We are delighted to spotlight Muhammad Umar Shafiq, Head of Maintenance at Jazeera Paints, ahead of his appearance at the upcoming Lubricant Expo Middle East. With a career spanning the petrochemical industry, Shell Lubricants, and global FMCG giants, he brings a wealth of expertise in predictive reliability, energy efficiency, and sustainable maintenance practices.
In this exclusive interview, he shares how cutting-edge technologies and a proactive mindset are transforming maintenance from a cost centre into a strategic advantage – especially in the challenging conditions of the Middle East.
Please share your professional journey and what led you to your current role as Head of Maintenance at Jazeera Paints?
My career has been a bit like building a machine – you start with the core components. I began in the petrochemical industry (Engro Polymers & Lotte PTA), getting my hands dirty and really understanding how equipment works under pressure. I got involved with the impact of lubricants and their role in Equipment Reliability. From there, I moved to Shell Lubricants, which was a game-changer. That’s where I realized that a huge percentage of asset failure comes down to lubrication and filtration. Then, leading maintenance teams at companies like IFFCO and Mondelez, showed me how to apply that knowledge on a large and diverse scale. All these experiences came together perfectly for my role here at Jazeera Paints, where I can apply that full spectrum of knowledge.
What are your main responsibilities at Jazeera Paints, and how do you define success in your role leading maintenance operations?
At the end of the day, my job is to be the chief protector of our assets, managing five industrial units and our vast regional distribution network, including our critical utility plants. We track our KPIs religiously, but for me, real success comes down to two things that make a difference on the factory floor. First, it’s about Predictive Reliability. It’s the satisfaction of knowing we’ve anticipated and neutralized a failure before the Operations team even knows it’s a threat – maintaining 98%+ uptime. Second, it’s about shifting the narrative: transforming the maintenance budget from a required expense into a genuine business investment. If we’re systematically extending the life of our assets and contributing measurable value, that’s when I know we’ve done a great job.
If we’re systematically extending the life of our assets and contributing measurable value, that’s when I know we’ve done a great job.
Sustainability is a key focus in modern manufacturing. How is Jazeera Paints integrating sustainability and energy efficiency into its maintenance and operations strategy?
Jazeera Paints, one of Saudi Arabia’s big names in the paint industry, is seriously committed to sustainability in how they run and maintain their operations. We’ve got ISO 14001 certification, which helps weave eco-friendly practices into their daily workflow—like producing low-VOC, lead-free paints that meet Green Seal and LEED standards. On the maintenance front, we are working on solar projects, utilize VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) on our larger equipment to optimise power consumption, and utilise synthetic lubricants to reduce our overall carbon footprint. Jazeera paints has even partnered with King Khalid University for recycling programs to keep things circular. So, there’s a lot of work going on this front at Jazeera Paints.
What unique maintenance challenges or opportunities do you see in the Middle Eastern manufacturing sector, given the environmental and operational conditions?
Working in the Middle East is a constant battle against the elements. You’re fighting extreme heat that tries to break down everything – from motor windings and seals to the lubricating oil itself – and a pervasive level of airborne dust and sand. It means we can’t just follow standard maintenance schedules; we have to be hyper-vigilant with specialized sealing and advanced filtration to prevent rapid abrasive wear.
Working in the Middle East is a constant battle against the elements – we can’t just follow standard maintenance schedules. But this creates a massive opportunity using smart data.
But this challenge creates a massive opportunity. It forces us to leapfrog older practices and embrace Industry 4.0 technologies. By deploying IoT sensors for real-time condition monitoring – tracking heat, vibration, and contamination – we’re turning our tough operating environment into a competitive advantage. It’s about using smart data to stay ahead of nature and the competition.
Why are events like Lubricant Expo Middle East important for your industry?
Honestly, for someone in my position, attending the Lubricant Expo Middle East isn’t optional – it’s essential for my learning and growth, especially given the environmental pressures we just discussed. Where else can you get hands-on with the latest generation of synthetic oils, advanced filtration units, and specialized sealing systems designed specifically to handle our region-specific challenges?
For someone in my position, attending Lubricant Expo Middle East isn’t optional – it’s essential for my learning and growth.
More importantly, it’s a knowledge hub. We get to network with global subject matter experts and, critically, benchmark our lubrication practices against the world’s best. Since proper lubrication is the quickest way to cut energy use and extend asset life, this expo directly fuels our commitment to both operational excellence and our sustainability targets. It keeps us sharp and informed.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear more from Muhammad Umar Shafiq live at the Lubricant Expo Middle East, where he will speak in the session: Optimizing Equipment Reliability With Lubrication Management, on Tuesday 20 January at 2:50pm – 4:05pm.
🔗 View the full agenda here.
