Energy GCC ‘must impose carbon tax’, says clean energy chief GCC countries should introduce a carbon tax and reduce subsidies for fossil fuels as part of the fight against climate change, Dr Nasser Saidi, chairman of the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC), has said. Speaking at the 10th annual CEBC summit, Dr Saidi said: “Subsidies in our part of the world are among the highest […] February 3, 2023
Energy Luxembourg firm commits $50m investment to Saudi mining A Luxembourg-based natural resources group is set to enter Saudi Arabia with an initial $50 million investment as the kingdom looks to attract more foreign companies to its burgeoning mining sector. Eurasian Resources Group (Erg) said there is potential to grow its Saudi investment year-on-year, adding that it will prioritise large scale, early-stage exploration for […] January 31, 2023
Banking & Finance Investcorp to set up ‘multi-billion dollar’ sustainability platform Investcorp has revealed plans to establish a “multi-billion dollar” sustainability platform to capitalise on what co-CEO Rishi Kapoor described as “the most attractive opportunity from an investment perspective that we have seen in a generation”. A report from consultants McKinsey estimates $250 trillion of cumulative spending on physical assets is needed over the next three […] January 30, 2023
Real Estate Sustainable towers ready for lift-off with a little help from Nasa A real estate developer in Dubai is introducing Nasa technology to its latest project as it takes sustainable property to a new dimension. Fakhruddin Properties aims to provide homeowners with the cleanest air in Dubai when it launches the AED700 million ($190.5 million) Maimoon Gardens, a twin-tower development in the Jumeirah Village Circle. Despite completion […] January 30, 2023
Banking & Finance UAE tops international ranking for green finance commitment The UAE has been recognised for its commitment to financing a green and sustainable future. The Gulf state recorded the highest scores among several key markets in the Financial Services: State of the Nation Survey 2022, which spoke to 758 managers at financial institutions and banks across France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, the […] January 25, 2023
Energy Rolls-Royce plans to bring its factory-built nuclear plants to Gulf Rolls-Royce is eyeing opportunities to bring its nuclear reactors to the Middle East as part of the region’s efforts to combat climate change. The UK industrial company is developing a small modular reactor (SMR) that uses pressurised water reactor technology, with the reactor components built in factory conditions and assembled on site. Nine-tenths of a […] January 23, 2023
Opinion Environment 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
Analysis Retail Diamonds (from a lab) are the Gulf’s best friend Basma Chaieri began her business after watching the season two finale of Netflix’s hit series Explained. The November 2019 episode, which explored the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds, prompted the Dubai resident to quit her travel job and enrol in gemology school to study the trade. “I thought why would anyone buy a real diamond […] January 20, 2023
Startups Di Caprio-backed fintech to set up offices in Abu Dhabi California-based fintech company Aspiration Inc. will be setting up offices at Abu Dhabi Global Market. Aspiration is supported by Access Abu Dhabi, the business expansion program by Maven Global Access and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), which serves as a conduit to fast-track entry to the UAE capital, the company said in a statement. The […] January 20, 2023
Environment UAE plans to build its first electric vehicle battery recycling facility Beeah Recycling has signed an agreement with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the American University of Sharjah with a view to setting up the country’s first recycling plant for end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles (EVs). The facility will be added to Beeah Recycling’s integrated waste management complex, which currently has 10 specialised […] January 20, 2023
Environment Clean energy investment may be hit by economic slowdown The global economic downturn could have serious implications on investment into clean energy and cause climate change targets to be pushed back, experts have warned. Elias Hajj, senior partner at McKinsey & Co, said during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week that an estimated $6 trillion is needed annually to fund the transition to clean energy. But […] January 19, 2023
Energy West ‘unfair’ to stop Africa using fossil fuels, says Qatari minister Barring Africa from exploiting its fossil fuel riches is “very, very, very unfair” despite the urgency to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, Qatar’s energy chief has said. Saad Al Kaabi, Qatar’s minister of energy and CEO of state-owned QatarEnergy, told a panel at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum that people needed to be realistic […] January 18, 2023
Energy Masdar chief: Everyone is on board with climate change Once viewed with scepticism, the discussion around climate change and securing a sustainable energy pathway to net zero has now become the accepted mainstream view, according to the CEO of Masdar. Founded 16 years ago, the UAE-owned renewable energy firm has a presence in 40 countries, with a capacity of 20gw, made up of operational […] January 18, 2023
Environment BlackRock US inflows dwarf $4bn lost in ESG backlash BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, lost around $4 billion in assets under management as a result of a political backlash against environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing in the United States, its chief executive said. Republican-run Florida, Louisiana and Missouri have all said they plan to pull investment mandates from the company, citing concerns […] January 18, 2023
Energy UAE-UK Business Council unveils blueprint for energy transition The UAE and UK must step up co-operation on clean energy if they are to meet their national decarbonisation targets, the UAE-UK Business Council has said. The council’s energy transition white paper, published on Tuesday, said there was “an untapped commercial opportunity to be exploited from closer collaboration between both countries in terms of developing […] January 17, 2023
Environment $100bn ‘a drop in the ocean’ for climate action, says Cop27 host The world still urgently needs to address the “elephant in the room” in the climate crisis, which is financing action for vulnerable developing countries, officials from Cop27 host nation Egypt said. In 2020 combined adaptation and mitigation finance flows fell at least $17 billion short of the $100 billion pledged annually to developing countries, according […] January 17, 2023
Environment Adnoc calls on Earthshot Prize winner for decarbonisation pilot Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) announced on Tuesday a partnership to pilot technology that permanently mineralises carbon dioxide within rock formations found in the emirate of Fujairah. Adnoc is partnering with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Oman-based 44.01. The project, announced at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, […] January 17, 2023
Opinion Economy Unravelling the Gulf’s energy conundrum The region gained wealth and political clout last year. Now, as the UAE prepares to host Cop28, it will be expected to find – and fund – climate solutions January 16, 2023
Analysis Energy GCC poised for starring role in global hydrogen market The GCC is set to play a key role in the global hydrogen market, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman looking to become leaders in the export of clean fuel. As industry experts come together in Abu Dhabi this week for the World Future Energy Summit, a report from Frost & Sullivan paints a […] January 16, 2023
Analysis Travel & Hospitality Gulf in sustainable tourism push as legislation looms When the first tourists arrive to experience the Red Sea Global sustainable tourism destination in Saudi Arabia later this year, they will touch down at an airport run entirely by renewable energy and designed to include shaded areas and natural ventilation that minimises reliance on air conditioning. They will continue their journey to a resort […] January 12, 2023
Environment Adnoc chief Sultan Al Jaber named president of Cop28 Sultan Al Jaber, head of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), has been named president of the Cop28 climate conference, which is being hosted by the UAE later this year. Al Jaber, who is also the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology, has served as special envoy for climate change over […] January 12, 2023
Environment Emirati student offers solution to combat global warming An Emirati student is blazing a trail for female participation in science with her pioneering research that aims to offer a cost-effective way to help combat global warming. Ayesha Abdulla Alkhoori, a PhD student of materials science and engineering at Khalifa University, was one of five women from across the GCC to be recognised by […] January 11, 2023
