4:31 pm - September 1, 2026Hub71’s renewed Initiate programme draws over 5,500 applications, highlighting growing demand for structured early-stage startup support in Abu Dhabi, with new ventures like Prism56 exemplifying regional innovation and AI adoption. Hub71 is expanding its Initiate programme after attracting over 5,500 applications from founders in the very early stages of building…
Researchers at United Arab Emirates University have created a sustainable catalyst using desert sand, biochar from date pits, and nickel, offering a local solution for clean-energy technologies and resource efficiency. Researchers over at United Arab Emirates University have come up with a pretty interesting green catalyst. It’s made from desert…
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar has renewed a five-year $300m revolving credit facility with a syndicate of 25 international banks, reinforcing liquidity as it pushes towards 100GW of renewable capacity by 2030. Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has renewed its five-year $300m revolving credit facility with a syndicate of 25 international…
Abu Dhabi’s TAQA has raised $750 million through a five-year blue bond to fund sustainable water and wastewater projects, the largest such issuance by an integrated power and water utility. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) issued a $750 million blue bond on 30 July to finance sustainable water and…
Startups in Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 ecosystem have raised more than $2.7bn since 2019, with its ClimateTech vertical part of a specialist strategy as the emirate works to diversify its economy. Startups based at Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s government-backed technology ecosystem, have raised more than $2.7bn (AED 9.9bn) since the platform opened…
Marafiq is set to build a new industrial desalination plant in Duqm, underscoring the growing importance of integrated water services for Oman’s emerging low-carbon heavy industry sector and supporting Meranti Green Steel’s ambitious project aiming for mid-2029 completion. Marafiq is gearing up to build a new industrial desalination plant in…
Expo City Dubai has begun issuing the UAE’s inaugural Green Licences, setting a new standard for sustainability-driven businesses within the country’s Green Innovation District, and signalling a strategic shift towards green economic growth. Expo City Dubai has started issuing the UAE’s very first Green Licences, marking a notable milestone. Six…
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Abu Dhabi is launching a pioneering initiative to scatter 10 million native seeds across its arid landscapes, aiming to combat land degradation, boost biodiversity, and demonstrate regional leadership in ecological rehabilitation amidst climate challenges. Abu Dhabi is gearing up for what’s arguably one of the most ambitious desert restoration projects in the region. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has announced plans to scatter around 10 million native seeds across the arid landscapes, mainly by air. According to reports from The National, Arabian Business, and Khaleej Times, this campaign aims to tackle land degradation, boost biodiversity, and strengthen the broader…
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is expanding the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park beyond 8,000 MW and adding storage and hydropower, pushing clean energy towards 36% of the emirate’s mix by 2030. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) expects the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to exceed 8,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity by 2030, up from an earlier target of 5,000 MW. The solar park is the world’s largest single-site solar plant built under the independent power producer (IPP) model. It has reached 3,860 MW of installed capacity and keeps growing. DEWA uses the IPP model…
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar has closed a $5.1bn debt package for a $6.1bn solar-and-storage plant with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company, setting a financing benchmark for uninterrupted clean power. Masdar has reached financial close on its $6.1bn round-the-clock clean energy project in Abu Dhabi, raising $5.1bn in debt from a consortium of international and local banks. The company confirmed the milestone in a statement on 13 July, as reported by The National. Masdar is funding $1bn of equity, with the remaining $5.1bn provided by 13 international and local banks. It is developing the plant with the Emirates Water and Electricity…
Tadweer Group aims to revolutionise Abu Dhabi’s waste system with a comprehensive plan including waste-to-energy, material recovery, digital tracking, and community involvement, targeting an 80% diversion rate from landfills by 2031. Tadweer Group is really making moves to implement a far more ambitious waste management system in Abu Dhabi. They’ve announced an aim to divert a massive 80% of waste away from landfills by 2031, as part of a broader push towards creating a circular economy. Quite an impressive goal, don’t you think? The target, as explained by Ahmed Al Kayyoomi, who’s Tadweer’s executive director of strategy and business performance,…
