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Abu Dhabi’s Kezad will get MENA’s first biodegradable PLA plant: Dubai-based polymer supplier Gulf Biopolymers Industries (GBI) will build the MENA region’s first biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) polymers production facility in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad), according to a statement.
What is polylactic acid? PLA is a thermoplastic monomer (a molecule that can be bonded to counterparts to form a polymer) derived from organic, renewable resources including corn scratch and sugar cane, unlike conventional plastics which are produced from the distillation and polymerization of petroleum. They can be used for packaging and other biodegradable products.
The details: The facility — for which GBI signed a 50-year lease agreement— will span 135k sq meters and is planned to have an annual 30k ton PLA production volume. The investment ticket and target launch date for the project were not disclosed.
REAL ESTATE-
Real estate developer Aldar Properties handed out 49 contracts worth AED 22.03 bn in 2023, covering infrastructure, residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments in Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Al Shamkha, according to a press release (pdf). The contracts were awarded to 36 UAE-based companies, including Trojan General Contracting, Fibrex, and Noor Al Sahara General Contracting, and contributed nearly AED 10.5 bn to the local economy. A little over half of the contracts (53%) were for Aldar’s projects, while the remaining 47% were for Aldar-delivered government projects.
COMMODITIES-
More services added to gov’t digital procurement platform: The Finance Ministry has expanded the catalog of its digital procurement platform to encompass over 120k products and services from 230 suppliers across 35 categories, including advertising, real estate ins., translation, and consulting, reports state news agency Wam. The catalog initially offered 7k products and 500 services across over 19 categories.
Background: The ministry launched the platform last February to streamline government procurement processes and boost spending efficiency, allowing them to sign agreements with suppliers in just three steps, down from the previous 11 steps, and in six minutes, down from 60 days.
GREEN ENERGY-
UAE gets its first battery recycling plant: Dubai-based developer Tecom Group inaugurated its Dubatt Battery Recycling plant in Dubai Industrial City on Tuesday, the Climate Change and Environment Ministry said on LinkedIn. The plant will power advanced opening, separating, and smelting technology to recycle up to 80% of hazardous battery waste into lead ingots.
TELECOMS-
#1-Asia-Middle East subsea cable in the works:e& inked an MoU with Telecom Egypt, Indonesian network provider Telin and an undisclosed Indian telecoms operator to form a consortium to build an 11k km open and subsea cable connecting Indonesia and Singapore to India, Oman, Egypt, and the UAE, a joint statement (pdf) read. The project — dubbed ICE IV — is scheduled to go live in 4Q 2027.
#2-e& + Vodafone partner on trans-border managed voice services: Technology group e& and telecommunications company Vodafone are partnering to provide other operators with voice over 4G/5G (VoLTE) services, expected to run over 70% of global mobile connections by 2030, according to a Vodafone statement. The two companies will also offer fraud protection functionalities to operators, building on a previous agreement inked in October.
CLIMATE-
Zero Carbon Ventures forms JV with Egyptian consultancy for a waste-to-value facility: Carbon-reducing technology company Zero Carbon Ventures and Egyptian environmental consultancy Green Planet have established a waste-to-value JV in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), according to a press release. The first phase of the facility, which will be located in 15 May City in Egypt, is expected to be operational by 2025.
SOUND SMART- Waste-to-value refers to the conversion of waste products into energy, industrial material, or consumer goods.
The details: The JV — dubbed the Zero Carbon Green Planet (ZCGP) — will employ Zero Carbon Ventures-produced technology to process and convert 400 tons of waste per day into profitable substances upon its completion in 2027. The two companies first inked an agreement last September for the project.
TAX-
Dubai Chambersand the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) will work together to raise awareness on UAE tax procedures and requirements through conferences, forums, and workshops, according to a press release.
ENERGY-
DSCE to boost the retail fuel distribution sector: The Dubai Supreme Council ofEnergy (DSCE) greenlit during a meeting yesterday plans to roll out mobile fuel distribution vehicles across the UAE, in a bid to meet increased demand for retail fuel distribution, according to a press release. Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) said it will also be issuing accreditation certificates to entities and companies operating green vehicle fleets to up the number of eco-friendly cars in the local market.
FINANCE-
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) inked an MoU with Swiss nonprofit blockchain organization Solana Foundation to expand blockchain services, ADGM said in a press release.
TRANSPORT-
#1-Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority and Ajman Transport Authoritysigned an MoU to improve transportation services, Sharjah24 reports. The agreement includes data exchange in transport and communications, collaboration in field studies, and providing supervisory, technical and media support, STRA chairman Youssef Al Othmani told Sharjah24.
#2- UK-based luxury ride-hailing startup Wheely has launched operations in Dubai, according to a press release. The startup aims to generate 500 jobs in Dubai in the next 18-24 months and expand its regional team and chauffeur network to over 1k within 3-5 years.
CORRECTION- An old version of this section had the value of contracts Aldar Properties handed in 2023 at AED 22.03 tn; we have amended the story to reflect the correct figure.
