggest a minimum wage and there is merit to the argument but as with any argument, always two sides.

This magazine is the perfect forum for that discussion and I encourage everyone to use it as an industry platform for debate to ensure we continue professionalising and improving the standards by which our industry operates.

Jamal Lootah President of MEFMA

Relationship Manager, Alaa AlBoali Phone: +971 55 8482808 Email: alaa@mefma.org

Advertising inquiries Vass Mafilas Phone: Direct: +971 4 361 4177 Mobile: +971 55 887 0720

Coordinator, Kamya Kundani Phone: +971 4 3409595 Ext: 102 Email: kamya@mefma.org

E-Mail: Diversified.Media@mail.com

Facility Insight is published for MEFMA by Diversified Media

For all editorial inquiries email diversified.editorial@mail.com

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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NEWS GENERAL

Retrofit old buildings for green rewards

Emrill stands tall with Marina quartet

Focus day looked a new green build guidelines for existing buildings

How four of the world’s biggest buildings in Dubai are managed by one FM company

Public-private partnerships will be a vital part of achieving the government targets for sustainability in Dubai buildings, delegates were told.

Around 90 people attended the Focus Day organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Experts from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality, Etihad ESCO and Etisalat Facilities Management shared best practices in refurbishing buildings to promote the rational use of energy and water.

Jeffrey Willis, Vice Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said the emphasis on retrofitting green buildings at the Focus Day underlined the strong need to promote public private partnerships.

He said: “The UAE has set impressive milestones in built environment sustainability, and Dubai Chamber’s LEED Platinum certification is a strong example of how this can be achieved cost-effectively.”

Stephane LeGentill, CEO of Etihad ESCO, presented the ESCO guidelines for energy efficiency improvement, while Waleed J Khoury, Chief Operating Officer, EMS, and Antoine Massad- Senior Manager-Strategy and Business Development, Etisalat FM, the company’s experience promoting green buildings.

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Emrill now serves four of the tallest residential towers in the world: Princess Tower, 23 Marina, Elite Residence (managed by Novus Community Management) and The Torch.

Saeed Ahmed, Commercial Director, Emrill said: “Emrill is constantly working to raise the bar in an extremely competitive industry and this is a demonstration of the confidence we have built in the market through unparalleled service quality and innovative best practices.”

Princess Tower, the world’s tallest residential building has used Emrill since its opening in 2012. The tower, which soars to an impressive 414 metres over the Dubai Marina skyline, is second only in height to the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates.

Emrill provides integrated facilities management services including

Cofely Besix joins Mannai for new Qatar venture New joint venture will seek to capitalise on the country’s huge construction programme Cofely Besix FM has secured a 49% stake in the FM company owned by the Mannai Corp in Qatar to launch a new company Cofely Besix Mannai Facility Management (CBMFM).

Cofely Besix GM Ian Harfield said:

MEP, housekeeping, concierge, security services, and life guards to all the prestigious developments. In addition, Emrill manages communal areas including swimming pools, gymnasium, and common areas of the famous towers.

Emrill began providing services to The Torch which stands at 348metres in 2011, and more recently, 23 Marina and Elite Residence which stand at 392 metres and 381 metres respectively.

Alan Rowlands, General Manager, Novus Community Management said “We are once again pleased to be working with Emrill, in other communities they have worked closely with us and the Owner Associations and delivered services to the highest standard, we are confident that this will again be another success for all of us”

“Both business entities are leading FM companies in their own right, and by combining the strengths of both companies, we will be able to deliver a wider range of services to our clients.”

Alekh Grewal, group CEO and director of Mannai Corporation said: “With a significant amount of infrastructure and construction projects anticipated in Qatar over the coming years, CBMFM is rightly positioned to capitalise on the facility management services demand arising from the domestic market.”

Technical services will include maintenance of air-conditioning, electrical work alongside delivering soft services, waste removal, grounds maintenance and security.

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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Imdaad, the leading integrated facilities management provider keeps on providing its sustainable FM services coupled with the team professional expertise and capabilities to the UAE and GCC. We manage facilities for generations to come.

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NEWS NEW PROJECT

First phase of Dubai’s air-conditioned city to open in 2018 Giant development signals new chapter in emirate’s plan to attract visitors and work will “begin next year” Tenders are expected to go out within six months to begin work on Dubai’s $6.8bn air-conditioned city, says then man responsible for raising the financing for the project.

The centrepiece of Mohammed Bin Rashid City is the 750,000m2 ‘Mall of the World’, surrounded by an indoor theme park, hotels with 20,000 rooms and seven kilometres of main streets that can be open during winter but airconditioned during the summer. The plan also includes a 275,000m2 medical district.

Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum revealed details of the project at the beginning of July.

But it was the chief executive of Dubai Holding, Ahmad bin Byat, who revealed costings in an interview with Reuters a few days later where he reassured investors that the project was a vital part of the emirate’s growth.

He told Reuters: “The way things are growing [in Dubai] I think we are barely coping with the demand. Tourism in growing in Dubai.”

He said the whole ‘city’ it will take 10 years to complete and

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would be carefully managed so as to avoid any repeat of the speculative building boom that ended with the crash in 2009.

Byat said he expected the mall to open in 2018 although he did not reveal details of any finance discussions so far.

The whole district will cover 4.6km2 at Al Sufouh, built on the seaward side of Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite the Mall of Emirates.

The planned cultural district is modelled on New York’s Broadway, The Celebration Walk is similar to the Ramblas Street in Barcelona while the shopping streets will be inspired by London’s Oxford Street.

“That (25 billion Dirhams) is how much it will cost when it’s ready,” said Byat. “That is in about 10 years so we

are talking about a requirement of about 2.5 billion dirhams every year for the next 10 years.”

Half the finance will be raised in the UAE with the balance from borrowing, leasing and sales of some parts of the project.

Dubai Holding borrowed heavily to finance growth in the run up to the 2009 collapse of the property market and the state –linked Dubai Group reached a deal with creditors at the beginning of this year.

The International Monetary Fund says Dubai’s state-linked firms have debt repayments of an estimated $92 billion over the next five years and are reported to have been selling off assets to raise cash. The IMF has urged it to control property speculation to avoid a repeat of the 2006-09 borrow and collapse cycle.

The announcement follows Nakheel’s announcement of a 570,000m2 mall at its Deira Islands project, which has an adjoining night market and ampitheatre.

Emiratisation How FM sector must meet its quota.

See Page 30

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NEWS TRAINING

FM training package reaches new heights MEFMA signs new ‘best-in-class’ support for safety in the workplace certification package for members Manlift, the UAE’s largest supplier of Access Platforms and Power Generators have signed a strategic alliance with the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) to supply IPAF and PASMA training to members.

As a certified IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufactures’ Association) training centre, Manlift will work closely with MEFMA and its members to introduce IPAF and PASMA certification and further improve the standards of users operating at height across the industry.

