< Previous UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.com10 January 2022 Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH) has unveiled its newly remodeled showroom in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that features its world- renowned hygienic products and solutions for businesses and homes alike under one roof. Located at the National Products Center and Chamber of Commerce, the showroom is an extension of Fine’s business model that provides customers in the capital with easy access to its diverse product portfolio. In a short period after its offi cial opening, the Executive President of Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center has awarded FHH with a certifi cate of recognition to acknowledge the great value that the showroom adds to the shopping experience for the center’s visitors. The certifi cate also mirrors Fine’s eff orts to improve the lives of its customers and raise the bar higher in the hygiene and wellness industry. James Michael Laff erty, Fine Hygienic Holding CEO, said: “Our newly revamped showroom allows us to provide our customers with greater access to our variety of hygienic products and solutions. Within our facility, they will learn more about the unique features of our off erings allowing them to make an informed purchasing decision. This step refl ects our goal to have a best-in-class store that truly represents our brand and put our unique customer service standards into action. We look forward to welcoming our new and existing customers to our showroom, where we promise the best experience for them.” In addition to the possibility of buying from this one-stop shop, Riyadh’s residents can also order Fine products through FHH’s online stores www.thefi neshop. com for individuals and www.fi nestore.com for businesses. STAT ATTACK SHOWROOM Fine Hygienic Holding opens newly remodeled showroom in Riyadh 12 million Renewable energy employment worldwide reached 12 million last year, up from 11.5 million in 2019, according to the eighth edition of Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2021. 4 million While solar and wind jobs continued leading global employment growth in the renewable energy sector, accounting for a total of 4 million and 1.25 million jobs respectively, liquid biofuels employment decreased as demand for transport fuels fell. 39% China commanded a 39% share of renewable energy jobs worldwide in 2020, followed by Brazil, India, the United States, and members of the European Union. 24-25 million An International Labour Organization (ILO) global sustainability scenario to 2030 estimates that the 24-25 million new jobs will far surpass losses of between six and seven million jobs. 43 million IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook forecasts that the renewable energy sector could employ 43 million by 2050.NEWS www.fm-middleeast.comJanuary 2022 11 UPDATE Effective from 3 January, all ITP Media Group’s UAE operations will adopt the new working week of Monday to Friday in accordance to the proposal by the UAE government from January 2022. Speaking to Arabian Business, Ali Akawi, CEO of ITP Media Group, said: “As a media house with operations and partners around the world, we welcome this decision to better align with global markets. “This move underscores the UAE’s contribution at an international level in APPOINTMENT Livspace, India and South East Asia’s home interior and renovation platform and Alsulaiman Group (ASG) have announced the appointment of Imran Ali as the CEO for the JV-led company in the Middle East. Imran will assume responsibility of the regional organisation and build a leadership team to start the operations in the region while enabling the partner ecosystem consisting of design studios, contractors, vendors, and brands for greater success in the region. With industry-first technology, Livspace brings homeowners, design professionals, vendors and brands together on a single platform. Livspace has partnered with Alsulaiman Group (ASG) to deliver world-class design solutions in the Middle East. The JV further plans on strengthening the team by investing in top talent across levels while also aiming to reach 500 design and execution partners in the region by 2022. Commenting on his appointment, Imran said: “Saudi Arabia is a highly attractive market with the home interior and renovation sector worth $8bn. Weekends for the media company’s employees will now be Saturday and Sunday Livspace brings homeowners, design professionals, vendors and brands together on a single platform Livspace-ASG JV appoints new CEO in the Middle East ITP Media Group. all Federal government departments from 1 January 2022. The government encouraged the private sector to embrace the change as well. With Livspace’s technology platform and playbooks for operating models and private labels, and ASG’s market knowledge and access, and expertise in retail, logistics, and warehousing, we are well positioned to achieve our vision of delivering hassle free interior and renovation requirements to homeowners. I am excited to build a high-performance team that joins us in our vision to serve thousands of homeowners across Saudi and the Middle East very soon.” Speaking on Imran’s appointment, Saud Alsulaiman, CEO Alsulaiman Group said, “We are very excited to have Imran lead this newly created JV with Livspace. Imran will provide great leadership and focus on the operations in the region terms of trade, talent and innovation, and ITP Media Group applauds this as we look to the next 50 years.” Weekends for the media company’s employees will now be Saturday and Sunday, mirroring those of the UAE government and other ITP Media Group