Technology and sustainability: key topics during Zigurat's Local Hub in Dubai

Zigurat has organised, in cooperation with FAM Holding and Billel Dridi, Zigurat Alumni Ambassador and Mentor, a second Local Hub in Dubai to connect the academic and professional world in a presential way and contribute to the development of the local AECO sector.  Zigurat Institute of Technology first launched Local Hubs in Dubai in the spring of 2022. Now, it has returned to the Emirati city with a new face-to-face event, but with the same objective: to connect the educational institution's talent with the local professional environment. 

On this occasion, the Zigurat Local Hub coincided with the Big 5, the largest construction trade fair in the Middle East, also held in Dubai, and contributed to the media conversation on innovation and best practices in the AECO sector.  It is important to note that Local Hubs are built on cooperation. Therefore, FAM Holding sponsored the event, and Billel Dridi, Zigurat Alumni Ambassador of the Master's in Global BIM Management, supported the organisation. Thanks to these joint efforts, professionals from leading companies such as FAM Holding, Jacobs, Trimble, and Khatib & Alami have met at The Burjuman Business Tower, in the heart of Dubai's business district, to present their success stories and participate in panel discussions. 

Technology and sustainability at the centre of the debate

From left to right: Billel Dridi, Dr Ahmad M. Salih, Elena Maté Múgica, Tareq Al-Masri and Rodrigo Ferreiro. Rodrigo Ferreiro, Corporate & Institutional Development Manager of Zigurat, welcomed more than 30 attendees, including members of the Zigurat Alumni community such as Rippendeep Sra, Amin Basalama, and Alberto Ilkian de la Torre. 

The first half hour of presentations was given by FAM Holding, with speakers Billel Dridi, Zigurat Alumni Ambassador and Ziwar Hessou. Dridi highlighted the potential of technology in the industry, including BIM, AI, IoT and blockchain, and how the gaming industry uses BIM models. In addition, Hessou presented an app that allows industry professionals to offer their services in one place. 

Other speakers included Tareq Al-Masri, who demonstrated how Trimble uses connected construction to reduce waste and promote sustainability. Elena Maté Múgica shared Jacobs' digital transformation process using Dragonfly and Aqua DNA solutions as examples. Finally, Dr Ahmad M. Salih from Khatib & Alami spoke about the importance of dynamic cultural intelligence in leading a cosmopolitan workplace.

A knowledge hub

From left to right: Rippendeep Sra, Alberto Ilkian de la Torre, Amin Basalama, Billel Dridi, Zigurat Alumni, next to Rodrigo Ferreiro, Corporate & Institutional Development Manager at Zigurat. As the name suggests, Local Hubs are conceived as a nexus of human and professional relationships and, above all, as a hub of shared knowledge.  

The initiative was conceptualised by the Alumni project and the Corporate & Institutional Development department of Zigurat, whose main objective is to transfer the online world into a face-to-face environment. In addition to being a great networking opportunity for Alumni, the Local Hubs also represent a unique occasion for local companies to attract the best talent and connect with other leading companies in the sector.