AI and the rise of smart facilities: Building the Middle East’s sustainable future

Authored by James Massey, Managing Director for Facilities Management at MRI Software

As the Middle East continues its rapid transformation towards smarter, more sustainable cities, the Facilities Management (FM) sector stands at a critical inflection point. AI-driven solutions are no longer theoretical, they are redefining how we manage buildings, assets, and operations. From predictive maintenance to energy optimisation and data-driven decision-making, artificial intelligence is becoming the new foundation of modern FM.

At MRI Software, we see this change unfolding every day. The blend of AI, IoT, and data analytics is empowering FM professionals to move beyond reactive management toward proactive, strategic operations which, in turn, unlocks new efficiencies and value across every property portfolio.

AI, Data, and Strategy: The new FM pillars

True digital transformation in FM requires more than just deploying new technologies. It demands a strategic approach built around three critical pillars:

• Leadership: AI adoption must start at the top, driven by a clear vision for business outcomes. Organisations that establish strong data and AI strategies early will be best placed to lead in efficiency and service delivery.
• Security: With data flowing between systems and devices, security is paramount. Ensuring that AI solutions operate within a secure, compliant framework builds trust and provides the foundation for scalability.
• Data: AI’s effectiveness is only as strong as the data behind it. By consolidating and cleansing data from across siloed systems, FM teams have a single source of truth; one unified view that enables faster and more confident decision-making.

These pillars are particularly relevant in the Middle East, where smart city initiatives and sustainability mandates, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Green Agenda, are accelerating demand for connected, data-driven facilities management.

The transformative potential of AI in FM

According to IDC’s Worldwide Facility Management Forecast 2024-2028, nearly half of FM customers are already using Generative AI, and one in four plan to replace existing software with AI-enabled solutions. The message is clear: AI is not optional, it’s essential.

AI-powered FM software can reduce the time spent combining and analysing data by up to 80%, freeing teams to focus on higher-value activities. With unified data platforms and hyper-connected APIs, managers gain real-time visibility into building performance, supplier efficiency, and asset lifecycles. The result is operational excellence where decisions are made from insight, not intuition.

At the same time, sustainability and ESG imperatives are reshaping the FM landscape. Seventy percent of FM leaders now consider ESG critical to organisational value. AI helps bridge that goal by optimising energy use, predicting maintenance needs, and supporting regulatory compliance through data transparency.

Smart buildings: From concept to reality

In AI-powered smart buildings, sensors continuously transmit information to connected systems, monitoring HVAC performance, occupancy levels, lighting, and energy consumption. This data is transformed into actionable insights that facilities managers can use to anticipate issues, reduce costs, and improve occupant comfort.

For example, predictive maintenance algorithms can detect anomalies long before a fault occurs, scheduling repairs automatically to prevent downtime. Smart workplace solutions adapt to occupancy trends, improving space utilisation while enhancing employee experience. This is the digital workplace in action, powered by AI and supported by reliable data.

MRI Agora Insights: Turning data into decisions

MRI Agora Insights is a prime example of how MRI Software is helping FM professionals harness the power of AI and analytics. It transforms complex, siloed data into clear visualisations and dashboards enabling data consolidation, transformation, and actionable insights.

By reducing the time spent gathering and reconciling information by up to 80%, MRI Agora Insights allows FM teams to make faster, better-informed decisions. From performance benchmarking to lifecycle analysis, it provides the clarity and confidence needed to manage diverse assets across large property portfolios.

In a region where buildings are becoming more intelligent and expectations are rising, tools like MRI Agora Insights empower FM leaders to stay ahead of complexity achieving both operational efficiency and strategic foresight.

AI, FM, and what comes next

Looking ahead, FM will continue to evolve into an ecosystem of always-on, always-secure with HVAC, fire and security, IT infrastructure, and critical utilities all being monitored and managed through AI-driven platforms. As AI models mature and data becomes even more interconnected, the role of the FM professional is likely to shift from managing processes to orchestrating outcomes.

The future of facilities management in the Middle East is intelligent, sustainable, and deeply data-driven. By embracing AI and solutions including MRI Agora, FM leaders have the opportunity to transform complexity into clarity and position their organisations to thrive in the next era of smart facilities.