Shellei Leonor Teves Gaza, Senior Community Association Manager, Irtikaz Owners Association Management, Irtikaz Group

As we approach and learn to accept the new normal, Community Management adaptability in this new era has a vast impact through its operations, communications, and management. Nevertheless, the ongoing challenges to keep up with the services rendered to clients is at its peak to make sure it is at par with the revised law; Law 6 of 2019 - Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai.

Attempting to tighten the operations; the dashboard of Community Management has a wide vision to look ahead and here are some of the key trends in this part of the region as we approach the Community Management sector.

As we approach and learn to accept the new normal, Community Management adaptability in this new era has a vast impact through its operations, communications, and management. Nevertheless, the ongoing challenges to keep up with the services rendered to clients is at its peak to make sure it is at par with the revised law; Law 6 of 2019 - Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai. Attempting to tighten the operations; the dashboard of Community Management has a wide vision to look ahead and here are some of the key trends in this part of the region as we approach the Community Management sector.

Trend# 1: Tomorrow’s office today!

We got the whole world in our hands. Savvy, Community Management is finding this powerful, digital world making them more efficient and more productive without decreasing the quality of work. We witnessed the industry move towards virtual committee meetings to paperless transactions like accessing community financial statements, recording work orders, issuances of NOCs, move-out/in and issuing violation notices, eyeon- the-site observations and faster resolution, building direct communication to both site team and the residents. Several software solutions under the PropTech sector have been recognised in the market now and more in other sectors that links Community Management as well.

Trend#2: Advisability of the new Law

How the entirety of the Community Management sector respond to the new challenge is reciprocated with the existing Owners Association and its committee. First, the need to work harder in providing awareness; crossover information to existing clients in ways to minimize conflict and translate the new guidelines on what works best for everyone. The need to educate clients; owners, stakeholders, and the residents will become even more required. The challenge will be to nurture and educate them so they can help the community and become positive contributors to its future. While the Owners Association has the responsibility to follow the new law, it is in the best interest of the Community Management to remind them regularly what the Law benefits from their enforcement and ways to reach effective terms in the region as well as in the global market as it evolves.

Trend#3: Redefining Emergency: What’s your Plan?

We do expect that these aspects in Community Management will remain paramount and shall be more intricate as we still face the uncertainty and unforeseen challenges ahead. Community Management is redefining its emergency protocols, disaster planning, preparation, and response. The current pandemic has broadened our knowledge and deliberately challenges our scope towards managing both the type of communities and its diversity of clients. May it be financial impact and cost analysis on required protocols as required; provision of cross-training of roles in the health and safety and public crisis to better serve the community without reduction of staffs should be taken into account. Finally, there is the ongoing challenge ahead, Community Management sector in this region will always strive to get and keep motivated and will continue however possible to be of service.