JEDDAH: The implementation of the practice of facilities and asset management is new to Saudi Arabia and many other parts of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). Risk reduction, design and service quality improvement, asset value maintenance and operating cost reduction are among the measures that could be adopted in the interest of those involved in construction projects. Above all, as the facilities management (FM) is new to this part of the world, it should be introduced as a subject in universities across the Kingdom. This is important as the potential growth of FM business is expected to reach SR1.1 billion between 2010-14, speakers said at the Saudi Facilities and Asset Management conference-cum-workshop, which ended on Wednesday.
The conference, which had a two-day conference at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry followed by another two days of workshop at Park Hyatt Hotel, emphasized that government regulations should be adopted to create FM standards and specs for all types of projects, as it is done in many European countries. Project stakeholders and owners should implement the FM practice and be involved from the design stage to avoid critical operations and maintenance problems in the interest of saving on time and maintenance.
The conference-cum-workshop, organized by IIR Middle East and chaired by Dave Wilson, deputy chair, British Institute of Facilities Management, UK, also had networking sessions, which focused on forging new business acquaintances and relationships. Integrating FM early in the design stage and achieving a higher return on investment from facilities, and how to drive visibility and control of the existing operational and maintenance expense from the industry standard were discussed at the conference. It also featured subjects like building a sustainable and green FM program, improving energy efficiency in facilities and reducing energy costs, innovative and cost-effective FM, and FM in a growing real estate portfolio — building FM from scratch.
Mohamed AlSwailem, managing director, IONS, Mohamad Nabil Hijazi of Saudi Oger Ltd., the platinum sponsor of the event, Andre Kievit, director Middle East at UAE-based FSI, the silver sponsor, and Abas A. Jalil, chief operating officer of Malaysia-based Amanahraya were among the number of speakers.
Senior executives of facilities and asset management participated in the event, which had TEKTIVE Enterprise Asset Management as green sponsor.
