Industry Spotlight Archives - Page 5 of 13

Shaping the Future of the Events Industry

Posted on March 30, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

ESMOS Recruitment, the company lauded as the ‘Event’s Recruitment Specialists of the Year’ in 2022 for Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, has secured notoriety as a partner to its clients’ businesses and careers over the past year. Despite being a relatively young company, it is no stranger to operating in times of turmoil and has been a critical touchstone in helping professionals in events management and creation to adapt to the changing modern paradigm, guiding new talent and experienced industry heavyweights alike.

A distinctive, highly targeted consultancy service, ESMOS Recruitment specialises in recruitment for the events industry focusing on the three core pillars that make up any good event. Aiding a client in securing good sales, marketing, and operations, this relatively young company – having only found its feet in March of 2021 – has been making waves amongst the events planning industry, leading recruitment across these verticals in order to provide exemplary permanent placements. Nominally, by doing this, it maintains the talent pool of new and passionate people coming into its industry, delivering effective solutions through personalised and professional services that go hand in hand with a transparent, proactive, ethical, and client centric approach.

It fosters human connection between an employee and their prospective placement in this manner. Fundamentally, by drilling down into this relationship development as a core tenant of its business, it promotes healthy, sustainable, and compatible teams that will work together exceedingly well to make an event run swimmingly, ensuring that the person fits the placement and vice versa. Over the past year of recruiting specifically for the events sector, ESMOS has built solid foundations and a robust reputation amongst candidates, placing them in key leadership positions across the industry and setting it in good stead with professionals across its relevant verticals.

Additionally, working with key, high-profile clients within the local and regional exhibition markets, as well as the conference markets, it serves the world’s leading B2B exhibition organisers and government owned entities, making the recruitment experience smooth, seamless, and transitional for all involved. It regularly engages with all its clients for a quarterly headcount and talent sourcing purpose, maintaining an open dialogue built on mutual trust. This, in essence, has all contributed to making it a lifelong business and career partner for many, ESMOS appreciating and respecting the trust its clients put in it to be a guiding hand in their professional life.

ESMOS appreciates the importance of building relationships with the people and businesses it represents. Critically, from screening to placement, it believes in a transactional approach to recruitment that suits all parties, putting the development of a positive dynamic between the company and candidate back at the forefront of concerns when it comes to hiring fresh talent. Having launched shortly after returning from lockdown, ESMOS and its staff are undaunted by challenge, as it has been working throughout one of the toughest times yet to face the modern world. Helping the events industry move into the new modern epoch that is starting to take shape, it has joined its clients at the start of a journey through uncharted waters and is dedicated to helping them rebuilt in a way that will prepare them for the changes and opportunities ahead.

For further information, please contact Mark Benaicha or visit esmosrecruitment.com

Nigeria Takes the Lead in Exploration, Production and Regulation in 2022

Posted on March 25, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

Nigeria represents one of Africa’s heavyweights when it comes to hydrocarbon exploration and production. With over 36 billion barrels of oil (bbl) and 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the country has managed to position itself as both an attractive upstream market and competitive producer. In its Q1 2022 outlook, The State of African Energy, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) contends that Nigeria will maintain its position as one of Africa’s leading crude oil producers as well as one of the continent’s top three gas suppliers between 2022 and 2025, providing an opportunity for the west African country to leverage its energy resources for economic growth while addressing global energy demand.

According to the outlook, Nigeria will produce 1.46 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil out of the 6.35 million bpd that Africa as a whole will produce during the year, reaffirming the country’s position as a continental energy hub as production in the west African state peaks in 2023. Production declines in mature oilfields coupled with the country’s reliance on offshore basins – approximately 65% of the crude oil Nigeria currently produces sourced from offshore projects – has highlighted the need for Nigeria to increase oil exploration and production to maintain a secure supply as legacy projects diminish and thereby shrink the country’s production capacity from 2023 onwards. Out of the 36 bbl of oil reserves Nigeria holds, just over 25% is currently produced from deep water projects, underlining a huge opportunity for Nigeria to expand partnerships and investment to ramp up production and increase its role in both the continental and global energy landscape.

“The recent $1.2 billion deal between Nigeria’s Seplat Energy and American energy firm ExxonMobil, in which the multinational will continue with its deep-water projects whilst handing over onshore projects, is an indication of the huge potential the country’s offshore projects have in the near future in addressing energy needs as energy consumption increases. By increasing focus on these projects, accelerating exploration and production in key basins, Nigeria has the ability to unleash its full energy potential,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

In order to consolidate its position as a global producer, the Nigerian government needs to fast-forward the approval process for deep-water projects and put in place policies that reduce taxes for operators, the majority of which are international majors that have partnered with national oil companies, to ensure more projects come online through 2025 for a continued stable supply of crude oil.

More investments are also required within the country’s downstream sector with inadequate infrastructure slowing down oil production and increasing Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports. Nigeria imports up to 1.25 million metric tons per month of gasoline due to inadequate domestic refining capacity. Accordingly, the $12 billion Dangote refinery project in Lagos, slated to kickstart operations during Q4 of 2022 with a processing capacity of 540,000 barrels per day and partly owned by state-company the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, is an example of the willingness of Nigeria to set itself as an oil heavyweight while expanding its oil and gas capabilities to meet domestic, regional and global energy needs.

Meanwhile on the gas front, the AEC outlook shows that Nigeria has also retained its spot amongst Africa’s main gas producers in 2022. An annual production capacity of 1,450 billion cubic feet is expected as the country recovers from 2020 low production levels. Existing gas producing fields, as well as those currently under development, are expected to sustain the country’s gas production through to 2025. Despite factors such as vandalism of infrastructure which are restraining optimal gas and oil exportation, as well as the high costs and emission rates associated with deep-water projects driving majors to diversify their portfolios, greenfield investments in Nigeria and its African counterparts will increase capital expenditure across the continent to $30 billion in 2022, providing an opportunity for new projects to come online and for leading hydrocarbon producers such as Nigeria to modernize and build new infrastructure as well as expand exploration and production.

