< Previous UPDATE www.fm-middleeast.com10 July 2022 Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, inaugurated the region’s fi rst project that will upcycle organic waste into high-quality products. The venture by innovative homegrown startup Circa Biotech farms black soldier fl y (BSF) larvae, fed by food leftovers before being turned into animal proteins, organic fertilisers, and oils. During a tour of the company’s headquarters in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Circa Biotech to support the pioneering project. Her Excellency said: “This agreement is part of the UAE’s ongoing drive to enhance food security and sustainability based on innovation, green development, and climate change mitigation. The project leverages nature-based solutions to address challenges resulting from the accumulation of organic waste. This way, it creates sustainable economic opportunities that strengthen the resilience of our food supply chain while transforming waste from an environmental burden into an economic resource.” She added: “The world is witnessing a rise in capital funding for insect farming companies. In the UAE, we consider support for innovation and R&D a foundation for raising the effi ciency of the circular economy model. Circa Biotech’s project follows the principles of circular economy by using organic waste and the nutrients it contains as inputs into the feed production process, thus enhancing food security." STAT ATTACK WASTE UAE launches region’s first waste- to-feed project September 2022 The number of enquiries by Dubai residents and visitors registering their interest to buy real estate units has tripled following the government announcement laying down the new UAE visa rules, according to real estate brokerage Union Square House (USH). The new visa regulations will come into effect in September 2022, making the UAE a truly second home for many expats. 5.8mn people Dubai aims to increase its population from 3.5 million in 2022 to 5.8 million by 2040. AED2mn In light of the new visa regulations, owning properties worth AED2mn allows an investor to obtain the Golden Residence. 30 nationalities In 2021, USH achieved AED3bn in real estate transactions, expanded its customer-base from six to 30 nationalities, saw a threefold growth in business performance and a twofold growth in team members. Break free from bottled water with the AQUAECO Kitchen Sink Mixer with Drinking Water Filtration System. A sleek and compact sustainable solution that allows you to enjoy pure hot and cold drinking water straight from the tap, this innovative your kitchen aesthetic. Only available in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain). Now available with 3.6L capacity chilled water system. Showrooms RIYADH • DUBAI • ABU DHABI • DOHA • MUSCAT • SHARJAH • RAS AL KHAIMAH • AL AIN Available at BAGNODESIGN • SANIPEX GALLERY • AQUAZONE www.sanipexgroup.com ITP FP FM Advert.indd 16/24/22 9:43 AM NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com12 July 2022 CERTIFICATION AG Facilities Solutions’ (AGFS) ‘AG Centre for Enhancing Life’ has received the international ISO 18295:2017 quality standard, receiving formal certification for the second consecutive year. The certification specifies best-practice requirements and standards for customer interactions, reinforcing AGFS’ commitment to customer-centricity and service excellence. Centered around delivering an optimal experience, Implementation of this ISO standard creates value for both customers and employees at the customer care Centre. The ‘AG Centre for Enhancing Life’ provides 24/7 support for customers, across hard services – such as AC, electrical maintenance and plumbing, and soft services- such as cleaning and pest control. The Centre is staffed with a diverse team of different nationalities and SOLAR Enova, the regional firm in energy management and multi-technical services, has earned the “Top Brand PV Seal” MENA 2022 award by EUPD Research, a globally acknowledged research institute that conducts an independent market analysis each year to identify and highlight the industry’s top companies on local and regional levels, and Joint Forces for Solar Global, the solar business and knowledge network. Based on analysis conducted by EUPD Research, the “Top Brand PV Seal” award is the most recognised and prestigious certification in the international PV industry and stands for reliability and integrity. This year, Enova has won the “Top Brand PV Seal” in the Solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) category, which The ‘AG Centre for Enhancing Life’ provides 24/7 support for customers Enova currently manages more than 35 solar EPC projects in the MENA region Enova wins “Top Brand PV Seal” award from EUPD Research and Joint Forces for Solar Global The Centre is staff ed with a diverse team of diff erent nationalities and linguistic competencies. drive the business and enhance customer loyalty which, combined, drive business growth. At AGFS, centricity is our hallmark”, said Tarek Nizameddin, CEO. The Centre has created various omni- channels to register all service requests through calls, email, and web portal or mobile application. place in our team. Through a customer- focused, quality-driven, and sustainable business model, Enova has earned its position as a market leader in the MENA energy management sector, and this award further affirms our performance and continuous efforts in the local and regional markets.” Enova currently manages more than 35 solar EPC projects in the MENA region, including those in the UAE, Oman, KSA, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, and recently launched two projects in Turkey. The first, a 1.1 MWP rooftop solar PV plant