FM players increasingly looking to technology

Jamal Lootah, president of MEFMA

Various players across the GCC's facilities management (FM) sector need to explore the opportunities that are being presented to them by the adoption of new technologies if they are to remain competitive, experts at the Middle East Facilities Management Association's (MEFMA) CONFEX Dubai 2019 event said.
This year's event is being held under the theme 'Business Intelligence & Technology-Driven Facilities Management', and focuses on new innovative methods that address the emerging challenges in the sector.
Jamal Lootah, president of MEFMA, told Khaleej Times that technology is impacting every sector today, and organisations which fail to adopt the latest technologies will miss out on many opportunities for growth. "Technology will drive the sector moving forward. Not only will it help to improve efficiency across the board, but it will also help service providers with cost optimisation. There are lots of technologies such as the Internet of Things which will create valuable data that companies can utilise to improve their operations."
Lootah also spoke about the UAE's plans when it comes to hosting mega events. "We are all excited about the Expo 2020 Dubai event, which is now nearing its completion date. The construction industry in the UAE posted a significant growth as preparations for the event began. This event has meant lots of opportunities not just for the UAE, but the whole GCC. It allowed us to showcase how the GCC has evolved and is ready to undertake such mega projects."
He also predicted that revenues for the GCC region's FM industry will continue to grow between five per cent and 10 per cent annually over the next few years. Currently, the FM sector in the region is valued at about $37 billion. The construction sector is set to be the biggest driver for growth. A study by Marmore Research has predicted that the GCC will need 6.16 million housing units by 2022, led by Saudi Arabia with 3.96 million; the UAE with 0.98 million; and Kuwait with 0.47 million. This is followed by Oman at 0.4 million, and Bahrain at 0.2 million.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com