Business Bureau, Gulf Today

The Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) recently emphasised the importance of innovation and the adoption of best industry practices in the region’s facilities management (FM) community during a networking breakfast in Dubai as part of its ongoing bid to enhance the sector’s global competitiveness.  

Titled ‘Best Practice & Innovation in Facilities Management,’ the event was hosted by the MEFMA Strategic Sub-Committee at the Emrill Knowledge Theatre – Emrill Head Office, which brought together some of the region’s renowned and respected FM leaders to discuss the means to flourish the spirit of innovation within the FM industry. The event stressed on innovation’s impact on the market’s landscape alongside the significance of adopting the best global practices to improve the offered FM products and services in the Middle East.  

Jamal Lootah, MEFMA President, said: “The recently concluded gathering was another opportunity for key stakeholders to take a closer look on the issue of innovation and its increasing role in our society. The discussion is especially relevant at a time when the UAE is strengthening its efforts to become an international hub for innovation. As it is, a number of industries, including FM, have already responded to the government’s move and we at MEFMA are further seeking to bring our efforts to the next level to keep pace with and meet the evolving market needs.”

Wasim Al Imam, General Manager of Ahla Jaw, one of the event’s sponsors, opened the discussions with his brief introductory session. A presentation titled ‘Asset Management vs. FM? Who are we?’  by Jennifer Peltenburg, FM Director (UAE) of Khansaheb Facilities Management and MEFMA Strategic Sub-Committee Leader followed Al Imam’s talk, during which she addressed FM’s advancement through continuous innovation.

A panel discussion titled ‘What will drive innovation & best practice in FM in the next 5-10 years?’ was moderated by Tarek Nizameddin, Senior Executive Director (Commercial), Ejadah. During the session, attendees talked about the fundamentals that would drive innovation and deployment within the regional sector in the near future. The panel was composed of Fahad Mohamed, Director of FM, Deyaar Owners Association Management; Martin Burholt, Managing Director, International FM and UK Communities; and Martin Gregory, International Director – FM Consulting, Drees & Sommer. Ali Alsuwaidi, MEFMA Vice President, concluded: “This networking event is an important platform to define the scope of work of to MEFMA’s Strategic Sub-Committee, which is composed of MEFMA’S Strategic Corporate Members.

The committee plays a vital role in the continuing move to facilitate a smooth exchange of insights, listening to feedback and creating and recommendations, including studies covering current and future challenges of the facilities management market. The committee also looks towards uniting efforts to address these challenges based on innovative tools that are at pace with the rapid changes made by the 21st century. Participants at the event were able to come up with the key recommendations covering the development of an integrated framework aimed at promoting a culture of innovation and meeting the requirements of both regional and international markets.”    

The event was sponsored by Ahla Jaw and Emrill Services as venue sponsor.

The Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) recently put the spotlight on the pressing challenges facing the facilities management (FM) sector in Jordan during its first networking event in the country. The workshop and networking event proved to be both timely and strategic as the Jordanian FM market continues to steadily grow and attract more foreign direct investments into the country.

Held at the Amman Rotana Hotel, the event, ‘Facility Management Challenges in the local market “Jordan”,’ took place in the midst of MEFMA’s intensified efforts to boost the Middle East’s FM sector by gathering the industry’s decision makers, leaders, pioneers, and stakeholders under one roof. Eng. Lara Khozouz, Member, Board of Director, MEFMA, led an interactive workshop and moderated a panel discussion, afterwards. The panelists consisted Eng. Basim Sayel - Secretary General, Arab Council of Operation & Maintenance (OMAINTEC); Karthikeyan Iyer - Project Director (Operations), EFS Facilities Services; Eng. Khalil Karkar, Operations and Maintenance Manager, Abdali Group; and Friederike Pommerehne, Module Team Leader, GIZ.

Jamal Lootah, MEFMA President, said, “We are proud to have hosted this first-of-its-kind gathering in Jordan, which was attended by some of the country’s and the region’s leading FM leaders and stakeholders--all gathering together to discuss major growth prospects and opportunities in the local market and key solutions designed to address pressing challenges that the industry faces.