IPAF qualifications are recognised internationally and certified by TÜV as conforming to the international standards of mobile elevating work platforms operator training. Upon successful completion of IPAF trained users will be issues

by Manlift with a Powered Access License (PAL) which is recognised worldwide across industries as proof of aerial work platform (AWP) operator training to the highest standard.

Sinead Bridgett, Director MEFMA said: “We see this as a valuable service offering to our members and the wider facilities management community as Manlift offers best-

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in-class training, support and user certification for all operators who pass the working at height courses.”

Manlift’s Managing Director, Tom Cunningham said: “Manlift is delighted to be in partnership with MEFMA. We admire the MEFMA organization for its commitment to professionalism, leadership, teamwork, operational excellence, and safety in the workplace. We look forward to doing great things together.”

As part of this initiative Manlift, which already has an extensive selection of rental equipment that exceeds 1,500 in the Middle East, will inject further low-level access aerial work platforms into their fleet to assist MEFMA members and the facilities management community meet with their specific on-site requirements. In addition to this Manlift is increasing the number of IPAF and PASMA autho-

rised training instructors within their organisation.

Robert Cavaleri, Manlift Group’s Operations and Technical Manager and certified IPAF training instructor said: “This is an excellent partnership for all involved especially as we see an ever increasing requirement from our customers that clients are demanding IPAF and PASMA training for all operators working at height.”

As part of the initiative Manlift will be offering exclusive “training days” to MEFMA members to increase awareness of all things related to working safe at height.

Manlift believes that the Middle East regulations as practiced in Europe will eventually become mandatory for all those working on AWPs at height in the region.

The GCC based Manlift Group was founded in 2006 and specialises in the rental and sale of powered access machines (MEWPS) and temporary power generators.

It has a fleet of 1,500 machines from manufacturers including JLG, Upright, Teupen, Genie, Power Tower for access machines and diesel generators from Cummins, Perkins and Ingersoll Rand.

Left to right: Rob Cavaleri, Manlift Group Technical & Operations Manager, and Tom Cunningham, Manlift Group Managing Director, signing MOU with MEFMA’s Ali Al Suwaidi

For more details go to www.manliftgroup.com

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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GUEST LIZ KENTISH

MEETINGS,

MEETINGS, MEETINGS… “Make the most of the time you spend there” You probably feel that you spend too much time in meetings and you are almost have too many.

In addition, you probably don’t get all of the answers your really need from any of those meetings.

I know, it’s frustrating isn’t it?

So, if you would you like to cut down on wasted time (yours and your colleagues) and have the right information shared with your team, please read on.

Managing meetings Research by Microsoft among 38,000 people in 200 countries showed we are in meetings on average for 5.6 hours a week and 70% of this time leads to no action at all. Many of my FM clients have spent many more hours than this. So it is no wonder that meetings drain our energy and are often seen as useless.

But by using a focused approach meetings really can be more effective and less frustrating. This works by posing useful questions which help people to focus on what they want to get

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out of the meeting. As the manager, you help them to remember what they want to achieve and how this session can help them with that.

At the start of the meeting ask: • What’s going well? (Ask everyone individually).

• How will you know when it ends whether it has been useful for you?

• What are your best hopes for this meeting?

• What do we want to achieve today?

• How will you know we have made some progress?

• What will be different?

• What small thing can you do to get as much as possible from this meeting?

During the meeting ask: • Is/was this useful for you? If yes, how is it useful? If no, how could we make it more useful?

• How can we use the time we have left as effectively as possible?

• When we have tackled this kind of problem before, what was the most help?

• What skills and resources did we discover then?

• How are those things helpful?

• How could you build on and do more of what’s going well?

• What needs to happen for those things to continue?

• How motivated are you to continue those things? How hopeful are you that those things will continue?

After or at the end of the meeting ask: • What has been most useful for you?

• How can you apply this?

• What small step will you take tomorrow?

• What is better? What else?

Points to remember Asking useful questions allows you to focus on someone’s strengths, capabilities, possibilities and enthusiasm. Be wary of bombarding them with endless questions – listen actively to their answers and ask the next question accordingly. Listening is key – act as if they are someone with so much unfulfilled potential that you just have to support them.

Liz Kentish is a leadership expert, managing director of Kentish & Co, and current deputy chairman of BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management)

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REVIEW FM EXPO 2014

THE NUMBERS WHICH ADD UP TO

SUCCESS

FM Expo 2014 has grown so large it now warrants its own show this year. Held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, Facility Insight discovers that success really can be measured.

FM Expo 2014 offered a full threeday conference and seminar programme

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F

igures released by the organiser of this year’s FM Expo reveal why the event has become a vital part of the industry in the region.

Audited figures for visitor numbers show 7,523 individuals attended the event at the World Trade Centre in Dubai and 42% said they were there to source a new product or service. A similar number were there to network and more than one in five said they attended to buy a specific product. More than half attended to see new products and latest technology and almost a quarter were there to find a distributor.

The show is organised by dmg::events – which is also behind some of the biggest shows in the region including The Big 5, Index and The Hotel Show – and the company is meticulous about documenting attendees and ensuring total transparency.

FM Expo Senior Project Manager Jaafar Shubber said: “This year’s FM

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FLOORSPACE

EXHIBITING COMPANIES

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TOTAL DELEGATES

EXPO was an exciting one for the industry. Taking place alongside it, for the first time, were two new niche industry focused shows, Middle Waste & Recycling and Commercial Cleaning & Hygiene.

“This exciting new collaboration brought more exhibitors as well as a much wider selection of products and services covering all aspects of the facilities and maintenance industries, which in turn resulted in increased visitor numbers.

“In 2015 you can expect to see even more investment in free-to-attend, high quality seminars, conferences and workshops. And why do we do this? We believe that if we can attract more key decision makers and influential figures by providing an event that inspires, informs and entertains, we know our exhibitors and sponsors will have a great opportunity to meet thousands of potential customers, get a great return on their investment and return the following year.

“We look forward to welcoming you from 18 -20 May 2015, at Dubai World Trade Centre.”

FM Expo’s success really can be measured and dmg::events offers a full post-show report from its website www.fm-expo.com. But the most telling figure was that 97% of visitors said they would be back next year.

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VISITING COUNTRIES

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EXHIBITING COUNTRIES

7,523 TOTAL VISITORS

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CERTIFIED DELEGATES

In my opinion, FM EXPO this year has been the most successful one so far. It was extremely well-managed, informative and interesting.

Jason Ruehland, Managing Director, Emrill

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FM EXPO SHOW FOCUS

GREEN MESSAGE FOR

FM PROVIDERS

Al Yousuf GreenTech company made headlines across the region in April this year when it launched its ‘Green Loan’ in association with the Union National Bank (UNB).

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he AGT Green Loan offers tailor-made solutions to clients on the wide-range of energy efficient products from globally-renowned brands offered by AGT. AGT, which attended FM Expo, pledged that the cost of fitting green energy saving devices can be repaid from savings in energy bills within three years. “We never had seen any project that took more than three years to recover the cost,” it says.

