The post ME Consultant – September 2022 appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
Saudi-based Lifestyle Developers has announced the start of construction works on its waterfront residential project, the Vue, which was designed in partnership with YOO Studios.
Located in Jeddah, the project consists of 15 floors and 36 residential units and aims to deliver a world-class offering on par with international standards to the Kingdom. The project has broken ground and piling works have been completed, with plans and timelines on track, the developer said in a statement.
The Vue will offer high-end facilities and private elevator access directly to each apartment, as well as private amenities unavailable to other residential properties in the Kingdom. The project’s site area is 2,240sqm, while the built up area is 11,728.45sqm, and includes two basement levels, ground floor plus 10 clinics, offices, amenities, retail and support facilities, the developer added.
The project is part of a wider vision by the CEO of Lifestyle Developers, Sultan Sobhi Batterjee who aims to transform the Saudi Arabian real estate sector by defining a higher quality of living for all and building projects with purpose to support thriving communities. The project was officially launched in February 2022.
“We want to give residents a new reality and to be truly proud to live in the home of their dreams complete with every facility imaginable. We work tirelessly to understand the needs of homeowners when it comes to residential lifestyles and go beyond their expectations. Through our many projects and collaboration with YOO specifically, we have raised the bar for unique lifestyle concepts, and we will continue to make the impossible come to life,” Batterjee said.
“The Vue is a prime example of the future of residential living in Saudi Arabia. We have given immaculate attention to every single detail of this project and ensured that it meets the highest of standards. With the ultimate combination of comfort and convenience, life at the Vue will offer a high-end exclusive boutique hotel experience.”
He added, “Expanding the Lifestyle Developers’ brand and collaborating with internationally renowned design studios is a testament to the success of Saudi companies in delivering unique projects in new markets. With construction of the VUE underway, it comes at an opportune time with the great ambitions of Vision 2030, which underlines the investment.”
In September, the National Real Estate Registration Services Company launched in KSA to digitalise and develop the real estate sector.
The collaboration with YOO Studio reflects the successful ventures of Saudi companies with international entities in creating new opportunities in the local market, as well as the growth of its various sectors, Batterjee remarked.
The Vue is one of many exciting and unique projects to come as a result of this flourishing partnership which is focused on developing internationally renowned quality developments by working with international partners to raise and elevate the standard of developments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond, he concluded.
In September, Knight Frank said it was tracking $1.1tn in real estate and infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia.
The post Lifestyle Developers begins construction work on the Vue in Jeddah, KSA appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
Members and non-members who log data into the IPAF accident reporting portal can now track their own safety statistics against the wider industry, the organisation has announced.
Falls from the platform, electrocution and platform overturns have been the most common type of incidents leading to serious injuries and deaths in the last decade, according to the latest Global Safety Report.
Safety will be one of the key focuses at Construction Machinery Middle East’s 2022 Access & Handling Summit. Registration is complementary for industry professionals.
In a statement, Brian Parker, IPAF Head of Safety & Technical, said: “Until now, IPAF offered a limited interface for viewing reports via the portal, with logged-in users only able to view charts ranking the incidents reported by company as a proportion of the total, which allowed rough benchmarking against overall industry trends.
“However, after extensive development work, we are pleased to announce that those using the incident reporting dashboards can now apply multiple filters that will give a snapshot of member company incidents entered against all database entries, which of course are completely anonymised so no company or individual can be identified.”
In May 2022, rental specialist Johnson Arabia spoke to Dowdall about how it is creating a safer environment for end users.
IPAF’s accident reporting has been operating for ten years, with the organisation currently receiving around 600 reports a year from over 40 countries, the IPAF says.
“We need more data from across all sectors of industry, from as many countries as possible; especially via easy on-the-spot incident reporting through the ePAL app. We hope this empowers people to report accidents and near-misses, which too often go under-reported,” Parker added.
In May, the IPAF also launched its ‘Women in Powered Access’ initiative, with the goal of increasing awareness of the growing opportunities for women in the industry.
For more news and content relating to construction machinery and accessories, visit Construction Machinery Middle East’s new digital home at https://constructionmachinerymenews.com.
The post IPAF launches enhanced accident reporting dashboard appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
The third edition of Construction Machinery Middle East (CMME)’s popular Access & Handling Summit will take place on 16 November at the Radisson Red hotel in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
The event will feature a number of panel discussions and presentations and will kickoff at 9am on the day. Registration is complementary for professionals from the access and handling, crane, construction, facilities management, power, transport, and equipment rental sectors.
Discussing some of the key themes of the forthcoming event, Mark Dowdall, Editor of Construction Machinery Middle East explained, ‘One of the big things we will examine is the ‘machine’ and how it can be best used and managed both on construction sites and in the post-construction phase for facility management and maintenance.”
In May 2022, rental specialist Johnson Arabia spoke to Dowdall about how it is creating a safer environment for end users.
He added, “In addition to machine enhancements, advances in technology are better equipping fleet operators to manage large, diverse fleets of access equipment. The event will offer the opportunity to explore these changes and delve into other challenges being faced by manufacturers, rental companies, fleet managers and operators including safety and training.”
