Farnek, a leading UAE-based smart and sustainable facilities management (FM) company, is advancing its operational transformation through the rapid expansion of its Farnek Hybrid Unit (FHU) model, an innovative combination of human expertise and intelligent robotic cleaning.
What began as a bold innovation has now evolved into a proven operational standard, with over 30 robotic cleaners already deployed across the UAE in sectors including aviation, hospitality, banking, malls, and residential communities, and an additional 60 robots currently on order. From airports to high-rises, Farnek’s Hybrid Units are redefining cleaning practices, turning routine tasks into remarkable outcomes.
Unlike the one-off robotic deployments commonly seen in the market, Farnek’s FHU model delivers a system-wide upgrade focused on efficiency, precision, and long-term sustainability.
Julian Khalil, Managing Director of Farnek Services, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond simply deploying robots, focusing instead on transforming operations. He explained that the Hybrid Units are smart, connected, and scalable, and have now become a core element in delivering enhanced outcomes for clients.
The FHU model seamlessly distributes cleaning tasks between autonomous robots and human operatives. Robots handle repetitive, time-consuming routes, while humans focus on value-added, detailed, or sensitive tasks. The dual-force model is designed to significantly reduce labor overlap, enhance performance standards, and optimize resource allocation, all while maintaining existing jobs.
Farnek aims to deploy over 100 robotic units by mid-2026, while evolving the FHU model to integrate with new sectors including healthcare, education, and industrial zones. With rising ESG pressures and increasing demands for cost efficiency, the FHU model offers clients a clear pathway to modernize operations while ensuring measurable returns on investment.
Farnek’s partnership with SoftBank Robotics through its digital sister company HITEK AI ensures top-tier hardware, while CAFMTEK, HITEK’s smart FM platform, serves as the digital brain of the operation.
All robots are fully integrated with CAFMTEK’s mobile and web dashboards, enabling real-time tracking of cleaning performance and completion status, battery levels and downtime, as well as maintenance alerts and service requirements. The system can auto-generate service requests, deploy robot tasks on demand, and deliver performance analytics directly to FM supervisors.
Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK AI, explained that the robots are not merely machines but smart, autonomous units integrated into an ecosystem that enables real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, and optimized workflows.
Farnek’s Hybrid Cleaning Units are already being operated across Dubai Airports, du telecom, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi University and Nord Anglia School among others. Furthermore, the model is being rapidly scaled to serve new markets, new verticals and new clients, with 24/7 operations.
