AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION JANUARY 2024 • VOL. 19, ISSUE 01 FUTURE FOCUS FM executives reveal their fi rm’s priorities and objectives this yearJanuary 2024 3 www.fm-middleeast.com EDITOR’S LETTER The facilities management story in the Middle East is one of evolution and transformation Rajiv Ravindran Pillai Editor A s we step into the dawn of January 2024, the Facilities Management Middle East team is thrilled to present to you a compelling issue that unravels the intricasies of the ever-evolving landscape of facilities management in the Middle East region. Our cover story sets the stage for this transformative journey, delving into the minds of FM visionaries who navigate the complexities of an industry at the crossroads of innovation, sustainability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. The year 2024 unfolds as a pivotal chapter, where seamless operations and cutting-edge solutions converge to redefi ne the very fabric of facilities management in the region. Parris Ullrich, Regional Director for MENA and APAC, Macro, highlights the potential for growth in global markets post-pandemic, driven by smarter, more adaptive technologies and fl exible, hybrid approaches to design, while Prabhu Ramachandran, CEO & Co-founder of Facilio, anticipates the persistence of platform-driven models and the increasing reliance on automation for cost optimization. The demand for purpose-built and impact-driven solutions is expected to drive the industry forward. Our cover story paints a vivid picture of 2024 as a watershed moment for the FM industry—a narrative of resilience, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As technology intertwines with sustainability, and innovation becomes the compass guiding strategic decisions, the facilities management story in the Middle East is one of evolution and transformation. Wishing you an enlightening read and a prosperous start to the new year! Download now for IOS, Android, and Kindle4 January 2024www.fm-middleeast.com CONTENTS UPDATE ServeU launches NFC-powered Smart Asset Tagging UPDATE CBRE inaugurates new offi ce in Riyadh SITE UPDATE Pascal Grante, CEO, Veolia Near & Middle East, talks about Veolia’s biogas-to-energy plant 06 08 14 COMING UP IN FMME FEBRUARY 2024 Special Report on FM Expo Saudi. This report explores the regional FM firms that will attend the FM Expo Saudi exhibition event in Riyadh which will take place during the end of February. 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.comJanuary 2024 5 www.fm-middleeast.com COVER STORY FM executives reveal their fi rm’s priorities and objectives this year BIG 5 NEWS The Big 5 Global exhibition in Dubai served as a hub for major deals and partnerships SMART CITIES Understanding innovation in urban sustainability and smart cities COP28 UPDATE Against the backdrop of COP 28 in the UAE, Savills Middle East launched its latest report on the current real estate sustainability landscape 16 32 22 386 January 2024www.fm-middleeast.com UPDATE ServeU, a subsidiary of Union Properties and a facilities management (FM) solutions provider in the UAE, launched an NFC- Powered Smart Asset Tagging solution on Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform, signifying a remarkable upgrade from the conventional QR or Bar code system. The move comes in line with ServeU’s eff orts to advance the FM sector by off ering latest technological innovations. ServeU uses NFC-based chips as assets tags, making it discrete and aligned to the aesthetics of current UAE buildings. The in-house development off ers outstanding security and transparency, with the assets’ information readable only through the ServeU AI TaskMaster App and ServeU Customer App. The information in the NFC tags is encrypted and securely kept in ServeU’s CAFM system. ServeU has expanded the potential of asset management beyond tagging for inventory lists to improving customer experience by allowing consumers to monitor their asset's history, submit maintenance breakdown schedules, and raise service tickets with its NFC tags. The new NFC tags signify the effi ciency of ServeU’s operational teams to independently create assets, tag them and update assets information actively, without back-offi ce shuffl e. It further demonstrates ServeU’s commitment to fostering technological advancements in the industry. Additionally, the launch helps ServeU enhance customer experiences, ensuring a smarter, seamless and sustainable means of facility management. Simon Roopchand, General Manager at ServeU said: “At ServeU, innovation is at the core of our operations. We are not just evolving; we are revolutionizing the facilities management industry in the MENA region. We are committed to delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of our vast customer-base. Our NFC-Powered Smart Asset Tagging is a testament to our commitment to innovation ServeU uses NFC-based chips as assets tags, making it discrete and aligned to the aesthetics of current UAE buildings ServeU launches NFC-powered Smart Asset Tagging and client-centric solutions. Through the integration of this technology into our Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform, we have surpassed conventional asset management. It goes beyond mere asset identifi cation; we are enhancing the complete lifecycle management of assets. This includes off ering detailed insights into usage analytics and history, as well as simplifying the processes of reporting and handling maintenance requests—all achieved with a straightforward tap of an NFC tag.” The innovation seamlessly connects hard and soft services, reaching into ServeU’s customers' homes for added comfort. It provides unprecedented transparency in service delivery, giving B2B and B2C clients direct mobile access to asset history, service schedules, and the fl exibility to reschedule. The company is transforming the CAFM system into an engaging, user- friendly experience. “As pioneers in the dynamic market, our adaptability to industry trends and dedication to quality service set us apart. We seek to take a progressive approach to facilities management, integrating state-of-the-art The new NFC tags signify the effi ciency of ServeU’s operational teams technology, sustainable practices and the capabilities of a highly skilled workforce. Our comprehensive services span maintenance, cleaning, security, landscaping and more, providing clients with seamless and effi cient support for all their property management needs,” added Simon. In the recent years, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region witnessed exceptional development and urbanisation, which led to increased demand for comprehensive FM solutions. According to industry reports, the FM market of the MEA region is projected to experience remarkable growth, with an estimate of attaining USD72.69bn by 2028. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the period from 2023 to 2028 has been projected to be 7.63%. Amid the anticipated market growth, new advancements at ServeU positions it as a key driving force of innovation in the MENA region’s FM market. Over the years, the company consistently contributed to the sector by delivering a wide range of bespoke FM services that are designed to meet the requirements of residential, commercial and industrial properties.KONE Care™ DX The Future of Elevator Maintenance! The first carbon-neutral and AI-powered predictive elevator maintenance service in the industry. Now in the Middle East! KONE Care™ DX is the smartest way to make sure your elevator can move with the times, seamlessly evolving with the help of predictive maintenance and connectivity, making life for you and your tenants easier and protecting your equipment for a more sustainable future for your building. KONE Care™ DX maintenance visits will be carbon compensated through our GoldStandard® certified carbon offsetting projects by responsible forestry, renewable energy, and community-based emission reduction initiatives. Make your tenants and your planet happy! • Intelligently prolong your elevator's life • Around the clock support delivered in person and digitally • Up to 40% fewer callouts If your elevators aren’t KONE DX, you can still benefit from the smart predictive maintenance solutions for elevators of all brands. Contact us now! Time to get the best for you, your buildings and your tenants with KONE Care™ DX! Dedicated to People Flow TM8 January 2024www.fm-middleeast.com UPDATE Global real estate advisor CBRE has announced the inauguration of its new offi ce in Riyadh, as part of its continued strategic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). CBRE opened a new offi ce on the eighth fl oor of the landmark Al Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh. The new offi ce opening follows a year of continued growth in Saudi Arabia, including a string of senior hires in the past year, including the appointment of Elias Bou Habib as Head of Consulting – Saudi Arabia, Jena Ladhani as Country Managing Director – Saudi Arabia for CBRE Global Workplace Solutions and Pedro Ribeiro as General Manager – Saudi Arabia for CBRE Advisory. CBRE has been serving clients in Saudi Arabia for over 15 years and has now over 300 real estate experts based on the ground across all its group divisions. CBRE has recently Mohamed Zayan, an intern at smart and green total facilities management company Farnek, has unveiled an innovative project that involved retrofi tting a buggy, with photovoltaic panels that harness solar energy, to charge the buggy’s battery. This solar-powered buggy was operated in Expo City Dubai, showcasing Farnek’s commitment and alignment with Expo City Dubai’s sustainability goals, as well as COP28 ‘energy transition’ objectives. According to Zayan, who is currently studying for his Master’s in Energy & Sustainable development from a UK-based De Montfort University in Dubai, “Quite apart from the energy savings, the project will encourage other students to embrace projects related to renewable energy.” Farnek has estimated that the solar CBRE has recently advised on some of the biggest real estate projects across the Kingdom CBRE inaugurates new offi ce in Riyadh This solar-powered buggy was operated in Expo City Dubai Farnek intern develops solar-powered buggy for COP28 visitors to Expo City Dubai advised on some of the biggest real estate projects across the Kingdom, including Saudi Arabia’s largest standalone hotel transaction in Jeddah and over 30 mega and giga projects as part of Vision 2030. It has also worked on CBRE’s largest ever valuation project, valuing over 700,000 real estate assets in Saudi Arabia since 2021 as part of the Kingdom's transformational change initiatives. panels will produce around 735 kWh/ year which helps to off set approximately 18% of the energy required to charge the buggy’s batteries at charging stations and should reduce around 330kg CO2e carbon emissions per annum. Stress analysis of the structure was carried out using SAP2000 software to check the integrity of the buggy’s roof and supporting struts, considering design parameters such as speed as well as static and dynamic loads. PV Panels are not directly fi xed to the buggy structure but rather are integrated into a dedicated, custom-made, light- weight frame to improve strength without adding any noteworthy load to the buggy. Safety has been considered in the design, through a solar charge controller, integrated into the solar circuitry, which prevents any over or undercharging of the battery. The electrical and structural design of this project is fl exible enough to add more PV modules in the future to increase solar production and hence off set even more fossil-based energy. CBRE’s ribbon cutting event Prince Mohammed bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud, CBRE Saudi Arabia & Dar Al Riyadh Board Member, Prince Naif bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud, CBRE Saudi Arabia & Dar Al Riyadh Board Member, and Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO of CBRE in India, Southeast Asia, Middle East & Africa among other senior guests attended CBRE’s new offi ce inauguration ceremony held at Al Faisaliah. Nicholas Maclean, Managing Director of CBRE Middle East, says: “I am proud to open our new Riyadh offi ce today, at a time of unprecedented development in Saudi Arabia. This strategic milestone is a testament of our ongoing growth in the Kingdom and underscores our commitment to foster local partnerships, drive innovation and help our clients realize their potential in Saudi Arabia’s dynamic business landscape.” Extreme left: Mohamed Zayan)DFDGHFOHDQLQJ URSHDFFHVVVHUYLFHV ZLWKXQPDWFKHGH[SHULHQFH VDIHW\ VWDQGDUGV ƫ3 . /ƫ ĂĀĂăƫ 63(&,$/,6(' &/($1,1*&203$1< :,11(5 ƫ3 . /ƫ ĂĀĂă &/,(17&2175$&725 5(/$7,216+,3 5811(583 ƫ % (!ƫ /0ƫ3 . /ƫ ĂĀĂăƫ 63(&,$/,6(' &/($1,1*&203$1< :,11(5 $:25/'&/$663,21((5,1 JUDNRQHWFRP :HEVLWH3KRQH $OHDGLQJVSHFLDOLVWLQ+LJKOHYHO$FFHVVŸ VHUYLFLQJVRPHRIWKHZRUOG VPRVWLFRQLF GHVWLQDWLRQVDQGLQIUDVWUXFWXUHVLQFHNext >