U.A.E. facilities management well placed to weather economic downturn

"As construction projects are put on hold there is still huge growth potential within the facilities management market due mainly to the huge number of projects completed recently or just about to be completed in the region,"
said Jon Berry, Show Director, Working Buildings Middle East incorporating Fit-Out Middle East.

"As purse strings tighten there is also a greater emphasis on properly maintaining buildings in order to extend their lifecycles and keep costs to a minimum," he added.

This is illustrated by recent developments in the market including the partnership between Makateb and the Korean facilities management company Sungwon Development at the start of the year.

Since signing the partnership, Sungwon has gone on to win contracts worth $1.6m from A&A Investment's projects in Jumeirah Village as the Facilities Management division of Makateb; with the company aiming to achieve 15% to 20% growth in 3 years and expecting the overall market in the U.A.E. to be worth more than $10bn by 2012.

BK Gulf and Operon Middle East have also signed deals with Wasl, the asset management group owned by Dubai Real Estate Corporation, to provide services across their residential and commercial properties alongside Imdaad who have also signed a 10 year contract with Dubai World. According to the recently conducted Gulf Outlook Survey two thirds of companies surveyed also say operations in the GCC will move towards Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

This year's Working Buildings Middle East incorporating Fit-Out Middle East event will have various show sections covering facilities management, fire protection, MEP, commercial security, building services, green buildings, fit-out and cleaning and maintenance and will allow key decision makers to do business with suppliers all at once and under one roof.

The event will also be co-located with the Gulf Landscaping exhibition which also serves as a sourcing platform and networking event for the regions landscape architects, developers, contractors and other key buyers.