Nigeria is positioned to lead African investment with proven oil and gas reserves as well as a reformed regulatory landscape making the sector increasingly attractive for foreign capital. The implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in 2021 by the Nigerian government, for example, provides regulatory clarity on royalties and other issues that have previously made it difficult for oil and gas E&P companies and downstream market players to expand investments within the country’s market. Now, with the implementation of the PIB, Nigeria is better positioned, now more than ever, to attract investments and accelerate development in 2022 and beyond.

The AEC’s annual conference, African Energy Week (AEW), taking place from October 18-21, 2022, in Cape Town, will not only highlight post-PIB opportunities in Nigeria, but will make a strong case for the role the country plays in both the African and global energy landscape. Through a range of investor-specific forums, market-driven panel discussions, and ministerial summits, AEW 2022 will discuss exploration, production and regulation, with dialogue centered around how Africa’s oil and gas sector can make energy poverty history by 2030.

Saudi Arabia Announces 60 Water Projects Worth SR35bln at MENA Desalination Projects Forum 2022

Posted on March 17, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

The Forum examines the depth of the situation in water scarcity and desalination projects and discuss way forward – in line with the climate change target and reduction in emissions by 2030 and 2050
Saudi Arabia announced more than 60 water projects, worth SR35 billion (US$9.33 billion), that will cement the Kingdom’s position as the world’s largest water desalination market;
In 2020, Saudi Arabia approved 11 Independent Water Projects (IWPs) and 9 Independent Sewage Treatment Projects (ISTPs);
In 2021, the country approved 8 IWPPS, 14 Independent Strategic Water Reservoir (ISWR) projects and 7 Small Sewerage Treatment Plant (SSTP) project clusters;
There are more than $5.5 billion of water projects currently under construction. Saudi Arabia has adopted Public-Private-Partnerships as a procurement strategy, with 70 per cent of its water processing infrastructure projects procured on this basis.

Saudi Arabia announced more than 60 water projects, worth SR35 billion (US$9.33 billion), that will cement the Kingdom’s position as the world’s largest water desalination market, a top official told delegates at the 3rd MENA Desalination Projects Forum 2022 that got underway at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel.

“Saudi Arabia has been increasing its investment in clean energy, power and water. In the water sector, we have integrated the water desalination and wastewater treatment and have been expanding our capacities across the industry,” Engineer Khaled Al Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), said in his keynote address.

“We have been increasing the number of water projects over the last few years. In 2020, our organisation approved 11 Independent Water Projects (IWPs) and 9 Independent Sewage Treatment Projects (ISTPs), while last year we approved 8 IWPPS, 14 Independent Strategic Water Reservoir (ISWR) projects and 7 Small Sewerage Treatment Plant (SSTP) project clusters.

“However, I am happy to announce that this year, we have approved more than 60 water and sewerage projects, worth more than SR35 billion, that will increase water desalination capacity as well as increase strategic water reserves and the capacity to treat more wastewater in the coming years.”

Once completed, these projects will increase the desalination capacity to 7.5 million cubic metres of water per day by 2027, from 2.54 cubic metres per day in 2021 – nearly tripling the capacity in just six years.

Saudi Arabia’s National Water Strategy published in 2018, adopted a sustainable approach to the water sector, committing to safeguarding the natural resources and the environment of the Kingdom and providing cost-effective supply and high-quality services

“We are developing strategic water reserves that should supply enough water to Saudi consumers in case of emergency. By 2029, we plan to raise the capacity to hold 45.7 million cubic metres of water – that will serve the entire country for a few days, if the water supply stops for some reason, he said.

“We are developing a network of 147 SSTPs with 14,925 kilometres of wastewater collection network that will recycle a large amount of wastewater across the country.”

SWPC, one of the leaders in public-private partnership projects in the GCC, has successfully achieved financial close of US$2.5 billion (SR9.4 billion) during the last two years.

Saudi Arabia’s population is expected to grow from 35 million in 2021 to around 40 million by 2026. This growth in the population will put pressure on basic infrastructure. Being an arid country, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in its water infrastructure.

There are more than $5.5 billion of water projects currently under construction. Saudi Arabia has adopted Public-Private-Partnerships as a procurement strategy, with 70 per cent of its water processing infrastructure projects procured on this basis.

Investment in the desalination projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has increased substantially in recent years and accounts 48 percent of global desalination projects, with further investments expected to spur the market to $4.3 billion by 2022, according to the MENA Desalination Market report by Ventures Onsite, which tracks construction projects in the region.

Seawater desalination now contributes to more than 90 percent of all daily water requirements in the GCC region, according to a report. Desalination capacity of GCC countries is expected to grow further by approximately 37 percent during the next five years, with investments of up to $100 billion, according to reports. The global desalination market is predicted to grow from $17.7 billion in 2020 to $32.1 billion by 2027.

The news comes as 3rd MENA Desalination Projects Forum takes off today at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel, UAE, that examines the depth of the situation in water scarcity and desalination projects and discuss way forward – in line with the climate change target and reduction in emissions by 2030 and 2050.

More than 150 C-Suite Executives (CEOs and MDs) including more than 30 speakers, panelists are participating at the conference and exhibition where more than 30 exhibitors and sponsors display the latest innovation and technologies at the two-day event.

The MENA region contains more than 6.3 percent of the world’s population, but less than 1 percent of global water resources. Making up the predicted MENA water deficit in 2025 will require the production of an additional 237 billion cubic metres of potable water. By 2050, water scarcity could cost MENA between 6-14 percent of the entire region’s GDP each year.

In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that commercial operations on the Jubail 3A independent water producer (IWP) project will commence in the last quarter of 2022.

Countries within the MENA region will add an estimated 20GW of solar capacity and 5-6GW of wind by 2025. The global desalination market is predicted to grow from $17.7 billion in 2020 to $32.1 billion by 2027.

Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management and organizer of the 3rd MENA Desalination Projects Forum, says, “The depth of the water scarcity is getting from bad to worse. The governments of the MENA countries are seeking alternative ways to generate clean water, without harming the environment. Although there are new sustainable sources of generating water, such as from air, desalination still now remains one of the most viable sources to feed large communities. That way, the Middle East Desalination Projects Forum is one of the most important industry conferences that highlights the challenges as well as opportunities.

