ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2021 • VOL. 16, ISSUE 02 The story behind UAE’s first fully automated processed cheese factory SAY CHEESE!www.fm-middleeast.com CONTENTS February 2021 3 UPDATE 6 Farnek wins hospitality contracts in Dubai worth AED7.56m 8 EFS Facilities Services Group to give free Co- vid-19 vaccine access to its 4,500 staff members 9 AG Facilities partners with CAFU to fi ght February 2021 VOLUME 16 / ISSUE 02 against climate change NEWS 12 Ejadah launches an employee self-service mobile app OneApp VIEWPOINT 15 Is getting vaccinated the first step towards normalcy? FM firms take the lead COVER STORY 16 Arda Cenk Tokbas, general manager, Pinar Arabia, reveals the secret behind managing the fi rst processed cheese factory in the UAE FIRE AND SAFETY 22 Fire protection involves the installation and use of structural and operational systems to minimise the impact of fi re FIVE MINUTES WITH... 42 Luis Carlos Barroso, ACCIONA ME GM 42 Regulars 15 DOWNLOAD NOW FOR iOS, ANDROID, AND KINDLE 22 @fmMidEast 06www.fm-middleeast.com CONTENTS 4 February 2021 22 COMMENT Predictive maintenance is estimated to save up to 30% of the cost of over functional programmes, spare parts, and consumables, says Maher Al-Aghbar at Khidmah In-depth February 2021 DOWNLOAD NOW FOR iOS, ANDROID, AND KINDLE 2316 VOLUME 16 / ISSUE 02 @fmMidEast 16 COVER STORY The Hadaf Foods Industries factory now produces 30,000 tonnes of cheese per year with plans to double production. What goes behind its maintenance? 23 SPECIAL REPORT Energy Management report will explore how buildings are able to conserve energy the right way and what are some of the best practices FM fi rms recommend 38 SUPPLIER NEWS Find out the top facilities management supplier trends that are currently in the market, including some of the biggest digital trends set to shape the FM industry COMING UP IN FMMEMARCH 2020 FMME’s upcoming Special Report on CAFM will explore the rise of the use of CAFM systems due to the ongoing pandemic and how FM firms now are open to adopting new FM softwares To learn more about upcoming stories and advertising opportunities in future issues of FMME, please contact Vinay Ravindran through vinay.ravindran@itp. com, or +971-55-8101197. FMME ON LINKEDIN With more than 1,000 members from all over the Middle East, the FMME LinkedIn Group is the place to be to find out news, discussions and opportunities in the region’s FM industry. Email the editor at rajiv.pillai@itp.com to join the FMME LinkedIn Group and get in on the industry conversation.www.fm-middleeast.com UPDATE February 2021 5 The initiative seeks to provide a range of facilities management services to EDSA through its subsidiary, Tafawuq Facilities Management The collaboration will set forth frameworks between both parties to support a sustainable future FM SERVICES Eltizam Asset Management Group has partnered with the Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA) in Dubai for a CSR program aimed at enhancing the environment for learning and development of children of determination with Down Syndrome, while also helping EDSA reduce its carbon footprint. The initiative seeks to provide a range of facilities management services to EDSA through its subsidiary, Tafawuq Facilities Management, which include providing water-efficient washbasin faucets equipped with sensor, servicing of all air- conditioning units, cleaning of external glass, play areas, and car parking shades. These maintenance services will further help EDSA reduce its carbon footprint COLLABORATION Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Emirates Nature– WWF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to progress the implementation of sustainable finance practices across the UAE and the wider region. Through the MoU, Emirates Nature– WWF and ADGM will collaborate on common aims, initiatives, and events for enhancing the development of a sustainable blue economy, which details the provision of social and economic benefits relevant to the marine environment, as well as the increased integration of sustainable finance practices. In addition, the collaboration will explore new approaches and initiatives for environmental, social and governance (ESG) approaches, climate change nexus based on Tafawuq’s energy-saving tools and equipment. Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam Asset Management Group, said: “Eltizam continues to support organizations that help promote inclusion through our CSR programs which is one of the tenets of our Get Wonky culture. We believe that supporting the Emirates Down Syndrome Association in their activities will enhance the growth and development of people with Down Syndrome and contribute to the organization’s goals of improving social equity in the UAE and our FM services help advance EDSA’s mission and goals. Doctor Manal Jaroor, chairwoman, EDSA, commented: “The Emirates Down Syndrome Association always welcomes individuals and organizations keen to and best practice. Juma Al Hameli, Senior Executive Director, Strategy and Business Development at ADGM said: “The signing of this MoU alongside our esteemed partner Emirates Nature–WWF is a testament to our shared commitment to accelerate sustainable practices across the UAE and build a progressive resilient future. ADGM support the association’s cause to serve people and children with Down Syndrome and give them a fair opportunity to advance in life. We are thankful to Eltizam’s assistance in enhancing our facilities through their high- quality services.” has been advocating the adoption of sustainable practices, as it aims to develop a sustainable finance ecosystem within the UAE and the wider region.” Director General of Emirates Nature- WWF, Laila Abdullatif said: “We are proud to join hands with our esteemed partner ADGM to support the UAE’s sustainability agenda addressing current global climate crisis and pursuing a sustainable economy for a better world for us all. The joint agreement between both is an extension of prior commitments that the two undertook together. ADGM had previously built a crowd-funding platform for Emirates Nature–WWF, with ADGM employees registered as “Empowerment