Our Story
Founded in 2009, The Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) is a professional membership-based body aimed to unify the facility management industry and help advance the FM sector in the Middle East.
MEFMA focuses on developing and promoting facility management best practices and professional standards in the region, through membership packages with unique benefits, educational opportunities via professional training programs and certifications, reports & research studies on latest industry trends, and extensive regional events being a knowledge sharing platform, thereby adding value to its members and FM industry professionals.
Headquartered in Dubai (UAE) whilst operating around the GCC and Middle East region, MEFMA was established in 2009 as a nonprofit association and formed under The Dubai Association Centre (DAC), which has been established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai Business Events (part of Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing) and the Dubai World Trade Centre. MEFMA is also a registered member of Global Facility Management Association (Global FM).
Mission
Promote the strategic value, progress, and best practice of the Facility Management profession in the Middle East by engaging and leveraging the association members’ strengths, knowledge and experience
Vision
Be the voice of the Middle East Facility Management industry, by enhancing awareness and recognition of the Facility Management Industry in the Middle East
Board Members
Jamal Lootah
Jamal Abdulla Lootah is the Ex-Group CEO of Imdaad, a Dubai-based Facilities Management company that is setting new standards in sustainability and innovation. Recognized as one of the region’s foremost experts on facilities management, his visionary leadership is central to the company’s ongoing success story.
Recently named as the most influential individual in the Middle East’s FM industry for the eighth time, Lootah is one of the key founders who contributed to the establishment and success of the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA). His in-depth market knowledge and forward-thinking approach have helped to establish Imdaad as the FM partner of choice for prestigious clients across a diverse range of sectors.
In 2019, Lootah was named ‘FM CEO of the Year’ by CEO Middle East and listed among the World’s Most Powerful Arabs by Arabian Business. His passion for excellence is inspired by the “Be Number One” approach favored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
A recipient of the FMME ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award and the CEO ME ‘Visionary CEO Leader’ award, Lootah graduated in Business Administration at the University of London, and has completed the Corporate Advance Program at the renowned International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jamal Lootah
President - Founder UAE
Ali AlSuwaidi
Eng. Ali AlSuwaidi is one of the influential leaders of the facilities management and asset management industry in the Middle East. He has been in the industry since the nascent stages and has been tasked with a range of prestigious, mission-critical, high-profile assignments. His valuable volunteering contributed to the growth of the industry in the Middle East and especially GCC countries.
Eng. Ali is one of the FM subject matter experts worldwide and a visionary speaker participating in facility management workshops, conferences, and seminars. Amongst many other important tasks, Ali was the first operation head for the tallest tower in the world, Burj Khalifa.
In addition to being one of the key founders of MEFMA and a prominent figure in the Middle East, he also has a great impact and huge influence globally by being the Vice Chairman in the Global FM Association (GFM) since January 2021 and previously as a board of director since January 2013, along with having a valuable impact as well on various entities in which he held key positions.
Eng. Ali holds MBA from American University of Sharjah and B.S in Electrical Engineering from Toledo, Ohio-USA. He also holds Mini MBA certificate of leadership from INSEAD, and he is a graduate from Dubai Government leadership program in coordination with The Wharton school of Business, USA. Ali Holds international diploma on health, safety and environment management from British Safety council
Ali AlSuwaidi
Vice President - Founder UAE
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Hosni
Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Hosni is the Vice Chairman and Group Managing Director of Qurum Business Group. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of California in the United States of America in 1996, he returned to Oman to ultimately carry the family legacy forward by transforming Qurum Business Group into an international diversified services enterprise with operations across the Middle East, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.
Sheikh Abdulaziz dedicated his time solely to re-engineering the Group by Developing the company’s investment banking, property, construction, and facilities management businesses. Today QBG a truly international conglomerate by the synergies between the companies under its umbrella.
Sheikh Abdulaziz has served as Board Director on a number of reputable organizations including Oman Air, Sohar University, National Gases and Muscat Gases, United Facilities Company, Oman Hotels & Tourism and Al Ahlia Converting Industries. He has also been a member of several state advisory committees working in collaboration with Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Commerce & Industry. His positive influence and contribution to the facility management industry has added significant value to the FM community particularly in Oman, and generally around the region.