“We are happy to curate such an important industry conference and bring all the major stakeholders in this important event where senior government officials, private businesses, contracting companies, project consultants and water experts will discuss key issues such as new technology, reducing the cost of desalination, sustainability and energy efficiency at the two-day conference.

“Great Minds Event Management brings some of the strategically important industry events that are crucial for the future development of economy and society of the MENA region.”

Exhibitors, partners and sponsors were seen networking with key government utilities to participate in the new projects, which is going to help the industry expand in the next few years.

Rory Weaver, Marketing Director, FEDCO, said, “The Middle East is leading the way for the desalination industry in delivering larger projects than ever, at water tariffs that were unimaginable just a few years ago. The MENA Desal Forum is a crucial space to share the expertise and experience necessary to drive further innovation for the industry.”

The 3rd MENA Desalination Projects Forum is supported by Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure – UAE, Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi, Saudi Water Partnership Company – KSA, Saudi Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) – KSA, Water Authority of Jordan, Emirates Water and Electricity Co (EWEC) – Abu Dhabi, Moroccan National Company of Drinking Water and Sanitation, RAK Municipality, Palestinian Water Authority, Water Alliance, International Water Management Institute, Sustainable Water Power Consultants, among others.

The Vibrant Lifestyle Destination Is Driven By Some of the Region’s Greatest Female Entrepreneurs

Posted on March 8, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

Introducing the inspiring women of Al Seef Village Abu Dhabi

With it being International Women’s Day today, Al Seef Village Abu Dhabi is honouring the achievements of the many brilliant women who have helped make the destination the vibrant, exciting and entertaining place it is today.

Home to multiple restaurants, cafes, boutiques and lifestyle brands, numerous innovative and ground-breaking venues at the family-friendly mall are led by powerful, intelligent and inspiring women.

From Rima Zanoun, the creative founder of MAKAW Fine Chocolate, to Marjon Andesha, Executive Chef and founder of Nolu’s, the city’s favourite homegrown healthy eating restaurant, the women of Al Seef are proud to #BreakTheBias and build towards a world that is free from stereotypes and discrimination.

Marjon Andesha, Executive Chef and Founder of Nolu’s

Raised in Afghanistan and California, Marjon’s diverse upbringing led to her develop a unique and eclectic approach to cooking and cuisine. After relocating to Abu Dhabi from California in 2004, she launched her first Nolu’s restaurant in 2010.

Combining laid-back Californian dishes with the authentic smoky flavours of Afghani cuisine, the concept was an instant hit and she now manages seven locations within Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including Raw by Nolu’s at Al Seef Village Mall, and there are another six more in the pipeline, too.

Boasting a casual and approachable ambiance and offering traditional recipes served with a modern and contemporary twist, Marjon’s extensive menus encompass everything from healthy salad bowls to traditional kabobs.

An abbreviation of her children’s names, Noah and Lujayn, Nolu’s is a passion project that Marjon is proud to nurture every day.

To find out more, please visit www.nolusrestaurants.com.

Salama Khalifa, founder of Soil

At just 30 years old, Emirati Salama Khalifa is the proud owner of organic and healthy food brand Soil. Designed to help people adopt a clean-living lifestyle and embrace the joy of healthy eating, she launched her business as a small kiosk back in 2016. Now, she operates two locations in Abu Dhabi, at Al Seef Village Mall and New York University, as well as a comprehensive online store. Her offerings encompass over 300 natural retail grocery products, a menu of healthy food and drinks, and cold-pressed juices that are available to be bought in bulk.

Passionate about health and wellbeing from a young age, her family were often forced to import basic supplies such as dairy-free milk and gluten free crackers from overseas. So, frustrated by the lack of organic options available locally and inspired by her own struggles to find clean, allergen-free food products in the UAE, she decided to launch her own health-food company, Soil.

To find out more please email [email protected] or visit www.soilstore.com.

Rima Zanoun, founder of MAKAW Chocolate

Rima is a creative and passionate entrepreneur with a vast array of experience in business, life coaching and mentorship.

On a mission to spread happiness to the people of Abu Dhabi and help them gain uplifting new experiences, the powerful business lady has poured all her creativity and skills into creating the world of MAKAW Fine Chocolate.

A multi-sensory destination that invites guests to indulge in decadent, heart-warming chocolates and confectionary, MAKAW specializes in imaginative and magical French chocolates that are filled with subtle creative flavours and luxurious little touches.

Inspired by the vibrant and majestic nature of Makaw parrots, Rima believes that “all businesses sell feelings through the stories they tell”. Above all else, she wants to make customers feel happy and content and show them what amazing taste sensations can be crafted out of quality cocoa beans.

To find out more about MAKAW Fine Chocolate, visit www.makaw.ae.

African Amusement Industry Operators Must Visit DEAL 2022 for Latest Concepts In Entertainment

Posted on February 25, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

African family entertainment centers, theme parks, and waterparks operators will stand to gain from the upcoming DEAL 2022 as it will showcase some of the most innovative and creative entertainment concepts. The 28th edition of the show is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Dubai World Trade Centre, during March 28^th-30^th. For more information on DEAL please log on to www.DEALmiddleeastshow.com.

“Africa as a continent is evolving and so are the economies within it. The millennials are looking for the latest entertainment concepts and they want to have the best entertainment destinations within their countries. Their tastes and preferences are changing each day and they want to be at the forefront of the latest immersive entertainment concepts. With this change in behaviour they also need engaging and immersive experiences to support their entertainment appetite. This has given rise to new gaming concepts such as VR and now they are further engaged by robots who can serve them food and beverages. DEAL 2022 is one such trade show that will help the African operators to meet with this burgeoning demand,” stated Sharif Rahman, CEO of International Expo Consults (IEC).

With 300 plus exhibitors from across 45 plus countries, DEAL 2022 is all set to bring the industry leaders and showcase concepts that are developed with the current requirements of the fast-paced generation.

“Africa’s population is set to grow to 2.3 billion by 2050. In contrast to the rest of the world, however, its booming population is getting younger. Experts believe that the next big thing for the entertainment and leisure industry especially in the African region would be driven by virtual reality technology. Several DEAL 2022 exhibitors from across the globe would be showcasing a plethora of concepts that the African FECs and Amusement operators to choose from. Soon theme park enthusiasts strapped with VR paraphernalia, will enter worlds that were literally impossible to recreate,” added Mr.Rahman.

