By Alexander Pieri
Abu Dhabi-based IFM provider Khidmah was recently awarded a contract by Saudi Aramco to oversee the management of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.
Constituting its first contract based in Saudi Arabia, Khidmah’s service partnership agreement is set for an initial period of three years.
As per the agreement, the IFM provider will deliver a range of hard and soft services. These include operation of the facility’s HVAC, building management system, cleaning services, façade cleaning and landscaping, waste management and pest control services.
In addition to deploying 500 staff starting with a 180-day mobilisation phase, Khidmah is also expected to deploy a number smart technologies to manage building inspections and maintenance.
Furthermore, the IFM provider will implement a comprehensive energy management strategy designed to support the centre’s goal of achieving LEED Gold accreditation in the first three years of operation.
Commenting on the contract, HE Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori, Chairman of Khidmah, said: “This is a transformational partnership for Khidmah. We are honoured to have been selected to partner with Saudi Aramco in what is the largest ever single location IFM contract of its type across the MENA Region to date.”
“We are looking forward to serving this iconic building and investing all the professional knowledge we have gained throughout the years with the people of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Similarly, Abdullah al Qamzi, Khidmah Managing Director, shared: “It is a phenomenal achievement for Khidmah to win one of the largest in-house IFM agreements ever, and we are honored to establish a service partnership with Saudi Aramco to provide our range of integrated provisions to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.”
