Agriculture UAE’s ADQ backs solar-powered desalination plant Silal, part of Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ, has partnered with Netherlands-headquartered solar thermal desalination company, Desolenator, to launch a pilot project using solar-powered desalination technology to produce pure water for irrigation. The project aims to contribute to the decarbonisation of food production in desert climates by significantly lowering the carbon footprint of […] June 11, 2023
Infrastructure Dubai’s Dewa gets 2 bids for $410m Hassyan water project Utility provider Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) received two bids for its 120 million gallons per day Hassyan independent water producer project. Bids were submitted from Saudi’s Acwa Power and UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa). Acwa Power sent the lowest water levelised tariff of $0.389 per cubic metre for the base proposal […] May 26, 2023
Energy Taqa and Adnoc pair up on $2.4bn seawater project Adnoc and Taqa, two of the UAE’s largest energy companies, have announced a $2.4 billion project to treat seawater and deliver sustainable water supplies to onshore operations. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, better known as Taqa, will jointly hold a 51 percent majority stake (25.5 percent each) in […] May 24, 2023
Opinion Food & Drink The Arab world needs to ease global food trade barriers The region must embrace food imports May 23, 2023
Firms vie for $3bn Egyptian desalination deals International companies are vying for lucrative contracts in Egypt as the country embarks on a multi-billion dollar plan to develop desalination plants to help offset a looming water crisis. The Sovereign Fund of Egypt has pre-qualified 17 consortia – comprising a mix of local and global firms – to be invited to tender for developing […] May 9, 2023
Energy Revenues power up by 7.3% at Dewa Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has reported revenues of AED763 million ($207.78 million) for the first quarter of the year amid increased demand from customers across the board. The Dubai listed company’s first quarter consolidated revenue increase of 7.3 percent year-on-year to AED 5.44 billion was mainly driven by an increase in demand for […] May 8, 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
Sharjah seeks proposals for Hamriyah water project State-owned Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (Sewa) has issued a request for proposal for the 90 million imperial gallons per day Hamriyah independent water producer (IWP) project to eight pre-qualified bidders. The utility provider has allowed bidders to submit their proposal by the beginning of August 2023, state-run WAM news agency reported. The IWP […] April 10, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi fund loans $240m for Pakistan’s hydropower dam State-owned Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a $240 million loan agreement to support the Mohmand dam project, a hydropower complex in north-west Pakistan. The dam will contribute to Pakistan’s energy security, increase sustainable water supply for agriculture and human consumption, and improve flood resilience, the SFD said. Co-financed by the SFD, the Organisation […] April 9, 2023
Neom Renewable energy desalination is the way forward for GCC states Projects in the Middle East are seeking to increase their use of renewable energy desalination amid criticism of the traditional process as being high-cost and energy-intensive. The Mena region is expected to add an estimated 20GW of solar capacity and 5-6GW of wind by 2025, and the use of these sources is increasingly coming to […] March 28, 2023
Analysis Desalination spend on the rise in race against water crisis The UAE’s minister of climate change and the environment is clear about the importance of desalination, the process of removing salt from seawater. Speaking at the United Nations Water Conference in New York last week, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri quoted the country’s founder, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, when she declared: “Water is not […] March 28, 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
Opinion Sustainability How Jordan can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions It may emit less than some of its peers, but the country's climate goals are just as ambitious March 23, 2023
A thirst for action: Jordan must resolve its severe water crisis Jordan is one of the most water-stressed nations in the world. Severe water scarcity is defined as less than 500 cubic metres per person per year, according to Unicef. In Jordan, the figure is just 100 cubic metres. With rainfall rates lowering and evaporation rates increasing as the climate changes, the kingdom has been plunged […] March 23, 2023
UK and UAE firms to develop Africa’s water infrastructure Metito Utilities Limited, a UAE-based investor and operator of water, wastewater, and alternative energy management solutions, and British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution, have launched a joint venture to promote private investment in climate-smart water projects across Africa. Africa Water Infrastructure Development will promote private investment in Africa’s water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors. It […] March 14, 2023
Opinion UAE startups are critical for sustainable growth and disruption The battle against climate change must be fought on every possible front March 9, 2023
Energy Syria suspends hydropower operations amid low water levels Local authorities in northeast Syria will suspend operations at a hydroelectric dam for a week because of low water levels, two officials said on Wednesday, leaving several million people at risk of power outages. The Tishreen dam in the northern province of Aleppo will be out of service from Wednesday until March 8, an online […] March 2, 2023
Tech Top 10 agtech innovators shaping the Mena market Lush plains criss-crossed by fresh water lakes and grasslands where hippos and elephants roamed. This was the Arabian peninsula in prehistoric times, according to archaeologists who have uncovered traces of fertile landscapes beneath the desert sands. Today the terrain looks very different, as the region’s governments race to confront food scarcity on a warming planet. […] March 1, 2023
Dewa’s 2022 profit rises 22% on higher power and water demand Dubai utility provider Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) reported a net profit of AED8 billion ($2.18 billion) in 2022, up 22 percent year-on-year, due to higher power and water demand. Consolidated revenue increased 15 percent year-on-year to AED27.35 billion in 2022, the UAE state-owned WAM news agency reported. Net profit and revenue for the […] February 9, 2023
Analysis Tourism Ras Al Khaimah: the UAE’s sustainable tourism destination Early in 2022 US hotel operator Wynn Resorts announced it was partnering with the Ras Al Khaimah property developer Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding to build a multibillion dollar integrated luxury resort in the northern emirate. Critically, this includes a gaming area, a first for the UAE, which inevitably captured the headlines. But RAK isn’t intent […] February 6, 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
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
