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
Analysis Banking and Finance Agtech startups and Egypt are hot prospects for Mena funding Startups across the Middle East and North Africa region raised $125 million in funding in December last year, with Egyptian companies leading the pack, ahead of regional powerhouses the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A joint report by Wamda and Digital Digest showed that Egyptian startups secured $45.7 million across 11 deals in December, more than […] January 13, 2023
Opinion Energy There’s no quick fix on energy. At PIF, we’re just getting on with it The Saudi sovereign wealth fund's head of energy and utilities explains why the transition to renewables is coming, but can't happen overnight – and why electric cars are older than you think January 9, 2023
Opinion Sustainability Private sector innovation will save our natural environment While politicians talk about curbing emissions, private sector innovations are actively driving the transition to renewable energy December 29, 2022
Opinion Sustainability Integrated sustainability comes of age in the UAE Sustainability looks primed for sector-wide adoption in the UAE in 2023 as the Gulf state finds solutions to environmental challenges December 29, 2022
Sustainability Jordan signs $121m loan deal to upgrade King Abdullah Canal Germany’s KfW Development Bank has partnered with Jordan’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation to provide a €115 million loan ($121.73 million) towards the upgrade of the 65km northern part of King Abdullah Canal. Water minister, Mohammad Najjar, who signed the deal with KfW Amman office director Mark Schwiete, said the project will pump 10 million […] December 20, 2022
Energy Dewa’s $300m power plant set for Q1 2023 completion State-owned Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has completed 93 percent of the 829 megawatts (MW) fourth phase of the AED 1.1 billion ($299.47 million) H-Station power plant in Al Aweer with investments. This phase will increase Al Aweer power station complex’s total capacity to 2,825 MW under climate conditions of 50 degrees Celsius and […] December 12, 2022
Construction Dubai utility provider gets 29 bids for Hassyan reverse osmosis plant State-owned Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has received 29 expressions of interest to implement the first phase of its 120 million gallons per day Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis plant project using the independent water producer (IWP) model. This is the first project implemented by Dewa using the IWP model, which will run in phases […] December 11, 2022
Opinion Sustainability The dark side of a renewables future The renewables sector must find recycling solutions to establish a truly circular economy November 18, 2022
Israel to build new desalination plant to meet water shortage Israel’s IDE Technologies and Bank Hapoalim won a government tender to build a new water desalination plant in northern Israel, Hapoalim said. Hapoalim, one of Israel’s two largest banks, will provide 1.3 billion shekels ($381 million) for the project near the northern city of Nahariya off the Mediterranean coast which aims to help the country […] November 14, 2022
Analysis Sustainability 30 of the most sustainable companies in the Middle East With Cop27 beginning today in Egypt, we focus on 30 businesses tackling the social and environmental challenges that threaten the region Middle Eastern companies large and small are going green as they realise the environmental and commercial potential of being socially conscious. Governments are also focusing on sustainability, placing green projects at the heart of […] November 6, 2022