Mohamed Rashed Al Rashed (picured above) is general manger of AGT, which showed its range of sustainable solutions at FM expo, including an electric van right through to replacement LED lightbulbs. AGT provides end-to-end building and home automation solutions, from designing and installation to after-sale service.

Rashed told Facility Insight: “Our technical department provides a total survey with a full review of return on investment with a tailored solution to

meet customers’ needs.”

He highlighted the company’s most recent success at an unnamed government building. “We reduced its expenditure by 60 to 70%, with a payback time of just two years,” he said.

“The building was 10 years old and around 400 government employees work there and we carried out the full assessment before we went ahead with the work.”

He said he was keen to establish working relationships with more FM companies and that was why he chose to exhibit at FM Expo and offers access to two of the world leaders in sustainable products.

“We work with Siemens and LG,” he said. “LG has huge expansion plans in the UAE.” It sells the electric truck, which it builds in the USA based on the Ford F350 truck chassis completely to customer specifications. “This can be a specialised minibus right through to a mobile bank facility,” said Rashed.

In fact the company is already in serious negotiations to build electric trucks specified as a mobile bank as well as government departments in the UAE which are keen to utilise an environmentally-friendly vehicle.

More at www.alyousufgt.com

Data ownership is a key FM issue

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he show demonstrates the FM sector is beginning to expose itself and let people know what FM is about, this has been a show of quality,” said Adrian Jarvis, General manager of FSI Middle East.

“A lot new people are coming into the market because of the publicity surrounding Expo 2020 – but whether they will survive, only time will tell.”

Jarvis, who was exhibiting at FM Expo, is a strong advocate of utilising the very

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best technology, but he is clear that what FSI provides is a “business solution, not a commodity.” He also believes information a building acquired during its lifecycle should be the property of the owner, not the FM companies.

“The organising of data about a building is a big issue and can not be tied to a shortterm maintenance contract,” he said. “But the value of data ownership on an individual property is being realised by the building owner.”

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INTERVIEW JASON RUEHLAND

New MD brings new tech to

a growing business Jason Ruehland is Emrill’s new managing director and here he tells Facility Insight how working smarter really does save money. By Gary Wright

J

une was a good month for Emrill’s Jason Ruehland: he was named the new managing director of Emrill and his company won Overall FM Company of the Year at the fmME Awards.

“It has been a good month and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead this successful and innovative company,” Ruehland told Facility Insight.

He takes over from Ben Churchill and the

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two men are widely recognised in the industry for leading a team that has pushed Emrill to the top division of service providers by focusing successfully on sustainability, the use of technology and staff welfare.

Engineer Ruehland is married with two sons, Thomas and Walter. He is Australian and worked in the United Kingdom for ten years for one of Emrill’s three shareholding partners Carillion (the others are are Emaar and Al Futtaim)before coming to Dubai. He arrived in 2011 to be Emrill’s operations director and he is recognised for introducing low-cost innovation.

Ruehland told Facility Insight: “I came here with a view of the Gulf and that has been massively surpassed. There is a lot of innovation but getting more technology into this country is my biggest challenge. The good news is that we are starting to export our technology to other countries.”

He admits that the award recognition was

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nice, though he has no doubt Emrill has earned it. Ruehland said at the time: “The market is growing ever more sophisticated so we have to ensure we are able to meet the increasing demands.”

For Ruehland that sophistication means utilising existing technology but thinking about it in a new way, which enables providers – and more importantly clients - to save time and money.

He is a familiar face to FM industry professionals and Emrill has always been open to sharing its innovation with the sector. Most recently Ruehland presented at FM Expo and MEFMA’s Confex on innovation and operational expertise.

At the second day of the MEFMA Confex, he was one of the top speakers with a strong stage manner and his presentation titled ‘How Serious Play Can Lead to Breakthrough Innovations’ revealed that Emrill staff were encouraged to come up with their own ideas and demonstrated how readily available sensors can become an integral part of predictive maintenance.

A few weeks later FM Expo visitors had the chance to learn more about Emrill’s latest technology, ‘Business Smart’ which revolutionises the way FM services are delivered and is time efficient and saving paperwork. Business Smart is supported by a dedicated 500 strong work force, task allocation via smart phones and wireless remote monitoring sensors.

Emrill’s Business Smart project offers a three-pronged solution, which Ruehland explained, takes advantage of smart phones and mobile data access.

“A supermarket is a good example,” he said.

“Say it has AED 2.3m worth of refrigerated stock on the premises for example, and it suffers freezer failure. It has just two hours to get it repaired or the food is spoilt, it is a health risk and a major loss of inventory for a customer.”

“Despite this, the supermarket cannot afford to have technicians on site 24 hours a day and that is why accurate monitoring and a well

Emrill has revolutionised the fM industry through its people and technology, and I am honoured to lead the company.”

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INTERVIEW JASON RUEHLAND

Jason Rueland is an accomplished seminar speaker who has shared his experience and ideas with FM professionals.

“Dubai is a great city – but it is getting old, we have buildings that are 15 years old and good maintenance is vital,” says Jason Ruehland.

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organised response policy are vital.”

That one example portrays what Business Smart brings to the sector with preventive maintenance. “Most systems look at performance but are not monitored,” said Ruehland. “Now we can monitor anything from a chiller or an HVAC pump through to the freezers in supermarkets, I mentioned.”

Wireless remote monitoring system; provide vital data on the nature of the problem and alert technicians immediately wherever they are located on their mobile phones to save time and resources. Business Smart is already installed and operating in the UAE. Ruehland reels off a list of benefits for a technology his company has developed. For example, vibration monitors fixed on pumps, pick up changes in the way a machine is running by analysing vibration patterns, which can lead to a replacement of a sheared bolt before it causes a massive failure.

This technology has taken two years to develop, it is cost effective and anyone in the building maintenance business will have to take notice.

Ruehland reveals that Business Smart can provide a lot of benefits to a business with the ability to monitor numerous devices and equipment with the sensor’s battery life of around three years. Alerts can be sent to any mobile device.

Smart phones feature highly in Emrill’s operational procedures too with its huge mobile business of more than 50 vehicles and 500 trained staff.

“We have saved time and money with our mobile tech

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Jason was the strongest candidate to lead Emrill... HE has a keen eye for innovation and creativity along with a fresh and competitive edge to the leadership of the business.”

Shaun Carter, Emrill Board Member

80% of routine and emergency tasks completed in one visit

6,000+ utilising smart phones and paperwork has gone,” he said.

In the old days a call would come in to the helpdesk, a call sheet would be printed; the technician would pick it up, do the job then return to the office.

“Now it is all on screen: the technician receives the job wherever he is on a smart phone, colour coded by priority, goes to the job, fixes it, takes photos and then returns all of the information via smart phone to the office,” he said.

Emrill says it has seen an 18% increase in efficiency and a 63% improvement in response times. “We have the right technician in the right place at the right time,” said Ruehland.

“And a lot of paperwork and administration has been reduced by the system.”

For the future, Ruehland is a man bursting with ideas and he sees Emrill as being in a strong position currently.

