Untitled-28 101/05/2025 15:00EDITOR’S LETTER www.mepmiddleeast.comMay 2025 | MEP Middle East 3 www.mepmiddleeast.com RECRUITMENT, A FINE ART There is something about seeing a full desk. Papers scattered, notes pinned to the soft wall, coff ee getting cold. It means the stories have been lived, thought through, and built carefully. This issue of MEP Middle East is a refl ection of exactly that. Our cover story this month dives deep into the human side of our industry. I had the pleasure of speaking with James Mowat, Managing Director of Energi People for the EMEA region, and trust me, it’s a conversation you’ll want to read. Mowat shares the kind of wisdom you only gain through years of navigating both the triumphs and challenges. He speaks on shifting hiring trends, nationalisation strategies, and shares thoughtful advice for young engineers fi nding their footing. He also opens up about his personal journey, including a chapter marked by real hardship. His journey is a sharp reminder that resilience often writes the most compelling success stories. Of course, no May edition would be complete without one of the features we take great pride in: the MEP Consultants Power List. Behind the scenes, our team has been working ardently, and I do mean ardently, to pull together a snapshot of the top consultancies shaping the region’s built environment. This year’s power list is the result of detailed surveys, candid interviews, and a lot of careful thought. It’s not a ranking, but a recognition of progress, expertise, and impact. The issue also brings you a much-requested feature: an in-depth breakdown of salaries in the MEP sector. The article gathers fresh data, placement records, and market feedback to off er you a practical guide to where things stand today. There’s more. Dr Harpreet Seth, Head of Architecture at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, pens a piece on how BIM is becoming a digital gamechanger for architects. And in another highlight, we share with you P&T’s design philosophy that blends sustainable engineering with digital innovation to create the high-performance buildings of tomorrow. As always, we build every page with you in mind. Thank you for reading! DECODING HIRING Recruitment expert James Mowat refl ects on his journey and shares candid insights into the realities of MEP recruitment PAGE 14 TOP MEP CONSULTANTS A spotlight on the leading MEP consultants who are transforming the built environment with exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence PAGE 24 SALARY SURVEY A comprehensive salary survey of the MEP sector in the region, highlighting industry growth, compensation trends, and evolving recruitment strategies PAGE 20 DIGITAL GAMECHANGER Dr Harpreet Seth discusses how BIM is reshaping the way architects conceptualise, design, and deliver projects PAGE 48 MUST READ IN THIS ISSUE Almas Tholot Group Editor almas.tholotr@itp.com MEP_May2025_3_Editor Letter_13581152.indd 3MEP_May2025_3_Editor Letter_13581152.indd 307/05/2025 17:1407/05/2025 17:14www.mepmiddleeast.com 4 MEP Middle East | May 2025www.mepmiddleeast.com 10 IN PICTURES A visual glimpse of Mina Al Arab by RAK Properties, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and energy effi ciency, seamlessly integrating eco-conscious practices into its luxurious waterfront community 12 FIVE THINGS TO KNOW Here are fi ve things to know about The Mangrove, set to become Karachi’s most forward-thinking coastal community, blending urban life with nature 14 IN FOCUS A candid conversation with recruitment expert James Mowat, Managing Director – EMEA at Energi People, about his journey of resilience, shifting hiring trends, nationalisation strategies, and advice for young engineers 20 SALARY SURVEY Energi People and MEP Middle East present the latest salary guide, refl ecting the recent trends in salaries within the region’s MEP sector 1014 MEP_May2025_4-5_Contents_13581153.indd 405/05/2025 10:42www.mepmiddleeast.comMay 2025 | MEP Middle East 5 www.mepmiddleeast.com 46 20 50 50 46 24 48 50 EVENT RHEEM Middle East’s Samer Bachour and UTEC’s Wael Gad share exclusive insights at the Middle East Energy Conference TOP MEP CONSULTANTS The 2025 Top MEP Consultants list recognises the leading consultants making their mark in the region’s construction industry OPINION Dr Harpreet Seth, Head of Architecture at Heriot Watt University Dubai, discusses how BIM is transforming architecture BRAND VIEW A close look at P&T’s design philosophy, which combines sustainable engineering with digital innovation WATCH NOW LISTEN NOW VIDEOS PODCAST 24 MEP_May2025_4-5_Contents_13581153.indd 505/05/2025 15:25www.mepmiddleeast.comwww.mepmiddleeast.com 6 MEP Middle East | May 2025 6 MEP Middle East | May 2025 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 Business and Technology: Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Group Editor: Almas Tholot Tel: +971 4 444 3845 E-mail: almas.tholotr@itp.com Features Writer: Akshata Kamath Tel: +971 4 444 3262 E-mail: akshata.kamath@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 Events Manager: Beverly Stanforth Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager: Maria Trishina Events Executive: Ella Johnson Event Sales Executive: Jan Mokoala Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga Events Administrative Assistant: Bobbie Rosario 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 fl ip 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 | May 2025 MEP_May2025_6_Flannel_13581154.indd 628/04/2025 18:51Untitled-3 105/05/2025 15:41NOTEWORTHY www.mepmiddleeast.com 8 MEP Middle East | May 2025www.mepmiddleeast.com A spotlight on the leading contractors in the industry, the ones transforming the built environment with cutting-edge solutions, exceptional leadership, and a commitment to excellence 2025 Top MEP Contractors in the Middle East ONLINE WHAT'S TRENDING ONLINE mepmiddleeas t .co m MEP_May2025_8_Noteworthy_13584802.indd 802/05/2025 06:23www.mepmiddleeast.comMay 2025 | MEP Middle East 9 www.mepmiddleeast.com QUOTES IN THEIR WORDS… 24% of Egis Group’s revenue comes from the Middle East, reinforcing the region’s critical role in the company’s global portfolio Our work goes beyond engineering; it’s about crafting a sustainable, inclusive, and inspiring future For future architects, mastering BIM means becoming fl uent in the language of cross- disciplinary collaboration The industry can be incredibly rewarding. Don’t just chase the paycheque; look for opportunities to grow and make an impact James Mowat Managing Director – EMEA Energi People Michael Rimmer Regional Director – MEP Egis Dr Harpreet Seth Head of Architecture, Heriot Watt University Dubai Niall Murphy Director – MEP & Sustainability 9E Global MEP_May2025_09_Word of Mouth_13584801.indd 902/05/2025 06:23Next >