By Amit Madan, Senior Business Development Manager, ServeU
An international event as massive as the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai, requires holistic and integrated facilities management (FM) solutions. State of the art Facility Management services are imperative to maintain a safe working environment for the event’s participants and visitors. They are vital for the upkeep of the facilities even after the Expo’s conclusion.
As Dubai is hosting the first ever world expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, the next six months, will bring approximately 25 million visitors from every corner of the world to visit the 192 pavilions of the participating nations. FM companies have a major role to play in delivering a memorable experience to all exhibitors and visitors and fostering international partnerships.
In the case of, ServeU, we have been selected by some key participants to provide them total FM and HR staffing solutions. Our Exo journey began in 2019 when we won our first HR and Operations contract for the UK pavilion.
The list of our clients has only increased manifold thereafter. Apart from the UK pavilion, we have also become the FM partner for countries such as Italy, Belarus, Kuwait, Hungary, South Africa, El Salvador, Venezuela, Monaco, and Lebanon, and institutions such as the UAE University.
All in all, we have won separate six-month FM contracts worth AED 30 million combined across 19 pavilions. We support operations through our Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) staffing services. Other solutions include cleaning; security; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP); driver and porter services; landscaping; laundry; pest control; and on-call services.
Our 300 staff are currently serving a total area of 30,000 square meters during the event. Further, to ensure that we meet our obligations effectively, we have collaborated with premier organizations such as Italy-based Beyond Limits, which specializes in project management and operations for global events; training provider Talents UAE; and THA staffing, which specializes in temporary staffing and flexible HR solutions. We have also been given the opportunity to work with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), helping us, among others, to raise the bar higher in terms of promoting workers’ welfare in the FM industry.
Our latest string of FM projects has placed us in a position to contribute to the success of both our partnerships and the entire Expo. Our partnerships have enabled us to showcase our technology- and innovation-driven services to the world and shed light on how our solutions can help advance the sustainable development goals of Dubai and the UAE.
Speaking of sustainability, ServeU is the first FM company to use E-Bus, one of the first in the UAE, at the Expo site. We have also deployed our E-Cart to support our operations during the six-month event. In addition, true to our sustainability commitment, all ServeU staff possess NFC business cards in line with Dubai’s paperless strategy.
Expo 2020, is undoubtedly a major growth industry driver, bringing many great benefits to the local FM community. Apart from the new business it brings, it also accelerates exposure to advanced FM infrastructure, boosts the capabilities of local FM players to handle big global events, and enhances the quality of the delivery of FM services.
We have been fortunate to learn and grow more as an organization during the prestigious exposition. Post-Expo, we will not be surprised to witness the rise of new and innovative FM business models and strategies as a result of the industry’s participation in the event. A transformation in the industry’s landscape will bring growth to the UAE and make a difference to the country’s overall progress.