The IFFCO Group, one of the UAE’s largest producers of food products, has opened the first 100-percent plant-based meat factory in the region, in Dubai.

Located in the Dubai Industrial City, the THRYVE factory will catalyse the move towards a more sustainable and healthy food chain in the Middle East, actively supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE's Vision 2051 initiative to bolster food security through diversity and innovation. The factory will provide nourishing, sustainable and healthy local plant-based meat products inspired by the unique flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, “The new 100-percent plant-based meat factory supports the UAE’s Food Security Strategy and our mandate to mitigate the impact of climate change. The opening of this innovative new facility also supports our efforts to protect the country’s ecosystems and enhance its food and water security and diversify our food sources. By fostering such robust research and development focused on producing innovative food products, we seek to raise the UAE’s ability to move up the global food industry value chain and achieve first place on the Global Food Security Index by 2051. The new factory represents a significant contribution to sustainability in the food supply chain.”

Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism said, "The opening of this factory, which will pave the way for a dynamic new industry that will boost trade across the region, is a reflection of the UAE’s commitment to pioneer the use of innovative technologies to provide sustainable solutions to real world problems. It contributes to Dubai's economic diversification journey in line with the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate the emirate’s status as one of the top three global cities. The new facility is a testament to the pivotal role being played by Dubai in promoting the growth and evolution of environmentally sound practices that can alleviate the effects of climate change. By providing opportunities for private companies to invest in sustainable technologies, Dubai is accelerating the creation of a robust and resilient green economy.

“Such initiatives also reflect Dubai’s success in creating a fertile environment for new businesses and investors to thrive, and generating new job opportunities. Dubai and the UAE will continue to work with stakeholders and partners to remain at the forefront of innovation and economic sustainability, inspired by the ambition of our visionary leadership to create a better future for all."

Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President, Industrial Leasing, Dubai Industrial City, said, “DIC is an ideal location for initiatives like the IFFCO Group’s plant-based meat factory that underscore the importance of food security. The Dubai Industrial City is home to a growing number of Dubai-based food manufacturers who are leading the way in introducing innovative food products. This new enterprise adds value to the industry while strengthening our reputation as facilitators of a self-reliant food programme.”

The THRYVE plant-based venture, developed using cutting-edge food technology, contributes to at least three UN's SDG's: good health and well-being, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

The only 100 percent plant-based meat factory in the Middle East, IFFCO's THRYVE will leverage advanced food technologies to produce tasty, healthy, sustainable and culturally relevant food that meets the needs of the local consumer. In addition, IFFCO is working closely with the government to create regulatory standards for plant-based food products.

The global plant-based meat market was estimated to be worth US$7.9 billion in 2022, and is forecast to reach US$15.7 billion by 2027, according to a report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The newly opened THRYVE factory will cater to 30 percent of the GCC population, stimulating the development of the market for local plant-based products. As per proprietary research, the GCC has the potential to be a future leader in developing food products for flexitarians, people whose diet is primarily vegetarian.

Source: Emirates 24/7

UAE-based smart and green facilities management company Farnek has launched a new online remote digital platform called PowerTek, developed by in-house experts at its innovative digital solutions sister company HITEK.

The comprehensive and data-driven energy performance monitoring tool supports hotels and the wider business community, through efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring and benchmarking of energy and water consumption as well as waste management.

“This analysis helps to reduce carbon emissions, which are key to fulfilling any roadmap towards net zero,” said Nadia Ibrahim, Director – Consultancy & Sustainability at Farnek.

PowerTek analyses consumption and waste, with respect to multiple variables that can influence a hotel’s environmental metrics such as occupancy, guest nights, number of guest rooms, F&B covers, guest profiles, staff hours, air-conditioned areas as well as general weather conditions. This helps hotels to maintain higher operational efficiency, lower costs and the associated carbon emissions.

“Following the science, to prevent irreversible climate change, we must restrict the global increase in temperature to 1.5C. To achieve this, the net emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2e) will need to be reduced by up to 50% by 2030 and reach net zero levels by around 2050,” added Ibrahim.

