Opinion Agriculture The memory of water: Saudi Arabia’s troubled history Growing crops and preserving water is a balancing act for Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024
Video length: 05:05 VIDEO Renewable Energy Gulf’s biggest asset is ‘sun in the sky’ – not its oil reserves The Middle East could become a powerhouse of green industrialisation by exploiting its vast renewable energy sources, the chair of the Energy Transitions Commission has told AGBI at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. “Your long-term asset in this region is not the oil under the ground, it’s the sun in the sky,” said Adair Turner, […] December 6, 2023
Sustainability UN calls for more in pre-Cop28 climate progress review More action is needed to make progress in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has said in the lead up to Cop28. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) analysed 195 commitments outlining the steps countries plan to take to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. By current […] November 14, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Loss, damage and Cop28’s multi-trillion-dollar challenge There is a body of opinion in the Middle East that the loss and damage concept is not fit for purpose November 6, 2023
Sustainability Cop28 and UN near deal on $100bn climate damage fund The UAE’s Cop28 presidency, the United Nations and its partners have moved a step closer to setting up a fund to help vulnerable countries recover from damage caused by climate change. The plan to create a climate “loss and damage” fund was hailed as a breakthrough for developing country negotiations at Cop27 in Egypt last […] November 6, 2023
Finance Rich nations can’t pay for entire world, says hedge fund guru The founder of the world’s largest hedge fund has told a UN investment conference that the governments of developed countries cannot be expected to take care of the rest of the world. Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates, the US-based fund with $124 billion of assets under management, said those nations’ financial burdens were too big […] October 17, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Middle East banks must prove net zero commitment New standards will hold to account banks proffering their climate change credentials October 16, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Net zero (noun). Meaning … well, that’s the question Hundreds of governments and companies have 'net zero' policies. But the term's definition isn't always clear September 26, 2023
Oil & Gas Fossil fuel phase-down ‘inevitable’ says Al Jaber Cop28 president-designate Sultan Al Jaber this week implored world leaders to cut reliance on fossil fuels to meet carbon reduction targets. Addressing the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, Al Jaber – who is also group chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company – urged nations to fast track the transition to a […] September 21, 2023
Opinion Agriculture Cop28 must advance urban agriculture to cut emissions The summit in Dubai should advance agricultural technology to mitigate climate change July 20, 2023
Opinion Cop28 How Egypt can address its water challenges Egypt must bring in the private sector to help solve its water issues April 19, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Turning water and food shortages into global opportunity Research in the Middle East can play a transformative role in addressing water scarcity March 28, 2023
Banking & Finance The new Switzerland: diplomacy is key to UAE’s trade success The UAE is “the new Switzerland” and poised to reap the benefits of its good relationships with both East and West, the investment boss of one of the Gulf’s leading banks has said. Maurice Gravier, chief investment officer at Emirates NBD Group, said he believed the world needed neutral powers, “a place to speak between […] February 7, 2023
Opinion Sustainability UAE must deliver tangible results at Cop28 to quiet the critics Host nation faces intense scrutiny but has credentials to come up with the goods January 23, 2023
Cop28 Cop28 chief sets out UAE’s vision for climate finance The UAE intends to make financing for climate change projects “more affordable [and] much more accessible”, the country’s oil chief and Cop28 president has said. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said finance reforms were needed because the world was “way off track” the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accord, during a speech to the Atlantic […] January 16, 2023
Opinion The Gulf’s battle to tackle the spread of ‘dirty’ money The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is partnering with the authorities of GCC countries to support their anti-money laundering efforts and combat crime and corruption January 10, 2023
Sustainability Cop27 climate talks in Egypt are set to get heated The Cop27 climate talks, which begin on Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on behalf of Africa face the challenges of an energy crisis and the war in Ukraine. These impactful events have dramatically changed the geopolitical context of Cop since Cop26 was held in the UK city of Glasgow last year. A key question expected […] November 6, 2022
Biden Middle East US special envoy for Yemen travels to the Middle East The US special envoy for Yemen will visit Saudi and Jordan this week, as part of diplomatic efforts in support of the United Nations-mediated truce in Yemen. The US State Department reported on Monday. Tim Lenderking’s “engagements will focus on expanding, extending, and renewing the current truce agreement that will further the tangible benefits already […] July 26, 2022
Development New financing urgently needed to aid famine relief in Yemen Yemen is searching for new wheat suppliers but will need help to pay for increasingly costly imports, an official and a main importer said, as the World Food Programme (WFP) warned of cuts to food aid for millions already living on the brink of famine. Disruption to global wheat supplies due to the Ukraine war […] May 24, 2022
Retail Turkish retailer in talks to take over Reebok’s Russian stores FLO Magazacilik could buy the US firm's 100-plus outlets in Russia, but chairman Mehmet Ziylan denied reports that the deal is already done May 16, 2022
Exclusive Real Estate Russians pay ‘any price’ for Dubai homes to avoid Western sanctions Wealthy Russians are snapping up luxury homes in Dubai in a bid to sidestep the sanctions imposed by Western nations after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine May 9, 2022
Banking & Finance Guterres urges unconditional funds for Afghanistan aid UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan had “deteriorated alarmingly” and urged donors toprovide “unconditional and flexible funding” towards its $4.4 billion appeal for aid. Opening a high-level pledging conference, he said the Afghan economy had all but collapsed since the Taliban takeover in August and nine million Afghans […] April 29, 2022
