The Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company, is targeting new business within UAE’s retail sector through its facilities management (FM) division, after its Cleaning and Hospitality units won a raft of new contracts.

“These contracts were won in a highly competitive market,” said Nigel Hall, Transguard’s Executive Director of FM Services.

“However, total outsourced facilities management in the UAE is expected to generate increased revenues of up to $8 billion by 2013 and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry forecasts that Dubai’s retail sector will grow by 5.5 per cent in 2011.”

“Our strategy is to gain a larger share of a robust and growing FM market, particularly in the retail sector,” he added.

The pick of the new contract wins is a three-year agreement with Emaar-owned Dubai Marina Mall, where a 40-strong team will provide full-service cleaning throughout the 36,000 sq m of leasable retail space.

Other significant wins include the Middlesex University campus in Dubai’s Knowledge Village and deployment of a team of 20 housekeepers to the recently-opened five-star Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah.

According to the MasterCard 2011 Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai report impressive growth rates for inbound tourism this year against 2010 figures, at 15.5 per cent and 17.3 per cent respectively.

“Tourism and retail go hand-in-hand, and the UAE’s commitment to driving inbound visitor numbers is key to creating major business potential as we move forward,” added Hall.

The company has also been awarded a contract for exterior window-cleaning services at the Marina Quays residential development in Dubai and the Park Hyatt hotel in Abu Dhabi. – TradeArabia News Service