“Putting that into perspective, according to an international study by Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the hospitality industry needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 66% per room by 2030, and by 90% per room by 2050. Currently the hospitality industry is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“These statistics clearly underscore the urgency of combatting climate change. Hotels have just seven years to reduce their emissions by nearly two thirds.”

According to Farnek’s analysis, which uses data from its own hotel clients as well as comparing EGBC & Cornell Hotel benchmarking studies, four and five-star hotels have the potential to save up to 10% annually on their utility consumption.

“These hotels spend an average of AED5.16 million ($1.4 million) per year on their utility bills, so they could save up to AED384,000 and AED133,000 on energy and water consumption respectively, as well as additional cost savings in waste disposal which could also reduce their carbon emissions by up to 700 tonnes annually,” she said.

The launch of PowerTek coincides with a recent announcement by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), to reintroduce a Carbon Calculator tool that measures the carbon footprint within Dubai’s hospitality sector. Every month, hotels are now mandated to submit their consumption of nine carbon emission sources: electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste, recycled waste, petrol, diesel and refrigerants. This information is collated and analysed by the DET to provide industry insights on the sector’s collective carbon footprint.

“PowerTek is an upgraded replacement for Hotel Optimizer a digital tool that has been supporting hotels throughout the Middle East for the past 20 years. A key part of the upgrade is that this new platform now has a greater flexibility to be integrated with any energy meter, existing BMS systems, connected IoT sensors, CAFM as well as analysing data entered manually, such as updated and ongoing consumption data from utility providers,” commented Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK.

The digital tool can also benchmark a hotel’s performance against its own historical data, making relevant comparisons with its peers based on an energy utilisation index EUI (kWh/m2/year), water utilisation index WUI (litres/guest nights), waste generation (kg/guest night), waste diversion, carbon emissions as well as other operational costs.

“Decarbonisation has become a commercial imperative, not only for the hospitality industry, but for all business sectors. It not only plays a crucial role in limiting global warming, but hotels in particular can reduce up to 60% of their total emissions by adopting energy efficient measures alone,” said Ibrahim. 

Source: Zawya

ALEC Energy has partnered with Solar Earth as part of its drive to advance innovation in clean energy production in the region and beyond. Canada-based Solar Earth has developed what’s billed as the world’s most rugged pavement integrated photovoltaic (PIPV) solution, touted by the firm as the ‘Toughest Solar on Earth’.

Solar Earth’s PIPV solution will enable governments and private enterprises to carry out wide scale solarisation of every hardscape infrastructure such as pavements, roads, plazas, and parking lots, turning these into clean energy generating assets, ALEC Energy said in its statement. The firm added that the region’s first PIPV solution is being implemented at ALEC Group’s modular manufacturing factory in Dubai (LINQ Modular).

ALEC Energy is a related business division of ALEC Engineering and Contracting, and offers a complete turnkey solution for all types of solar and hybrid energy plants. ALEC Energy recently delivered the world’s first off-grid micro-grid at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai.

“While the GCC has been blessed with a perennial abundance of sunlight, the constraints of traditional solar panels have limited the ability to unlock the immense potential of this clean energy source,” said Basar Kayali, General Manager of ALEC Energy.

Solar Earth panels are said to be skid resistant and unlike their traditional counterparts, they have been designed to be extremely rugged – able to withstand up to five tonnes of weight and harsh weather conditions.

Thanks to this rugged design, the panels enable public and private sector entities to take traditional sunk costs infrastructure and provide a return on investment, by transforming these into dual-use, revenue-generating surfaces. ALEC Energy’s decision to introduce the technology in the GCC followed months of comprehensive evaluation and feasibility studies to ensure a ‘right fit’ for the needs of the region, the firm explained.