Partners” in supporting a green growth strategy. Eltizam to off er FM services to Emirates Down Syndrome Association ADGM and Emirates Nature–WWF collaborate to promote sustainable practices in the UAE EDSA and Eltizam at the initiative. The ADGM building. UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.com 6 February 2021 UAE- based FM firm Farnek wins hospitality contracts in Dubai worth AED7.56m fmupdate KEEP UP-TO-DATE For all the latest FM news check out www.fm- middleeast.com Khaldun Aburok, Farnek’s director of business development. ast.cccom In total, over 65 staff have been mobilised to manage a range of services from cleaning, housekeeping, security as well as MEP maintenanceUPDATE www.fm-middleeast.comFebruary 2021 7 CONTRACT UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek secured six hospitality contracts recently, varying in length from one to three years, valued at AED7.56m. Farnek was awarded four hotel/ apartment contracts, namely the five- star Fairmont Dubai hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the three-star 230 room Revier Hotel, situated in Business Bay, the four-star, S Hotel in Al Barsha and the deluxe Sonder – JBR Suites, on the Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence. In addition, Farnek also secured two restaurant contracts, The Mood Rooftop Lounge in The Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba and the Cloud Lounge in the Studio One Hotel in Dubai Media City. In total, over 65 staff have been mobilised to manage a range of services from cleaning, housekeeping, security as well as Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) maintenance. Khaldun Aburok, Farnek’s director of business development, said: “To secure these contracts, some of which are for three years, we not only offered a broad-based proposition, which was commercially competitive. We also demonstrated a high degree of technical training, development and professionalism, offering a well- trained and cost-effective, tech-savvy workforce.” Due to the onset of the pandemic, the hospitality industry has had to fully comply with all government and public health directives, to ensure that their guests experience a safe, healthy and comfortable stay, as well as protecting the wellbeing of their own staff. And earlier this year, Farnek achieved GBAC STAR accreditation for its head office facility in Dubai, the first FM facility to be accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the global cleaning industry trade association, in the Middle East. Through that certification, Farnek has established an internationally recognised cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention programme that minimises risks associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus. This illustrates that we employ appropriate cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices to combat biohazards and infectious disease. “To maintain those standards training is essential and the Farnek training centre comes complete with a fully fitted elevator, bathroom, kitchen, lobby, and a staircase. The walls and the floor are partially covered in a variety of materials such as carpet, rubber, linoleum, slate, marble, wood and ceramic tiles, enabling our staff to be fully trained on every surface they could potentially come into contact with,” added Aburok. In terms of maintenance, Farnek’s MEP training centre is equipped with a variety of typical assets including split unit ACs, distribution boards, pumps and associated systems, in order to maintain best practice and identify new approaches to generating efficiencies.www.fm-middleeast.com UPDATE 8 February 2021 CLEANING Total facilities management services provider, Emrill, has broken its record for cleaning activities following the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Downtown Dubai, Emaar’s flagship master community. In the early hours of January 1, 2021, Emrill completed cleaning the surrounding areas of Downtown Dubai, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Boulevard and Burj Park, by 1am and roads were open to the public and traffic by 1.15am. In 2020, the same operation was completed by 2.30am. To ensure the safety of visitors and residents, extra precautions were taken ahead of the New Year’s Eve fireworks display and celebrations. On December 30, the entire area was sanitised with a special focus on the master community and forecasted crowd movement into and exiting from designated viewing and seated areas. Another new measure was the placement of safe distance stickers in all areas open to visitors to ensure physical distance guidelines would be adhered to during the festivities. Immediately following the celebrations, the entire area was deep cleaned and sanitised again. During the deep cleaning and sanitation activities, all Emrill staff wore recommended personal protective equipment, including hazmat suits and face shields, to minimise the risk of cross-contamination and Covid-19 infection. Emrill’s existing equipment, such as the CMAR street cleaner and club car-based pressure washers, was modified with special nozzles and a spray system to ensure wider coverage during sanitisation phase. Gopalakrishnan, Emrill’s operations director, said: “As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the New Year’s Eve celebrations were very different from those of previous years. As a tier- one facilities management provider, Emrill’s standards have always been world-class and we follow BICSc guidelines as standard practice. However, it was imperative additional cleaning and disinfection activities were carried out before and after the event to ensure the safety of residents, visitors and people working in the area. A great deal of planning was done ahead of the event to ensure minimal disruption before, during and after the celebrations. NEWS IN BRIEF Hill International chosen as FM consultant for Tatweer Building Company Hill International, a player in managing construction risk, announced it was awarded the contract to provide Facilities Management (FM) consultancy services to act as the managing agent for the Tatweer Building Company (TBC), which represents the Saudi Ministry of