UAE Nationals may get lucrative careers in facilities management, but there are less takers, says Imdaad

Training Emiratis for FM sector could meet significant market needs and job targets

mdaad, the GCC’s leading integrated facilities (FM) company based in Dubai, stated that UAE talents have the strong potential to enjoy a lucrative career in the facilities management (FM) sector, if they are given proper knowledge and opportunity to better understand the sector and how it contributes to national development. The company notes that spreading further awareness and providing training for Nationals could help them secure a job in the FM sector, thereby creating a positive impact on the country’s Emiratization and economic diversification programs.

Difficulty in finding UAE Nationals suitable for key positions and lack of interest in pursuing a career in FM continue to be some of the major challenges for the industry across the region in terms of human resources development. There is a strong need to encourage Nationals to see the value of having a career in FM and how it can contribute to their future and the country’s progress, the integrated FM firm finds in its studies.

Honing national talents can significantly contribute to GCC countries’ goal of diversifying its economies, which has been largely dependent on oil and gas sector, according to a regional survey by London Business School. Conversely, the FM sector has ample opportunities to contribute to the sustainable development of the region given the continuing expansion in the infrastructure and property sector. The demand for high standards in facilities management continue to grow in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, given that the country is a major hotspot for international events, including the upcoming Expo 2020.

Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad, said: “The UAE’s facilities management sector is expected to grow by at least 8.5 per cent of compounded annual growth rate in the next coming five years. We need to ensure the industry’s efforts are directed towards securing jobs to meet this growth demand by equipping the sector with highly professional human talents and provide the necessary services in the years to come. This is a unique chance to contribute to the national economy and become part of highly-growing and technologically-driven sector. Our current efforts are centred on meeting their needs by seeking for ways to get the right training and qualification programmes as we raise the level of standards across the sector.”

Imdaad has been keenly incorporating training and encouraging UAE Nationals to become part of the FM sector through ‘Elham’, its Emiratization initiative which targets young Emiratis particularly female talents to join the organization and become part of the growth in the sector.

“The UAE talents are integral to the growth of facilities management in the country, and we have taken it as part of our social responsibility through Elham, which has been effectively attracting many new young talents to work for Imdaad. As we move ahead with our program, we hope to provide young Emiratis with the essential training and qualification to elevate the professionalism in the sector at par with global standards, as the UAE endeavours to become a world-class environment for businesses, tourists, residents and citizens to enjoy,” concluded Lootah.