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SOLAR-
Construction kicks off for solar-powered logistics center in KSA: DP World and Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have kicked off their construction on their new solar-powered USD 250 mn (SAR 900 mn) logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, for storage and distribution facilities, according to a statement. The 415k sqm logistics park will be powered by a 20 MW rooftop solar plant and boast 185k sqm of warehousing space with a multipurpose storage yard. The project is slated to begin operations in 2Q 2025 over two phases.
Glass Technology breaks ground on Ras Al Khaimah solar panel plant: Solar panel glass specialist Glass Technology Services has broken ground on its new AED 350 mn (USD 95.2 mn) manufacturing plant in the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Ghail Industrial Zone, Trade Arabia reported last week. The facility will be built over 113k sqm.
SUSTAINABILITY-
AD Ports launches Maritime Sustainability Research Center: The UAE’s AD Ports Group has launched the non-profit Maritime Sustainability Research Centre in Abu Dhabi, which will be operated and managed by Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy and located on their premises, according to a statement released on Friday. The center will be dedicated to research, seeking funding, supporting graduate study programs, and sharing knowledge with stakeholders in marine environment and sustainability, artificial intelligence and robotics, maritime cyber security, big data, and maritime policies and laws.
GREEN TRANSPORT-
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has signed several MoUs on sustainable aviation, SPA reported on Friday. These agreements, signed on the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum, include a partnership with the Environment Fund to enhance environmental awareness and sustainability, a collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation and Desertification Control to adopt sustainable practices and combat desertification, an alliance with the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company to support climate change initiatives, and a pact with the National Waste Management Center to improve waste management systems.
CONSERVATION-
Our friends at Hassan Allam Construction Saudi are set to build the primary coral nursery of the world’s largest coral reef restoration project in Neom under a freshly-inked agreement with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust), according to a statement released last week. The agreement sees Hassan Allam in charge of carrying out external and internal infrastructure works on a total built-up area of 24.7k square meters.
About the project: The Kaust Coral Restoration Initiative is designed to counter the negative impact of climate change and rising sea water temperatures on coral reefs. It covers Neom’s Haddah beach.
Background: Our friends at Hassan Allam Holding, the regional construction, engineering, and infrastructure giant, opened their regional headquarters in Riyadh in March after securing an investment license from the Investment Ministry. The new headquarters comes as part of the group’s ongoing expansion in the Middle East and Africa.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-
- Parkin + DEWA expand EV charger stations in Dubai: Paid public parking provider Parkin Company and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have signed an MoU to expand EV Green Charger stations managed by Parkin across the emirate. (Statement, pdf)
- Saudi has secured membership in the International Transport Forum (ITF) on the sidelines of this year’s edition hosted in Gemrnay’s Leipzig. Saudi’s membership will allow it to enact legislation and regulation to help enhance and develop transportation — including electric vehicles and its infrastructure — globally. (SPA)
- Al Ghurair Motors to be exclusive EV dealer for TAM-Europe: The UAE’s Al Ghurair Motors has partnered with Slovenian manufacturer TAM-Europe to exclusively provide TAM-Europe’s EVs to the UAE market. (Press Release)
- Cemex to manage Egyptian waste facility: The governor of Egypt’s Gharbia governorate has inked an agreement with Assiut Cemex for the company to manage and operate a non-hazardous recycling and treatment plant — with a capacity of 800 to 1k tons per day — in Mahalla El Kubra for 10 years. Cemex will also transport the treated waste to the Sadat sanitary landfill in Menoufia governorate. (Statement)
- Qatar accepts fishery subsidy agreement: Qatar has accepted the World Trade Organisation’s agreement on fishery subsidies as part of efforts to protect the maritime ecosystem and environmental sustainability. Qatar follows the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the third GCC country to accept the agreement. (Statement)
- KSA joins International Drought Resilience Alliance: Saudi Arabia is now the 37th country to join the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), which is committed to building political, technical, and financial capital in preparation for harsher droughts. The IDRA was launched at COP27 by Spain and Senegal. (Press release)