overseas offices, Arabian Business stated. Last week, the UAE announced it will transition to a four-and-a-half day working week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday being the new weekend. The rule currently applying to ITP Media Group to adopt new work week aligning with UAE government with an integrated ecosystem to enhance customers’ lives, as he played a leading role in establishing Livspace as the market leader in India. Imran brings with him over a decade of experience in Tech startups, strategy and consulting. Given the exponential growth of opportunities in the Saudi housing market and significant increase of homeownership among the Saudi population, fueled by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiatives and projects, we are very confident that Imran, through the newly established JV, will play an instrumental role in capitalizing on these opportunities and provide an excellent service to the many customers” Further, Imran will focus on delivering an integrated offering to meet the interior and renovation requirements of homeowners whilst offering ease of discovery, transparency, quality, and predictability. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiatives are sparking growth in home ownership and a wider array of residential formats villas to high-rise apartment living – which underlines the need for quality home interior design and execution. Imran Ali, CEO, Livspace-ASG JV. NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com12 January 2022 WATER FILTER DuPont Water Solutions (DWS) launched DuPont TapTec LC HF-4040 Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane filter. Compact, affordable, highly reliable and effective, this product combines advanced features such as high flow rates, with reliability and ease-of-use. Reverse osmosis is the “go-to” solution for large, centralised water treatment and desalination plants. The membrane elements used there demonstrate a high water recovery rate and successful rejection of contaminants like salts. As DuPont, the firm supports water producers with our membrane technologies. DuPont claims to be one of the biggest water technology companies in the world, with DuPont water technologies process 25 ACQUISITION Footprint Real Estate, the realty company in the UAE, revealed its role as the exclusive sales partner of the Orchid Residence, situated in Dubai Science Park. The agency with over 18 years of experience working with top developers and investors, Footprint Real Estate, now holds the exclusive rights to sell the ready to move in apartments at Orchid Residence through its partnership with Al Ansari Hospitality. Hamid Shabir Khawaja, chief commercial director and co-founder of Footprint Real Estate said: “We are proud to be part of this distinct concept and of our partnership with Al Ansari Hospitality as their exclusive sales partner. From small beginnings as a brokerage firm, Footprint is one of the leading agencies for asset management, property deals, advisory and an array of other realty services. We consider this new role as the exclusive sales partner of The membrane elements used there demonstrate a high water recovery rate and successful rejection of contaminants like salts Footprint Real Estate secured more than AED200m transactions per quarter in 2021 Footprint Real Estate acquires the exclusive right to sell Orchid Residence located in Dubai Science Park DuPont TapTec LC HF-4040 RO membrane fi lter. reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration to more decentralised and commercial infrastructure use, the firm has launched the DuPont TapTec LC HF-4040 RO membrane filter. Compact, affordable, highly reliable and effective, this product combines advanced features such as high flow rates, with reliability and ease-of-use. The membrane elements are spiral- wound from a polyamide thin-film composite. They perform at an average flow rate of 2,800 gallons per day and have a minimum salt rejection of 98.5% *. They are ideally suited to provide affordable drinking quality water on site as part of an engineered system that can be designed for a variety of automation needs. *Standard test condition, refer to product data sheet. Orchid Residence to be a milestone in our growth.” “While the ongoing Expo 2020 is benefitting different industry sectors, the real estate is no different as it attracts investors and buyers. Orchid Residence is a residential project designed aesthetically using high-quality materials, with easy access to residential, commercial, hospitality and educational and healthcare zones. As a real estate firm, which gives premium importance to customer satisfaction, we always provide end-to-end solutions and take full responsibility for our advice. We are proud and confident to introduce Orchid Residence to our clients,” he added. The economic reforms implemented by the government of UAE and the policies in Dubai make it one of the ideal places for investments. Footprint Real Estate secured more than AED200m transactions per quarter in 2021, outliving million gallons of water every minute. Beyond the large-scale utility water systems that serve it, however, there is a tremendous need for effective and efficient water purification at point-of-use, especially in office buildings, restaurants, hotels and resorts. One of the big challenges there is the cost-effectiveness and ease-of-use of advanced water treatment technologies. To bring the advantages of large-scale DuPont launches advanced water fi ltration to commercial infrastructure the challenges posed by the pandemic and regained stability after the global crisis. Its new role as the exclusive sales partner of a premium residential