Attendees to the FM Expo 2011 will be able to take the opportunity to hear international best practice implementations from speakers from around the globe at the two-day inaugural World FM Congress to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition, from 17-18 May 2011 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

This two-day congress has been organised with the support of 11 facility management associations from across the globe, subsequently creating a forum for FM clients and service providers to share international best practice and discuss the key challenges facing the industry. Speakers from around the world represent major facilities such as NASA Headquarters, the Sydney Opera House, Microsoft, World Trade Center Amsterdam and Atlantis Hotel.

FM EXPO will also be hosting IFMA, the International Facilities Management Association in their first ever visit to the Middle East. They will run a two-day certified training course on project management in facilities management, which is one of the four courses which make up the FMP Credential. In addition, and with a more local view, half day workshops on service level agreements and energy management will be run by Mick Dalton, Managing
Director of Musanadah FM.

The congress comes at a timeof particularly strong growth for the industry. In the Middle East, the facilities management industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 20% over the next five years which would generate revenues grossing $4.2 billion in 2011. This falls n line with research conducted by the International  Facilities Management Association (IFMA) who is attending the World FM Congress. Following a survey of 476 companies worldwide, it was announced that the total space managed by facility management providers will increase by 28% in the same year with 20% of those companies having to increase headcount as a result. Moreover, sustainable FM is the biggest growth area with 51% of companies revealing a growth in energy efficient solutions being implemented by clients.