Shared stories, lived dreams. Our success is empowered by our clients’ trust and support. We are thankful to be part of their lives, stories, and dreams. UAE I INDIA+971 (04) 523 0703 www.dsi-me.cominfo@dsi-me.com Untitled-2 1Untitled-2 125/11/2024 18:1125/11/2024 18:11EDITOR’S LETTER www.mepmiddleeast.comDecember 2024 | MEP Middle East 3 With this issue, we’re ending the year on a high note. It’s time to refl ect, recharge, and look to the future— a future that, judging by the cover of this issue, is as bright and bold as ever. Our cover star this month is Noora Alsaleis, the winner of our Young Engineer of the Year award. Her story isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about the heart and grit behind them. The Emirati engineer’s journey, featured on p18, is a reminder that, no matter the challenges, if you stay true to your passion, the sky is the limit. But that’s just the beginning. In this issue, we also get a glimpse into the future of MEP through the eyes of Abs Shah, MEP Modular Manager at ALEMCO, starting on p24. ALEMCO’s modular approach shows that the future of construction is not just faster, but more sustainable, collaborative, and smarter. Then, we turn our attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed, but is crucial to our well-being. On p40, Dr Bhakti More of Manipal Academy of Higher Education THE SPIRIT OF TENACITY Almas Tholot Editor, MEP Middle East almas.tholotr@itp.com Dubai brings to light the invisible matter that truly matters. No issue would be complete without a look at one of the most ambitious projects. On p36, we take you behind the scenes of Meraas’ BVLGARI Lighthouse, an example of how advanced engineering and sustainability can come together to create something truly iconic. As we think about the year ahead, there’s no denying the growing energy demands from data centres, which brings us to p28 where David Auriau, Co-Founder and CEO of Positive Zero, talks about how sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but a must-have for our future. And finally, for a bit of reflection, we’ve rounded up some of the most powerful quotes from our pages this year in ‘2024 in Quotes’ on p50. 2024 has been a year of growth, change, and possibility, and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, I’m excited for what’s ahead. Happy Holidays! MEP_Dec2024_3_Editor Letter_13443711.indd 3MEP_Dec2024_3_Editor Letter_13443711.indd 318/11/2024 17:5318/11/2024 17:53www.mepmiddleeast.com4 MEP Middle East | December 2024 18 16 SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED Industry veteran Sougata Nandi shares seven key career lessons 18 COVER STORY From her early childhood fascination with robots to holding the trophy for ‘Young Engineer of the Year,’ here’s the journey of Noor Alsaleis, the young Emirati engineer paving the way for women in the MEP industry 24 INTERVIEW Abs Shah, MEP Modular Manager at ALEMCO, discusses how the company is setting new standards in the modular MEP sector 28 DATA CENTRES David Auriau, Co-Founder and CEO of Positive Zero, discusses the increasing energy demand from data centres and how sustainable solutions are essential 24 MEP_Dec2024_4-5_Contents_13443712.indd 4MEP_Dec2024_4-5_Contents_13443712.indd 422/11/2024 10:4022/11/2024 10:40www.mepmiddleeast.comDecember 2024 | MEP Middle East 5 36 28 32 40 36 32 40 50 PROJECT Meraas uncovers the advanced engineering and sustainable strategies behind the BVLGARI Lighthouse project WHITEPAPER We explore the essential role of MEP systems in the design of MRI suites, emphasising their critical contribution to safety, effi ciency, and patient care OPINION Dr Bhakti More of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai speaks on the invisible matter that truly matters LAST WORD A roundup of some of the most powerful quotes from our pages this year > MEP ORIGINALS > LET’S TALK MEP > MEP ENGINEERED Scan the QR Code on your mobile to gain access to our latest videos WATCH NOW MEP_Dec2024_4-5_Contents_13443712.indd 5MEP_Dec2024_4-5_Contents_13443712.indd 522/11/2024 10:4022/11/2024 10:40www.mepmiddleeast.com 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: Martin Chambers Head of Digital Media: Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Editor: Almas Tholot Tel: +971 4 444 3845 E-mail: almas.tholotr@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 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 Senior Video Editor: Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events: Eleanor Ashton E-mail: eleanor.ashton@itp.com Events & Marketing Manager: Kate Galaktionova Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Events Administrative Assistant: Aronn Pureza Events Administrative Assistant: Bobbie Rosario Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga E-mail: events@itp.com PRODUCTION Production Manager: Balasubramanian P DISTRIBUTION Circulation Executive: Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator: Avinash Pereira 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 | December 2024 MEP_Dec2024_6_Flannel_13443714.indd 6MEP_Dec2024_6_Flannel_13443714.indd 618/11/2024 14:1318/11/2024 14:13Untitled-3 1Untitled-3 125/11/2024 18:3425/11/2024 18:34NOTEWORTHY www.mepmiddleeast.com8 MEP Middle East | December 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 Video highlights from the MEP Awards 2024 Nakheel has awarded contracts exceeding AED fi ve billion to Ginco General Contracting, Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast, and United Engineering Construction Company for Palm Jebel Ali project. BK Gulf LLC GM Basheer Massad discusses what it takes to become ‘MEP Contractor of the Year,’ embracing complexity, and advancing MEP with cutting-edge solutions. UAE’s climate master plan at COP29 Azerbaijan: Here’s what the world needs to know! MOST POPULAR ON TWITTER MOST POPULAR LINKEDIN POST CATCH UP ON YOUTUBE TRENDING ON INSTAGRAM MEP_Dec2024_8_Noteworthy_13451003.indd 8MEP_Dec2024_8_Noteworthy_13451003.indd 818/11/2024 14:1418/11/2024 14:14A TREASURE OF KNOWLEDGE AND UH OH, THE REST IS ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS SCAN BELOW TO JOIN THE EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY Untitled-2 1Untitled-2 104/12/2024 16:3904/12/2024 16:39Next >