AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION JUNE 2024 • VOL. 19, ISSUE 06 Colin Scott, MEP Director of KPM - a top 30 consultancy in the MEP Middle East Power List - discusses the future of building services LEADING BY DESIGNEDITOR’S LETTER www.mepmiddleeast.comJune 2024 | MEP Middle East 3 Last year, the CEO of IBM made headlines when he indicated that at least 30% of the company’s non-customer-facing positions could be replaced by AI and automation within the next fi ve years. His statement refl ects what business leaders worldwide are thinking about AI and how it is redefi ning job roles. A PWC survey conducted among global CEOs indicates that they view generative AI as a critical tool to reinvent their businesses. Ironically, many CEOs also believe that their roles should be automated or replaced by AI, as revealed in a survey conducted by online education platform edX. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has a positive outlook about the adoption of AI. A recent ILO study has found that generative AI is more likely to augment than destroy jobs by automating some tasks rather than taking over a role entirely. PROMPT ENGINEERING IS THE NEW SKILL TO MASTER Almas Tholot Editor, MEP Middle East almas.tholotr@itp.com Embracing AI in the workplace is no longer an option, but a necessity for organisations. As generative AI fi nds applications in the architecture, engineering and construction industries, prompt engineering is emerging as a crucial skill for designers and engineers. In this context, the role of humans would be to understand and optimise instructions for AI models and guide the models to obtain accurate results. This will bring a fundamental shift in how designers defi ne problems and outcomes. In this issue, we feature insights from the latest Autodesk report on digital transformation, AI adoption and the future of work in the design and manufacturing industries. It becomes clear that investment in AI, similar to any disruptive technologies, can be justifi ed when companies implement AI, not as a blanket approach but in incremental steps with manageable and measurable goals.www.mepmiddleeast.com4 MEP Middle East | June 2024 1214 12 FIVE THINGS TO KNOW Here are fi ve things to know about One Canal by AHS Properties 14 IN PICTURES Safa One, Safa Two de Grisogono by Damac 16 COVER STORY: LEADING BY DESIGN Colin Scott, MEP Director of KPM - a top 30 consultancy in the MEP Middle East Power List - discusses the future of building services 24 TALENT ACQUISITION While there is undoubtedly talent in the Middle East region, there is a substantial need to attract more skilled professionalswww.mepmiddleeast.comJune 2024 | MEP Middle East 5 24 30 3234 32 30 34 46 SUSTAINABILITY Empowering environmental commitment with technology PROJECT MANAGEMENT Delivering data centre design-build projects GEARING UP FOR THE AI DISRUPTION Autodesk report highlights the potential of generative design in architecture, engineering and construction MARKETS Energy demands of high performance computing creates the need for effi cient cooling technologies> MEP ORIGINALS > LET’S TALK MEP > MEP ENGINEERED Scan the QR Code on your mobile to gain access to our latest videos VIDEOS WATCH NOWwww.mepmiddleeast.com6 MEP Middle East | June 20246 MEP Middle East | June 2024 PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi Managing Director: Alex Reeve EDITORIAL Group Editor: Kate-Lynne Wolmarans Tel: +971 4 444 3541 E-mail: kate.wolmarans@itp.com Editor: Almas Tholot Tel: +971 4 444 3845 E-mail: almas.tholotr@itp.com Acting Editor: Dennis Daniel Tel: +971 4 444 3615 E-mail: dennis.daniel@os.itp.com Commercial Editor: Angitha Pradeep Tel: +971 4 444 3278 E-mail: angitha.pradeep@itp.com ART Art Director: Amjad Ayche Art Editor: Tofiq Memon Contributing Designer: Muhammed Nahas ADVERTISING Group Commercial Director: Anup Nagpurkar Tel: +971 4 444 3573 E-mail: anup.nagpurkar@itp.com Senior Commercial Manager: Oliver Osea Tel: +971 4 444 3129 E-mail: oliver.osea@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Videographer: Muhammad Kaleem Senior Video Editor: Liju Cheruvathur Social Media & Production Manager: Andy Ruedas PRODUCTION Production Manager: Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator: Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor: Emmalyn Robles DISTRIBUTION Circulation Executive: Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator: Avinash Pereira MARKETING Events & Marketing Manager: Dmitry Lazarenko ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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The most reliable and respected source of MEP news and in-depth analysis in the GCC region To flip through previous editions of MEP Middle East magazine, visit mepmiddleeast.com/emagazines/digital-magazine Published by and © 2024 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 6 MEP Middle East | June 2024NOTEWORTHY www.mepmiddleeast.com8 MEP Middle East | June 2024 Noteworthy Get the lowdown on MEP Middle East’s social media channels! We’ve got your daily dose of industry news, exclusive interviews, and more! Connect with us today. @MEP Middle East (ITP) @mepmiddleeast3014 @mepmiddleeast @MEP_Middle_East MEP Originals Ep06: In conversation with Nathan Hanns, MEP contracting giant ALEMCO’s MD. Multiple contractors have secured contracts worth $3.2 billion from Saudi Arabia‘s Jeddah Central Development Company to construct three architectural landmarks as part of the Jeddah Central project. UAE-based contractor wins a contract for main works at DAMAC Properties’ master development, DAMAC Hills 2, valued at approximately $50 million. Recognising prominent design, engineering and project management consultancies making their mark in the electromechanical scope of the region’s construction industry. 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