AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION JANUARY 2025 • VOL. 20, ISSUE 01 MD Bart Van Bastelaere on GF Corys’ transformative approach in the industry SUSTAINABILITY IN MOTION In p a rt n e rs h ip w it h G F C o ry s MEP_Jan2025_00_Cover_13481746.indd 120/12/2024 13:14Complete Range Of Quality HVAC & R Products AVAILABLE IN OVER 90 COUNTRIES GLOBALLY +971 6 743 4176+971 5 5605 6463 RUBBER WORLD INDUSTRY LLC Untitled-20 117/12/2024 16:40EDITOR’S LETTER www.mepmiddleeast.comJanuary 2025 | MEP Middle East 3 www.mepmiddleeast.com NEW YEAR, SAME DRIVE “New year, new you.” It’s a phrase that gets tossed around every January. In my honest opinion, why fi x what’s not broken? Our industry achieved extraordinary feats last year, and the real goal for 2025 should be to keep that momentum going. That said, on a personal level, a little self-improvement never hurt anyone. This month, industry veteran Srinivasan Rangan steps in to help with a list of seven lessons he’s learnt over his illustrious career in the HVAC industry. The feature, on p16, is packed with wisdom—wisdom we’d all be wise to borrow. On the professional front, our cover story, starting on p18, takes a deep dive into success with Bart Van Basteleare, Managing Director of GF Corys. He shares how his team is redefi ning the piping industry in the region. We also take a closer look at COP29 in Baku, where sustainable practices, low- carbon standards, and urban fi nance were front and centre. Our feature, on p44, unpacks what these developments mean for the built environment. We also touch on challenges closer to home. On p40, Dr Hassam Chaudhry of HWUD explores the green skills gap and its implications for our workforce, while Paul Schwarz of DARL explains why construction noise is more than just an annoyance on p42. It’s a problem we need to solve for the sake of workers and city dwellers alike. I had the privilege of moderating a discussion at the Big 5 Global that shed light on the critical role of supply chains and sustainable construction in meeting net-zero goals. Turn to p30 for a detailed record of that discussion. As we step into 2025, I’ll skip the clichés and say this: let’s keep building on the progress we’ve made, aim higher this year, and, with a little eff ort, actually get some use out of that annual gym membership you and I just renewed! Happy New Year! SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED Words of wisdom by industry veteran Srinivasan Rangan PAGE 16 SKYLINE OF THE FUTURE The UAE is transforming its building sector for a sustainable future. Here’s what’s happening PAGE 24 COVER STORY: SUSTAINABILITY IN MOTION How GF Corys is building on a legacy of more than 260 years and rewriting the narrative of the piping industry PAGE 18 THE FUTURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN The role of supply chain in achieving net-zero goals PAGE 30 MUST READ IN THIS ISSUE Almas Tholot Editor, MEP Middle East almas.tholotr@itp.com MEP_Jan2025_3_Editor Letter_13478904.indd 323/12/2024 15:59www.mepmiddleeast.com 4 MEP Middle East | January 2025www.mepmiddleeast.com 15 15 FIVE THINGS TO KNOW Here are fi ve things to know about The Mukaab, the world’s largest building 16 SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED Industry veteran Srinivasan Rangan shares seven key career lessons 18 COVER STORY Under Managing Director Bart Van Bastelaere, GF Corys fuses Swiss heritage and digital innovation to shape a smarter, more sustainable piping landscape in the Middle East 24 WHITEPAPER How the UAE is transforming its built environment for a sustainable future 18 MEP_Jan2025_4-5_Contents_13478905.indd 420/12/2024 16:47www.mepmiddleeast.comJanuary 2025 | MEP Middle East 5 www.mepmiddleeast.com 24 44 42 30 40 30 42 44 SKILLS GAP Dr Hassam Chaudhry of Heriot-Watt University Dubai addresses the green skills gap in the MEP industry SUPPLY CHAIN Editor Almas Tholot discusses the critical role of sustainable construction and the supply chain in achieving net-zero goals at the Big 5 Global OPINION Paul Schwarz, Managing Director at Dubai Acoustic Research Laboratory, stresses the importance of managing construction noise to balance urban growth with community well-being COP29 COP29 Outcome: What does it mean for the built environment? WATCH NOW LISTEN NOW VIDEOS PODCAST MEP_Jan2025_4-5_Contents_13478905.indd 520/12/2024 16:47www.mepmiddleeast.comwww.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 © 2025 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 6 MEP Middle East | January 2025 MEP_Jan2025_6_Flannel_13478906.indd 620/12/2024 16:57Untitled-3 125/11/2024 18:34NOTEWORTHY www.mepmiddleeast.com 8 MEP Middle East | January 2025www.mepmiddleeast.com Note worthy 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 AECOM has been awarded the architectural and engineering contract for the Soudah Peaks project in Saudi Arabia. Phase one of the development is set to be completed by 2027 WSP Middle East has announced the promotion of Drew Tinsley from Head of Building Services to a key leadership role Trump Organization partners with Dar Global on the second tower project in Riyadh MOST POPULAR ON TWITTER MOST POPULAR LINKEDIN POST CATCH UP ON YOUTUBE TRENDING ON INSTAGRAM MEP_Jan2025_8_Noteworthy_13486441.indd 822/12/2024 08:19THE VOICE OF EXPERTISE IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUILT ENVIRONMENT PODCAST BY MEP MIDDLE EAST Untitled-1 123/12/2024 16:16Next >