“Dubai is now building again and therefore the market

Emrill employees

demand is increasing for FM services,” he said. “The industry will experience a natural growth as a whole. Emrill, on the other hand is focusing on what we do best which is service excellence and providing our customers with value.

“In the Middle East, Dubai for example is a great city – but it is getting old, we have buildings that are 15 years old and good maintenance is vital – preventive maintenance is one of our biggest growth areas.

“With the upcoming Expo 2020, it is becoming far more important with increasing energy demands across the country to maximise efficiencies which decrease energy consumption without affecting the level of service. Therefore, I believe our Energy Driven FM model will be key in the development and evolution of the market to not only deliver cutting edge facilities management services but to enable energy conservation in line with the Government’s vision.”

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03/08/14 12:18 pm

SUPPLIER RAPID ACCESS

Reach the heights Rapid Access has been in the Middle East for almost 20 years and this year’s FM Expo signalled another phase of growth for the powered access company.

Low level - Power Tower PECOLIFT Working Height: 3.50 m Closed Width: 0.70 m Closed Length: 0.99 m Closed Height: 1.55 m Platform or Deck Size: 0,6 x 0,72 m Safe Working Load: 150 kg

NANO SP - Power Tower Nano Sp 4,50 meters Platform Height: 2.50 m Working Height: 4.50 m Closed Width: 0.75 m Closed Length: 1.20 m Closed Height: 1.59 m Platform or Deck Size: 0,73 x 1 m Platform Extended: 1.5 m Safe Working Load: 200 kg Power Type: Electric

Power Tower - POWER TOWER Working Height: 5.10 m Closed Width: 0.78 m Closed Length: 1.52 m Closed Height: 1.85 m Platform or Deck Size: 0,65 x 1,52 m Safe Working Load: 250 kg Power Type: Electric

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S

ome of the region’s biggest FM and MEP providers already choose booms and low-level access platforms from Rapid Access. But judging by the interest at this year’s FM expo, there are set to be a lot more.

Sales and marketing director Alexis Potter, pictutred below, had his range of indoor platforms on disply at the show and explained that they make a lot more sense than aluminium towers and stepladders that are often mis-used.

He said: “Low level access platform hire is a quick, cost-effective and safer alternative to using aluminium towers, ladders and steps.”

Rapid’s high-profile appearance at the show was specifically designed to bring the indoor platform range to the attention of the FM market.

Potter said: “What we have is a range that goes from three metres right up to 43 metres. No one else can offer what we do.”

He said that the low-level equipment is ideal for finished flooring where it is essential that there is no damage caused during routine maintenance or cleaning in a client’s building.

“And all our platforms can be operated by one man and are all designed to be narrow enough to fit through standard doorways and passenger lifts,” he said.

“As a member of the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA), Rapid is proud to offer industry specific solutions designed to support you at every height. At this year’s FM Expo Rapid Access showcased their range of low level access platforms and training courses that amongst other sectors would benefit the FM and MEP sectors.

Find out more at www.rapidaccess-gulf.com

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

P20 Supplier Rapid Access.indd 20

03/08/14 12:18 pm

Supporting your safety At every height

Quote reference FMEXP01 when booking training to receive a 35% MEFMA members discount on course fees.

We are Rapid, the Middle East’s leading provider of safe access solutions.

We offer a range of training courses across the region including the IPAF Powered Access Licence, Harness Training and MEWP’s for Managers.

Our products and services have been designed to help make your work more safe and productive than ever before.

Call to arrange a demonstration of the award winning low level access range from Power Towers available for hire exclusively through Rapid across the Middle East.

Why not learn more about how we can support your success at every height?

Visit our website to see the full range of products and services and to download our Powered access selection guide.

800 222 377

www.rapidaccess-gulf.com UAE

Advts.indd 13

Oman

KSA

Bahrain

Qatar

Kuwait

Iraq

India

03/08/14 8:47 pm

REVIEW WORLD FM DAY

CELEBRATING WOR

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ORLD

MEFMA organised the day-long event at the Ibis Hotel, at the World Trade Centre in Dubai on June 4. Since 2008 World FM day aims to raise the profile of the facilities management profession and show the world the important contribution facilities management brings to the built environment.

DAY FACILITY iNSIGHT  AUGUST 2014

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03/08/14 12:18 pm

FOCUS WASTE DISPOSAL

Imdaad’s new waste plan FM giant signs deal with Indian experts Ramkey to build a new waste processing plant in Dubai which will handle 1,000 tonnes a day.

24

A

new $27.2 million (AED100m) recycling centre in Dubai is set to transform the way one of its biggest FM companies deals with waste.

Around 3,000 businesses operate in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), a wide selection of offices, warehouses, work camps and factories.

Imdaad is set to open a new material recovery facility (MRF), which will process 1,000 tonnes of waste a day, the company has revealed.

“We always wanted to complete the cycle in terms of

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We always wanted to complete the cycle in terms of waste management… with a determined focus on minimising the waste to landfill.

Mahmood Hussain Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer at Imdaad

waste management, which includes collection, transportation, disposal and treatment of waste with a determined focus on minimising the waste being disposed at landfill and improving resource management,” Mahmood Hussain Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer at Imdaad, told Facility Insight.

“We always wanted a technology which will suit the types of waste generated in the region and will support Imdaad in its future plan to evolve as a resource management company where less or not even a small part of waste collected by Imdaad will end in landfill.”

Imdaad has chosen Ramky as technology partner for the project and the MRF will open in late 2015. The giant Indian company has earned an international reputation for its work with waste and water treatment as well as real estate development, engineering and infrastructure construction.

Rasheed said the project feasibility study started almost a year ago for the MRF to process dry waste: “We started the process of identifying the right mix of technology and experience to provide us a solution and we managed to put up a project plan which meets all our expectations both commercially and technically.

Imdaad currently provides a variety of services in-house in the region one of the biggest in the UAE employing 48,00 people and alongside its core business of running integrated facility management inside JAFZA and a wide range of services in range of FM, MEP, waste management and pest control services across the region.

Among its high profile clients it lists the Burj Khalifa and in April this year it landed a major FM contract with Emirates, including MEP, civil maintenance and pest control for 100 villas used by pilots.

It has been recognised with awards over the years, including the GCC FM Company of the year, but its senior managers says that the Dubai Quality Appreciation Awards, which it won in 2010 and 2014, are the ones that count.

100m 60,000m2 Ali Hassan Balooshi

Cost in AED

size of new plant

187

365,000

size of Imdaad’s vehicle fleet

plant’s annual waste capacity

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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03/08/14 9:13 pm

FOCUS WASTE DISPOSAL

Sustainability is now at the forefront of Imdaad’s business, according to its COO Rasheed, who explained how the company’s fleet of vehicles are reducing waste by remoulding worn-out tyres – reducing waste and cost by 40 per cent.

Imdaad is also experimenting with biofuel – recycled cooking oil that can be used to power vehicles, currently undergoing assessment in several of its 187 vehicle, which includes refuse collection vehicles, sweepers and cleaning vehicles right up to the huge sewage tankers.