“With countries across the GCC clearly outlining intentions to achieve Net Zero by as early as 2050, regional governments are turning to the private sectors to help pioneer advancements in the future of responsible energy production. We are thrilled to see the UAE taking the lead in innovation, clean energy, and Net Zero action,” explained Damarys Zampini, representative of Solar Earth.

The PIPV solution was unveiled at an event held at ALEC Group’s modular construction facility (LINQ Modular) in Dubai and attended by Gabriel Jabbour, Trade Commissioner for the Consulate General of Canada in Dubai.

“Today, together with Solar Earth, we are redefining what photovoltaic solutions are capable of and thereby enabling an entirely new range of possibilities for their deployment. In doing so, we are helping usher in the new era of solar energy production, one where it is no longer restricted to large solar farms and commercial facilities alone but can be seamlessly incorporated into the vast amount of commercial, municipal, residential, and other infrastructure that has already been built,” Kayali added.

Source: ME Construction News, Jason Saundalkar

The landmark UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter was signed in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

This charter was signed on the sidelines of the UAE Cabinet meeting held on March 6.

The UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter aims to enable the objectives of the National Net Zero by 2050 pathway, launched at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in line with the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative, according to a report published by the Dubai Media Office.

The UAE government, which was represented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and local governments of the seven emirates will collaborate and cooperate to carry out and monitor initiatives and measures to mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity, environment, biosecurity and public health, the report stated.

The governments of the seven emirates assured their commitment to contribute to achieving the National Net Zero by 2050 Pathway, and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Report.

UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter: Focused objectives

The charter underscores the development of action plans, policies and strategies aimed at climate action.

It relies on measuring and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions in each of the seven emirates, in addition to identifying the activities and procedures that generate those emissions.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, “With the UAE hosting COP28 later this year and in line with the Year of Sustainability, we sign the ‘UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter’, as part of our efforts towards achieving net zero by 2050, and contributing to global climate action in order to ensure a more sustainable future for humanity.”

As part of the UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter, local governments will be able to exchange experiences, practices, technologies and innovative solutions.

Governments will also be responsible for spreading knowledge and educating society on climate change issues, to engage them in addressing this global issue.

The charter will focus on areas and opportunities of the utmost importance in the National Net Zero 2050 Pathway, including the transport sector, construction, industry and other sectors.

Affirming support

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, said that the signing and adoption of the UAE Governments Net Zero by 2050 Charter “represents a milestone commitment to consolidating the efforts of all local and federal stakeholders to advance government climate action in the UAE”.

“This is not the beginning, but a continuation of our nation’s impactful efforts, regionally and globally, to tackling climate change, which is increasingly becoming a major obstacle to economic and social development around the world,” he added.

Abdulla Al Basti, secretary-general of The Executive Council of Dubai, noted, “The UAE has long been a pioneer in sustainability and in adopting environmentally conscious practices.

“It was the first country in the MENA region to commit to climate neutrality by 2050. By signing the Climate Neutral Governments Charter 2050 today, the UAE takes another significant stride towards securing a brighter future for the generations to come.”

Dr Saeed Saif Al Matrooshi, secretary-general of the Executive Council in Ajman, said: “The government of Ajman continues to work under the directives of its wise leadership to achieve the goal of transforming Ajman City into a sustainable, environmentally friendly city that preserves nature.”

Dr Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa, secretary-general of Ras Al Khaimah’s Executive Council, highlighted that the UAE model of integration and joint national actions represents a pioneering civilised approach whose fruits are evident in various aspects of the nation’s journey.

“Unifying our efforts, aligning our actions, and rallying around a common national path and ambitious strategy to deal with the challenges of carbon emissions is a strong indication of the country’s firm commitment to dealing with climate and environmental issues efficiently and competently,” added Dr Khalifa.

Highlighting the importance of the UAE Governments Net Zero 2050 Charter, Mohammed Saeed Al Dhanhani, director of Fujairah Emiri Court, said that the UAE has succeeded in establishing its position on the world map as an ideal destination for living and working.