Abu Dhabi’s Estidama initiative integrates environmental standards with cultural and regional considerations, leveraging digital tools to promote resilient, sustainable urban growth in the face of climate challenges. Estidama, the Arabic word meaning sustainability, has really become one of Abu Dhabi’s most distinctive ideas in urban planning. It was created as part of the emirate’s long-term growth strategy, with a straightforward yet ambitious goal: to support development that enhances quality of life without sacrificing its environmental or cultural identity. The initiative was introduced by Abu Dhabi’s urban planning authorities in order to align growth with the broader economic vision for 2030.…
As AI workloads intensify in the Middle East and South Asia, data centre operators are adopting innovative cooling methods, including liquid and hybrid systems, tailored to harsh climates and high-density demands, transforming regional infrastructure strategies. Across the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of South-east Asia, data centre operators are…
Dubai is exploring the potential to convert local organic waste streams into sustainable aviation fuel, aiming to align waste management and aviation decarbonisation efforts amid broader green energy ambitions. Dubai is currently exploring whether its organic waste streams might be turned into a source for sustainable aviation fuel, in a…
The UAE is increasingly integrating science and innovation into its long-term development strategy, with major investments in space exploration, AI infrastructure, and climate technology positioning it as a rising global technological power. From the moment the federation was established, the UAE has viewed science and innovation not just as side…
JA Solar has begun delivering photovoltaic modules for Masdar’s ambitious 24/7 clean energy project in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step towards creating a reliable, continuous renewable power supply supported by massive storage and new technology integration. JA Solar has started sending photovoltaic modules to Masdar’s flagship 24/7 renewable energy…
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Dubai’s Bustanica farm exemplifies innovative, data-driven indoor agriculture, showcasing how the Gulf is rethinking food production amidst a hotter, drier future by utilising AI, hydroponics, and energy-efficient infrastructure. Dubai’s Bustanica farm has become one of the clearest examples of how the Gulf is rethinking food production for a hotter, drier future. Spanning over 330,000 square feet near Al Maktoum International Airport, this indoor facility grows leafy greens on three levels and produces more than a million kilograms a year, according to Emirates Flight Catering. The company claims that the site uses 95% less water than traditional agriculture, which really gives…
ENOC’s partnership with EVS aims to expand quick and specialised maintenance services for electric vehicles across key regions in the UAE, signalling a significant step towards integrated electric mobility support. ENOC has partnered up with EVS to expand access to quick maintenance services for electric vehicles right here in the UAE. This move really shows how the country’s charging and servicing network is feeling the heat , or, well, the pressure , to keep pace with the rapid rise in EV adoption. The plan is to offer speedy EV maintenance through AutoPro, ENOC’s established vehicle service network, at four selected…
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Belgian cleantech startup Sirona Technologies launches Project Moringa in Oman and UAE, harnessing solar power and geological resources to achieve permanent atmospheric CO₂ removal, signalling a new phase in regional climate mitigation efforts. Belgian cleantech startup Sirona Technologies has recently made a significant stride in fighting climate change, particularly in the Middle East, with the launch of Project Moringa—an innovative Direct Air Capture (DAC) initiative aimed at removing and permanently storing atmospheric CO₂. This project, which is situated in both Oman and the UAE, uses solar-powered DAC units to pull CO₂ from the air. The captured CO₂ is then mineralised…
Crescent Enterprises commits AED 250 million to expand CE-Creates, a venture studio accelerating UAE start-ups’ growth and global competitiveness amid the country’s rising status as a startup hub. Crescent Enterprises, a well-known UAE-based diversified business group, has announced a pretty big investment of AED 250 million (roughly US$68 million). This move is aimed at expanding CE-Creates, their venture-building platform. This significant funding—paired with some new leadership—signals a major step forward in their goal to support and speed up the growth of high-potential startups originating from the UAE, especially those looking to make a splash on the global scene. Basically, CE-Creates…