Imdaad already diverts 14% of waste from landfill before the new reprocessing plant opens where manual segregation ensures cardboard and other dry waste is separated and sent for recycling.

26

A major share of the treated water from Imdaad STP is used for irrigation around JAFZA, offering the greenery that enhances the industrial environment, says Imdaad.

It takes the sustainability message into schools through a series of programmes – this year. Rasheed said: “Beati is our flagship CSR program through which we reach children at different schools to make them aware of the environment and importance of conserving our earth.”

So, Imdaad is taking sustainability seriously and that is evident across the company’s divisions and director Ali Hassan Balooshi summed up the view of the future when he told Facility Insight: “We have a bigger responsibility toward the environment and nature, we believe in leading by example.”

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Advts.indd 11

03/08/14 8:48 pm

SUPPLIER MIL-tek ME

Recycling made easier ... and more profitable

Green is good but green that makes money is even better. Mil-tek is a company offering a ‘complete’ solution

O

ne of the big themes of this year’s FM Expo was sustainability and no visitor could leave the event without a clearer understanding of how they, or their company, can play their part.

But those exhibitors that earned the highest level of interest were organisations that could demonstrate real monetary benefits attached to recycling.

One of those was Mil-tek Middle East, which offered not only a clever way to make better use of space, but also helped their customers earn

28

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

P28-29 Supplier Mil-tek AMENDED.indd 28

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When organisations throw their waste into a skip without compacting it, they pay for a waste collector to take 80 percent air away.” money from what would have been considered waste just a few years ago.

Asad Aziz Baber is sales manager at Mil-tek and he explained to facility insight how cardboard, plastic, polystyrene and other paper waste can be properly managed... and earn income.

“We don’t sell machines, we sell solutions,” said Baber, and that really wasn’t just a sales pitch. The baling machines from Mil-tek can be purchased, but the company will also rent you the machine, with an average return on investment of six months to year. After that it is money in the bank.

“When organisations throw their waste into a skip without compacting it, they pay for a waste collector to take 80 percent air away.”

His company will provide the baling machines, training and then they will put you in contact with a collector who pays for the baled waste.

“We will even conduct free site surveys and offer free trials for users so they

can discover the benefits before they need to commit,” said Baber.

He talked about DANZAS, which is one of the largest logistics companies in Dubai with 14 storage houses in the UAE .

Baber said: “It was producing huge amounts of packaging waste primarily cardboard and plastic and that was taking up vast areas of the warehouses.

Finding a way to dispose of it efficiently and on time was a big problem.”

Mil-tek provided DANZAS with a Model MT3300 and a 305 air operated baler to deal with the waste in their NSN warehouse in JAFZA 1.

Baber said: “ DANZAS now bales all the plastic/ cardboard and sells it at top market prices, while keeping a low carbon footprint at the same time.”

Now DANZAS is working with the Mil-tek as part of a corporate initiative to use Mil-tek balers in many more of their premises.

The benefits are clear and

easy to identify said Baber: • Improved housekeeping • Sustainable method of recycling • Accountability of waste (each kg is weighed and paid) • Massive increase in revenue on recyclable waste • 50% reduction in waste disposal costs.

“Waste is easier to handle, the store room and yard are much tidier which makes for a safer and cleaner working environment and waste is recycled and kept away from local landfills,” said Baber.

More details at www.miltek.me

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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03/08/14 9:00 pm

FM RECRUITMENT SUPPORTED BY

www.engageselection.com

How we must meet the challenges of Emiratisation The private sector in the UAE is expected to double the number of UAE nationals it employs within seven years and the FM sector will have to play its part. By Gary Wright

E

miratisation is a vital part of the UAE development plans for the next seven years and every private sector employer will be expected to take part.

The FM industry in the UAE will come under increasing pressure to employ more UAE nationals. In the last issue of Facility Insight, Macro director Chris Bond said raising the profile of FM to encourage more Emiratis was one of five key areas on which his company was focused.

According to the UAE Ministry of Labour, around 22,000 Emiratis currently work in the private sector that is around 9.7% of the estimated 225,000 Emirati workforce.

In January Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid laid out his ‘road map’ for what he described as the great journey.

The Ruler of Dubai and the UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister, set national targets for Emiratisation of the private sector alongside housing, education, health, the econ-

28

omy, infrastructure and government services.

“In the next seven years, the UAE will go through a great journey that will bring change and fast evolvement to the country to achieve its objectives,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“If our performance as a team during the previous years was 100 per cent, we need to give it 200 per cent in the coming years.”

He said that last year was ‘the year of and he wants to double the target for the number of Emiratis employed in the private sector to ensure jobs for the nation’s youth.

He said: “I say to my brothers in the private sector, your efforts are appreciated but they are not enough. And the Government will impose new measures to increase the Emiratisation numbers. Our goal is for the UAE to be the capital of economy, tourism, and trade for more than two billion people.”

It was a key issue at this year’s Careers UAE 2014 recruitment fair in April, which was opened by Sheikh Mohammad, where 90 of the 160 companies were from the private sector,

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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FM RECRUITMENT SUPPORTED BY

www.engageselection.com

I say to my brothers in the private sector, your efforts are appreciated but they are not enough Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Rule of Dubai and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister

an increase of around 30% compared with the last show.

All were positive in their wish to employ more Emiratis but some admitted it was a challenge and the Gulf News targeted employers to discover concerns.

“Working hours are one of the biggest challenges in attracting Emiratis to join the private sector,” Moza Al Raqbani, Head of Emiratisation at Majid al Futtaim, told the Gulf News. He said his company is looking to hire 65 Emiratis this year.

Farida Hussain, in charge of Emiratisation at the Al Rostamani group, which is hiring 50 Emiratis this year, told the Gulf News that working hours are a challenge. She added that competition from other companies looking to

The need to employ this young and well-educated workforce is important for any business to succeed

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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29

03/08/14 12:16 pm

FM RECRUITMENT SUPPORTED BY

www.engageselection.com

I think that Emiratis are more open than before to working on the private sector Gary segesdy

hire Emiratis is also proving to be difficult.

“We try to attract candidates so that they chose us over other companies by offering better benefits and vacations,” said Hussain.

“For example, we give them a vacation when they get married, if they want to study. We also have something called the loyalty allowance, where they get around AED6,000 extra every year.”

Anil Lamba, Group HR Director at AW Rostamani, which is hiring 15 Emiratis this year, said having flexible hours is important.

Lamba told the Gulf News: “If you want Emiratis you need to understand what their needs are and try to meet them.”

Meccia Abdullah, Emiratisation Business

30

partner at Al Futtaim, which is looking to hire 1,000 Emiratis over the next three years, said maturity and flexibility are the characteristics of ideal candidates.

“We have around 600 Emiratis working full-time… I think that Emiratis are more open than before to working on the private sector,” said Abdullah. “.”

The FM sector is expected to play its part and Gary Segesdy at Engage said the opportunities are out there and companies should recognise the benefits.