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Hosni
Board Member Oman
Abdulhadi Alalyak
Abdulhadi is currently the Head of Corporate Services at the UAE based Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du). He joined this fast growing and dynamic organization in 2008 as VP, Asset Management & Corporate Admin, and has been a driving force contributing to its many facets of success and evolution since inception.
Prior to this appointment, Abdulhadi held the position of Chief Engineer, Integrated Customer Services and Facilities Management for 13 years at the giant global telecom company Etisalat.
His achievements are well recognized by the professional community and are highlighted through his many positive accomplishments within the FM community. In addition to being one of the key individuals contributing to the establishment and success of MEFMA, he also represents the sector internationally as a board of directors’ member of Global FM.
Abdulhadi holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious George Washington University, USA, as well as Post Graduate Certificates in both Strategic Leadership from Cranfield University, UK, and Managing Corporate Resources from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. He is currently undertaking an EMBA with Hult International Business School and is expected to graduate in 2020.
Abdulhadi Alalyak
Board Member - Founder UAE
Ahmad Al-Kandari
Ahmad Yousef Al-Kandari is the Vice Chairman and CEO of the United Facilities Management Company (UFM), owned by United Real Estate Company (URC), in which he is a member of its Executive Management Committee.
Al-Kandari has more than 33 years of experience in the FM, real estate, banking and investment sectors. He has played a key role in establishing (UFM) and its subsidiaries since 2007,and was behind the growth and expansion in MENA region.He is one of the leaders of the FM industry in Kuwait and an important key figure, both locally and regionally.
Before joining (UFM), Al-Kandari has held main executive positions at (URC), through which he was responsible for managing several prominent projects from shopping malls to commercial towers. He also held several positions in investment companies and banks in Kuwait, such as the real estate bank, Gulf Credit Company and Kuwait Oil Company.
He was awarded as the best FM CEO in the Middle East for 2018, and was elected as one of the five most influential and effective personalities in the Middle East for the year 2018 through a study carried out by the (FM Middle East Magazine).
Ahmad Al-Kandari
Board Member Kuwait
Dilip Khatwani
Dilip Khatwani is currently the Chief Executive of Reliance FM and has held this position since 2003. Reliance FM is a Facility management and consultancy company operating in Middle East and UK. In addition, he chairs the Owners Association and technical arms of Reliance Group of Companies.
Dilip worked for CB Richard Ellis as the Country Manager for Facilities Management covering South Asia. He brings 25 years of experience in managing assets for various infrastructure projects ranging from banks, corporate, townships, hotels, commercial and residential projects.
He is widely recognized as a trained lecturer on facilities management and a regular speaker in FM conferences across Asia and the Middle East. He was the visiting faculty for the MSC program for FM at the Herriot Watt University in Dubai for 5 years and was a trainer for the Government of Dubai’s courses on facility and Owners Association Management.
Amongst his recognized achievements in the FM industry, is being a part of the initiative team to form MEFMA along with being a board member in it.
He holds a BTech degree in Marine Engineering and has done post graduate Examinations in the same Field. He also holds a degree in Music from Bombay University.
Dilip Khatwani
Board Member - Founder UAE
Lara Khozouz
A well oriented expert in Project Management, Facility Management, Real Estate Development, Restructuring and Reengineering of Processes, Social Development strategies and planning, with Civil Engineering background accompanied with over 20 years of experience, and leadership skills in senior positions since 2007. Accomplished a career track in the MENA region and known throughout delivering and sustaining revenue and profit gains within highly competitive markets, demonstrated strong skills in deploying strategies and establishing new companies and managing over 500 employees. Eng. Khozouz has successfully created local companies with international standards to be able to provide a high-end FM service to all types of clients.
Eng. Lara Khozouz is currently occupying the position of Founder and CEO of Experts 360 Consultancy company specialized in Facility Management and Project Management services, prior to that she held the position of Group Operations Director for Abdali and Boulevard Investment & Development Companies in Jordan. She is also a board Member in the Arab Council for Operations and Maintenance. She is also a member of the ESI International Project Management Association since 2007, and a member of the Jordanian Engineers Association since 1999.