He added that it has established advanced communities that contribute to achieving steady economic growth by continuing to search for and use new energy sources and invest in renewable energy in building cities in line with the UAE’s climate ambition.

Source: Gulf Business

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, today chaired a meeting of the Council, which explored opportunities emerging in the circular economy and adopted a new Green Procurement Policy for Dubai government and a Shared Services function designed to enhance the efficiency of government services.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted that the Year of Sustainability announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, places greater responsibility on Dubai to support the environment.

He said: “Today, the UAE has created the ideal conditions for promoting environmental protection and sustainability, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We have also developed an agile legislative framework that allows us to keep pace with new developments and changes in the environmental sphere. The leadership’s support has also enabled us to raise our position as a business and investment destination that is at the forefront of promoting sustainability, encouraging green projects, and embracing the concept of the circular economy.”

“Dubai has taken initiatives to ensure we are at the forefront of global efforts to overcome the challenges of climate change. In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai seeks to set an example for an environment and people-friendly city that is committed to preserving the planet for future generations. We aim to strike a balance between economic growth and sustainability, as the UAE prepares to host COP28,” His Highness added.

His Highness stressed that Dubai leads global cities in promoting sustainable development focused on providing the highest levels of service for its citizens and residents. Dubai also benchmarks itself with the best in the world to continuously enhance economic growth and the quality of life of its people.

He further said: “The government is not alone today in this journey. The private sector is a strategic partner that significantly contributes to Dubai’s efforts to build an environment-friendly city and create an attractive business destination. We are all working hand-in-hand to serve our society and advance inclusive and sustainable development.”

Circular Economy Opportunities

The Executive Council approved plans to take advantage of opportunities in the circular economy by reducing the total demand for consumables, and limiting the disposal of these materials so that they can be reused on a regular basis. In addition, the meeting explored how the environmental footprint of various industries and key sectors like construction, food, packaging, and waste management can be reduced.

These efforts will build on the significant progress Dubai has made in reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to the circular economy. Since 2012, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s initiatives have helped raise the contribution of renewable energy sources to total production capacity to 9%. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy adopted the 2016-2021 Carbon Emissions Strategy to reduce emissions by 22%, and reduce energy and water consumption by 30%. In addition, the implementation of the single-use bag reduction policy was implemented in mid-2022, resulting in positive outcomes, apart from various other initiatives introduced by various government and private entities.

The Executive Council also approved the Green Procurement Policy, a key initiative to support the circular economy, which aims to stimulate the local supply chain, adopt more sustainable practices, broaden the use of sustainable materials, create a competitive environment, reduce the environmental footprint, and enhance financial efficiency, all of which will raise Dubai’s reputation as a city that uses its resources sustainably.

The Policy, which was piloted with several government entities to assess its practicality ahead of implementation, includes the development of measurable environmental and technical standards for procuring green products in line with Dubai’s efforts to boost environment protection and encourage the private sector to adopt green technology, green products, and green services, as well as high sustainability standards in all government procurement.

The Green Procurement Policy will focus on four categories for government purchases in its first phase of implementation: construction materials, information technology devices, lighting materials, and the waste management sector.

The Executive Council also approved a Shared Services function designed to improve the government's efforts to enhance Dubai’s business attractiveness. The concept focuses on providing proactive, specialised, and seamless services for customers and government entities, leading to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the government. The platform features a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the level of support services.

The Executive Council also directed all government information to be provided through a single communication channel. This move reflects the objectives of the 360 Services Policy, which the Council adopted in 2022 to further raise Dubai’s status as a leader in government services, strengthen quality and coordination mechanisms and raise the government’s financial efficiency.

Source: Hatem Mohamed, WAM (Emirates News Agency)

e& enterprise, part of e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group) today announced the implementation of a unique Microsoft solution powered by cutting-edge data technologies that enables companies of any size to define and implement their sustainability agenda and reduce their carbon emissions. .