He said: “The need to employ this young and well-educated workforce is important for any business to succeed. Emiratis also have intimate working knowledge of the UAE and the region including how government departments work and wide social networks. By employing Emiratis employers can tap into this knowledge.

“We have more vacancies for FM professionals than at any time in the Middle East, the demand for UAE nationals has also increased.

“Understanding the employment of Emiratis and Emiritisation is often not very clear the benefits this may mean to businesses.

“We have seen a significant rise in the demand for UAE nationals to work in the FM industry. We envisage this will increase as the industry understands the concept of Emiratisation more and the value this can add when employing a young well-educated workforce.”

“The need to employ this young and well-educated workforce is important for any business to succeed. Emiratis also have intimate working knowledge of the UAE and the region including how government departments work and wide social networks. By employing Emiratis employers can tap into this knowledge.”

“The main issue faced by Emiratis joining the FM industry will be the same as most potential employees, competition for new positions.

Therefore proving they can add more value to a potential employer than the competition. Even though the Facilities Management industry has grown dramatically over the past 4 years in the UAE the competition for jobs still remains.

“As MEFMA’s recruitment partner we will be raising awareness on Emiritisation across all sectors of the FM industry. This will include information on what Emiritisation will mean to potential employers and employees.”

A raised professional profile of the industry to improve Emiratisation. Chris bond said last month

FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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Engage Selection are MEFMA members and specialise in the field of Facilities and Property Management Recruitment. With offices in London, Dubai, Qatar and Hong Kong Engage Selection are able to offer global coverage, assisting both candidates looking work and clients searching for the right talent to meet their business needs.

Established for over ten years Engage Selection

We are proud to be associated with organisations

have built strong foundations including a vast yet

such as MEFMA and feel this partnership shows our

specialist database of candidates that enables us to

commitment and support to both the region and to

respond to our client’s needs both quickly and

the ever growing Facilities Management sector.

efficiently, whether it be for high volume contract mobilisations or specialist senior level appointments.

CURRENT VACANCIES INCLUDE Operations Director

Leasing Executive

FM Service Provider – Dubai, UAE

Government – Sharjah, UAE

Account Director

Assistant Facilities Manager

FM Service Provider – Dubai, UAE

Property Developer – Sharjah, UAE

Energy Engineer

General Manager

FM Service Provider – Dubai, UAE

FM Service Provider – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Maintenance Planning Manager

Electrical Maintenance Manager

FM Service Provider – Dubai, UAE

FM Service Provider – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Owners Association Manager

Facilities Manager

Property Developer – Dubai, UAE

FM Service Provider – Doha, Qatar

Operations Manager FM Service Provider – Doha, Qatar

Please contact the FM team on +971 44478955 or email gary.segesdy@engageselection.com

Advts.indd 4

03/08/14 8:48 pm

PRODUCT REVIEW

On the market

Facility Insight looks at some of the latest products available for our industry. If you have a new product you want tell the GCC FM market about, let us know.

Dyson Airblade dB AB14 Hand dryer 50% quieter. Acoustically re-engineered to reduce noise. Dries hands hygienically in 10 seconds. Airblade™ technology combined with the Dyson digital motor V4 creates high speed sheets of air. The Dyson Airblade dB hand dryer is the fastest way to dry hands. It is suitable for all washrooms, particularly where sound levels are an important consideration.

Dyson is also introducing its new Airblade™ Tap Handdryer. The latest Dyson digital motor was seven years in the making - it’s one of the world’s smallest fully-integrated 1600W motors. It’s the only hand dryer motor powerful enough to draw in up to 30 litres of air a second through a HEPA filter, and then dry hands in 12 seconds. www.dysonairblade.ae

Hörmann steel doors Hörmann steel ThermoPro doors for main and side entrances are available in a large selection of styles. Thanks to standard multiple-point locking, these inexpensive doors give you a feeling of security and save energy through excellent thermal insulation.

Hörmann Middle East has a 200m2 showroom in Jebel Ali Free Zone South showing the range of products and refurbishment solutions. It also features an in-house training facility that provides an interactive learning arena and demonstrates products’ capabilities in an accessible and user friendly way. www.hormann.ae

POWERSTAR HV MAX voltage optimisers Powerstar is a unique voltage optimisation system which saves energy costs and carbon emissions designed and manufactured in the UK for over ten years by EMSc (UK) Ltd. Powerstar voltage optimisation systems have been installed into a vast array of industries without failures and 100% reliability through thousands of installations over the last decade.

The Powerstar voltage optimisation system is available in three variations ensuring the solution can be adopted onto a range of varying sites.

Powerstar is still the only voltage optimisation system in the world to be granted a patent on its design, testament to the uniquely designed triple-wound transformer that affords clients additional energy saving and efficiency potential. www.Powerstar.com

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Advts.indd 5

03/08/14 8:49 pm

MEFMA SRS

Why the

RATING

is a vital benchmark MEFMA’s new Star Rating System is on target for introduction early in 2015.

MEFMA board member Ali Al Suwaidi explains why it is necessary.

36

M

EFMA President Jamal Lootah was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work with our association and Imdaad at this year’s Facilities Management Middle East Awards.

During our the annual MEFMA Confex 2014, we unveiled our plans to launch our very own star rating system (SRS) that will benchmark buildings and facilities across the Middle East against a stringent set of guidelines and practices. This was inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai having recently called for a star rating system against all government services offered within Dubai.

From the government’s perspective, the implementation of an SRS system moves the UAE towards improving and developing government services leading to a higher level of customer satisfaction. This in a nutshell, is why we at MEFMA are looking to implement our own version of the SRS system.

The handling of property and facilities has changed from pure building administration to a professional and active facility management industry.

Benchmarking will play an essential role in this, and contribute to the overall success.

Benchmarking is not about whether a property is managed well. It examines structures, processes and standards, to track down chances for optimisation and to use these accordingly.

A recent report issued by Global Industry Analysts Inc has predicted that the global FM market will reach $397.69bn by 2017. This sort of growth can only be achieved through the implementation of best practice solutions of which benchmarking allows you to imple-

ment. Benchmarking our industry and facilities against globally recognised parameters is essential to driving up standards across our industry as a whole.

As with any benchmarking initiative, there are two main reasons as to why an industry should implement this tool. Firstly, it greatly improves efficiency by filling in operational gaps; improving quality of productivity and a reduction in costs and an increase in revenues as a result. This tool will help you to assist look at design as well as operational gap during life cycle of the asset.

The other facet to benchmarking is its ability to develop competence from the ground up.

It does this through delivering a cultural change towards a learning organisation so everyone managing a facility is singing from the same ‘hymn sheet’; a marked increase in the understanding of processes and a change in employee and customer behaviours and attitudes.

As a result of all this, a building of which is regularly benchmarked will undoubtedly instil a culture of continuous improvement which leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction and return on investment for building owners and investors alike.