IEC CEO further stated that, “This is a great business opportunity for mall owners, real estate developers and other stakeholders in Africa, planning to launch or grow their unique projects embedded with a gaming / entertainment zone. DEAL 2022 will provide the right platform to create a win-win-win situation for the exhibitors, visitors and the end consumers who will experience these amazing concepts.”

On the growth of the virtual reality concepts, Mr. Rahman, stated that,“ Today, the entertainment aspect is an integral part of any retail megamall. The key reason is to increase the footfall of people and eventually increase sales. The African stakeholders who visit DEAL can also visit the VR Parks in UAE to know the potential and also to know how they are growing their revenues. The facility can remain the same, however, the software and the games need to be upgraded and changed which is not as expensive as changing the whole interiors of the facility. In Dubai, there are many options for VR based rides in Virtual Worlds, Magic Planet among others, an exclusive VR Park in Dubai Mall has changed the face of entertainment in the city”.

DEAL 2022 will take place within the mega World EXPO 2020 Dubai calendar months which is scheduled between 1^st of October 2021 and 31^st March 2022. The DEAL show organisers urge the participating exhibitors to plan their trip in advance to also witness this multi-billion-dollar event.

UAE to Fortify World’s Food Security and Climate Change Drive with the Opening of Food for Future Summit and Global Agtech Expo

Posted on February 22, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

Ministers from Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Europe to feature in the speaker line-up
Event propels UAE into global challenge leadership role

Dubai will be front and centre of the global food security and climate change drive when the first-of-its kind Food for Future Summit and Global Agtech Expo open at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo 2020 Dubai on Wednesday 23 February.

Hosted by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as strategic partner, the inaugural summit and expo have attracted scores of world leaders and food and agriculture innovators for a timely and vital gathering designed to facilitate action for tackling food security and its climate impact.

The summit comes as governments and the global food ecosystem look to address an impending agricultural shortfall in feeding a growing global population, anticipated to cross 10 billion by 2050.

With over 100 global leaders, policymakers, 50 start-up innovators and over 140 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, to share trends and solutions, the ‘Food for Future’ Global Leadership Symposium, featuring a keynote address by H.E. Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, will strongly reinforce the country’s status as an industry enabler.

The partnership with FAO – the first time in the MENA region a government ministry has come together with the UN organisation in an issues-focused think tank – underlines the UAE’s leadership in addressing global food security and the climate change agenda by bringing local and international ministerial delegations and leading NGO executives under one roof.

The powerful speaker line-up includes Ban Ki-moon, 8^th UN Secretary-General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre, Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the City of Milan, who will address the gathering virtually. On stage, ministers and ministerial representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Lebanon, Spain, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, amongst others, will be joined by leading officials from the UN, FAO, the World Bank, World Food Programme, AGRA, CGIAR, Irish Food Board, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Singapore Food Agency, as well as C-suite from multi-national food producers.

With over 130 hours of empowering content featuring more than 200 speakers and 14 ministers, the summit will include FAO MENA Agrifood Innovation Days to foster public-private sector engagement in transforming the region’s agrifood systems. The FAO will hold two high-level sessions on Committee on World Food Security Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition, and Trade, Innovation and Technology as Enablers for Food Security.

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East, and North Africa, Abdulhakim Elwaer, said the Innovation Days will bring cities and municipalities, academia, and civil society together in a common goal. He said: ‘Innovation is a key driver — it helps in transforming our agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.’

The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens based in Vienna will also be at the Summit to, in the words of its CEO Monika Froehler, represent a ‘wide environmental portfolio.’

‘Climate change affects agriculture, food and the stability of food systems leading to hunger and poverty. Not all communities have the same capacity to adapt to climate change, and those in fragile areas and living in poverty are most vulnerable. As we work together to strengthen global food security and increase agricultural development aid, we must champion climate-resilient agriculture and smallholder farmers,’ said Ms. Froehler.

The summit will also host ‘Making It Happen’ sessions, bringing industry leaders together to focus on regional innovation and technology-enhanced agriculture and supply chain to make farming more efficient and sustainable. The sessions will explore end-to-end IoT solutions to drone and satellite monitoring, robotics, AI and supply chain with Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to optimise food production along the value chain and reduce waste.

Empowering Community Change

The summit’s Generation Food stage will host workshops spanning topics related to food for the future global population. The interactive sessions will highlight expert views on how food can be more sustainably and healthily produced, improved, and consumed. The stage will also be home to the ‘Thought for Food MENA Challenge’ start-up showcasing ambitious entrepreneurs will vie for a cash award to progress their innovations.

The ’Food for Future’ and ‘Global Agritech’ shows will see exhibitors display the technology and methodology for future food production and waste reduction, opening rich business opportunities. They will also feature the region’s first FoodWise Challenge for schools and universities and see 170 young food system transformers from 11 countries pitch their solutions in the TFF 2022 MENA Agri-Food-Tech Challenge pitch their innovations for funding support.

‘Food for Future Summit and Global Agtech Expo will be a watershed moment in the evolution of public-private sector commitment to change,’ said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the event organisers. ‘It will be an empowering event inspiring a radical food security rethink by uniting the industry, governments and NGOs to ensure a food secure world.’

Businesses Must Rethink Growth Strategies As People Examine Relationships With Work, Technology, Brands and the Planet

Posted on February 16, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

Finds Accenture’s Annual Fjord Trends Report 2022, which investigates human behaviors that will affect culture, society and business in the coming year

Nearly two years of disruption to the fabric of society has resulted in a collective shift in people’s relationships with work, consumerism, technology and the planet, pushing companies to design new ways of doing business, according to the annual Fjord Trends report from Accenture.

In its 15^th year, Accenture Interactive’s latest Fjord Trends report provides practical guidance as companies look to deliver value and relevance to their customers, employees and society.

According to the report, newly identified behaviors will challenge businesses to rethink their approach to design, innovation and growth as a result of the shifts in employee expectations and mindset, scarcity caused by disrupted supply chains, and new virtual environments such as the metaverse.