property will further contribute to the growth of Footprint Real Estate in the rapidly transforming real estate market in the UAE. The real estate market in Dubai is on the path to stability with a record- breaking performance in the second quarter of 2021 and continuing the consistent performance in the third quarter. The opportunities created by Expo 2020 Dubai is one of the major reasons behind the upward trend. Dubai Science Park.NEWS www.fm-middleeast.comJanuary 2022 13 WATER Within the framework of the strategic partnership, research cooperation and student exchange between the United Arab Emirates University UAEU and Akita University in Japan, which began in 2018, a team of researchers and innovators in the joint laboratory between the Department of Geosciences, College of Science, UAEU - and Akita University in Japan enabled to use of a new water treatment technology based on ceramic membranes, and an advanced technological device that separates water from oil, to remove solid impurities and particles known as Ceramic Membrane-based Produced Water Treatment Technology (CMPWT). Prof. Hakim Saibi, Department of Geosciences, College of Science, FACTORY The Camel Soap Factory (TCSF), a Dubai Silicon Oasis-based manufacturer of well-known brands of natural cosmetics made with camel milk and other regional ingredients, today announced the completion of their first ever funding round to support expansion plans. TCSF was advised on the transaction by Ideal Management Consultants, a leading advisory firm based in Dubai. With the additional capital injection, the company is looking to enter major new markets by 2022, as well as accelerate business growth with exciting new products to the existing product lines. Commenting on the funding, Stevi Lowmass, CEO of TCSF said, “TCSF first launched as a startup in 2011, then moved to Dubai Silicon Oasis in 2019, in line with our ambition to exponentially expand the business to new heights. Utilizing the elaborate and advanced infrastructure Technology to improve the quality of water and its use for agricultural and industrial purposes The company is looking to enter major new markets by 2022 DSO-based camel soap factory completes funding round to increase expansion CMPWT improves the quality of water. University in Japan, is unique and will serve the oil, gas and energy sector in the country. He stressed that companies are developing it to be economically feasible and serve the oil and gas sector to protect the environment and make effective use of heavy water in uses that achieve sustainability and preserve environment and agriculture. at DSO, we succeeded in tapping into new markets beyond the UAE as well as allowing us to deliver exciting new product as a licencee to Expo 2020.” She added: “Today, we mark a new chapter by completing our first ever funding round that will allow us to further expand our business locally and internationally. We are delighted that Dubai Silicon Oasis and Abu Dhabi MMI (ADMMI) believe in our tremendous potential in the personal care market. They are both strategically and culturally aligned to help us take full advantage of researchers, and experts Nakamura Arata, Kawamura Kazuyuki, and Ikeda Keisuke, along with representatives of the Japanese companies of oil, gas, and water sector – INPEX and JOGMEC – and several researchers and students were in the joint laboratory on the university campus. Prof. Hakim Saibi, Department of Geosciences, College of Science, explained: “CMPWT is an emerging technology for removing oil and particulates from oily water and it will be presented to students and researchers. This technology improves the quality of water and its use for agricultural and industrial purposes. Arata said that this modern technology, which is currently being developed by a joint team between the UAEU and Akita UAEU and Akita University developing new tech for Ceramic Membrane-based Produced Water Treatment the tremendous growth opportunities that exist in the market. The investment will be used for funding new projects and products.” William Chappell, chief financial officer & executive vice president of Technology & Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis, said: “In addition to DSO offering a conducive environment for business and innovation, DSO is keen on empowering ambitious entrepreneurs with the appropriate tools to reach the milestones set for their startups. The Camel Soap Factory’s move to DSO in 2019 is testament to the offerings of the integrated technology park, and our investment in the company highlights our confidence in Stevi Lowmass’ vision for the company and our backing of the direction in which she will drive it. Her success to date is truly commendable and we are excited to support Stevi in further growing her business.” Soap making at The Camel Soap Factory. NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com14 January 2022 IAQ Khansaheb Industries has launched the inaugural edition of the UAE Indoor Air Quality Audit. Collecting responses from 1,000 residents across the UAE, the Audit indicates the attitudes of general consumers toward the importance of air quality at home, in relation to their health, in schools, and in the workplace. The audit found that well over four in five consider air quality important in the home, with those who have good home air quality reporting very good wellbeing and sleeping habits. A high quality of indoor air quality is more important for UAE residents when choosing a home than the proximity to transport links, distance from a main road, close proximity to schools, whether there is outdoor space, story height, and parking availability. Only 45% of UAE residents consider their indoor air quality to be very good in home, with only 42% of residents in Dubai stating that they had good indoor air quality. Abdulrahman Khansaheb, managing director of Khansaheb Industries, commented: “Indoor air quality is an often overlooked but evidently critical topic for UAE residents across the nation. Following the pandemic, those living in the Emirates are wanting to ensure the air they and their children breathe in their home, their workplace, and their schools is of a high enough standard to offer long-term health benefits. The inaugural edition of the UAE Indoor Air Quality Audit demonstrates those concerns clearly and visibly.” 