In the UAE’s thriving facilities management sector, homegrown company Imdaad has positioned itself in a prominent place, having evolved into the only fully integrated facilities management provider in the country, said Jamal Abdulla Lootah, Group CEO, Imdaad. “Imdaad has pursued an aggressive growth strategy ever since it was founded in 2007 to build an unmatched product portfolio and a solid and diversified client base.”

The Dubai-based company now offers a complete spectrum of turnkey solutions through its nine business divisions ranging from hard and soft FM services to waste management, fire prevention, and home maintenance.

A rebound in global economies, following the rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the world, paved the way for the return of business activity in many sectors in 2021. The facilities management sector, in particular, experienced a considerable increase in demand. Even though the market continued to witness challenges, Imdaad has been able to capitalise on the positive momentum to advance its business growth objectives and consolidate its leadership in the regional FM sector, said the Group CEO.  

“Further cementing its reputation as the FM partner of choice, Imdaad onboarded several new prestigious clients such as Abu Dhabi Business Hub, a premium business park located in the Mussafah district, and most of its existing contracts were renewed over the past year, as a testament that the company’s clients value its strong track record in meeting their needs always with excellence,” Jamal Lootah noted. Despite the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, Imdaad ensured that it continued to deliver on its contracts and commitments to customers.

One of Imdaad’s key achievements in 2021 includes the winning of the contract to provide total facilities management (TFM) services at Expo Village, the official residential community of Expo 2020 Dubai. The company prides itself on its selection and its capabilities to contribute to the success of the mega trade show. Through its services, Imdaad makes sure that the guests of Expo 2020 Dubai have a delightful experience complete with a comfortable stay, said the Group CEO.

As part of the five-year contract, Imdaad’s dedicated team of 165 highly-trained and experienced technical and cleaning staff are currently delivering a wide range of soft and hard FM services across the residential, commercial, and community facilities of Expo Village. With a total area of around 4.8 million sq. ft., the gated community features several clusters of residential units together with a wide range of retail outlets and community amenities. According to Lootah, the long-term contract will enable Imdaad to contribute to the sustained operations of the Expo Village, which will transition post Expo 2020 to meet the anticipated future demand of District 2020.

During the past year, Imdaad also made a huge leap in its endeavors to embrace technology, digitise operations and introduce innovative solutions. In a recent major development, the company partnered with Disrupt-X to introduce Ignite Shield, an IoT solution to monitor air and water quality through a cloud platform and mobile app. It also deployed a host of technology-enabled cleaning and disinfection solutions including the Indoor Smart Anti-Pandemic Patrol Robot (AIMBOT). The company aims to drive further technology initiatives through its Digital Transformation Plan to enhance operational performance and the customer experience.

Sustainability continued to be a key consideration across Imdaad’s operations in 2021, said Lootah. “It is the only waste management company in the UAE whose entire fleet of waste management vehicles runs on biofuel.” In addition, the company’s recycling pickup fleet is comprised of electric vehicles only and it procures eco-friendly biocides and cleaning materials to reduce carbon footprint, he added. Farz, a material recovery facility, is a significant addition to Imdaad’s sustainability initiatives. Farz aims to close the recycling loop within the country in the long term, thereby contributing to global efforts to build circular economies.

Imdaad also launched and collaborated in many initiatives, including the KHDA Be’ati programme, to create awareness, especially among youth, on best waste management practices such as waste segregation at the source. Similarly, the company recently started adding QR codes on its skips and bins to provide residents with detailed information on the journey of waste from the bin through the collection, recovery, and recycling stages. Lootah said a more comprehensive Sustainability Plan focusing on its four key sustainability pillars – Public, Planet, Prosperity and People – will be launched early in 2022.

The FM sector is geared to benefit from the ongoing recovery in the global economy in 2022 and beyond and emerging technologies present new opportunities for FM businesses to enhance the scope of their services, with consumers increasingly looking for solutions to improve the performance of their assets. Jamal Lootah commented: “Imdaad is keen on capitalising on these possibilities to further its long-term strategy that hinges on deepening its presence in the UAE and Oman, expanding its footprint to wider regional markets, and diversifying its FM solutions portfolio through product innovation and the acquisition of strategic service providers.”