She started her career in 1999 at the Royal Hashemite Court for 6 years in different positions and departments. However, her career in Real Estate started in 2006, as the Program Manager of the biggest real estate project in Aqaba – Jordan (SARAYA AQABA) – in which she was the Director of Projects at Taameer Jordan Holdings.
Early 2008 she held the position of VP for Program Management & Administration in Darat Jordan Holdings. She was appointed as the Managing Director of Globe Williams Jordan and participated in establishing the 1st international FM company in Jordan, then established a new FM Company (Finan) Facility Management a subsidiary of Mid Global Investment Group and held the position of the General Manager for the company till May 2015.
Eng. Lara holds master’s degree in Project Management from George Washington University (2007), and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Jordan (1999).
Lara Khozouz
Board Member Jordan
Mohannad AlMadhi
Mohannad has over 23 years experience in the real estate and facility management fields. Earned his bachelor’s degree in Architecture and master’s in engineering management from the Catholic University of America in 1999 (Washington DC). He then started his career with the General Services Department at the World Bank Group (Washington DC). He was a Member of the Saudi Railways Expansion Project team in 2003, one of the largest infrastructure BOT transactions at that time. He then moved on to Joined Alturki Holding Group in 2007 as Vice President for Real-estate overseeing the family Real estate portfolio where he also oversaw the development and operation of a 2000 Staff Housing Facility in Jubail. He then worked on establishing Musanadah Facility Management in 2010, and Adeem Real-estate Company in 2013. In 2016, he was then appointed Managing Director until 2022.
He was a member of the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) in (Dubai, UAE) Strategic Committee in 2016 and in 2021 appointed as member to Board of Directors. He is also a Board Member at the Saudi Umran Society (Facility Management Group) since 2019 at the King Saud University (Riyadh, KSA)
Mohannad AlMadhi
Board Member KSA
Mohammed Alduraibi
Arch. Mohammed K. Alduraibi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from King Saud University (KSU) majoring in Construction Science, and Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) from George Washington University (GWU), and a Specialized Certificate in Real Estate Development and Design from Harvard Business School Executive Education.
At the beginning of his career, Arch. Mohammed served as a Project Manager with the Saudi Hotel and Resorts Company (SHARACO), currently known as Dur Hospitality Co., in which he played a key role in the development of a full range of hotels and tourist resorts with the leading global operators.
Arch. Mohammed moved to Mohammed Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi & Sons for investment (Rajhi-Invest) and set-up a Project Management Unit (PMU) at its subsidiary DAEM Real Estate Investment, before he took over the leadership of the Company to manage one of the largest real estate portfolios in the KSA.
Arch. Mohammed is the Founding Director of Oud Real Estate Company, which offered an elegant new concept in the real estate market.
Arch. Mohammed is the first Saudi to join as a Member of the Global FM Board, and is actively involved in the Facility Committee and a member of the Real Estate Committee at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
He is also a Project Judging panelist of the Gulf Real Estate Award based in Dubai, and a former member of the Media Committee of the Saudi Umran.
Mohammed Alduraibi
Board Member KSA
Youssef Abillama
Youssef Abillama is the co-founder and CEO of MMG Overseas Ltd. a 20-year old regional facility management group which is present in several countries in the Middle East with more than 300 technical and administrative staff. He is also the managing director of SHELT, an advanced cybersecurity Managed Security service with a strong team leading the practice.
Youssef is a Shareholder and a board member in G4S Lebanon, a joint venture with G4S International plc (UK), the largest global security and outsourcing group, and a board member in Al Amir Holdings, a 3rd generation Lebanese family business group present in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the US. His influence in the facility management industry is well recognized by the professional community. The impact he has made is shown through his many positive and effective achievements within the FM community.
Youssef holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Boston University, and he is among the key founders of the Middle East Facilities Management Association who contributed to the establishment and success of it and holds a board member position in it.
Youssef Abillama
Board Member - Founder Lebanon
Founding Members
Success Partners