The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has signed a strategic partnership with IBM to utilise artificial intelligence in accelerating its sustainability initiatives, including net zero ambitions and environmental conservation. The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has recently taken an important step forward in pushing its sustainability goals by signing a strategic partnership agreement with IBM. This partnership was officially announced during the GITEX Global 2025 event held in Dubai. Its main purpose is to develop and apply cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, aligning closely with the ministry’s broader push for digital transformation. The initiative also…
Khalifa University-led team progresses to second stage of the prestigious XPRIZE Water Scarcity contest, introducing sustainable desalination technology aimed at transforming water management and resource reuse globally. Team “Watts & Water,” which is led by Khalifa University of Science and Technology and involves a number of international partners, has officially moved on to the second stage of the well-known XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. This contest offers a hefty prize pool of $119 million—the biggest of its kind anywhere—and aims to spark groundbreaking solutions for one of humanity’s biggest challenges: water shortage. The competition is set up in two main tracks.…
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy partners with MBZUAI to deploy advanced AI solutions, aiming to revolutionise the emirate’s energy sector and achieve sustainable development through cutting-edge technology and strategic collaborations. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has made a significant move forward in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the emirate’s energy sector, thanks to a strategic partnership with the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). This collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and its main goal is to speed up innovation, improve operational efficiency, and support data-driven policy decisions—using cutting-edge AI and…
Plans for a worldwide shipping carbon levy hit a delay after opposition from the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, threatening progress on international decarbonisation efforts and complicating climate targets. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had set out with pretty big ambitions — aiming to roll out a global carbon pricing system for shipping. But, unfortunately, those plans recently hit some serious roadblocks, mainly because the U.S. and a few other major oil-producing countries, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, pushed back hard. Honestly, it’s quite a setback in the worldwide effort to cut greenhouse gases from ships, which, as you…
Abu Dhabi’s ambitious year-long initiative to restore seagrass beds underscores its commitment to carbon capture, marine biodiversity, and sustainable environmental practices, positioning the emirate as a global leader in ocean health innovations. As concern around climate change continues to grow worldwide, Abu Dhabi is taking a leading role by launching a major marine restoration project through its Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with TotalEnergies. This year-long effort focuses on restoring seagrass beds and is a key part of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy. The goal? To protect the emirate’s precious marine ecosystems and at the same time, demonstrate…
Dubai hosts its largest-ever Expand North Star event, uniting over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries to showcase innovation in AI, climate tech, and digital economy, as the UAE accelerates its ambition to become a global startup capital. Expand North Star 2025 has officially kicked off in Dubai, marking its milestone 10th year as the largest-ever gathering connecting startups and investors worldwide. The event, running from October 12 to 15 at Dubai Harbour, brought together over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors hailing from 180 different countries—collectively managing assets worth around US$1.1 trillion. Organized by the Dubai World Trade…
Abu Dhabi’s Nature X initiative harnesses cutting-edge AI and robotics to revolutionise ecosystem restoration and sustainable marine management, setting a global standard for climate-focused conservation efforts. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), together with the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has introduced Nature X Abu Dhabi—an ambitious project aimed at accelerating the conservation, monitoring, and restoration of ecosystems through cutting-edge technologies and AI. This was announced during the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The move marks a bold step forward in utilizing innovative solutions to tackle…
Arab leaders, including the UAE, emphasize a pragmatic, balanced shift towards renewables while maintaining reliance on fossil fuels to ensure economic stability and meet climate goals, with regional investments reaching nearly $18 billion since 2020. The global energy scene is currently facing quite a tricky challenge—balancing the age-old reliance on fossil fuels with the urgent push for renewable energy solutions. This issue was recently brought into focus by Jamal Al-Loughani, who’s the Secretary General of the Arab Energy Organization (AEO). He spoke at the event titled “Empowering the Future: Energy Transition and Economic Diversification in Arab Countries.” During his talk,…
