Largest facilities management event discusses future of industry in digital age
MEFMA Awards launched to honor FM professionals & companies with exemplary performance
March 14, 2022
His Excellency Eng. Dawood Abdul Rahman Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, led today (March 14, 2022) the inauguration of the 10th edition of the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA) CONFEX, the largest facilities management (FM) event in the region. Many high-level attendees took part in the inaugural session held in Dubai to discuss modern opportunities and challenges in the growing FM sector.
His Excellency Eng. Al Hajri was joined by Jamal Lootah, President of MEFMA, and Ali AlSuwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA. Other renowned industry heads were also present to commemorate the opening of the conference’s first day, including Mahir Julfar, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre and Member of the Executive Committee of Dubai Association Centre, Mohammmed Almarshad, Vice President of Directors Riyadh Chambers and CM of National Real Estate Committee Federation of Saudi Members, and Anas Alzaid, CEO of Initial Saudi Group.
The first day witnessed many attendees participating in the featured workshops. The discussions focused on ways to optimize available opportunities and coming up with innovative solutions to prevailing industry issues. Day one workshops included ‘Digital Building Technology to enhance FM and Longer Asset Life Cycle’ and ‘’Artificial Intelligence in Facilities Management’.’ Many other government representatives were seen attending the event to collaborate, network and connect with industry stakeholders.
One of the prominent highlights of the event is the MEFMA Awards taking place in the evening. The awards were launched to showcase success stories, celebrate, and recognize outstanding contributions and establish a culture of excellence and quality through the implementation of the best practices in the region’s FM community.
Jamal Lootah, Co-Founder and President, MEFMA, said: “We are proud to have organized the CONFEX once more and to see all the FM industry stakeholders discuss, and engage on interesting factors that will help propel the regional FM industry. Likewise, we are overwhelmed by the number of participants during the event’s opening day. The MEFMA CONFEX is an opportunity for everyone in the industry to bring new ideas to the floor. The next few days are going to be more interactive as we will be having many panel discussions and workshops simultaneously,” he added.
Ali AlSuwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA & Global FM Vice Chair, commented: “The first day of the conference enabled the guest speakers and presenters to highlight the latest in the industry and important trends to watch for in the coming years as new technologies emerge. We are confident that the discussions will only get more interesting in the coming days.”
“Our attendees can expect more FM and asset management specialists sharing their knowledge about diverse ways to establish a technology- and innovation-driven future for the sector. In addition, we are looking forward to honoring leading industry professionals and companies for displaying exemplary performance with industry-wide impact,” AlSuwaidi continued.
The conference will convene experts, leaders, decision-makers and other stakeholders during its four-day run at the Address Hotel in Dubai Marina. It will conclude on March 17, 2022. The last two days of the MEFMA CONFEX will feature field visits to the EXPO.
MEFMA CONFEX 2022 is supported by key sponsors with Initial Saudi Group as Diamond Sponsor, Agility Logistics Parks as Platinum Sponsor, Imdaad as Gold Sponsor, and Emirates National Facilities Management, GECO Mechanical and Electrical Ltd. Co. and Bahwan Technical Contracting as Silver Sponsors.
Complete details of the event are available at https://confex.mefma.org/.
Adeeb group management visited LANDIS+GYR factory in greece, WORLD LEADER OF INTEGRATED ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
Adeeb Group CEO Eng. Ansari and General Manager Eng. Vazeer Husain was invited to visit Landis + Gyr Manufacturing Facility in Greece on 15th March 2022. This visit by Adeeb Group Management marks a significant milestone in the synergy between the two companies in Energy Management Solutions in the United Arab Emirates.
In 1896, Landis + Gyr was founded in Zug, Switzerland, and began manufacturing electricity meters for European utility companies. The company went global in 1924 because of the success of its metering product by opening overseas offices in New York, USA, and Melbourne, Australia.
Adeeb Group has tied up with energy management giant Landis +Gyr of Switzerland as its product partner and entered into an agreement to source the complete supply of this ADNOC Ruwais city energy management and IoT project. The Adeeb Group recently secured a major IoT project with ADNOC Group for smart metering solutions for the Ruwais Housing Complex in Abu Dhabi. Adeeb Group has developed into a leading FM and MEP contractor located in the UAE, offering a wide range of services including Energy Management solutions, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical, Air-conditioning, ELV & Specialized Systems for Oil & Gas industries, Banks, Hospitals, Malls, and High-Tech Buildings.
Adeeb Group is contracted for this project’s supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the smart metering system. The contract covers the upgrade of existing energy and water meters installation, which are currently connected through power communication lines at tenant space on different types of distribution boards (DBs) located at various locations such as chiller yards, apartment and villas, plants, substations, schools, administration building, and mosques, which will be connected to the headend system through M2M technology.
