Dubai, UAE: Dr Esam Elsarrag, Director of Research and Development, Gulf Organization for Research & Development (GORD), will be delivering the Plenary Address on how Qatar is trying to ensure that projects being developed ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will follow high sustainability standards. His address is widely expected to set the stage for multiple stakeholders, including manufacturers, consultants and contractors, to explore specific VRF solutions for the peninsula.

During his address, Dr Elsarrag will also be highlighting GORD’s association with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar, for the purpose of the World Cup. The association is expected to place the organisation in a pivotal position to advise on the different technological solutions and strategies available.

In addition to giving the plenary address, Dr Elsarrag will be meeting VRF manufacturers in a closed-door session with the objective of exploring avenues for technological cooperation and engagement.

GORD is a non-profit subsidiary of the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and has an ambitious sustainable development agenda.

Another key participant is Engr Tarek M Al-Sitt, from the Standards & Metrology Department of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO). He will be delivering a special address, titled ‘The current status and future plans for technical regulations for the VRF industry in the Gulf’.

In addition to Dr Elsarrag and Engr Al-Sitt, the conference will see participation from a host of key decision-makers in government and other bodies. The speaker line-up includes:

• Jassim Mohamed Al-Ali, Manager – Major Projects, Infrastructure, Power & Water Planning – Distribution Planning, DEWA
• George Berbari, CEO, DC Pro Engineering
• J.M. Bhambure, Executive Vice President, Blue Star Limited (India)
• Raied Al Bitar, Senior Manager – Mechanical Projects, Engineering & Infrastructure, Meraas Holding
• Essa Al Hashmi, Undersecretary Assistant of Environmental Affairs, UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment
• Engr Anwaar Al Shimmari, Director Projects Planning, UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development
• Nabil Shafa Amry, Manager – MEP, La Casa Architects and Engineering Consultants
• Kandasamy Anbalagan, Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants
• Scott Coombes, Director, AESG
• Prashant Gadewar, DGM, Blue Star Limited (India)
• P.R. Jagannathan, Manager – Sustainability, TRAKHEES
• Tugrul Kumal, Regional  Director, B2B Sales & Product Marketing – Air conditioners, Hisense Middle East
• Fady Nassar, Director – Unitary Business, S.K.M Air Conditioning L.L.C.
• Engr Abdullah Rafia, Assistant Director General – Engineering and Planning Sector, Dubai Municipality
• Faris Saeed, CEO, Diamond Developers
• Dharmesh Sawant, Senior Manager – HVAC Engineering 1 Team, LG Electronics Gulf FZE (Middle East & Africa)
• Sathisha Shetty, Project Engineer – MEP, Engineering & Project Management, ENOC
• Hassan Younes, Technical Director & Partner, Griffin Consultants

The conference has been endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Dubai Municipality, GSO and GORD.