for Munzur Su water bottling company in Turkey’s Tuncel. The second, a 1.12 MWp rooftop Solar PV for Kalibre Aluminum located in Sakarya, consists of 2,489 photovoltaic panels and covers a total area of 5,410 square meters. linguistic competencies, all with extensive knowledge of the Facilities Management (FM) sector. In 2021, the Centre assisted with more than 30,000+ request, achieving a high customer satisfaction score. “A customer centric way is focusing on supporting customer involvement before and after providing the service to AG Facilities Solutions receives ISO certifi cation in recognition of outstanding customer care covers companies that deliver end-to-end solar energy services. Renaud Capris, CEO at Enova, said of the award: “We are delighted to have received this recognition that showcases Enova’s prominent role as a sustainability partner in delivering integrated energy and facilities management services. The “Top Brand PV Seal” award is a testament to our contribution towards the local and regional market development and confirms the trust our customers Solar panels.NEWS www.fm-middleeast.comJuly 2022 13 APPOINTMENT Averda, the Dubai-headquartered end-to-end waste management, treatment and recycling company in emerging markets, has announced the appointment of Samer Kamal as the company’s inaugural chief sustainability officer. This new C-Suite position is created to accelerate Averda’s ‘Renew24’ corporate strategy, which sees the company focus even further on sustainability and circularity, with the goal of reducing waste to landfill, deriving secondary value from collected waste and helping companies and governments with their net-zero targets. Kamal holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in Pharmacology & Toxicology. He is well respected in the waste management industry and is an established regional thought leader on the future of sustainability in business. Kamal brings to Averda a wealth of relevant experience, having founded Bee’ah in 2006 before spending five years as its Managing Director. Kamal has also worked on numerous other sustainable ventures across North America, the Middle East and Africa over the past 20 years, including advising New York University, Air Miles and Nestle in aligning their commercial aspirations with their responsibility to society and the planet. He has been an investor and adviser to several environmental start- ups and private equity funds, supporting Samer Kamal holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in Pharmacology & Toxicology Samer Kamal. thrilled to welcome Samer to Averda, and to our senior leadership team. Samer’s experience and approach make him an excellent choice to drive our transformation towards more sustainable products and technologies, and to support our customers with innovative sustainable initiatives which will have a positive and lasting impact on the environment. Samer will lead on bringing sustainable and impact thinking to the forefront of our corporate culture, and to the way we will execute. As an experienced leader, he will add depth to our executive core at a time when the company is poised for serious growth.” Kamal will operate from Averda’s global head office in Dubai where he will not only work to empower Averda’s global operations but also in the UAE, one of the key markets for the company in the region. “The UAE’s waste management outlook is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, and there’s been a concerted effort to manage waste sustainably and encourage recycling in line with the Green Economy initiative. Changes in the regulatory framework such as the ban on single-use plastic bags and increase in landfill fees forces consumers and industries to take more environmentally conscious actions. Our aim at Averda is to further support the UAE in meeting its vision for a sustainable future,” he said. waste strategy and sustainability initiatives, as well as developing several waste and wastewater treatment facilities - most recently a PET recycling venture in Abu Dhabi with Veolia Middle East. Kamal commented: “I am very pleased to be joining the Averda team. It’s a pivotal moment for the industry and the company as we navigate the changing role of the waste sector in light of global governmental and corporate climate commitments, shifting consumer expectations, and the clear need for climate action in the emerging markets in which Averda operates. The countries where Averda works are disproportionately exposed to the impacts of climate change and Averda has embraced the exciting mandate to become a leader in delivering sustainable waste management solutions.” Malek Sukkar, CEO, said: “I’m Averda appoints its fi rst chief sustainability offi cer NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com14 July 2022 DISTRICT COOLING A new suite of district cooling regulations aimed at reducing excessive billings and other issues is nearing completion, a senior government official said at the two- day MENA District Cooling Projects Conference that started on June 14, 2022, at Hotel Raffles Dubai, UAE. “The grace period for the district cooling service providers and billing agents will expire on September 30, 2022, when the new comprehensive set of District Cooling Regulations comes into effect. Following this, we will supervise and monitor the activities of the district cooling companies to ensure compliance with the issued regulations,” James Grinnell, head of water at the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) for the Electricity and Water Sector in Dubai, said. In permitting companies, the RSB has ensured last year’s reductions to the fuel- surcharge are being passed through to customers by Billing Agents. It