Adeeb Group will provide turnkey solutions and deliver IoT-ready software components for the meters to be connected to the central monitoring system. The communication will be based on M2M technology to the command center which will be a functional space to showcase best practice control room operations, designed to the highest specification with innovation in technology and will feature immersive high impact technology. Automated data acquisition scheduled in the system brings many advantages. Up-to-date and actual data are always available. Automation eliminates the human factor, thus reducing the probability of errors related to manual data input and also contributes to the reduction of operating costs.
Eng. Dawood Abdul Rahman Al Hajri leads high-profile opening of 10th MEFMA CONFEX
Largest facilities management event discusses future of industry in digital age
MEFMA Awards launched to honor FM professionals & companies with exemplary performance
March 14, 2022
His Excellency Eng. Dawood Abdul Rahman Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, led today (March 14, 2022) the inauguration of the 10th edition of the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA) CONFEX, the largest facilities management (FM) event in the region. Many high-level attendees took part in the inaugural session held in Dubai to discuss modern opportunities and challenges in the growing FM sector.
His Excellency Eng. Al Hajri was joined by Jamal Lootah, President of MEFMA, and Ali AlSuwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA. Other renowned industry heads were also present to commemorate the opening of the conference’s first day, including Mahir Julfar, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre and Member of the Executive Committee of Dubai Association Centre, Mohammmed Almarshad, Vice President of Directors Riyadh Chambers and CM of National Real Estate Committee Federation of Saudi Members, and Anas Alzaid, CEO of Initial Saudi Group.
The first day witnessed many attendees participating in the featured workshops. The discussions focused on ways to optimize available opportunities and coming up with innovative solutions to prevailing industry issues. Day one workshops included ‘Digital Building Technology to enhance FM and Longer Asset Life Cycle’ and ‘’Artificial Intelligence in Facilities Management’.’ Many other government representatives were seen attending the event to collaborate, network and connect with industry stakeholders.
One of the prominent highlights of the event is the MEFMA Awards taking place in the evening. The awards were launched to showcase success stories, celebrate, and recognize outstanding contributions and establish a culture of excellence and quality through the implementation of the best practices in the region’s FM community.
Jamal Lootah, Co-Founder and President, MEFMA, said: “We are proud to have organized the CONFEX once more and to see all the FM industry stakeholders discuss, and engage on interesting factors that will help propel the regional FM industry. Likewise, we are overwhelmed by the number of participants during the event’s opening day. The MEFMA CONFEX is an opportunity for everyone in the industry to bring new ideas to the floor. The next few days are going to be more interactive as we will be having many panel discussions and workshops simultaneously,” he added.
Ali AlSuwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA & Global FM Vice Chair, commented: “The first day of the conference enabled the guest speakers and presenters to highlight the latest in the industry and important trends to watch for in the coming years as new technologies emerge. We are confident that the discussions will only get more interesting in the coming days.”
“Our attendees can expect more FM and asset management specialists sharing their knowledge about diverse ways to establish a technology- and innovation-driven future for the sector. In addition, we are looking forward to honoring leading industry professionals and companies for displaying exemplary performance with industry-wide impact,” AlSuwaidi continued.
The conference will convene experts, leaders, decision-makers and other stakeholders during its four-day run at the Address Hotel in Dubai Marina. It will conclude on March 17, 2022. The last two days of the MEFMA CONFEX will feature field visits to the EXPO.
MEFMA CONFEX 2022 is supported by key sponsors with Initial Saudi Group as Diamond Sponsor, Agility Logistics Parks as Platinum Sponsor, Imdaad as Gold Sponsor, and Emirates National Facilities Management, GECO Mechanical and Electrical Ltd. Co. and Bahwan Technical Contracting as Silver Sponsors.
Complete details of the event are available at https://confex.mefma.org/.
MEFMA’s member exceled over all FM companies around the world
Once again for 2021, the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) has exceled internationally through its Corporate Member, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) who have won the “Platinum Award of Excellence in FM 2021”, the first ranked global award within the FM industry, of the “Global FM Awards of Excellence”. Nevertheless, ENGIE Solutions (MESCATA), which is MEFMA’s Strategic Member, have also gained the “Highly Commended Award of Excellence in FM 2021”.
The awards came in line with the World FM Day which was held this year under the theme: “Celebrating FM – Standing Tall Beyond the Pandemic”, and MEFMA Members have gained a total of two rankings out of five. This assure MEFMA’s commitment in achieving its ethos and objectives, besides the challenges the world has been facing throughout the past year.
The “Global FM Awards of Excellence” is an annual recognition hosted by Global FM, an international FM association established on 17 May 2006 that joins together the globe’s leading FM Associations to achieve their worldwide common FM objectives. The award is categorized from highest to lowest as such, the “Platinum Award of Excellence in FM 2021” won by MEFMA, “Gold Award of Excellence in FM 2021” went for The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), “Silver Award of Excellence in FM 2021” gained by Associação Brasileira de Facility Management, Property e Workplace (ABRAFAC), and Two Highly Commended Award of Excellence in FM 2021 that were won by The South African Facilities Management Association (SAFMA) and MEFMA respectively.
