Middle East regional technology services company, HITEK, part of the Farnek group of companies, has signed a JV partnership with Virgin Mobile Saudi; a Beyond ONE group company, as the preferred technology partner to enable a joint strategic approach to developing smart cities in Saudi Arabia.
With the communications infrastructure in place, HITEK can employ a comprehensive suite of digital solutions to optimise waste, water and energy management, environmental monitoring, citizen engagement, retail and hospitality, data analytics and AI integration, smart transportation, real estate and urban development as well as education technology.
With smart cities relying heavily on connectivity, Virgin Mobile Saudi, in conjunction with local providers, will be responsible for advanced telecommunications solutions, including 5G networks, digital services and enablement.
Yaarob Al Sayegh, CEO of Virgin Mobile Saudi, said, “At Virgin Mobile, we believe in the transformative power of technology to create smarter, more sustainable cities. Our partnership with HITEK marks a significant step towards realizing this vision in Saudi Arabia.”
“By leveraging HITEK’s expertise in digital solutions and our capabilities in telecommunications, we aim to build robust infrastructure that will not only enhance connectivity but also enable the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI and IoT. Together, we are committed to developing innovative solutions that will improve the quality of life for residents and drive economic growth across the region.”
Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK, that the ground-up partnership with Virgin Mobile Saudi means it can deliver, an advanced bespoke all-inclusive, intelligent and analytical digital platform, connecting people, assets and spaces.
“By utilising IoT enabled Building Management Systems (BMS), Machine Learning (ML) and Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies, FM operations management, will have a 360-degree overview of all facilities, 24/7, from a dedicated and centralised platform, enhancing efficiency, welfare and sustainability.”
In other news, the leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company has expanded its business operations throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi following a raft of new and retained FM contracts across various industry sectors.
To cope with the increased workload, the number of employees based in Abu Dhabi has grown by 18% to nearly 1,300 staff and Farnek is also currently looking at an additional satellite office to provide enhanced onsite customer service.
Farnek’s Abu Dhabi logistics team has also managed to optimise their transport fleet by employing larger vehicles and opitimising route management, saving time, fuel and money as well as minimising its carbon footprint.
Abu Dhabi has recorded strong economic growth in the wake of the pandemic. According to the Statistics Centre of Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s economy grew by 9.3% annually in 2022, the highest in the MENA region, with GDP currently standing at $300 billion. This robust economic growth had a notable effect on foreign investment, which increased by 9.7% in 2022, valued at in excess of $226 billion.
“This is especially true within the non-oil sectors, which now contribute more than 52% of the emirate’s GDP. Credit rating agency S&P has forecast that Abu Dhabi’s GDP will grow by an impressive 5.3% this year, which bodes well for our business operations in 2024,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.
Some of the more notable contract wins, valued at over AED 240 million, include a total FM deployment for Mina Zayed or MiZa as it is branded, which is an emerging innovation-focused neighbourhood for diverse entrepreneurial communities. Other
contracts include Etihad Airways Engineering, and the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, where Farnek provides cleaning and maintenance services, as well as managing the facilities for the F1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Farnek services a wide range of industry sectors such as energy, security, aviation, hospitality, retail and residential property. The scope of work includes a considerable number of contracts for total facilities management (TFM) as well as dedicated hard and soft services such as MEP, cleaning, maintenance, security and housekeeping appointments, amongst others.
“Farnek’s business expansion in Abu Dhabi is a result of its successful business strategy, which focuses primarily on innovative, technology-driven and sustainable FM solutions,” added Oberlin.
Abu Dhabi’s population is almost 1.6 million and has grown by 100,000 since 2021, providing ample opportunity for Farnek’s sister company, Hitches & Glitches to capitalise on the increasing size of the home maintenance market.
In terms of sustainability Farnek’s consultancy team was awarded a contract from the Higher Colleges of Technology to develop a roadmap towards net zero, HCT is the largest applied higher educational institution in the UAE, with approximately 23,000 students, studying at 16 men’s and women’s campuses including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