also aims to ensure only one deposit will be allowed per unit – either from landlord or tenant, prohibit prolonged estimated billing, fast replacement of faulty meters. “As per the new regulations, district cooling permit holders have obligations to develop and publish a customer charter and measure performance against it, clear engagement obligations when dealing with customers in arrears, obligation to deliver chilled water, prompt return of deposits, reduce occurrence of excess contract capacity estimates; penalties for poor energy performance, obligation to monitor and report health and safety, etc,” he said. These new sets of regulations will bring increased transparency and establish stakeholder accountability to make the district cooling sector more efficient and customer centric. Customers must see that district cooling offer good value for money. These new sets of regulations will bring increased transparency and establish stakeholder accountability to make the district cooling sector more effi cient and customer centric Customers must see that district cooling off er good value for money. environment for the district cooling sector in the emirate. “We have so far issued four licenses with 230,000 RT licensed capacity in the emirate. One of the key achievements has been reduced consumption charge for the residential end-users.” More than 250 delegates including senior government officials, project owners, developers, utility suppliers, industry experts and key stakeholders participated at the MENA District Cooling Projects Conference that focused on the growth of this important sector. The two-day event discussed project opportunities worth $15bn (AED55bn), or 10% of the $150bn global district cooling market. The conference takes place at a time when the district cooling sector is expanding at a fast pace in the UAE, GCC and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa due to a global target of zero net emission by 2050. At the MENA District Cooling Projects Conference, more than 25 international and regional experts discussed the current market outlook, opportunities and challenges in the region’s district cooling industry – that is becoming more popular due to its energy efficiency. More than 20 leading organisations from 10 countries are showcasing their products and services at the conferencethrough an exhibition. With the net zero emission target announced by the international community by 2050, most countries in the Middle East are now racing to install new district cooling plants to reduce their carbon emissions. Following the footsteps of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt and other countries are initiating a large number of district cooling projects across the region – that will keep the contractors and subcontractors busy for the next 15-20 years, experts said. RSB was established in 2010 by Dubai Government to regulate Dubai’s power and water sector. It was mandated to regulate the Independent Water and Power Producers (IWPP) in 2011, and has supported Dubai’s Demand-Side Management (DSM) since 2013. Last year it received mandate to regulate the district cooling sector as per the Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2021. RSB has so far issued 22 district cooling permits out of 24 applications among 28 companies. Among the billing agents, it has licensed 11 out of 12 applications and 11 service providers out of 12 applications. “Following the mandate, we started to talk to all the stakeholders in the district cooling industry, and over the last year, have developed a set of regulations to implement the regulatory framework. The new regulations come into effect on September 30, 2022, when the grace period for the operators expires,” Grinnell says. Other governments in the Middle East are also putting the regulatory regimes to ensure structured growth of the district cooling industry. Governments of Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia have been working on regulations over the last few years. Leila Noubough Nasr, District Cooling Regulation Senior Specialist at Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said, the government has put a sound regulatory Dubai to announce new district cooling regulations as the grace period for companies expires on 30 Sept 2022NEWS www.fm-middleeast.comJuly 2022 15 ServeU also hired NSquareXperts as their partner to confi gure the services platform to automate their existing operations PARTNERSHIP ServeU, a facilities management (FM) solutions provider in the UAE and a subsidiary of Union Properties, has announced its partnership with Microsoft to upgrade their Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) system. The company has also revealed its partnership with NSquareXperts, in order to configure and customise its Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Services. The new partnerships are in line with the company’s vision to diversify and enhance their services in the FM industry. The partnership with Microsoft comes as a significant achievement, making ServeU one of the first FM companies in the region to utilise Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Services to manage a 6,500+ workforce, while also establishing a long-term commitment with Microsoft to upgrade all systems to Microsoft Dynamics. Additionally, ServeU also hired NSquareXperts as their partner to configure the services platform to automate their existing operations, such as generation of planned preventive tasks, scheduling work forces for both hard and soft services, and integrating the Microsoft System with finance, procurement, HR, and customer service. ServeU’s CAFM System aims to focus ServeU announces partnership with Microsoft to upgrade