Sustainability Saudi company faces blowback over water use in Arizona The US state of Arizona has cancelled land lease deals with a subsidiary of the Saudi dairy company Almarai after complaints of groundwater being depleted in the arid region. The cancellation highlights tensions over corporations controlling foreign land for food security. In 2014 Almarai’s Fondomonte bought and leased thousands of acres in Arizona and California, […] March 12, 2024
Opinion Sustainability Desalination is the answer – but it must be green The path forward in addressing water scarcity and pollution demands pragmatic solutions March 8, 2024
Energy Abu Dhabi plans decade of solar power launches Abu Dhabi is to launch a new solar power project each year for a decade, starting in 2027, Bruce Smith, strategy and planning executive director at the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), told AGBI. EWEC is also exploring the issuance of a green bond to finance this series of projects, he said. The company […] February 23, 2024
Renewable Energy Acwa Power plans a bold investment future in Africa Saudi Arabia-listed Acwa Power is targeting future investments in Africa as part of the clean energy company’s plan to triple in size by 2030. “Africa needs that energy transition. But there aren’t enough developers going there and asking questions,” said Raad Al-Saady, vice chairman and managing director of Acwa Power, during a panel discussion at […] December 6, 2023
Agriculture UAE companies to develop irrigation project in Morocco Dubai-based Metito Utilities and Tahliya Group, a UAE-based infrastructure company in Africa, have signed an agreement to develop an irrigation project using desalinated water in Morocco. The desalination projects will be powered by renewable energy, the companies said in a statement released during the Cop28 climate summit taking place in Dubai. No financial details on […] December 6, 2023
Sustainability UAE pledges $150m for Mena water security A $150 million commitment from the UAE at Cop28 to fund water security solutions in vulnerable countries is a step in the right direction but more must be done to address the issue, say experts. Speaking at a panel discussion at the climate change conference in Dubai, Ramadan Assi, executive adviser for strategic partnerships at […] December 5, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Sustainability Opec Fund piles up financing for wheat, wind and water The Opec Fund for International Development is on track to meet its pledges to increase grants and loans to climate-related projects, its Middle East and North Africa head has told AGBI. Musab Alomar, the fund’s director of public sector operations for Mena, said climate financing made up 33 percent of all Opec Fund approvals in […] November 30, 2023
Opinion Sustainability UAE focus on water is a timely statement of intent A paper on water scarcity is a significant effort to move the agenda forward November 29, 2023
Sustainability AI to help drive Middle East water reuse The International Water Management Institute is developing an AI platform to improve wastewater reuse in the Middle East and North Africa region, backed by a $1 million grant from Google. Water scarcity is a concern in the region. Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of the 1,000 UAE respondents to a recent survey listed access to clean […] November 27, 2023
Opinion Agriculture Careful what you wish for… AI and the future of agriculture AI may transform farming – and destroy livelihoods. We must manage the transition for rural societies November 8, 2023
Sustainability Droughts could cost Tunisia $1bn annually Water shortages in Tunisia could cost the North African country up to $1.3 billion annually by 2030, according to a report from the World Bank. For the sixth year in a row, below-average rainfall impacted the country’s agricultural production. The sector’s value fell 9 percent in real terms in the first half of this year […] November 7, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Lessons for Cop28 from Tunisia’s water crisis The Arab region is home to the majority of economies that will face absolute water scarcity by 2040 October 17, 2023
Opinion Renewable Energy The Gulf is on track to lead global climate tech We need to focus on mitigating the risks and adapting October 3, 2023
Water Alpha Dhabi takes over water specialist Metito Investment company Alpha Dhabi announced on Monday the acquisition of a majority stake in Metito Holdings, a company involved in the water and wastewater industry worldwide. Pending regulatory approvals, the deal marks Abu Dhabi-based Alpha Dhabi’s entry into the water and wastewater sector, with its CEO saying the need for sustainable water solutions “has never […] September 25, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Saudi Arabia’s new water organisation must define its terms There are decisive limits for the kingdom that need to be recognised September 13, 2023
Infrastructure Saudi water agency seeking global partnerships A Saudi government body set up this week to address global water challenges hopes to collaborate with other organisations across the world to meet its goals, the kingdom’s environment minister said on Friday. “The vision for this initiative is not just about creating a research and policy platform,” said Abdul Rahman Al Fadhli, Saudi Arabia’s […] September 8, 2023
Opinion Logistics Act now to protect your supply chain against severe weather It would be foolish not to give serious scrutiny to your business September 4, 2023
Energy Masdar chief hails ‘defining moment’ in $3bn green fund The chairman of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, better known as Masdar, has described the completion of its debut green bond issuance as a “defining moment”. The $750 million 10-year senior unsecured notes are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and form the first part of a programme to raise up to $3 billion. […] August 7, 2023
Agriculture High-tech greenhouse turns up heat on UAE sustainability Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ has teamed up with Netherlands-based Safe Haven Solutions to build a high-tech greenhouse in the UAE capital. The 10-hectare facility will be built in ADQ’s AgTech Park in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. It will use advanced agriculture technology such as a cooling system inside the greenhouse to help […] August 7, 2023
Analysis Agriculture Saudi and Brazil sow seeds to partner on food security Saudi Arabia is intensifying its trade and investment ties with Latin America in pursuit of food security and green energy, as a ministry-led delegation hunts for opportunities in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama and Paraguay. A visit to São Paulo earlier this week by Khalid al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment, coincided with a Brazilian […] August 3, 2023
Exclusive Energy Acwa Power bids to turbocharge Saudi’s green targets When it comes to the green transition, Saudi Arabia has got some catching up to do. The country is targeting a 50-50 split in electricity generation between renewables and gas by 2030, but in 2021 just 0.2 percent of electricity came from renewable sources. To achieve this Vision 2030 goal, the country has tasked its […] July 28, 2023
Opinion Renewable Energy GCC can take centre stage in global energy transition The region is becoming a finance hub for climate and renewable energy July 26, 2023