35 countries participate in the International Conference on Asset, Facilities and Maintenance Management

The Arab Council for Asset, Facilities and Maintenance Management (OMAINTEC) concluded the 23rd International Conference for Asset, Facilities and Maintenance Management, which was held during the period from January 12 to 14, 2026, with wide participation from experts, specialists and decision-makers, and in the presence of more than 900 participants from more than 35 countries, and in partnership with a number of government agencies, bodies, and local, regional and international organizations.

The conference was held this year under the slogan “Building the Future of Smart Assets and Facilities – Launching and Empowering Digital Twins,” emphasizing the importance of advanced digital transformation in asset and facilities management, and the role of digital twins in raising operating efficiency, improving decision-making, enhancing sustainability, and extending the lifespan of assets and infrastructure.

The conference witnessed active participation from a number of institutions in the United Arab Emirates, which reflected the country’s advanced presence in the fields of asset and facilities management and digital transformation.

Among the most prominent participants were the educational advisor for the “Jahheen” program of Sharjah Holding and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Council for Asset, Facilities and Maintenance Management, Dr. Mufid Al Samarrai, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Council and Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Affairs at the American University of Sharjah, Engineer Ali Al Suwaidi.

The Director of the Continuing Education Center at the University of Sharjah, Dr. Asma Nasiri, also participated in a paper that addressed the role of digital twinning and artificial intelligence in developing professional competencies and supporting the continuing education system. Engineer Rami Al Soudi, senior researcher at the Department of Public Works in the United Arab Emirates, also participated, reviewing the applications of digital twinning in the field of predictive maintenance.

The conference also included a distinguished scientific session presented by Dr. Mufid Al-Samarrai, during which he discussed the role of artificial intelligence and digital twinning in maintaining infrastructure and buildings, leading to the protection of cultural heritage, reviewing a number of practical applications. He highlighted the case study of the Uruk site, one of the oldest cities in human history and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where digital twin technologies and high-resolution data were employed to support documentation, preservation and sustainable maintenance of the archaeological site.

The conference came out with a number of important recommendations, most notably the call to adopt digital twin models in asset management, develop regulatory and legislative frameworks that support digital transformation in the utilities sector, invest in building national capabilities, modernize curricula and specialized training, and enhance integration between government agencies, the private sector and academic institutions, while emphasizing the importance of protecting data and ensuring the security of digital systems.

The Arab Council for Asset, Facilities and Maintenance Management confirmed that the Omntech conference has always been a leading regional and international platform for exchanging experiences, anticipating the future of smart asset management, and supporting countries’ trends towards smart cities and sustainable digital transformation, noting that the conference’s outcomes will contribute to developing policies and professional practices in this vital sector.