Building matters

Wasl manages over 30,000 units in Dubai.

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It has been two years since Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC) launched Wasl Asset Management Group in May 2008, but the company is already looking to expand its services on a global scale, increase the number of units it manages and become more environmentally friendly.

“We are the biggest single portfolio owner in Dubai,” said Mohammed Khoory, general manager of the Facilities Management Department at Wasl.
 

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“Previously, the company had a mix of models which was 30% in-house and 70% outsourcing and sub contracting. Since Wasl was established, all management services are outsourced.”

The group currently employs eight facility management service providers; BK Gulf, Operon Middle East, Imdaad, EMCOR, MMG, Khansaheb, Dubai Asset Management and EMCO.

The services they provide vary from contract management, technical and commercial services, building snagging, surveys and energy management to technical upgrades of systems, document management and new project handover. According to Khoory, the most important aspect of the job is that of quality management.

“As an asset management group the one thing that is essential to this business is quality of service,” he said.

“At the end of day, you have to meet customer satisfaction, which includes implementing legal requirements, compliance monitoring, property and service audits, service delivery performance and evaluation.

“We distinguish between facility management and asset management. ‘We manage the asset on behalf of a client. You hire me to manage all the services on the ground including all the tendering, monitoring, execution etc.

“I make sure your asset meets its lifecycle and you get value for money for what you pay for. If we fail in our jobs, then there is no confidence in this market and people feel disappointed in the level of service they are getting from us.

“For me, to deliver good service means I am doing a good job.” According to Khoory, when Wasl was created it was a new concept in the market and it was the first company set up to deliver these kind of services. He said there are more now but at the time, it was one of the first.