FM EXPO hightlights fast growing facilities management industry

Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai, tours FM Expo, which opened today at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, accompanied by Louisa Theobald, Group Exhibitions Director for Streamline Marketing Group.

The huge opportunities that the rapidly expanding facilities management market presents in the Middle East were highlighted today, when the region’s showcase industry event opened in Dubai.

The third annual FM Expo was officially opened at Zabeel Hall in the Dubai International Exhibition Centre by Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.

Bin Sulayem was accompanied by Nick Webb, Director of Streamline Marketing Group, as he toured the exhibition, talking to representatives from FM companies, visiting their stands and showcasing the latest technology and FM solutions available.

The growing facilities management industry, estimated to be worth US$704 billion over the next 25 years by Middle East Strategy Advisors (MESA) is driven by the region’s maturing property market and ongoing construction boom, and is creating an outstanding opportunity for FM companies who can provide expert advice to property developers. Integration of facilities management in the early development stages can save developers millions of dollars over the long-term.

Organised by Streamline Marketing Group, the three-day event has attracted major players in the regional and international FM sector such as Operon, EMCO, BK Gulf, DuServe (Dubai World Central), EMCOR Facilities Services, Energy Management Services (EMS), Farnek Avireal, Idama, Emrill, Ngenox, EC Harris, Imdaad, Spectrum and many more.

"The multi-billion dollar construction industry in the Arabian Gulf is creating a huge market for facilities management," said Nick Webb. "FM Expo brings together global FM leaders and new players entering the Middle East market to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead, the latest trends and new technology and services available."

Running in conjunction with FM Expo, the brand new five day ‘Property & FM’ conference also commenced today at the Dusit Hotel Dubai. More than 25 regional and international speakers will address key FM issues including the UAE’s new strata law and its regulations, efficient energy management, green buildings and sustainability and FM best practice guidelines.

High level delegates attending the conference include representatives from Nakheel, Sorouh, Emirates Group and E’EMAR Real Estate Development, a major property developer in Qatar, in addition to delegates from across the Middle East, UK, France, Australia, Japan and US.

The conference is chaired by two worldwide renowned FM professionals, Mick Dalton, Immediate Past Chairman of the British Institute of Facilities Management, who delivered this morning’s opening remarks, and Stan Mitchell, Director of Key, and Chairman Global FM, who opened the first session with a speech on ‘Prerequisites to successful facilities management’.

Mohammed Habbal from Nakheel outlined how to integrate facilities management into the design stages of a property and Scott Wilson, Director of EMCOR Facilities Services Group delivered a case study of facilities management at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers community development in Dubai. This was followed by a panel session on property owner’s expectations of FM and upcoming challenges for the GCC market.

Today’s second session on strata law and its regulations included presentations from Peter Crogan, CEO of BCS Strata Management and Adrian Quinn, Executive Chairman of Essential Strata Management, while the third session commenced with a case study of FM on the (Burj Dubai) world’s tallest building led by Chris Mills, Technical Director of Olive VFM. Ali Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Imdaad provided an overview of best practices in the UAE and James Garbutt, Senior Vice President of Spectrum discussed the role of FM over a building’s life cycle.

FM Expo takes place alongside the Hotel Show and InRetail exhibitions and more than 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the three events.

- Danielle Fanning, Total Communications Dubai - also photo