For the facility management (FM) community, the Middle East region is a fertile ground for business growth. Mega infrastructural projects and large-scale structure and facility developments, whether ongoing or in the pipeline, are injecting energy into an industry that is expected to accelerate in the coming years.

According to the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), vibrant economic activities continue to generate new prospects and, as an association that connects international FM experts, it believes that now is the time to capitalize on these opportunities more than ever.

Celebrating its 10th founding anniversary this year, MEFMA has been at the forefront of enhancing the regional FM community. It has implemented countless key initiatives since 2010 designed to create collaborative efforts between regional stakeholders, raise the sector’s global competitiveness, and promote capacity development, to name a few. The association has made great progress over the past decade on various fronts.

The Middle East’s FM community has seen strong industry relations between key players from both the private and public sectors over the past years. Standards have been raised and more than 1,000 MEFMA-certified FM professionals in the region have undergone certification training courses to enrich their knowledge and update their skills. Public awareness of FM’s importance has increased as well.

The annual MEFMA CONFEX is one of the association’s top initiatives. The event was launched to provide a platform for stakeholders to network and participate in learning sessions through workshops and conferences. Following its launch in 2012 in Dubai, CONFEX Riyadh was introduced in 2016 to reach more stakeholders. To date, more than 500 visitors, including executives of FM companies, suppliers, clients, service providers, students, government representatives, and academicians, yearly attend the much-anticipated event that takes place in various parts of the region.

New ideas are being born every year at CONFEX, which has evolved over the years into an educational hub and a place where participants can network, learn, and take advantage of new business opportunities.

The 2020 edition of CONFEX in Dubai is going to be bigger and will mark another exciting chapter in the history of MEFMA. To be held under the theme ‘Facility Management Transformation Towards Sustainable Development,’ the four-day gathering will feature an Opening Ceremony & a Gala Dinner on day one; a conference and exhibition on day two; and FM in Action practical workshop site-visits on day three and four. This year, participants will have more time to immerse in numerous learning and networking sessions.

As opportunities in the Middle East’s FM industry steadily increase, MEFMA’s key role in its expansion this new decade becomes even more evident. Through perseverance and hard work, the association has successfully established a platform for all industry professionals to discuss challenges, share best practices, do business together, and learn through MEFMA events held in various countries it represents.

The association’s influence is growing, with more and more FM players from the GCC countries, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and other Arab nations are becoming part of its family. As of today, MEFMA members are over 500, with a growth rate 20 percent each year in the members’ base.

Running MEFMA are its fulltime employees, backed by the support of its voluntary board officials and strategic committee members. This year, MEFMA said it will continue to deploy more key programs to facilitate growth and help FM players take advantage of a host of business opportunities. It will continue to be the voice for the regional industry, representing its sentiments, ensuring its welfare, and making sure that its needs are met according to the set standards and existing regulations.

As part of its 2020 agenda, MEFMA will highlight the prospects brought about by giga projects in Saudi Arabia and the industry’s sustainable transformation, among others, noting that the developments in the Kingdom and the sustainability initiatives across the region will significantly reshape and boost the FM community in today’s modern era.

(MEFMA CONNECT is a new column dedicated to all events, activities and programmes conducted by the association in the region.)