Analysis Sustainability Climate and cost: the Gulf’s water scarcity challenge Water stressed regions High water consumption Increasing operational costs Over the past 18 months, Saudi Arabia has set up a Global Water Organisation, established a stand-alone Saudi Water Authority and presided over the One Water Sum... Register now: It’s easy and free This content is available for registered members only. Register for your free account […] January 17, 2025
Economy Geopolitical tensions and low rain may stifle Morocco’s GDP growth Morocco’s economy is expected to pick up in the first quarter of 2025, thanks to increased consumer spending, but the momentum faces a risk as a result of geopolitical tensions and low levels of rainfall, a government agency has said. The country’s GDP grew by around 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2024 compared […] January 16, 2025
Economy Inflation, not war, is Gulf states’ top concern, says WEF Economic concerns such as inflation dominate risk perception for the coming year in the Gulf and across Mena, according to the World Economic Forum. Its survey of thousands of experts and business leaders, the Global Risks Report 2025, found that geopolitical conflict was the No 1 risk globally, selected by respondents as the “most likely […] January 15, 2025
Trade Iraq and UK sign $15bn deal to strengthen trade ties Iraq has signed a set of agreements with the UK worth £12.3 billion ($14.98 billion) as the two countries aim to bolster their growing trade relationship. The package, more than 10 times last year’s total UK-Iraq bilateral trade, was disclosed following a meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani […] January 15, 2025
Opinion Agriculture Without Assad, Syria is ripe for a new crop of farming investment Relying solely on international markets far away from home is risky January 3, 2025
Renewable Energy Water scarcity biggest threat to North Africa’s green energy drive Water scarcity is the biggest hurdle to the development of renewable power across North Africa, along with a lack of financing and governance failures, a new report says. Nevertheless, countries in the region are boosting production of sustainable sources of energy, pushed by unmet domestic demand and the European Union’s increasing hunger for imports of […] December 17, 2024
Sustainability Saudi Arabia to invest $10m in sandstorm warning system Saudi Arabia will invest $10 million over the next five years to support its global sand and dust storm monitoring initiative. The initiative, launched through its United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Cop16 presidency, will expand on existing international sand and dust storm capacity, overseen by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Two billion tonnes […] December 12, 2024
Construction Qatar awards $2.8bn contract for Doha desalination plant Qatar Electricity and Water Authority (Kahramaa) has awarded Samsung C&T Construction Group a $2.84 billion contract to build a combined-cycle power plant in Doha. The gas-fired power plant, Facility E, will produce up to 2,400 megawatts of electricity and 500,000 tons of desalinated water per day. When completed in 2029, the plant will account for […] November 26, 2024
Finance Morocco secures $211m loan to improve water security The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a €200 million ($211 million) loan to Morocco’s phosphate-based fertiliser producer OCP Group to enhance water security by developing new desalination facilities. The funding will support the construction of two seawater desalination facilities for OCP Group at its industrial complexes in El Jadida and Safi. […] November 18, 2024
Opinion Trade UAE believes trade with Africa is worth the risk Investments by Emirati companies are being encouraged and supported by the government October 22, 2024
Economy Moroccan company gets $108m to tackle water scarcity A new €100 million ($108 million) loan from a World Bank unit will help Morocco tackle water scarcity, which has been hindering economic growth. The loan is being provided through the International Facility Corporation (IFC) to Casablanca-based OCP Group, a producer of plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilisers. It will fund the construction of a […] September 17, 2024
Infrastructure Jordan selects preferred bidder for $3bn water project A consortium led by French investment firm Meridiam has been selected as the preferred bidder for Jordan’s $3.3 billion Aqaba Amman water desalination and conveyance project. The Meridiam-led group includes Orascom Construction, Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Suez. Jordan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with its population facing absolute water scarcity, according […] August 22, 2024
Real Estate Artificial lagoons making waves in Dubai Creating water features in the desert is expensive and ambitious, but they draw premium prices from residents seeking relief from the heat August 21, 2024
Infrastructure UAE company involved in $1bn project in Uzbekistan A consortium, which includes an Abu Dhabi state-owned company, is set to develop a $1 billion wastewater treatment plant in Uzbekistan. The group, comprising Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company, Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and France’s Suez, signed a development agreement with Uzbekistan’s investment, industry and trade ministry and state-run Uzsuvtaminot JSC. The project, located in […] August 15, 2024
Agriculture Climate change drying up Turkish agricultural production Drought conditions across much of Turkey have led to authorities in one prime agricultural region banning new crop plantings. There are rising concerns across local government, academia and the farming industry that climate-driven water shortages are dramatically weakening food security in the country. In late July, agricultural authorities in the Seyhan region of the southern […] August 14, 2024
Opinion Economy The GCC must tackle climate risk to protect credit lines Climate premium costs could manifest as a silent tax burden and hamper economic development July 16, 2024
Opinion Finance The Thames Water crisis makes waves for the UK’s Labour Party A government bailout is no longer unthinkable and Gulf investors will have grave concerns July 15, 2024
Sustainability Forests in the desert: more than just a pipe dream Planting trees in the sand has been done before and can be done again, but when water is so scarce it is a remarkable challenge, says Valentina Pasquali July 8, 2024
Analysis Infrastructure Morocco struggles to solve its water crisis A seawater desalination plant that opened last month at Sidi Rahal near Casablanca is a major part of Morocco’s plans to tackle the country’s frightening decrease in water supplies. The plant will be built in two phases and is designed to produce 300 million cubic metres of water a year to supply 7.5 million people, […] July 1, 2024
Agriculture Drought pushes up sheep price for Eid in Morocco The price for a sheep in Morocco for the annual sacrifice at Eid al-Adha has increased on average at 10 times the 2.2 percent rate of inflation. A medium-sized female sheep costs MAD4000 ($400) as opposed to MAD3000 last year. This puts it out of range for many families in the country where a high […] June 17, 2024
Opinion Infrastructure Libya’s water woes must be addressed The country urgently needs a national strategy to strengthen water security May 31, 2024
Sustainability $4bn set aside for Saudi water projects Saudi Arabia will spend $4 billion by the end of the decade on recycling over 2 billion cubic metres of water, about 70 percent of the country’s renewable water sources, an official said this week. Speaking at the World Water Forum in Indonesia, Mohammed bin Zaid Abuhid, head of the General Authority for Irrigation, outlined […] May 23, 2024