The solution called ‘Microsoft Sustainability Manager’ is an extensible solution that unifies data intelligence and offers organisations an increasingly automated and comprehensive view into the emissions impact of their entire operations and value chain. It enables organisations to record and more accurately report their emissions, and continually test and optimise reduction strategies to reach their goals

Sustainability is one of the major pillars of the multi-year strategic partnership between e& enterprise and Microsoft. As part of the overall commitment of e& enterprise, it is focused on accelerating the implementation of sustainability services and solutions in the geographies, markets, and communities it serves.

e& enterprise has selected Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability solutions as the foundation for their Sustainability-as-a-Service offering, citing the platform's functionality, coverage of ESG topics, and flexibility. The synergies between e& enterprise wide ranging Smart City solutions portfolio, sustainability consultancy and the data-focused aspects of sustainability management position the company as a competent leader in the field.

With its Sustainability Consultancy practice, e& enterprise will help customers to comprehensively analyse their greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint across the value chain and develop a strategy of services and solutions to implement reduction measures and achieve certified reduction targets.

e& enterprise offers a wide range of solutions from its Smart City portfolio, including Solar Energy, Energy Management, apart from various other IoT solutions like Smart Buildings, Waste Management, etc. which focus on delivering outcomes like reducing operating costs and utility consumption.

e& enterprise also brings to its customers a Sustainability Center of Excellence, which helps govern and continuously operate all the services and solutions deployed, in order to ensure the fulfilment of sustainability objectives, while enhancing the strategy as the business of our customers grows.

"As a company we are committed to sustainability and innovation, specifically with our plans and ambitions aligned to support the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This offering aligns with our long term sustainability goals as well as those of our customers. By bringing this cutting-edge solution to market we will enable enterprises and government agencies to understand their carbon emissions and make a positive impact on the environment." said Alberto Araque, CEO, e& enterprise IoT and AI.

“With Microsoft Sustainability Manager, we're enabling organisations to gain continuous visibility into their emissions activities, reliably report their impact and progress in near real time, and access the intelligence required to collaborate with others to refine and scale sustainability initiatives and transform their business, end to end,” said Paco Salcedo, Enterprise and Commercial Lead, Microsoft Middle East and Africa.

The new solution will enable organisations to take a more data driven approach to sustainability management. By bringing together disparate data sources and providing near real time access to information, organisations can analyse, visualise and report impact and progress toward their goals at any stage of their sustainability journey.

Etisalat Group has changed its brand identity to e&, effective February 2022. Its strategy aims to accelerate growth through the creation of a resilient business model represented by group’s main business pillars.

The telecoms business currently continues to be led by etisalat by e& in the group’s home market and e& international markets, upholding the group’s rich telecoms heritage, bolstering the strong telecoms network and maximising value for the group’s various customer segments.

Ramping up the digital services for individuals to elevate their digital-driven lifestyle, e& life brings next-generation technologies through smart platforms in entertainment, retail and financial technology. e& enterprise focuses on maximising value through its end-to-end solutions in cybersecurity, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as deploying mega projects, in order to enable the digital transformation of governments, large-scale enterprises and corporates. e& capital allows the Group to focus its efforts on driving new investments while maximising shareholder value and strengthening the group’s global presence.

Source: WAM, Tariq Al Fahaam/ Hatem Mohamed

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has, for the first time, met 80 percent of total power demand in Abu Dhabi using renewable and clean energy from its solar and nuclear energy plants.

In the process, EWEC supplied approximately 6.2 gigawatts (GW) of the total 7.7GW system power demand.

The significant achievement to meet 80 percent of total power demand using renewable and clean energy reflects the realisation of the future vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to develop world-class systems and energy infrastructure.

EWEC is accelerating the strategic implementation of Abu Dhabi’s energy transition to reduce the reliance on hydrocarbons and decouple water production from power generation by investing in the development of utility-scale solar power and low-carbon intensive reverse osmosis (RO) water desalination projects.