“Don’t underestimate the degree of relationship change we are seeing — or the role of business in responding to it,” said Mark Curtis, head of global innovation and thought leadership at Accenture Interactive. “The choices that businesses make next might affect our world and its structure in more ways than we can imagine, and it all points to shifts in people’s relationships — with colleagues, brands, society, places and with those they care about. There are challenging times ahead, but also great opportunities for businesses to stitch together positive relationships to create a fabric of life that is good for people, society and the planet.”

Fjord Trends 2022 investigates human behaviors that will affect culture, society and business in the coming year

Fjord Trends 2022 dives into five human behaviors and trends bound to affect society, culture and business:

Come as you are: The growing sense of agency that people have over their lives two years into the pandemic is affecting the way they work, relate and consume. People are questioning who they are and what matters to them. The rising individualism underlined by a “me over we” mentality has profound implications for organizations in how they lead their employees, how they shape a new employee value proposition, and how they nurture company-customer relationships.
The end of abundance thinking?: Over the past year, many have experienced empty shelves, rising energy bills, and shortages in everyday services. While supply chain shortages might be a temporary challenge, the impact will persist and lead to a shift in ‘abundance thinking’ – built on availability, convenience and speed – to greater consciousness about the environment. Businesses must address the availability anxiety experienced by many around the world.
The next frontier: A cultural explosion waiting to happen, the metaverse will be a new frontier of the internet, combining all the existing layers of information, interfaces and spaces with which people interact. It offers a new place to make money, is creating new job types, and offers infinite brand possibilities that people will expect businesses to help build and navigate. And it won’t just exist through screens and headsets — it will also be about real-world experiences and places that interact with the digital world.
This much is true: People now expect to ask and have questions answered at the touch of a button or through a brief exchange with a voice assistant. The fact that it’s so easy and immediate means people are asking more questions. For brands, the range of customer questions and the number of channels for asking them is growing constantly. How to answer them is a major design challenge, a critical driver for trust, and a future source of competitive advantage.
Handle with care: Care became more prominent this past year in all its forms: self-care, care for others, the service of care, and the channels to deliver care, both digital and physical. This is creating opportunities and challenges for employers and brands, regardless of their health or medical credentials. The responsibilities around caring for ourselves and others will continue to be prioritized in our lives. Designers and businesses alike need to make space for being able to practice care.

“As consumers overhaul all of their relationships, brands will be faced with two big responsibilities: taking care of the world today while also building its future in a way that’s good for the planet, for business and for society,” said David Droga, CEO and creative chairman of Accenture Interactive. “The key lies within deeply understanding the impacts of those relationships and aspirations and converting them into potent business strategies that drive relevance and growth.”

Each year, Accenture publishes a trilogy of trend reports, offering a comprehensive view into the future of people, technology, and business. Fjord Trends, which is focused on customer behavior and its resulting impact on society, culture and business for the coming year, is crowdsourced from across Accenture Interactive’s global network of 2,000+ designers and innovators in more than 40 locations.

Best Eco-Friendly Waste Food Disposal Solution 2021 LFC® Biodigester – Power Knot

Posted on February 16, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

Recognized as the Best Eco- Friendly Waste Food Disposal Solution, Power Knot’s LFC Biodigester is renowned for disposing of food matter waste within 24 hours. The company, alongside Power Knot Middle East, has recently collaborated with Microsoft Dubai to create the first solar-powered biodigester in the world.

Power Knot is the market leader for onsite organic waste management solutions and provides economically sound solutions solutions to commercial, industrial, and military companies implementing environmentally conscious changes within their businesses by reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Power Knot manufactures the internationally recognized, fully enclosed automatic waste digester called the LFC biodigester. By offering its LFC biodigester, Power Knot is introducing ways to achieve corporate sustainability goals while optimizing operations – this also saves a huge amount of money for each customer.

Manufactured in the USA, the LFC biodigester is a machine that digests food waste in an environmentally friendly way. Usually installed in a commercial kitchen, the machine reduces expenses, inconvenience, mess, and carbon footprint by disposing of waste food that would otherwise end up in landfill. Power Knot offers ten different sizes that digest from 9kg (20lb) per day to 3,000kg (6,600lb) per day of food waste. With many hundreds of installations globally, the LFC biodigester has proven to be reliable, safe, and cost-effective.

The LFC biodigester plays a significant role in the reduction of landfill waste, while also enabling companies to comply with new environmental laws, achieve corporate sustainability, reduce greenhouse gasses, and optimize operations. The food waste digester machine uses a series of processes that include microorganisms to break down food and transform it into liquid. By using the LFC biodigester, companies can save the space and energy that would normally be used to remove the unwanted food scraps from their facility, with there being no need to collect, transport, or pile it up in a landfill. For its innovation and technology, MEA Market has awarded the LFC biodigester the Best Eco-Friendly Waste Food Disposal Solution 2021 Award.

Most recently, Microsoft Dubai joins Dubai Municipality, Beeah, RAK Waste Management Authority Headquarters, DULSCO and Accor group, Hilton, Marriott, Rotana, and Mandarin Hotel Group in utilizing an LFC biodigester as their food waste solution. The Dubai office has implemented an exciting initiative: a solar-powered LFC biodigester for their restaurant. Microsoft purchased the LFC biodigester to help it achieve its goals of becoming carbon-negative, water-positive, and zero-waste by 2030. The digestate that the machine outputs is then used as a plant-organic fertilizer to create an even better working environment.

James Spearman, the UAE Sustainability lead at Microsoft commented, “By implementing the biodigester system here in our Dubai office, we’re able to process our food waste locally, directly contributing to those three goals and making our office and, ultimately, the planet, a more sustainable place to work.”

For further information about Power Knot, please visit powerknot.com

New Zealand’s Leadership in Sustainable Food System Shines During Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week at Expo 2020 Dubai

Posted on February 10, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

New Zealand policy makers, experts and innovators will lead the global call for collaboration to solve the challenge of sustainably feeding future generations.
Attended by Hon. Damien O’Conner, Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Trade and Export Growth – New Zealand Government (virtually), Hon. Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Food Safety, New Zealand Government (virtually), Dr. Suzie Newman, Head – International Development & Aid, Plant and Food Research (New Zealand), Sharl Liebergreen, Consultant, AbacusBio (New Zealand), Sue Bidrose, CEO, AgResearch (virtually), Volker Kuntzsch, CEO, Cawthron (virtually)

New Zealand has partnered with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry to deliver Expo 2020 Dubai’s Thematic Business Forum on 21 February during Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week. New Zealand G2G, a joint venture between New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), has led the engagement for New Zealand.

The Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Business Forum will convene leaders across governments, businesses and the science community to discuss how to sustainably grow food to meet future demand. They aim to address the urgent need to transform the world’s food and agricultural systems to feed 10 billion people by 2050, within environmental limits.

H.E. Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, will give a keynote address on advancing the global transition to sustainable food systems as well as provide insight into the climate priorities identified by the newly formed Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate).

H.E. Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Essa Abdul Rahman Al Hashemi, Head of the UAE Food and Water Security Office (UAE), will share progress updates on the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy, and give insight into how the UAE and New Zealand are collaborating to identify more sustainable uses of water resources for local crops.

Other topics being covered during the forum include the importance of public-private collaborations in the global agricultural ecosystem, effective use of resources for farmers, modern food safety systems, livestock productivity, and the role of technology in solving challenges to global food systems.

New Zealand was selected by Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Chamber to co-curate the business forum because of its leadership in sustainable food systems, smart applied science and proven track record of producing high value products. New Zealand is recognised globally as one of the most progressive agricultural and aqua cultural nations – its food sector feeds around 40 million global consumers each year, eight times its population.

A delegation of some of New Zealand’s top experts in sustainable food systems will lead discussions during the forum and showcase examples of joint research initiatives that are supporting a more reliable supply of nutritious food to the global population. Among them are:

Damien O’Conner, Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Trade and Export Growth – New Zealand Government (available virtually). He will discuss the transition to positive food systems and how natural resources can be utilised sustainably.

Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Food Safety, New Zealand Government (available virtually). She can provide an overview of the importance of a robust and international standards-based food safety system – from policy, to regulation and operational systems designed to reduce risk and waste, and enhance export capabilities.

Suzie Newman, Head – International Development & Aid, Plant and Food Research (New Zealand), takes a closer look at how small-hold farmers can use resources more effectively to enhance yields and economic returns. She will be joined by project leads from current field work cases in India and Vietnam.

Sharl Liebergreen, Consultant at world-leading agribusiness consulting firm AbacusBio (New Zealand), will be joined by Dr. Mamdouh Alsharari, Deputy Director General – Animal Production General Department, at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Their discussion will focus on sharing best practice to solve challenges around improving long-term productivity of local livestock in KSA.

Joining the Business Forum virtually, will be Sue Bidrose, CEO of AgResearch – a leading New Zealand Crown Research Institute, as well as Volker Kuntzsch, CEO, of Cawthron – New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation. Bidrose will join the discussion on modern food safety systems while Kuntzsch will discuss the role of technology, governments and businesses in reshaping the future of food and agriculture.

Several other New Zealand Agritech companies will also present during the Business Forum and attend the Future Food Summit taking place from 23 to 24 February at Expo’s Dubai Exhibition Centre. Among them are Gallagher, a global leader in the innovation, manufacture and marketing of animal management, security, fuel systems and contract manufacturing solutions, who will speak about their virtual fencing solution eShepherd^TM; and LIC, a herd improvement and agri-technology co-operative that empowers farmers through the delivery of superior genetics and technology- including using satellites for pasture evaluation. For more details about full New Zealand delegation attending Expo’s Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week, visit New Zealand Agritech in the UAE | NZTE.

When: 21 February 2021
Where: Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) Hall 1 North, Expo 2020 Dubai

Other New Zealand activities during Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week:

New Zealand’s leadership in sustainable food systems and agritech innovations will be shared throughout the thematic week at Expo 2020 Dubai with a number of the country’s foremost scientific experts presenting at World Majlis events.

New Zealand Experts at World Majlis Events
Food Agriculture and Livelihoods Week, Expo 2020 Dubai
Kelvin Wickham
CEO AMENA Fonterra

Farms of the Future: Feeding the Planet with Technology
Australia Pavilion
17 February, 4-6pm

By 2050 we will need to feed two billion more people. How can the world ensure the availability of food while simultaneously cutting down on the environmental harm caused by agriculture? What future innovations will help farms be more productive, while reducing their environmental impact?

Associate Professor Miranda Mirosa, Department of Food Science, University of Otago New Zealand …together with Louise Nash, Founder and CEO of Circularity.

The Value of Food: Rethinking the Cycle of Food Waste(co-curated by New Zealand and Expo 2020 Dubai)
Terra Pavilion
20 February, 4-6pm.

Approximately one third of the food we produce each year is lost or goes to waste. This creates massive inequalities within populations, causing problems of obesity in some places while, elsewhere, others starve. Moreover, there is an environmental impact. How can we innovate and invest to make supply chains more efficient and reduce waste? How can we make the most of the food that is produced before it is gone

Dr. Suzie Newman
Head – International Development & Aid at New Zealand Crown Research Institute Plant and Food Research

Women’s World Majlis: From Farmer to Boss Lady:Developing a Gender-equitable Agricultural Sector
Women’s Pavilion
21 February, 3-4.30pm.

Women produce more than 50% worldwide, and up to 80% of national output in some countries, yet women are barely represented in the rest of the global food value chain. This session will explore gender equitable employment and decision-making in the food and agriculture sector, and the impact that gender-inclusive agriculture has on ending hunger and poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Dr Brent Clothier Principal Scientist with Plant & Food Research and President of Royal Society Te Apārangi

Food for Thought: How We Will Eat in the Future
Italy Pavilion
22 February, 4-6:00pm

Food is living knowledge and tradition, passed down through generations. As we tackle the challenge of exploring new food to feed a growing global population within the limits of our planet, the question of what are we going to eat in the future is also a matter of balancing culture and innovation.

New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Plant and Food Research, will also exhibit its “From This Land” photo-story exhibition at the New Zealand Pavilion from 17-19 February. Showcasing its partnerships in Vietnam and Cambodia, the exhibition comprises 18 portraits, other photos, text, video and a podcast series, from four agricultural development projects to give Expo visitors insight into the experiences and dreams of farmers, agronomists, business-owners, scientists and others as they work together to create more sustainable food systems.

