A joint review from the American University of Sharjah and Heriot‑Watt finds that improved solvents, electrochemical regeneration and advanced sorbents could cut the energy and cost penalties of industrial carbon capture — yet material durability, industrial purity targets and infrastructure needs mean pilots and policy will determine whether regional ambitions reach gigatonne scale by the 2030s. A joint review by the American University of Sharjah and Heriot‑Watt University sketches a brighter, though still cautious, horizon for carbon capture in the Gulf. The paper surveys recent progress in solvent chemistry, sorbent materials and electrochemical regeneration, arguing that a new generation of…

With inland temperatures repeatedly topping 50°C and coastal cities in the mid‑40s, UAE authorities are reinforcing midday work bans, ramping up health outreach and urging employers to adopt early‑warning systems and cooling measures to protect outdoor labourers and vulnerable residents. Honestly, this summer in the United Arab Emirates is a brutal stretch of heat. Inland readings have repeatedly climbed into the 50s Celsius with little relief after dark. According to the National Centre of Meteorology, Sweihan logged 51.8°C on 1 August 2025 — a figure Reuters noted as close to the country’s all‑time high of 52.1°C. Other inland sites stayed…

Once niche, urban farming is scaling fast—driven by hydroponics, AI, automation and a surge in M&A—yet market definitions, energy costs and data gaps mean investors and policymakers, especially in the UAE, must prioritise renewables, aggregation and transparent metrics to turn pilots into profitable, low‑carbon food systems. The global urban farming market has shifted from niche to mainstream in under ten years, pushed by urban growth, a demand for fresher food, and a rapid infusion of automation and funding. A DataM Intelligence market overview puts the broader “urban farming” sector at about US$172.6 billion in 2024, with a forecast close to…

July’s reported $783m in MENA venture funding looked dramatic, but two mega‑rounds — led by Ninja and XPANCEO — drove the spike, exposing concentration risk and leaving questions over whether early‑stage momentum and funding for women‑led startups will follow. July 2025 brought a striking rebound for the Middle East and North Africa’s startup scene, though the glow was perhaps a touch misleading. Market trackers logged about $783 million in venture capital across 57 deals, a jump of roughly 1,411% from June. The surge looked impressive on the surface, but it hinged on a handful of very large rounds, which makes…

Indian EV maker Omega Seiki Mobility will invest US$25m to open its first overseas assembly and distribution facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone, aiming to serve the Middle East and Africa from late 2025 while creating more than 100 jobs and testing Dubai’s role as a regional clean‑tech manufacturing and logistics hub. Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM), the Indian maker of electric two‑ and three‑wheelers, has opened its first international assembly facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), announcing a US$25 million (about AED 92 million) phased investment over five years. The company says the roughly 42,000‑plus square‑foot site will assemble…

AESG has appointed Adrian Hudson as Senior Associate Director in its Environment division to expand biodiversity, ecology and nature‑based solutions across Gulf infrastructure projects, signalling a shift from compliance reporting to integrated, science‑led ecological services amid rapid regional development and climate pressures. Against a regional construction surge and growing climate pressures, AESG has decided to deepen its ecological expertise in the Middle East by bringing Adrian Hudson into its Environment team — a move the firm says will strengthen its ability to fold biodiversity and nature-based solutions into large infrastructure programmes. Honestly, the timing feels right, given the pace of…

New analysis from The Report Cube forecasts the MEA smart water management market at about US$2.1bn in 2024 and a c.10.6% CAGR to 2032, with demand driven by acute regional water stress and a shift from pilots to large-scale digitalisation of desalination, networks and utilities — but skills shortages, environmental constraints and policy choices could temper uptake. A fresh market brief from The Report Cube suggests the MEA smart water management market is headed for rapid expansion. It puts the market at about USD 2.1 billion in 2024 and pegs a compound annual growth rate of roughly 10.6% across 2025–2032.…

UAE‑ and India‑based Travanleo has unveiled Carbon Xpress, a fast‑track module on its Ecodrisil ESG Xpress platform that uses an AI co‑pilot to generate standards‑aligned, export‑ready Scope 1–3 figures for time‑sensitive bids, supplier assessments and climate‑linked financing — but buyers must still verify emission‑factor sources and Scope 3 coverage. Travanleo, the UAE- and India‑based tech firm behind the Ecodrisil ESG Xpress platform, has rolled out Carbon Xpress—a lean, fast‑track tool for corporate GHG reporting. Citing the original Zawya notice, the product is designed to let organisations capture, compute and deliver audit‑ready carbon numbers quickly, aimed at firms responding to RFPs,…

Despite world‑class research hubs and a surge in headline investments, the Gulf’s push to become a global innovation leader is held back by concentrated late‑stage capital, uneven IP and regulatory regimes, shortages of prototyping facilities and scarce specialised talent — reforms to early‑stage finance, cross‑border regulation and shared infrastructure are needed to convert momentum into durable, research‑intensive scale‑ups. As Gulf states push to diversify their economies, the signs of an innovation breakthrough are clearly visible: high‑profile research hubs, fast‑rising ecosystem rankings, and a surge of blockbuster private investments. Yet turning momentum into durable global leadership will demand sharper, more targeted…

The National Centre of Meteorology has expanded a sophisticated programme combining salt‑based flares, ground generators and experimental nanomaterials — and flown more than 170 missions this year — aiming to lift rainfall by an estimated 10–25% amid mounting water pressures. Those sudden, heavy downpours that drenched parts of the UAE this year didn’t happen by accident. A recent What’s On feature notes that the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has been running one of the world’s more sophisticated cloud‑seeding programs, deliberately targeting suitable clouds to coax extra rainfall in a country where every drop matters. You see, the idea isn’t…