By 2030, EWEC aims to raise Abu Dhabi’s solar power generation to approximately 7GW and produce more than 90 percent of its water using RO plants. EWEC’s strategy supports the realisation of the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Strategic Targets 2035 and UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, ultimately contributing to the achievement of UAE Net Zero by 2050 goals.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said, “EWEC is very proud to have successfully delivered such a high proportion of power demand from renewable and clean energy. Having supplied 60 percent of total power demand in December 2022 using renewable and clean sources, now meeting 80 percent in February 2023 is indicative of our at-pace deployment of sustainable energy and an example to the world of the UAE’s strategic net-zero ambitions in action in advance of COP28.

“Growth in our diverse portfolio of world-leading utility-scale renewable projects will play an integral role in accelerating the country’s energy transition and decarbonisation of the energy sector. We look forward to continued collaboration with our project partners as we pursue the advancement of a sustainable, efficient water and power supply in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.”

Easa Alzarooni, System Operations Executive Director at EWEC, said, “EWEC is forging ahead in 2023, the ‘Year of Sustainability’, with yet another key achievement by meeting over 80 percent of total power demand from solar and nuclear energy sources. This was enabled by the flexibility of System Operations, coordinating with other control centres across the UAE to provide integrated, sophisticated real-time applications, and advanced analytical capabilities and operational planning to balance supply demand with our sustainability goals.”

The delivery of renewable and clean energy was enabled by solar power generation connected to the grid, which includes power from Shams CSP, Noor Abu Dhabi, in addition to power from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. EWEC’s current and future renewable energy projects, combined with Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, are forecast to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent, from more than 40 million tonnes in 2020, to approximately 20 million tonnes by 2025.

Source: WAM, Tariq Al Fahaam/ Amjad Saleh

Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP) has inked a lease agreement with Yellow Door Energy for the development of a 4,382kW solar park project. Construction of the project is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023, and the project is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.

Over 7,600 solar panels will be installed for both rooftop and carport applications; once completed, the solar park is expected to produce 7.1m KW/h of clean energy in the first year of operation, which is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by 5,000 metric tonnes, the statement noted.

The TIP move comes as part of its celebration of ‘Year of Sustainability’ in UAE and in line with COP28’s objectives.

The agreement was signed by Faiz Saleh Al Nahdi, Managing Director and CEO of TIP, and Jeremy Crane, CEO of Yellow Door, in the presence of several senior officials from both sides at the Tawazun Council Chalet at IDEX.

In early June 2021, Majid Al Futtaim and Yellow Door Energy signed an agreement to build Bahrain’s largest private solar plant.

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of the Tawazun Council and Chairman of TIP, pointed out that sustainability was fundamental to the council and the Park’s strategies and operations.

He explained, “The initiative taken by TIP to expand the usage of renewable energy demonstrates our dedication to supporting the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy Plan and our keenness to strike a balance between industrial and technological progress and sustainable development.”

Al Nahdi added, “As the region’s premier defense and security park, we value security of all aspects and energy security is an integral part of our ethos. The 4.4MW solar lease with Yellow Door Energy will enable us to secure our energy supply from a clean and reliable source of electricity, lower our electricity bills and contribute to the Nation’s Clean Energy by 2050 Strategy.”

He noted that the plant project is a new milestone in the park’s sustainability strategy, promoting environmental preservation and reducing carbon emissions.

In late November 2021, Yellow Door Energy was awarded an ETG solar project in Dubai.

Crane remarked, “Yellow Door Energy is honoured to partner with TIP on this solar lease, in time to celebrate the Year of Sustainability and contribute to COP28’s objectives. Yellow Door Energy was founded in the UAE, and today we reaffirm our commitment to the nation by signing the solar lease in the capital.”

He concluded, “This is our first project in Abu Dhabi, and we look forward to providing more businesses in the emirate with affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for many years to come.”