All New Zealand entities will have representatives available for media interviews or comment during Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week.

RICS UAE Commercial Property Monitor – Q4 2021

Posted on January 26, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

80% of survey participants report seeing re-purposing of office space, but over half still view the office as essential for a company to operate successfully

Despite, COVID developments there is a recovery in tenant demand across the office sector during Q4

Property experts have seen positive movements in investment trends across commercial property in the UAE during Q4, while owners continue to diversify the way we use office space. This according to the latest RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor.

Across all sectors, investment enquiries rose for the first time since the start of 2015, leading to capital value expectations rising for the year ahead. The strength of the industrial sector continues to edge ahead, with a net balance of +37% of respondents expecting prime industrial values to increase over the next twelve months. The outlook is also positive for prime office values, as a net balance of +30% of respondents foresee an increase during 2022 (the third successive report of growth).

Looking at the alternative sectors, respondents project an uplift in capital value expectations for data centres, multifamily residential, hotels and student housing. However capital values for aged care facilities are likely to rise at a slower rate than in Q3.

As over half of respondents (+51%) believe the market to be in the early phase of an upturn, despite some impact from the latest COVID wave, respondents are more optimistic about the future of the UAE commercial property, with owners in the office sector looking at how to attract employees and occupiers back.

As countries learn to live with COVID, 55% of respondents in the UAE still believe an office is essential for a company to successfully operate. However, 78% of contributors report that they are seeing an increase in demand for more flexible and local workspaces and over half (54%) have reported an increase in space allocation per desk following the pandemic; all highlighting how occupiers are making the office place safe and attractive for employees once more.

But traditional set ups are changing as 80% of respondents are seeing a re-purposing of office space.

Interestingly as UAE office space looks to be repurposed, investment enquiries from the UAE and overseas increased this quarter.

Industrials

Growth across the industrial sector continues to intensify with availability of units failing to keep up with demand. This quarter, 33% of respondents saw an increase in the number of enquiries for industrial units whilst only +8% reported an increase in availability. This imbalance means that over two-fifths of respondents anticipate industrial rents rising in the coming three months. Industrials are also slightly ahead of other sectors for rental and capital value growth over the coming 12months too.

Retail

The retail sector saw its first increase in occupier demand since Q3 2015 this quarter. Investment enquiries also rose this quarter with +18% of respondents reporting a rise in domestic enquiries and +26% reporting a rise in foreign investment enquiries. 32% of respondents report that capital value expectations for the year ahead also improved and it is the third consecutive report where respondents have pointed to further growth in the retail sector.

Tarrant Parsons, RICS Economist, commented: “At the aggregate level, MEA saw arguably the strongest improvement in sentiment compared to all world regions during Q4. Driving this, investment enquiries are now reportedly rising across all market sectors, with Saudi Arabia seeing a strong trend in investor appetite emerging. The turnaround evident within the UAE is also noteworthy, with investor demand now appearing to have more momentum than at any other point since 2014 as the market finally seems to be on a recovery path following a challenging few years. That said, conditions remain difficult across some parts of the region, and the pandemic still of course has the potential to knock confidence going forward if developments were to take a turn for the worse.”

The Launch of MoroccoTech Seeks to Establish Morocco As One of the Best Digital Hubs in Africa

Posted on January 14, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

The launch event for MoroccoTech Brand is expected to be a mega-show with the presence of Government representatives and renowned names from the private sector, with the event is already generating a lot of buzz in the media and in the industry circles

MoroccoTech is officially scheduled to be launched on 14th January 2022. it will be launched by the Minister for Digital Transition and Reform of the administration, Dr. Ghita MEZZOUR (Digital Expert and PhD from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA). This is expected to be a significant event that will propel Morocco as a digital hub destination for companies across the globe. The event will be broadcast worldwide by several media organizations, reaching millions of viewers, leading to substantial exposure for the brands and business sponsors.

Emphasizing the objective behind the launch of the MoroccoTech, Dr. Ghita MEZZOUR remarked, “MoroccoTech is a movement, a brand, and a commitment to strengthen Morocco’s position as a regional digital hub”. The theme of the event is aptly summarized by its slogan, “Be Bold, Be Digital”.

This prominent launch event will feature top dignitaries, prominent industry leaders and influencers from various sectors. Government representatives expected to participate in the event include Dr. Ghita Mezzour (Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Reform of The Administration), Mr. Mohcine Jazouli (Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies), and Mr. Younes Sekkouri (Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills).

Representatives from private sector who will grace the event include Mr. Chakib Alj CEO of CGEM (General Confederation of Moroccan Companies), Mr. Amine Zarouk President of APEBI (Moroccan Federation of Information Technologies, Telecommunications and Offshoring), Mr. Mehdi Alaoui (Vice- President of APEBI Federation) and Mr. Mohamed Saad President of AUSIM (Association Of Users Of Information Systems In Morocco).

“This is going to be a major show for us.” says a spokesperson from the organizing team. “We are committed to promoting Morocco as the best digital destination in Africa that offers favorable ecosystem supporting innovative, sustainable and responsible work ethics. This is going to be the gold standard as we move towards an economy that will power the next wave of global innovations”.

The event will also have a galaxy of influential speakers sharing their experience and thoughts with the audience. The panel discussions have been organized around relevant key issues to uncover challenges and solutions. These discussions are expected to throw insights on several parameters that are going to drive the success of MoroccoTech movement.

The event will shine a spotlight on sustainable products and technologies by innovative companies in sectors such as FinTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, and GovTech. And these will gain further traction when they are streamed across the various networks & channels.

Digital and tech innovation is at the heart of Morocco’s economic transformation through innovation- led growth, as the country seeks to become an international digital hub and the best techshoring destination in Africa. Sector-specific developments are setting a precedent for the wider economic growth, as both the private and public sectors consider adoption of new technologies as a way to increase efficiency.

Over the last few years, Morocco has been able to capitalize on its the quality of its young talents, its proximity to European markets, as well as its regionally competitive telecommunication infrastructure and multilingual workforce, to achieve reasonable success in building up a digital hub model. The country has now embarked on a mission to develop MoroccoTech Ecosystem, as it realizes the enormous contribution it can make to the economic growth. digital is a promising sector and great opportunity for the national economy because of its potential to create jobs for youth and its contribution to the country’s balance of trade.