their CAFM system more on automation and client self- service. The company has been using MicrosoftDynamics as an ERP System for several years, and this recent upgrade is part of a long-term plan to upgrade other company systems to MicrosoftDynamics which includes, transportation management, IoT systems, training systems and Microsoft Guides. This will work as a mixed reality technology application that provides employees with 3D instructions to enhance thier workflow. In addition, ServeU is developing a B2B customer app on the same Microsoft System, making it a first-of-its-kind concept in the B2B FM industry. Similarly, ServeU’s B2C division, ServeU Essentials, has also been using Field Service for some time, and the company has already built a fully-automated customer app on the system, which has been a big success for the firm. ServeU, in line with the ongoing changes in the region, has taken several initiatives to provide a seamless experience for its workforce and end-users. The latest partnership with Microsoft and NSquareXperts is certain to enhance its CAFM services and ensure improved productivity. The signing ceremnony.www.fm-middleeast.com16 July 2022 The 15th anniversary of Facilities Management Middle East Awards was held at the Le Meridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre, Al Garhoud, Dubai The winners and highly commended for the 15th edition of the FM Middle East Awards were revealed on 16 June 2022. The awards ceremony, which was held in Dubai, at the Le Meridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre, Al Garhoud, celebrated the 15th anniversary of the industry's flagship event. The Overall FM Company of the Year award went to Emrill Services, with Ejadah taking home the Highly Commended. Emrill has taken its learnings from the past two years and continued to focus on creating a culture of interconnectedness and togetherness. From employees to partners and clients, Emrill has focused on building long- lasting connections, investing in building relationships more than ever before, to meet the evolving needs of clients and the FM sector. In 2005, Ejadah became the first FM brainchild of the Dubai Holding Group. Today, Ejadah consists of three operating verticals that span all segments of the FM cycle- Idama (Facilities Management), Arkan (Security Management) and Shabaka (Unit Services). Ejadah then positioned itself on the forefront of the facilities management industry specialising in both simple and complex projects across the Middle East. WINNERS REVEALED AT FMME AWARDS 2022 Yazan Abujabal, Head of CAFM Division, FM at Initial Saudi Group. Tony Martin, CEO of Al Bonian Facilities Management, was crowned the most coveted FM Executive of the Year 2022 award. Martin has in the last 14 years been leading FM companies in the ME region, currently being the CEO of Al Bonian Facilities Management (ABFM). The two highly commended candidates for the FM Executive of the Year 2022 were Senthil Kumar, head of operations at Al Tanmyah Services and Mohamed Saadeh, general manager of Darwish Interserve Facility Management. In his speech via video link, FM Middle East editor Rajiv Pillai said: “No matter what obstacles or disruptions the industry faces, it always adapts. Besides the tight margins and stiff competition, the pandemic was the biggest obstacle the industry ever faced and we all saw FM firms come up with innovative solutions to offer its services. The show went on, with heroes working behind the screen ensuring normal day-to-day activities were uninterrupted.” The 15th anniversary of the Facilities Management Middle East Awards also saw the launch of a limited-edition coffee table book called FM Visionaries, which was released at the awards ceremony. The sponsors include Ejadah as Platinum Sponsor; Emirates National Facilities Management, Deyaar FM, iFM Holdings and Farnek as Silver Sponsors; AG Facilities Solutions as Strategic Sponsor; Adeeb Group, Al Bonian FM, Emrill, bfm, Adeptus Technologies, Imdaad and Grako as Category Sponsors; YAEMCO Integrated Facilities Maagement as Associate Sponsor; and Facilio as Technology Sponsor. The complete list of winners and highly commended across all categories: TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YEAR • Winner: Ignite Shield - Imdaad • Highly Commended: Data Driven Energy Centered Maintenance - Emaar Facilities Management and HITEK Facilities Management Suite – Farnek Services HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR • Winner: Safety By Choice - Not By Chance - Emrill Services • Highly Commended: KFM K-Care Program – Khansaheb Facilities Management and Access Strategy & Rope Protection Initiative (MOTF) - Grako EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR PLATINUMSILVERSTRATEGICJuly 2022 17www.fm-middleeast.com • Winner: Educational Initiatives - AG Facilities Solutions • Highly Commended: Education and Awareness at Expo 2020 Dubai – Dulsco SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR • Winner: Race to Net Zero – Farnek Services • Highly Commended: The Paperless Project - Khansaheb Facilities Management and Expo 2020 Dubai - Dulsco ENGINEERING SERVICE OF THE YEAR • Winner: FM Engineering Reimagined - Emrill Services • Highly Commended: Elimination of Mold and Fungus at ONYX Tower - Emirates National Facilities Management and MEP Retrofit Projects - Technical & Trading FM MOBILISATION OF THE YEAR • Winner: Dubai Hills Mall mobilisation – Idama • Highly Commended: Expo 2020 - Farnek Services PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Provis CLEANING COMPANY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Grako • Highly Commended: Deyaar Facilities Management SANITATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Dulsco • Highly Commended: Imdaad SECURITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Farnek Services • Highly Commended: Arkan – Ejadah FM CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Ejadah FM Consultancy SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR • Winner: Adeptus Technologies • Highly Commended: Facilio YOUNG FACILITIES MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Winner: Stephanie Tannous from Grako • Highly Commended: Mohamed AlDhanhani from Dubai Municipality FACILITIES MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Winner: Ahmed Abouelyazed from Labotel Workers Village • Highly Commended: Arun Nair from Ejadah and Prince D'Silva from Deyaar Facilities Management FM EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR • Winner: Tony Martin from Al Bonian Facilities Management Services • Highly Commended: Senthil Kumar from Al Tanmyah Services and Mohamed Saadeh from Darwish Interserve Facility Management UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR • Winner: Sohel Ahmed from Emaar Facilities Management • Highly Commended: Swaleh Mutubga Omari from Emrill Services OVERALL FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR • Winner: Emrill Services • Highly Commended: Ejadah . ASSOCIATETECHNOLOGYCATEGORY The winners and highly commended at the Facilities Management Middle East awards 2022.www.fm-middleeast.com18 July 2022 Imdaad’s new solution minimizes the need for periodic inspection by the authorities through real-time data monitoring. Ignite Shield is a modern solution that precisely monitors the water quality of swimming pools through a cloud platform and mobile app. The highly commended in this category went to Emaar Facilities Management for Data Driven Energy Centered Maintenance and Farnek Services for its HITEK Facilities Management Suite. Emaar’s energy centered maintenance was developed in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 by Fadi Alshakhshir (FM Director, Emaar). The model started as a new maintenance regime in Dubai Mall that is focusing on increasing equipment reliability, improving equipment energy efficiency, and maintains equipment operational performance, whilst reducing overall maintenance cost. Farnek’s HITEK Facilities Management Suite has been built to revolutionise traditional siloed service delivery, connecting assets, people, processes and facilities through CAFMTEK and IoTEK SaaS applications. Whether for maintenance, cleaning, security or energy monitoring, HITEK delivers complete 360° views of facilities, including operations and costs. The highly commended went to Emaar Facilities Management and Farnek At the Facilities Management Middle East Awards 2022, Imdaad won the Technology Implementation of the Year award for its Ignite Shield’s Smart Water Analyzer device. Imdaad, in partnership with Disrupt-X, a Dubai-based IoT development company, introduced an innovative solution to accurately and efficiently monitor the water quality of swimming pools and tanks. This pioneering technology solution, Ignite Shield’s Smart Water Analyzer device, IMDAAD WINS TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YEAR 2022 has been an important addition to the FM capabilities of the UAE and the region. The UAE alone is home to over 150,000 commercial and community pools. These pools need to be monitored around three to six times per day as per local municipal laws. Under the conventional system, a dedicated person or lifeguard gathers data such as temperature, pH, and free chlorine rates. Upon data collection, a summarized report is then sent to the Municipality and asset owners. PLATINUMSILVERSTRATEGICJuly 2022 19www.fm-middleeast.com Emrill Services has won the Health & Safety Initiative of the Year for its Safety By Choice-Not By Chance initiative. Over the last 12 months, Emrill has achieved over 23 million safe manhours across its contracts. This milestone was not achieved by accident or in isolation-it is the result of conscious decisions by every employee to act with safety in mind at all times. Building on the success of Emrill's award-winning Safer Together and Happier Together with Emrill, the integrated FM services provider launched 'Safety By Choice-Not By Chance' in 2021. Under this umbrella programme, Emrill has launched several targeted health/safety/wellness initiatives aimed at empowering employees across every level of the organisation to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of their colleagues/Emrill's customers/ tenants/visitors. There were two highly commended in this category. One was Khansaheb Facilities Management for its K-Care Program and Grako for its Access Strategy & Rope Protection Initiative at Museum of the Future. Khansaheb Facilities Management’s Behavioural Safety Centre is designed to educate employees and empower them to intervene when they see unsafe acts. Through this program, the firm aims to improve its employee’s ability to identify hazards, manage risk, identify factors (antecedents) thatdrive safe and unsafe behaviours, and reduce incidents. Grako should be recognised for its adoption of an innovative custom- made product that elevates their safety performance 600 times more at one of the most challenging designs and complex access buildings “Museum of the Future”. Grako was able to proactively estimate the risks associated with the design and access and propose and test a solution to meet client cleaning and safety expectations. Cleaning the worlds' most beautiful building was not an easy feat. ASSOCIATETECHNOLOGYCATEGORY EMRILL SERVICES WINS HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD The highly commended went to Khansaheb Facilities Management and GrakoNext >