“It is not of a surprise for MEFMA to achieve this global and remarkable success through its members. I would like to appraise the continuous efforts of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and ENGIE Solutions (MESCATA) in leveraging the Middle Eastern FM industry and raising MEFMA’s name in the globe. It is with pride that DSOA has won the highest rank among all nomination from the world, in addition to the outstanding recognition of ENGIE Solutions (MESCATA). Regardless of the challenges we have been facing, MEFMA has been and will always be steadfast to develop the industry and boost the market’s sustainability,” Alsuwaidi said.
Eng. Khalil Shalan, Senior Vice President – Operations and Facility at DSOA, said, “We are pleased to receive this supreme accolade from Global FM Awards of Excellence. The award reinforces DSOA’s commitment to providing world-class services and solutions for its residents and business partners. Since DSO’s inception, we have always been keen to promote and adapt best-in-class FM and environmental practices and initiatives.”
Eng. Khalil added, “This recognition is also a true testament to our ongoing efforts in implementing key initiatives –utilizing the latest smart and AI enabled solutions – that are aligned with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 which aims to promote energy efficiency while cutting down operational costs – thereby helping to fulfil the UAE’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint.”
In line with the World FM Day celebration, MEFMA held a webinar, in which Eng. Ali Alsuwaidi, Global FM Vice Chairman and MEFMA Vice President, launched with his opening remarks and announced the winners of the “Global FM Awards of Excellence”. Then followed Alsuwaidi, Francisco Ramalheira, SVP (BD & Marketing), Enova, who also discussed sustaining the growth through digitalized FM.
IMDAAD Honoured at Global FM Awards of Excellence in Facilities Management 2020
A founding member of the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), Imdaad was recently recognized at the Global FM Awards of Excellence in Facilities Management 2020. The company’s commitment and contribution to advancing sustainability through its FARZ automated material recovery facility (MRF) were honored with the ‘Silver Award of Excellence in FM’.
The Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable facilities management services was the only company from the Middle East to win this year an award at Global FM’s prestigious awards program, which aimed to celebrate organizations for their commitment and success in promoting and enhancing FM practices. By recognizing one of the MEFMA members within the top three ranks for excellence in FM, the program has underscored that the region’s FM sector has proven resilience as a result of its adherence to the best standards and practices.
One of the largest fully-automated MRFs in the region, FARZ is situated in the National Industries Park in Jebel Ali, Dubai. It was established in line with the goals of the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda, which envisages diverting 75 percent of all municipal solid waste away from landfills by 2021. Working around the clock, the state-of-the-art recycling facility processes 1,200 tons of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste using advanced separation and recovery technologies that offer the most efficient recovery rate in the country at 25-30 percent. In addition, the facility is also helping minimize emissions caused by trucks that collect and carry waste to landfills.
Commenting on the announcement, Ali AlSuwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA, said, “We are delighted that our valuable member Imdaad has been conferred with the coveted award as an endorsement that the FM industry in the Middle East is one of the leading around the world. With a demonstrated commitment to driving growth in the FM industry through the development of pioneering solutions, Imdaad has reached illustrious achievements on its journey. The recognition by the Global FM Awards of Excellence in Facilities Management 2020 is a fitting testament to the success of the company’s endeavors aimed at harnessing the power of technology and innovation to safeguard the environment for generations to come.”
With the recycling of nearly 13 percent of the total waste generated daily in Dubai and the reduction of CO2 emission by over 19,250 kg per day through the removal of more than 100 trucks and vehicles from the UAE’s roads, Imdaad has been making tremendous contributions toward the ongoing global efforts to realize sustainable economies and environment.
Two MEFMA members recognized at Global FM Awards of Excellence 2019
Two members of the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) bagged major awards at the prestigious Global FM Awards of Excellence 2019. UAE-based integrated facilities management (FM) providers Emrill Services and Adeeb Electrical & Electronics Services were honored in the recently concluded competition for their effective implementation of the best industry practices and their contributions to the FM community at large.
MEFMA’s Strategic Corporate Member Emrill won the ‘Gold Award of Excellence in FM 2019’ for its entry titled ‘Driving Innovation, Knowledge, and Experience to Deliver Excellence in FM,’ while MEFMA’s Corporate Member Adeeb was one of the three recipients of the ‘Highly Commended Global FM Award of Excellence 2019’ for its entry titled ‘Towards Milestone Achievement in FM.’ MEFMA nominated both award-winning companies.
The awards serve as a testament to MEFMA’s continuing commitment to inspire the sector via the implementation and adoption of industry best practices.