The Clean Middle East Conference (CMEC) Riyadh successfully convened industry leaders, practitioners, and solution providers on 23 November 2025 at the Riyadh Marriott Hotel, reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing focus on professional cleaning, hygiene excellence, and sustainable facilities management. Organised by Clean Middle East Magazine and Media Fusion, the half-day conference welcomed 220 attendees from across the commercial cleaning ecosystem, representing facilities management, healthcare hygiene, hospitality housekeeping, commercial laundry, food safety, institutional cleaning, sustainability, and allied services.

Co-located with the Saudi Built Environment Forum (SBEF), CMEC Riyadh provided a dedicated platform for cleaning and hygiene professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange best practices, and explore innovation aligned with Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulatory, operational, and sustainability priorities.

Networking 

The conference opened with registration and a networking lunch, offering attendees the opportunity to reconnect with peers, meet new stakeholders, and engage with solution providers in an informal setting. With participants drawn from diverse sectors of commercial cleaning and hygiene, the session set the tone for cross-industry interaction and collaboration, reflecting CMEC’s role as a unifying platform for the region’s hygiene community.

Opening Address and Keynote 

The conference formally commenced with an opening address and keynote delivered by Abdul Majeed Naik, Division Manager – Institutional & Healthcare, Reza Hygiene. The keynote provided strategic context for the afternoon, emphasising the critical role of structured hygiene programmes, standardisation, and innovation in institutional and healthcare environments. The address highlighted how professional cleaning has evolved from a support function to a core pillar of operational resilience, public health protection, and brand trust.

Panel Discussion: Innovations in Commercial Laundry and Sustainability 

The first panel discussion focused on innovations in commercial laundry operations, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, efficiency, and technology adoption. The session brought together senior industry voices including Abdul Samad, Reza Hygiene, Saud Ahmed Alnowairah, Next Step Services Company, Gary Teeley, Neat, and Mick Connor Lavendery.

Panelists explored how modern laundry operations are responding to rising demand from hospitality, healthcare, and institutional clients, while simultaneously addressing water conservation, energy efficiency, chemical optimisation, and compliance with hygiene standards. The discussion highlighted the role of automation, smart dosing, and data-driven processes in improving quality outcomes while reducing environmental impact — a theme strongly aligned with Saudi Arabia’s sustainability ambitions.

Industry Presentation: Gtech 

Following the panel, Jothie Walford, Managing Director of Gtech, delivered a focused presentation showcasing the company’s contribution to innovation in cleaning equipment and performance enhancement.

Panel Discussion: Transforming Hotel Housekeeping and FM Operations 

The second panel discussion addressed hotel housekeeping and facilities management, focusing on transformation within hospitality operations. Featuring senior leaders and executive housekeepers from leading hospitality and FM organisations, the session examined how guest expectations, staffing challenges, sustainability goals, and technological advancements are reshaping housekeeping and soft FM strategies.

Discussions centred on elevating service quality while maintaining cost efficiency, implementing greener cleaning practices, and investing in training and professional development to strengthen workforce capability. The panel reinforced the idea that housekeeping is no longer just an operational necessity, but a strategic function that directly impacts guest satisfaction, asset longevity, and brand reputation.

Panel Discussion: Integrated Facilities Management for Healthcare Hygiene Excellence 

Healthcare hygiene took centre stage in the final panel discussion, which explored the role of integrated facilities management in supporting infection prevention, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Featuring healthcare hygiene experts and FM leaders, including Dr. Ahmed Baggashi, the panel highlighted the complexity of maintaining hygiene standards in healthcare environments.

Speakers discussed the importance of alignment between clinical teams, FM providers, and cleaning specialists, as well as the need for standard operating procedures, continuous training, and compliance monitoring. The session underscored that effective healthcare hygiene is not siloed, but relies on integrated systems, accountability, and evidence-based practices.

Felicitation Ceremony and Closing 

The conference concluded with a felicitation ceremony recognising speakers, panelists, and key contributors for their insights and leadership. Closing remarks reflected on the key themes of the day — collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and professionalisation — and reaffirmed CMEC’s commitment to advancing hygiene and cleaning standards across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

Key Outcomes and Takeaways

With 220 attendees from multiple sectors of commercial cleaning, CMEC Riyadh demonstrated the growing maturity and importance of the cleaning and hygiene industry within the Kingdom. Key takeaways included the need for:

• Greater cross-sector collaboration between FM, healthcare, hospitality, and laundry services
  
  
• Continued investment in sustainable and technology-enabled solutions
  
  
• Workforce development and professional recognition within cleaning and housekeeping
  
  
• Integrated approaches to hygiene that support public health, safety, and operational excellence
  
  

CMEC Riyadh successfully delivered a focused, high-impact programme that addressed real-world challenges and opportunities across the commercial cleaning and hygiene landscape. The conference reinforced its position as a vital knowledge-sharing forum — supporting Saudi Arabia’s journey towards higher hygiene standards, sustainable operations, and a more professionalised cleaning sector.