While MEFMA’s SRS System initiative has initial MEFMA board approval, the backing of government entities is still early. Once approved, the programme will be applicable to any facility across the Middle East with the aim of ensuring safety, productivity, longevity and return of investment.

As of now, the system is set to play an integral part in the MEFMA Challenge Award Program which will award those buildings and facilities that meet the criteria of the SRS system. We plan to announce the first round of recipients at MEFMA Confex in 2015.

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Open doors to new possibilities with...

MEFMA’s Muhtarif - Certified Facility Management Professional - is a fully accredited course and is an assessment based route to professional accreditation within Facility Management.

The program develops the knowledge and skills needed to operate at the highest levels within FM and covers: • Management Accounting • Operations Management • Project Management • Sustainability • Leadership Muhtarif is a 10 day course which is spread over 5 modules with 15 hours per module.

Our UAE rates are as follows: Founding & Corporate Members: Associate Members: Non-Members: Cost of each module: AED 1,500 Cost of each module: AED 1,600 Cost of each module: AED 2,000 Cost for all 5 modules: AED 7,500 Cost for all 5 modules: AED 8,000 Cost for all 5 modules: AED 10,000 Course Dates: 8th & 9th June - Management Accounting • 10th & 11th June - Operations Management • 16th & 17th June - Sustainability • 18th & 19th June - Leadership 12th & 15th June - Project Management To register for the Muhtarif course, please contact: info@mefma.org. Also available online: www.mefma.org

TRAINING CENTRE

Approved Training Centre for:

Contact: info@mefma.org

www.mefma.org Advts.indd 10

03/08/14 8:49 pm

KSA FM

e h t n i s s e c c u u o s y M o t F p y u h s i W m o d g Kin

Mohammed K AlDuraibi, CEO of Daem and MEFMA Board Member

38

Building a regulatory framework for the FM sector is Saudi Arabia is vital for its future growth. But it is up to operating companies not the government to make it happen, says Mohammed K AlDuraibi, CEO of Daem and MEFMA Board Member

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T

he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the fastest growing FM market in the world according to new research, backed by MEFMA, which predicts the FM market in KSA is worth between $1.5 and $2 billion.

Bearing in mind the size of the market, the level of understanding about FM and its purpose in Saudi Arabia is worrying. Some sophisticated sectors such as oil & gas understand integrated FM, but within real estate and construction, it is still very common for facilities management to be confused with the more day-to-day activities of operations and maintenance.

Whilst education and spreading awareness is being encouraged by those involved in the industry, including MEFMA, there also needs to be tangible actions that help promote best practice.

To this end, a problem unique to Saudi Arabia is regulation. Currently in the Kingdom there is no rating system (like in the UAE) that protects investors by ensuring properties are preserved, maintained and operate efficiently. Dubai, for example, has quality controls in place and its Real Estate Regulatory Authority has its own safety standards to which buildings must adhere and legislatively, a strata law was passed in 2007 to control costs, promote competition and provide a level of autonomy for joint building owners.

Likewise, if the FM sector in Saudi Arabia is to grow in the right direction, it needs the involvement of the government to help protect property investment and the tenants through regulation. In turn, this will foster an environment for best practice which will help buyers of FM understand the contractual framework for procurement.

However, we cannot simply sit back and wait for regulation. The few players that are operating successfully in Saudi Arabia need to be masters of their own destiny and proactively reach out to government regulators and develop commercially viable guidelines that they are happy to work to.

This includes benchmarking and setting minimum design requirements to help ensure facilities management is introduced at the design stage of any new development. With specialist consultants involved, regulation will also standardize facilities management beyond operations and maintenance to enhance the cycle life of buildings.

There are also plenty of global certification programs and partners that add another layer of professionalism to the market and ensure any new entries into Saudi Arabia operate to an international standard. In Qatar, for example, a Facilities Management Interest Group was set up by the Qatar Green Building Council and MEFMA with a clear agenda to drive change via practical and innovative initiatives that are both affordable and sustainable. The group also has a mandate to determine which regulatory changes are necessary for the facilities management industry in Qatar to be more environmentally friendly such is its involvement and communication with local government.

MEMFA is already working hard to raise the awareness of FM in Saudi Arabia. It has organised numerous workshops and a conference. Consequently facilities management in the Kingdom is not in its infancy: it is now growing and growing fast. But we need to make sure it does so along the right track and this means developing channels of communication with government and regulators to help professionalise our industry.  FACILITY iNSIGHT  AUGUST 2014

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03/08/14 12:16 pm

INDUSTRY AWARDS

… And the

winner is

M

EFMA President Jamal Lootah was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work with our association and Imdaad at this year’s Facilities Management Middle East Awards.

Collecting the award he said: “I am truly humbled by the award bestowed upon me. Imdaad has managed over the years to position itself as the foremost provider of strategic FM services across some of the key projects in the UAE and the GCC.” In the other categories Khidmah, Bee’ah, Farnek Services and EFS Facilities Services each picked up a brace of awards.

The ceremony grew again this year offering 16 categories at what has become one of the highlights of the FM social calendar.

Some attendees felt that the opportunity to mix with fellow FM professionals has overshadowed the relevance of the actual awards but

40

A bigger Facilities Management Middle East Awards this year offered few surprises but remains a social highlight for our industry

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the organiser ITP - and the big name sponsors it had signed - ensured the gala evening at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa was one to remember.

Emrill secured Overall FM Company of the Year trophy for the second year in row and Jason Ruehland picked up the award within hours of learning he was the new managing director of the company (see our exclusive interview on page 16).

One of the genuine surprises of the

night was Macro International losing out for the first time in six years in the FM Consultancy of the Year category, which was won by UGL Services, DTZ’s FM business in Saudi Arabia.

Bee’ah’s Khaled Al Huraimel was named FM Executive of the Year category and the Group CEO thanked his staff for their hard work in helping him achieve success. His company was also awarded Sanitation and Waste Company of the Year.

The winners Education & Development Initiative of the Year Children’s City - Dubai Municipality Cleaning Company of the Year Khidmah Outdoor Maintenance Company of the Year EFS Facilities Services Green FM Company of the Year Farnek Services FM Consultancy of the Year UGL Services Sanitation & Waste Management Company of the Year Bee’ah Security Company of the Year World Security Health and Safety Initiative of the Year Khidmah - Emergency Response Initiatives Sustainability Initiative of the Year Farnek Services - Sustainability Awareness Quest

Cofeley Besix FM’s Shemeer Ibrahim (left) named Young Facility Manager of the Year, receiving his trophy from Eng. Ansari Wahid, general manager Adele Group Picture: MEFMA

CSR Initiative of the Year Transguard Group – Christel House Young Facilities Manager of the Year Shemeer Ibrahim - Cofely Besix Facilities Management Unsung Hero of the Year Manir Hossain - EFS Facilities Services Facilities Manager of the Year Ron Unwin - Brookfield Multiplex Services FM Executive of the Year Khaled Al Huraimel - Bee’ah Overall FM Company of the Year Emrill Integrated Facilities Management Lifetime Achievement Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad and president, MEFMA

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FOCUS FINAL THOUGHT

D E S A B E C N A M R O F R E P H T W O R G M F O T Y E K E H T E AR

S T C A R T N O C aces region f d e h t in an FM of staff e g a t r o a sh al of ul surviv ref s s e c c su a r means y o t c e s e th e wa ion of th . Simple t a u l a v e ged e mana r a f f a t s s offer a e u l a v y iona famil , says F d a e h a way ell Mcdonn acts sed contr ance-ba highlight Perform to rs e d provi of staff. allow FM n needs uneratio the rem

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F

or many family businesses, family values are a key competitive strength. While all businesses have values built around integrity, quality and customers – without which you wouldn’t have a business – family businesses have distinctive values that set them apart.