World Future Energy Summit 2022 Speaker Programme to Spotlight Five Critical Industries Driving Sustainability and Cleantech Globally

Posted on January 11, 2022 | by Akeela Zahair

275 leading global experts and CEOs to address forums on Solar & Clean Energy, EcoWASTE, Water, Smart Cities and Climate & Environment

The World Future Energy Summit 2022, hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, held in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and NEOM as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will put the spotlight on five critical industries that are shaping sustainability and driving investments globally.

The Solar & Clean Energy, EcoWASTE, Water, Smart Cities, and Climate & Environment forums which will take place from 17 – 19 January at the World Future Energy Summit, will feature more than 275 industry leaders, who will share their insights with the Middle East’s most powerful investors, policy makers, business leaders, project owners, entrepreneurs, and technology pioneers.

These five industry forums at the world’s leading business event for clean energy and sustainability, provide valuable, free-to-attend platforms to access great industry content, participate in debates and panel discussions, along with exploring the latest case studies and trends from the industry.

Grant Tuchten, Group Event Director at World Future Energy Summit, said: “These five forum programmes at the World Future Energy Summit 2022 bring together leaders and stakeholders driving the sustainability agenda, though leadership and global investment strategy. Attendees can network, do business and share knowledge about issues critical to sustainable development.”

The forums provide the perfect platforms for global stakeholders to network and do business, and in turn drive clean energy and sustainable development in the MENA region. Frost & Sullivan estimates that additional investment in solar in MENA could reach US$182.3 billion by 2025. At the same time, Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 epitomises public-private partnerships widely viewed in the industry as the most efficient way to move forward.

The Solar & Clean Energy Forum will discuss energy transition, hydrogen (including the UAE national strategy for hydrogen) net zero energy, sustainable finance, and energy storage. Key speakers include Hind Almutawa, Director of Electricity and Energy Trade, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE; AbdulAziz Al Obaidli, Director of UAE Assets, Generation, Taqa; Bruce Stedall, Asset Management Director, Transco; Ahmed AlMazrouei, Director, Electricity & Energy Trading Department, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE; Lukas Sokol, Head, City Design, Sustainable Planning & Approvals, Masdar; Carmen Vidal, Chief Procurement Officer, Engie; and Mothana Bahjeat Qteisha, Senior Managing Director, MEA & APAC, Jinko Power.

Waste management targets set by the UAE include treating 75 percent of municipal solid waste by 2025 and 85 percent by 2035, as well as reducing municipal solid waste generation to 1.4kg per person per day by the year 2025. The EcoWASTE Forum will examine new attitudes to waste management, the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling, and evolving approaches to waste. The forum will explore other key trends including the circular economy, connected equipment and automation, waste to Hydrogen, landfill reduction strategies, and approaches to dealing with major waste sources.

Confirmed speakers for the EcoWASTE Forum include Daker El Rabaya, Managing Director of Waste Processing, Treatment and Disposal, Bee’ah; Pablo Arribere Jimenez, Senior Director – Operational Excellence & Innovation, Bee’ah; Ali Moidu, CEO, Dubai Technologies; Naseebah AlMarzooqi, Director of Studies, Research and Development, Ministry of Energy & Industry, UAE; and Franco Lusuriello, CEO, BTS Biogas.

Arab countries are home to six per cent of the world’s population but have less than two percent of renewable water supply, according to the World Bank. To ensure its own water security, the UAE has announced three additional seawater desalination plants to be completed by 2023, with a combined capacity of 420 million imperial gallons per day.

The Water Forum will explore these developments and will feature world class speakers including Dr Corrado Sommariva, CEO & Founder, SWPC; Fatima Al Shaygi, Vice President of Thermal & Water, Taqa; Rami Ghandour, Managing Director, Metito Utilities; Dr Shehab Al Ameri, Water Asset Division Manager, Transco; and Dr Mohamed Abdel Hamyd Dawoud, Advisor – Water Resources, Environment Quality, Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi. It will update attendees on decarbonising desalination, water efficiency strategies, water re-use priorities, food security – water nexus, and digitalisation and innovation highways.

Rami Ghandour, Managing Director at Metito, said: “Integrating advanced water management strategies enables more sustainable communities.

“The Water Forum this January will aim to tackle challenges related to the implementation of such strategies and the importance of public-private partnerships in developing more capital-intensive water projects. The Forum will also discuss the latest eco-friendly technologies that can be applied in the Middle East for greener operations.” Ghandour added.

The Smart Cities Forum will help drive the next generation of urban development and feature industry veterans including HE Eng. Yousef Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for the Electricity, Water & Future Energy Sector, UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Khalid Mohamed Al Qubaisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Energy Services Company; Greg Fewer, Group Chief Financial & Sustainability Office, Aldar; Stephan Gobart, Head of Strategy, Innovation & Customer Experience, Engie; Chris Wan, Head, Design Management, Masdar; and Karim El-Jisr, Chief Sustainability Officer, Diamond Developers. Topics that will be covered during the three-day Smart Cities Forum include master planning for sustainable cities, future transportation requirements, cybersecurity in smart cities, meeting net-zero carbon targets in cities, and digitalisation and efficiency in buildings.

The Climate and Environment Forum will highlight the latest advances in climate resilience and environmental protection with well-known industry figures such as Dr Christian Tock, Deputy Director General, Industry, New Technologies and Research, Ministry of Economy, Luxemburg; Capucine Jeunet, Sustainability Business Division Director, Schneider Electric; Dr Majid Sultan Al Qassimi, Partner, Soma Mater; Bruce Smith, Director of Forecasting and Planning, Emirates Water and Electricity Company; and Mohamed Al Hosani, CEO – Consultancy, Research and Innovation, Bee’ah. The forum will explore the commitments to carbon reductions targets, climate-linked finance, carbon capture and storage, decarbonising major industries and food security in desert environments.

The World Future Energy Summit 2022, organised by RX Global, will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), from 17 – 19 January 2022. Hosted by Masdar as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, it comprises a series of high-profile events addressing current global challenges and the means with which the world can cooperate to build a sustainable future for everyone.