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29 March 2024

Facilities sector to get $892bn boost

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By Staff Writer

(DENNIS B MALLARI)   
 
 

Research indicates an estimated $892 billion (Dh3.2  trillion) will be pumped into the facilities management (FM) market in the Arabian Gulf over the next 25 years.

 

The figures, released by Middle East Strategy Advisors (Mesa), show the FM industry in the UAE is potentially worth $704bn, with the markets in Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth $96bn and $92bn respectively.

 

Facilities management is still a relatively new concept in the Middle East and experts predict the industry will eventually outstrip the region’s booming construction business.

Agata Pawlik, Project Manager, Streamline Marketing Group, said: “Facilities management is gathering more attention as new mega construction projects are being developed and this requires the early involvement of the facilities management in development projects.

 

“Proper strategy and planning at the outset of a project significantly reduces life cycle costs and leads to a building’s sustainability.

 

“It is essential developers have an adequate life cycle cost estimation, as the initial development costs are a fraction of the total costs of a building over time.

 

“More property owners and developers are realising  FM is an industry that provides essential input to complex property management. FM Expo provides an arena for property professionals to learn about the new and innovative FM solutions available to them,” said Pawlik.

 

Experts in the field estimate that in the life cycle of a building, the design and construction phase only accounts for 20 per cent of the overall costs, with 80 per cent taken up by FM.

 

Dubai to host FM expo

 

An expo on FM will take place from June 8 to 10, 2008, at Zabeel Hall in the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

 

FM exhibitors include companies from property management, energy management, environment, maintenance, information technology, health and safety, and security in the Middle East and Europe. The FM Expo 2008 is offering for the first time a Supplier’s Zone, a dedicated section for companies that supply FM with relevant products and services.

 

A demonstration area has been designed to showcase new FM technology. A two-day ‘Property and Facilities Management Conference’ will be launched alongside the exhibition.