91% of UAE residents consider indoor air quality to be important for their day- to-day health, with 75% considering it to be very important. Almost two-thirds of UAE residents consider good indoor 91% of UAE residents consider indoor air quality to be important for their day-to-day health Abdulrahman Khansaheb, managing director of Khansaheb Industries. indoor air quality standards in the UAE are critical. With the implementation of a thorough mandatory regulatory framework for the implementation of ventilation and ductwork in UAE buildings, residents can enjoy higher- quality air in their day-to-day lives.” The audit comes amid increased public focus on the importance of indoor air quality for health and wellbeing. As UAE residents return to schools and offices following remote working, ensuring indoor air does not represent a vehicle for disease transmission is a key public health priority. Focused on indoor air quality across the home, workplace, hospitals, and schools, findings from the Khansaheb Indoor Air Quality Audit can inform future development of buildings with safe indoor air quality. air quality as leading to improved overall wellbeing, and 58% consider that it leads to an improved immune system response. 89% of consumers stated that they would consider indoor air quality when choosing which hospital they would go to. Continuing, Khansaheb said: “Following the results of our initial audit, real-estate developers and contractors across the nation need to take indoor air quality into consideration when planning and constructing property in the UAE – be that residential or commercial in nature. Khansaheb consistently advocates for the implementation of the highest quality indoor air standards across the UAE to ensure the health and wellbeing of all. As such, steps taken to improve Khansaheb Industries: Over half of UAE residents consider indoor air quality in their home to be sub- optimal FOLLOWING THE RESULTS OF OUR INITIAL AUDIT, REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS ACROSS THE NATION NEED TO TAKE INDOOR AIR QUALITY INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING PROPERTY IN THE UAE. www.fm-middleeast.com EDITOR’S LETTER January 2022 15 ast month, the UAE announced it will transition to a four-and-a- half day working week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday being the new weekend. The rule currently applying to all Federal government departments from 1 January 2022. On state news wire WAM, the UAE government said: “Adopting an agile working system will enable the UAE to rapidly respond to emerging changes and enhance wellbeing in the workplace. “From an economic perspective, the new working week will better align the UAE with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map. It will ensure smooth financial, trade and economic transactions with countries that follow a Saturday/Sunday weekend, facilitating stronger international business links and opportunities for thousands of UAE-based and multinational companies. “The new working week will also bring the Want to enter the debate? If you have any comments to make on these issues, email the editor at rajiv.pillai@itp.com. VIEWP INT The UAE announed its move to 4.5 day week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday to be the new weekend. Will this bring in more global FM players? RAJIV RAVINDRAN PILLAI New year, new weekend! L About the author Rajiv Ravindran Pillai is the editor of Facilities Management Middle East. UAE’s financial sector into closer alignment with global real-time trading and communications-based transactions such as those driving global stock markets, banks and financial institutions. “The move is expected to boost not only trading opportunities but also add to the flexible, secure and enjoyable lifestyle the UAE offers to its citizens and residents.” Private sector companies were also urged to ‘readjust’ employee working hours. ITP Media Group has already moved to the new weekend rule (see p.11). How can this move affect the FM sector here? Considering that the FM industry is mostly a localised market, making a switch would not affect much. However, will this encourage global FM firms to make more inroads into the UAE market and there by increase heathy competition? Global companies such as Compass Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, Cushman & Wakefield, and Dussmann Group can come in more aggressively in the region. This can perhaps make local FM players to up their game and be more relevant. This can bring about a healthy competition. COVER STORY 16 January 2022www.fm-middleeast.comCOVER STORY January 2022 17www.fm-middleeast.com FM Future WHAT FM COMPANIES ARE FOCUSING ON OVER THE COMING YEAR COVER STORY 18 January 2022www.fm-middleeast.com As we enter into 2022, several companies have revealed a diverse set of plans on what they would focus on over the coming year. With the ongoing Expo 2020 and the Dubai 2040 master plan to look forward to, FM firms seem to have several opportunities in the FM space