Abu Dhabi has issued a general policy for managing and protecting the emirate’s groundwater, one of its main natural resources. Once implemented, the policy is expected to decrease groundwater extraction in the emirate by up to 650 million cubic metres by 2030. It is also expected to improve the groundwater quality index both locally and federally, and decrease the rate of water extraction compared to the feeding average, from 24-fold to 16-fold. The greater use of recycled water that is projected will also enhance feeding aquifers in areas that are used for irrigation – both in terms of quality and quantity.

Developed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the policy reviews the current state of groundwater in Abu Dhabi, while also looking at the challenges and implications of its depletion. In a statement, the EAD said the policy has been based on Law No. 5 of 2016 regarding the regulation of groundwater in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It aims to ensure the optimal use of groundwater while reducing waste, to build a comprehensive knowledge of groundwater resources, and to promote the use of sound irrigation techniques, methods and practices.

High consumption rate
Groundwater is one of Abu Dhabi’s major natural resources. The total percentage of fresh water that is used, which includes both surface water and fossil groundwater, is one of the indicators used to measure water scarcity. Scarcity measures also take into account non-conventional water sources like desalinated water and treated wastewater. Although the water scarcity index in the emirate is one of the lowest in the world, Abu Dhabi has one of the highest water consumption rates per capita. A large amount of groundwater resources are surface aquifers, which are the most common reservoirs in terms of use and productivity. Most of the groundwater reservoirs in the emirate are also non-renewable.

“Groundwater constitutes 60 per cent of the total water resources consumed in the emirate and is mainly used to irrigate crops in the agricultural sector, and – to a lesser extent – to irrigate crops in forests and parks. Depletion is one of most significant groundwater challenges, as it exceeds normal feed rates. This depletion causes a decline in groundwater levels and a deterioration in quality in many areas, as 79 per cent of water has become highly saline, 18 per cent of it being medium brackish water, while only three per cent is considered fresh water,” said Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD secretary-general.

Risks of depletion
“The deterioration of groundwater quality affects its use, especially in the agricultural sector, which plays an important role in achieving food security and stimulating relevant economic activities. Resorting to other water sources such as desalinated and recycled water induces other economic effects, requiring investments for transportation and distribution. In addition, the increase in groundwater salinity means the need to maintain and replace irrigation networks – adding further costs and burdens for farmers,” she explained.

From an environmental point of view, the deterioration of groundwater quality and levels increases the agricultural sector’s dependence on small desalination plants, which, in turn, causes various environmental impacts, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Al Dhaheri said this new policy will help Abu Dhabi adopt and take necessary measures to ensure integrated and effective use of the emirate’s various water resources through sustainable management, regulation, management, and monitoring of groundwater.

EAD supervision
The policy will be implemented in Abu Dhabi under EAD’s supervision, supported by consultation, coordination and cooperation with other authorities in the public and private sectors. It will also be supported by analysis of the economic, social, environmental, technical, health, and organisational impacts, based on a systematic approach to help achieve its objectives.

Source: Gulf News, Samihah Zaman

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) announced that it had saved five million sheets of paper in 2022 through its ongoing Al Ghaf paperless programme. This initiative supported the bank in eliminating paper usage significantly at branches through digital banking solutions.

As part of ADIB’s 2025 growth strategy, Al Ghaf Programme underlines the bank’s commitment to pioneer climate action in Islamic banking, optimising banking operations, and enhancing customer experience.

ADIB reached the target without an additional budget by improving the bank’s operations, such as the ADIB’s private banking feature that allows customers to instantly open a personal bank account.

Speaking on the occasion, Samih Awadalla, Acting Global Head of Retail Banking Group at ADIB, said, “This initiative is a significant part of ADIB’s environmental and sustainable business strategy. It reinforces our commitment to reduce carbon footprint, enhance our customer experience, and ensure further security and efficiency in banking operations.”

“With the UAE’s focus on sustainability this year, this result is a timely step forward for ADIB in contributing to the national efforts to achieve net-zero. We are confident that through our strengthened business model, we will continue to build on this positive momentum in the year ahead.”

Al Ghaf initiative is an ongoing process to optimise the bank’s operations and make branches paperless.