During times of crisis, resilience is not a choice—it is a defining trait of the commercial cleaning and facilities management industry. From geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty to shifting occupancy patterns and heightened hygiene expectations, the sector continues to operate at the frontline of stability, ensuring that critical environments remain safe, functional, and ready for recovery. 

This feature brings together voices from across the industry—leaders from manufacturing, hospitality, and facilities management—who share how organizations are navigating disruption while maintaining operational continuity. From strengthening regional supply chains and embracing digital training tools, to optimizing resources, supporting workforce wellbeing, and accelerating innovation, their perspectives reveal a common thread: resilience is built through preparedness, adaptability, and people-centric leadership. 

Beyond systems and strategies, these insights highlight a deeper truth—the industry’s strength lies in its ability to quietly endure, evolve, and deliver, even under pressure. As the Middle East continues to face complex challenges, the commercial cleaning sector stands firm, not only sustaining standards but redefining its role as a critical pillar of public health, business confidence, and everyday life. 

Doruk Selvi, Institutional Director, UAE & Morocco and Corporate Accounts MEAT - Diversey, A Solenis Company 

Periods of geopolitical uncertainty and operational disruption are an unfortunate reality for the Middle East. Yet, the commercial cleaning and hygiene industry has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience, adapting quickly to protect public health, ensure business continuity, and support critical sectors across the region. 

For cleaning and hygiene providers, resilience begins with supply chain robustness. At Diversey, a strong manufacturing and distribution footprint across the Middle East and Africa enables us to stay close to customers and reduce dependency on long, vulnerable global supply routes. This regional presence allows us to respond faster, maintain supply continuity, and operate with confidence even during periods of uncertainty. 

Equally important is how we support customers beyond products. In challenging times, access to knowledge, training, and application expertise becomes essential. Diversey takes a proactive approach by ensuring customers are equipped with the right skills to operate safely, efficiently, and confidently, regardless of external conditions. 

A key part of this approach is digitalized training access. Through QR codes placed directly at the point of use, operators can instantly access training videos, product guidance, safety information, and best-practice procedures using their smartphones. This ensures that essential training remains available at all times, supporting workforce continuity, reducing errors, and reinforcing compliance, especially when on-site training may be limited. 

Ongoing engagement is also critical. Regular communication, remote support, and proactive guidance allow customers to anticipate challenges rather than react to them. By helping teams maintain high standards through knowledge and preparedness, the industry strengthens operational resilience from within. 

Innovation further reinforces this resilience. Solutions such as Twister and TASKI Ultimaxx 360 simplify processes, reduce labour dependency, and remove traditional steps like mopping, helping customers achieve consistent results with fewer resources. 

Ultimately, resilience in the commercial cleaning industry is built through local capability, continuous training, and proactive partnership. By investing in people and knowledge alongside technology, the industry continues to stand strong and dependable through even the most difficult circumstances. 

Subhojit Banerjee, Executive Director – Housekeeping, Wynn Al Marjan Island 

There is something telling about how crises force us to appreciate what we have long taken for granted. The commercial cleaning industry knows this better than most. For years, it worked quietly in the background, early starts, invisible effort, and spaces that looked after themselves, or so people thought. Then circumstances changed, and that invisible effort suddenly became impossible to ignore. 

The COVID-19 pandemic was perhaps the starkest reminder. Cleaning was no longer just about appearances, it was about safety, trust, and keeping essential operations running. Hospitals, hotels, airports, and offices leaned heavily on cleaning professionals who, without hesitation, showed up. They adapted quickly, learned new protocols, and worked through conditions that many others could not. 

Of course, the pandemic was not the industry's first challenge, and it certainly will not be the last. Over the years, economic pressures, public health concerns, and environmental events have all taken their toll. But the industry has weathered each one. The simple truth is that cleanliness underpins everything, commerce, health, and the basic standards we expect from the spaces we occupy. 

Closer to Home, The UAE Today 

The ongoing conflict across the wider Middle East has not left the UAE untouched. The hospitality sector has felt it acutely, with reduced tourist footfall and quieter hotels during what should have been a busy period. And yet, commercial cleaning teams have not slowed down. If anything, maintaining high standards of hygiene in occupied properties, healthcare facilities, and essential services has felt more important than ever. There is something quietly steadfast about an industry that keeps going regardless of what is happening around it. 

As the region begins to look ahead, one thing remains certain, when recovery comes, the cleaning industry will already be there, doing what it has always done. 

Pamini Hemaprabha, International Luxury Hospitality and Retail Leader  

In the face of unprecedented challenges, the commercial cleaning industry in the Middle East has demonstrated remarkable resilience. During challenging times, hygiene businesses have adapted swiftly, ensuring public safety and maintaining operational continuity. 