They tend to have stronger ‘people values’ and can put employees ahead of profits.

This has always been a central value for OCS Group, which expanded its Middle East operation by opening OCS Emirates in partnership with another family business, United Technical Services (UTS).

Being part of a family business presents a fantastic opportunity for OCS Emirates, since 60% of the FM workforce in the Middle East is made up of lesser paid operational and maintenance staff and the future of the industry relies on their career progression and training.

But as it stands, profit in the FM industry is put above people and the continual churn of on-the-ground workers is affecting standards.

It is a natural consequence of the FM market in the UAE maturing and margins typically being squeezed.

We believe the solution revolves around performance-based contracts that consider technical and specialist skills, which necessitates a focus on developing people.

By implementing performance-based contracts, FM providers will be able to highlight the remuneration needed for staff with experience and training to perform specialist tasks. And with a focus on output, it allows the client to realise increased productivity from a more willing, qualified and motivated workforce.

As a consequence the client will benefit from a “quality” product or service, reduced customer complaints, responsiveness, a problem-prevention culture and market-fair pricing as a strategy for maintaining or increasing their company’s competitiveness.

Meanwhile, the FM company will still be able to retain a healthy profit margin, since headcount tends not to be considered in such agreements.

And the cost for covering a more qualified workforce is partly covered by the client who is willing to pay for a service above industry standards. This

idea of mutuality, links the company’s performance to contractor performance in achieving their respective goals.

Bringing the argument back to people, performance-based contracts are typically more prevalent in niche sectors such as healthcare, which necessitates specialist training, development and mobility of staff.

At OCS, for example, we have a global mobility strategy in place that will allow high-performing staff from other countries the opportunity to gain international experience by relocating to the Middle East when a specialist skill-set is required to meet an objective laid out in a performance-based contract.

Whether it’s a cleaner, engineer or manager, our staff arrive in the UAE familiar with the OCS brand, a sector-specific way of working and focus on operational effectiveness. Moreover it adds another level of motivation, since we are empowering them with a new opportunity.

The mobility programme goes hand in hand with our corporate training. This is especially pertinent as recent commentators have inferred that in the near future, our industry could face a skills shortage due to the growth of FM in an emerging market.

Using our operation in Thailand as an example, we have implemented a grading system that consists of six development levels designed to help a new employee step up the career ladder to supervisor level. We are planning to introduce a similar scheme for OCS Emirates to ensure we build succession planning into our HR strategy and create a specialised workforce.

This will then go full circle to ensure that we can fulfill our promise that our people are qualified and motivated to improve operational efficiency within a performance based contract.

It is for this reason our business strategy, as a family-owned business, revolves around the development and support for our people in a regional industry that needs to begin looking at more sophisticated delivery mechanisms as a way of protecting margins.

Profit in the FM industry is put above people and the continual churn of on-the-ground workers is affecting standards.

Fiona Mcdonnell is the General Manager at OCS Emirates FACILITY iNSIGHT AUGUST 2014

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MEFMA DIARY

Diary dates

Panellists at FM Expo 2014 in Dubai

Facility Management and MEFMA events, conferences and seminars until the end of 2014

Event

date

LOCATION

Networking Event - Dubai

19-08-2014 5:00 pm to 19-08-2014 7:00 pm

THE CLUB - DWTC

MEFMA Board Meeting

02-09-2014 12:00 am to 02-09-2014 12:00 am

DUBAI

Ta'aseesy - Foundation in FM Course - Dubai

07-09-2014 8:30 am to 11-09-2014 4:30 pm

ARJAAN BY ROTANA HOTEL

MEFMA is supporting Smart Cities Conference

08-09-2014 8:00 am to 10-09-2014 5:00 pm

SOFITEL HOTEL, PALM JUMEIRAH, DUABI

MEFMA is supporting Medical Cities

14-09-2014 12:00 am to 14-09-2014 12:00 am

THE ADDRESS HOTEL DUBAI MARINA

Workshop & Awareness Conference - Jubail, KSA

14-09-2014 9:00 am to 14-09-2014 4:00 pm

ROYAL COMMISSION OF JUBAIL & YANBU

MEFMA is supporting the Waste Management & Recycling Summit

17-09-2014 12:00 am to 18-09-2014 12:00 am

INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA WEST BAY

Arabic Ta'aseesy - Foundation in FM Course

21-09-2014 8:30 am to 25-09-2014 4:30 pm

EXECUTIVES HOTEL, Riyadh

MEFMA is supporting Interclean Exhibition & Conference

25-09-2014 9:00 am to 27-09-2014 7:00 pm

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

MEFMA Workshop - Kuwait

16-10-2014 10:00 am to 16-10-2014 1:00 pm

KUWAIT

Networking Event - Kuwait

16-10-2014 5:00 pm to 16-10-2014 7:00 pm

KUWAIT

MEFMA is Supporting & Participating in Clean Middle East Pulire Expo - Dubai

21-10-2014 12:00 am to 23-10-2014 12:00 am

DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE

MEFMA is supporting the 2nd Global Corporate Real Estate Leader's Summit

27-10-2014 12:00 am to 29-10-2014 12:00 am

JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS

Pre-Conference Workshop - Riyadh

16-11-2014 10:00 am to 16-11-2014 3:00 pm

RIYADH

MEFMA Conference - Riyadh

17-11-2014 9:00 am to 17-11-2014 5:00 pm

RIYADH

MEFMA is supporting Gulf Traffic Exhibition & Conference

08-12-2014 10:00 am to 10-12-2014 7:00 pm

DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE

MEFMA Workshop - Qatar

11-12-2014 10:00 am to 11-12-2014 1:00 pm

DOHA

Networking Event - Qatar

11-12-2014 5:00 pm to 11-12-2014 7:00 pm

DOHA

Arabic Ta'aseesy - Foundation in FM Course

14-12-2014 12:00 am to 18-12-2014 12:00 am

KUWAIT

MEFMA Board Meeting

18-12-2014 12:00 am to 18-12-2014 12:00 am

DUBAI

Pre-CONFEX Workshop and MEFMA Annual CONFEX - Dubai

15-03-2015 9:00 am to 17-03-2015 5:00 pm

THE ADDRESS HOTEL DUBAI MARINA

For the latest information, go to www.mefma.org

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