Education. This award consists of three main projects: two prestigious headquarters buildings in Riyadh, Riyadh Schools and associated administrative buildings, which consist of more than 2,000 facilities, and Eastern Province schools plus administrative buildings totaling another 2,000 facilities. Tadweer hosts virtual workshop on eTendering system for pest control services The Licensing, Tariff and Customer Service Department at Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) hosted a virtual workshop on its eTendering system for pest control services in Abu Dhabi Held as part of the Center’s sustained eff orts to enhance its tendering procedures, the workshop gave Tadweer an opportunity to highlight the measures taken to improve the monitoring and evaluation of the department’s performance, and to limit the provision of pest control services to authorized companies only. This move supports the Center’s strategy to develop an integrated pest control system in the Emirate in line with the objectives of Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030. Emrill cleans Downtown Dubai post New Year’s Eve celebrations in record-breaking time UPDATE WHAT’S THE STORY EFS Facilities Services Group to give free Covid-19 vaccine access to its 4,500 staff members What’s the story? EFS Facilities Services Group has announced free access of the Covid-19 Vaccine to more than 4,500 of its staff working in the UAE as well as their families in support of the inoculation eff orts by the UAE Government for a safer community. What are the details? In line with EFS Group’s People First policy and the new year’s focus on mindfulness and wellbeing for every employee, EFS offi ces and accommodations in UAE have already started to administer these drives with proactive participation from all employees, including EFS’s C-suite and the management team. What did the experts say? Tariq Chauhan, group CEO, EFS Facilities Services Group, said: “EFS is proud to be associated with such a noble cause whilst we make all eff orts to secure our front-liners as our prioritised group and the rest of our workforce.”UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.comFebruary 2021 9 CLIMATE CHANGE AG Facilities, one of the leading facility management companies in the UAE, and MBM, its subsidiary ‘soft services’ company, have partnered with CAFU, a tech startup from the Al Ghurair family, in an innovative project to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change in the UAE. The Ghaf seed project was launched in 2020 by CAFU, with the aim of planting more than one million Ghaf trees across the country in order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2) levels in the atmosphere. Under the new partnership with CAFU, AG Facilities and MBM provided critical manpower to gather and prepare Ghaf seed pods prior to planting. Travelling across the country, the team collected more than one million pods from numerous sources and transported them back to a central location in Dubai. Once collected, the pods were cleaned and treated, before the seeds were ex- tracted and prepared for planting. The planting utilised cutting-edge, AI-driven CAFU drone technology, overcoming the The Ghaf seed project aims to plant more than one million Ghaf trees to reduce CO 2 levels in the atmosphere MBM and CAFU collaborating. effect we are always eager to initiate or support activities which help reduce our carbon footprint and support in making the world a better place to live.” The Ghaf tree was selected for this initiative as it is drought-tolerant, requir- ing very little water or maintenance, and is able to absorb more than 34kg of CO 2 per year, equating to more than 4.1 mil- lion metric tonnes during the course of is 120-year lifespan. The species of tree is of particular significance as not only is it indigenous to the region but it was also the symbol of the UAE government’s 2019 ‘Year of Tolerance’ campaign. challenges of the UAE’s desert climate and terrain in order to access to more remote areas. Speaking about the initiative, Rashid Al Ghurair, founder and CEO of CAFU, commented: “By bringing together lead- ing minds from across sectors, we are proud to launch this initiative, to reduce levels of carbon dioxide from our direct environment. Our mission to plant one million trees is reflective of Dubai’s phi- losophy of building innovative solutions for future generations.” This partnership aims to support the UAE’s National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, which aims to significantly reduce country’s overall emissions. Pres- ently, in the UAE, the average person produces 22.9 tonnes of CO 2 each year, making this mission critical. Mohamed Adil Haneef, COO at AG Facilities commented: “At AG Facilities and MBM, we believe that the environ- ment is a loan we take from our future generations, and it is our sacred duty to return it in pristine condition. To that AG Facilities partners with CAFU to fi ght against climate change Transguard was a key component of delivering the region’s first sporting event since the beginning of the global pandemic SECURITY Transguard Group Security Services was recently at the forefront of ensuring the safety and security of all players during the recent European Tour events which were hosted in December over two different courses in Dubai. “For more than two weeks, our teams worked tirelessly to support the region’s first sporting event since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic,” explained Greg Ward, managing director, Transguard Group. The team responsibilities included not only protecting the site and players, but also the event “bubble”. “The eyes of the world were watching both European Tour events,” said Tom Phillips, head of Middle East, European Tour. “Transguard helped deliver two truly world-class events that no doubt will have shown the world that Dubai is well and truly open again, we look forward to other events following in a safe manner.” Transguard Event Security is a fixture for most major events in the UAE, including the Rugby 7s, among others. Transguard delivers safety and security to the recently held European Tour A Transguard personnel at the tour.Next >