that will fuel their growth. In addition, several FM companies appear to have a plan to rise above the existing challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. Facilities Management Middle East investigates what a few companies are up to. For Emrill, the single most opportunity over the coming 12 months is to continue to engage with its valued customers and partners and develop bespoke solutions that meet their needs. Stuart Harrison, CEO, Emrill, says: “Although the pandemic may have changed the landscape somewhat, increasing the demand for certain services and demonstrating the importance of the facilities management sector, the provision of facilities management services has fundamentally remained unchanged. Emrill remains committed to managing clients’ buildings and communities in compliance with world-class standards and regulations, ensuring those assets and spaces are always in peak condition.” Emrill has lived by this ethos over the past 12 months. The organisation has played an instrumental part in the UAE’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a tier-1 and frontline services provider, Emrill was equipped to deal with any type of emergency. Whilst the company updated methodologies to adhere to the dynamic regulations landscape, Emrill’s standards were already very high, the company claims; the framework to manage any eventuality, including infectious diseases, was already in place. A dedicated Covid-19 crisis task force was established to monitor new regulations/assess their impact, while implementing changes as and when required. “Every employee has been actively involved in ensuring Emrill’s response enabled the company to continue delivering world-class services. Through the excellence of Emrill’s employees, which the company continuously invests in with a range of custom in-house programmes designed to upskill/ develop the next generation of facilities managers, Emrill has maintained the quality of services provided and unrivalled levels of responsiveness,” Harrison adds. Dr. Greg Ward, managing director, Transguard Group, observes that during the pandemic they saw a surprising number of companies rely on an undercutting strategy to win businesses in order to stay afloat. Ward continues: “While this has temporarily inflated their portfolio, these companies do not have the staff or training to keep up with the situation they have created for themselves, and consequently, they are destroying their reputation in the market. Transguard has not shifted its focus from providing high-quality, well-trained staff, and as these companies fail to fulfil their obligations, we’re seeing clients back in the market seeking best-in-class service, which we are of course happy to provide.” Other opportunities for Transguard include working on a number of high- profile projects with well-known institutions and government entities, launching a new events division to capitalise on the UAE’s return to Bart Holsters, general manager, Engie Solutions. Dr. Greg Ward, managing director, Transguard Group.COVER STORY January 2022 19www.fm-middleeast.com ‘normal life’ and continuing to invest in digital transformation initiatives that will benefit both its company and its clients. Waste management firm Averda launched its Renew24 corporate strategy, in July 2021, setting Averda on a path towards sustainability in both its internal operations and client services. This strategy sees Averda making major investments in recycling, composting and energy- from-waste across our markets. It just launched its used-cooking-oil- into-biodiesel service in UAE and this will be expanded to produce over 1 milllion litres of biodiesel per month by end 2022 – the same service will also be rolled out to other GCC markets next year. Plastics recycling facilities and waste sorting facilities are in the pipeline and will come onstream in early 2022. This shift away from traditional ‘clean and collect’ towards sustainable, value- added waste treatment services is the single biggest opportunity for Averda over the coming year, says Malek Sukkar, CEO. In the case of Engie Solutions, the biggest opportunity for growth would be to continue to extend its reach into industrial, aviation, infrastructure, energy and transport sectors. Bart Holsters, general manager, Engie Solutions, says: “We view these sectors as significant growth areas in the region, and in anticipation of this, we have developed and launched a dedicated team to drive these focus areas in our business model.” Furthermore, Engie Solutions has launched new “as a Service” business lines where it develops, combines and finances tailored customer solutions, such as renewables, cooling, energy retrofits, smart cities, smart buildings, technology platforms, and many more to drive “the carbon neutral transition” in the region’s rapidly maturing FM landscape. BK Gulf FM is on a long-term thinking mindset. In line with Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040 which aims to provide the highest standards of urban infrastructure and facilities, ultimately enhancing the community's infrastructure and wellbeing while allowing for sustainable prosperity, the firm is investing in energy monitoring solutions covering all aspects of the MEP world and also air quality devices including mould/pathogen ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE SOMEWHAT, INCREASING THE DEMAND FOR CERTAIN SERVICES AND DEMONSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SECTOR, THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAS FUNDAMENTALLY REMAINED UNCHANGED. STUART HARRISON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EMRILL Stuart Harrison, CEO, Emrill.Next >