One key factor in this resilience is the industry's commitment to innovation. Companies have embraced advanced cleaning technologies, such as electrostatic sprayers and antimicrobial coatings, which not only enhance efficiency but also reassure guests of their safety. This technological shift has allowed businesses to meet heightened sanitation standards, reflecting a proactive approach to evolving health guidelines. 

Moreover, the industry has fostered a culture of flexibility. Many cleaning companies have diversified their service offerings, catering to new demands for disinfection and deep cleaning in commercial spaces, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. This adaptability has not only preserved jobs but also provided essential services that protect the community. 

Collaboration within the industry has also played a crucial role. By sharing best practices and resources, cleaning businesses have fortified their networks, enabling them to respond more effectively to crises. This sense of community has been vital in navigating the uncertainties posed by ongoing challenges, fostering a spirit of unity and support. 

As we look to the future, the resilience of the commercial cleaning industry will continue to be a cornerstone of public health and safety in the Middle East. Through innovation, flexibility, and collaboration, these businesses are not just surviving; they are paving the way for a cleaner, safer environment for all. 

John Manohar, Cluster Executive Housekeeper, J5 Jacobs Hotel 

With over 43 years in the hotel and hospitality industry, I have witnessed many challenging periods, but few compare to the current situation in the Middle East, where regional conflict has significantly impacted travel demand and hotel occupancy. In such times, the resilience of the commercial cleaning and housekeeping industry becomes more evident than ever. 

When occupancy declines, the role of cleaning does not reduce—it transforms. Hygiene, safety, and operational readiness remain critical, but the focus shifts toward efficiency, sustainability, and resource optimization. This is where true resilience is demonstrated. 

In our operations, we implemented immediate contingency measures to adapt to the situation. We eliminated casual labor and redeployed our existing team across functions—utilizing bell staff in laundry operations and housekeeping associates in banquet support. Non-essential services such as turndown have been temporarily suspended, while linen changes and in-room amenities have been optimized without compromising guest comfort. 

Cost control initiatives have been carefully balanced with operational standards. We reduced external contractor manpower, adjusted façade cleaning schedules, and limited decorative expenses by replacing fresh flowers with sustainable botanical plants. Energy-saving measures, including consolidating operations into a single building and minimizing lighting and air conditioning in closed areas, have contributed to efficiency. 

Equally important is our commitment to our people. We ensured staff well-being by allocating pending leave, maintaining payroll stability, and creating opportunities through international task force placements in coordination with HR and corporate offices. This not only supports employment continuity but also strengthens team morale during uncertain times. 

Ultimately, the commercial cleaning industry proves its resilience through adaptability, innovation, and a strong human focus. Even in crisis, it remains a pillar of confidence—ensuring that when recovery begins, the hospitality sector is ready to welcome guests with renewed strength and uncompromised standards. 

Muhamad Irfan Khokhar, Chief Executive Officer, Muheel Facilities Management 

In moments of regional tension, headlines are dominated by geopolitics and market volatility. Yet across the GCC, the real impact unfolds more quietly—within the lives of those who keep essential environments running. In the commercial cleaning sector, such periods do not merely test systems; they reveal the human resilience that sustains them. 

For facilities management companies, instability does not slow operations—it intensifies them. Occupancy patterns shift unpredictably, critical assets must run continuously, and expectations around hygiene only rise. Cleaning, in such times, transcends routine service; it becomes an anchor of stability, ensuring that workplaces, hospitals, public spaces and residential built environment continue to function in the face of uncertainty. 

At the same time, leadership must move closer to the ground. In our case, this meant establishing a dedicated emergency coordination center, actively monitoring developments and, more importantly, the safety and well-being of our people. Our leadership teams remained visibly engaged—listening, responding, and ensuring that no employee felt overlooked during a period of heightened uncertainty. 

Operational resilience also required a decisive shift in supply chain strategy. We shifted reliance towards satellite stores across key locations to decentralize inventory and protect continuity of supply. At the same time, we strengthened collaboration with our supply chain partners—deepening communication, increasing coordination, and enabling faster, more agile responses to disruption. This tighter integration proved critical in maintaining service reliability. 

What defines resilience in our industry is not just operational consistency, but the human response behind it. Teams adapt—taking on extra workloads, adjusting shifts, and supporting one another through unseen challenges, united by a shared commitment to sustain service without losing humanity. 

In a region of uncompromising standards, this balance between performance and empathy becomes our quiet strength. The sector endures because its people rise above disruption, even while carrying personal burdens. 

Ultimately, resilience in facilities management is deeply human—rooted in the resolve to keep spaces safe, functional, and reassuring, despite uncertainty beyond the workplace.