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Adds aviation sector to repertoire
MAF Dalkia is a fast growing FM and energy management company in the Middle East and is currently involved in projects across the region serving a wide portfolio of clients in the public and private sectors. The company was recognized as the MEP company of the year 2011 at the recent FM awards held in Dubai. Maher Al Aghbar, Business Development Director - Middle East, MAF Dalkia discusses the company’s operations including the specialised services, projects, challenges and their business strategy for this key market, in an interview given to Swaliha Shanavas. He also speaks about the concept, scope and trends in facilities management in the Middle East region.
MAF Dalkia’s facilities management operations
MAF Dalkia is a regional leader in providing multi-technical and facilities management services optimising both energy and environmental efficiency.
The company is a joint venture created in 2002 between Majid Al Futtaim Ventures – which is the growth engine and incubator responsible for developing new businesses that complement and reinforce the Majid Al Futtaim Holding’s leadership in its core businesses, and Dalkia - a world leader in the management of heating and cooling networks, and energy and fluid production plants, providing engineering services and maintaining energy systems.
MAF Dalkia is currently involved in projects across the GCC and Middle East region with ambitious expansion plans in these areas strengthening our presence. We currently have offices in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, and over 1,000 highly trained and multi-skilled employees serving a wide portfolio of clients in the public and private sectors.
Specialised services and current scope of expertise
MAF Dalkia is the leader in energy and multi-technical services, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of services that are tailored to the specific needs of the client. Such services include energy management, integrated facilities management, multi-technical services (MEP), specialized technical services such as infrared thermography, PAT tests, vibration analysis, conditional audit surveys and other highly niche services such as aviation-related technical services.
The company’s current scope of expertise spans across a diverse range of industries including commercial, residential, industrial, healthcare, banking, education, telecommunications and with the recently announced contract with Sharjah International Airport, we have now added the aviation sector to our repertoire.
Projects and key clients
To date, MAF Dalkia is actively engaged in more than 80 projects in various industry sectors across the Middle East, amounting to more than 5,000 sites. Recently, the company announced a number of high profile contracts including Sharjah International Airport, the mosques with Musanada in Abu Dhabi and Bani Yas region, Du Telecom, Arcapita HQ in Bahrain. MAF Dalkia is also the energy and facilities management provider for shopping malls, including Mall of Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and Oasis Mall.
Challenges in MEP projects and the solutions
One of the most challenging tasks involves the management of multiple sites spread over a vast geographical area. Such complex operations require detailed logistics planning and coordination to maximise on-the-floor resources while minimizing unnecessary travel time. In this particular circumstance, the best use of the Asset Management System added to the fact that MAF Dalkia equipped the Call Centre with communication tools, linking them to GPS locators on vehicles onsite support our operations. The use of Mobility Technical Services creates an efficient way of managing teams remotely, and MAF Dalkia has implemented such solutions to many of our current projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Distinguished services and major strengths
The company is a full solutions provider, delivering the full breadth of multi-technical and facilities management services within our in-house teams. It also offers a wide range of niche technical services, such as Vibration Analysis, infrared Thermography and thermo-imaging. However the greatest point of differentiation and strength is our leadership position as an Energy-minded company. Energy management is a core business offering, and is a key deliverable that is worked into every client’s scope of work. MAF Dalkia also benefits from the expertise of Dalkia worldwide when it comes to training, technical support, health and safety and SOPs. We invest heavily in our health & safety and training to ensure the benefits and values preserve our culture and our resources.
The concept of FM in the region
The concept of facilities management and more recently, the trend towards energy management and sustainability has evolved alongside the rapid construction and building boom experienced across the region. However, best practices in facilities management in the Middle East is still behind that of the Western or European world, particularly in understanding the more specialized, or niche technical services, or new trends towards managing energy life cycles and applying health and safety practices. With more and more complex and demanding developments, there is significant room for growth and leadership within the industry and MAF Dalkia is well positioned, backed with over 75 years international experience in Europe and worldwide, to spearhead this growth.
The scope for development of FM in the Middle East
Each market and each industry presents its own unique scope of work, demands, opportunities and challenges to which MAF Dalkia must tailor to. This is a key reason for expanding into local markets and establishing a presence in the Middle East – having local understanding and knowledge, backed with an international network of expertise is the basis for our development and successes across the region.
The advantages and challenges of FM in the region
Facilities management in the region is still relatively in its infancy stage when compared to other developed regions such as Europe and North America.
There are several advantages to this:
- Great opportunity for growth in terms of both business development and leadership across the region
- Opportunity for MAF Dalkia to position itself as THE innovator and leader of facilities management and energy management
- The company has quickly established a trusted reputation across the region over the competition.
- Challenges:
- Lack of local knowledge means high investment is needed for overseas recruitment, training and workforce management
- Despite growing demand for outsourced FM services, companies are struggling to keep their costs down and preserve profit margins.
MAF Dalkia’s business strategy and expansion plan
MAF Dalkia has strengthened the energy management team and is working harder to present a daily “Green and Eco-friendly” approach to each contract. We are continually working with existing clients to broaden our expertise, and are always seeking diversification across new markets, industries and growth opportunities in the healthcare, telecommunications, education, banking, aviation and residential and commercial industries.