The first panel discussion of the day will focus on how technology is changing mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) management and working at height, while the second will centre on training regional machinery operators. As with previous editions of the event, there will be outdoor machinery demonstrations, as well as several opportunities to network. The full agenda will be shared through the summit’s dedicated website here.
The work-at-height market has been impacted by several trends in the last couple of years and has seen players in the sector evolving to keep pace. Commenting on some of the trends he’s observed in the market in 2022, Dowdall notes, “Over the last several months alternative power sources such as lithium batteries and hydrogen technology have continued to develop, making these further viable alternatives to diesel engines on job sites.”
In July, the IPAF said that it had accredited its first training centre in Kenya.
“When it comes to aerial work platforms (AWPs), more models of this type have been added in the region with companies increasingly considering the total cost of ownership (TCO) before making a purchase. Some local municipalities have also started to specify electric machines only, so this is encouraging the electric machine change further.”
Dowdall believes that dialogue amongst stakeholders is vital for every player in the market to keep abreast of changes and keep pace with them. He notes, “Whether it’s training operators or increasing the maximum lifespan of the machine, doing these things effectively means having open forums of dialogue between all the different stakeholders. This conference aims to provide just that.”
Sharing his thoughts on the one key takeaway he hopes delegates will leave the summit with, Dowdall concludes, “I hope through this forum delegates not only get an insight into what’s happening on the ground level but can walk away better equipped to deal with their own unique challenges.”
For more news and content relating to construction machinery and accessories, visit Construction Machinery Middle East’s new digital home at https://constructionmachinerymenews.com.
The post 2022 Access & Handling Summit to take place on 16 November appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
According to Copernicus Climate Change Service data, Europe experienced its hottest summer on record in 2022. The firm said the average temperature over Europe was the highest on record for both August and the summer period (June – August), by margins of 0.8-degrees Celsius over 2018 for August, and 0.4C over 2021 for summer. It added that European temperatures were most above average in the east of the continent in August, but were still well above average in the south-west, where they had been high in June and July.
The firm highlighted that heatwaves were prevalent in the aforementioned parts of Europe, and over central and eastern China for all three summer months. North America also experienced one of its warmest summers, according to Copernicus’ data.
Additionally, the organisation said that, globally, the average August 2022 temperature was 0.3-degrees Celsius higher than the 1991-2020 average for the month, and the joint third warmest August on record. The values were similar to those for August 2017 and 2021, and within about 0.1C of the higher values reached in August 2016 and 2019, Copernicus explained.
In May 2022, the WMO said there’s a 50:50 chance of global temperature temporarily reaching the 1.5C threshold in five years. In June, in an exclusive interview with Middle East Construction News (MECN), KEO’s Ioannis Spanos said reducing GHG emissions requires a coordinated approach.
“An intense series of heatwaves across Europe paired with unusually dry conditions, have led to a summer of extremes with records in terms of temperature, drought and fire activity in many parts of Europe, affecting society and nature in various ways. The Copernicus Climate Change Service data shows that we’ve not only had record August temperatures for Europe but also for summer, with the previous summer record only being one year old,” said Senior Scientist for the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Freja Vamborg.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is managed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission with funding from the European Union (EU). It regularly shares monthly climate bulletins reporting on the changes observed in global surface air temperature, sea ice cover and hydrological variables. All the findings are based on computer-generated analyses using billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world, Copernicus explained.
In July, in an exclusive interview with MECN, WSP Middle East’s Sophia Kee said, “We have 93% certainty within the next five years of hitting new temperature highs”.
Discussing hydrological conditions in August, the organisation noted that the month was generally much drier than average in much of western and parts of eastern Europe. In contrast, it noted that it was wetter-than average over most of Scandinavia and parts of southern and southeastern Europe. Southern regions were hit by a ‘derecho’ storm, with extreme winds and rainfall, it said.
Conditions were also wetter than average in many extratropical regions of North America and Asia: in many locations heavy precipitation triggered floods and inundations. Pakistan saw particularly severe conditions with record breaking rainfall, the firm said.
It also highlighted that among the drier-than-average extratropical regions, parts of China experienced severe drought.
In early September, a youth movement called for global leaders to take “urgent and bold climate adaption action”.
Showcasing Boreal summer 2022 hydrological conditions, the firm noted that summer 2022 was characterised by hot and dry conditions over much of western Europe. In much of Scandinavia, regions of central and south-eastern Europe, Greece and western Turkey, conditions were predominantly wetter than average.
Finally, it concluded that in boreal summer 2022, it was drier than average in central North and South America and across central Asia. The Horn of Africa continued to experience drought. Conditions were predominantly wetter-than-average in south Asia, particularly in Pakistan, in eastern Australia and in most of southern Africa, the organised concluded.
The post Summer 2022 is hottest on record for Europe says Copernicus data appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
Etihad Rail has completed the connection between the railway freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) and the UAE National Rail Network. The rail owner/operator said that the terminal at ICAD is the largest inland freight terminal in the country, spanning just over 2.7m square feet, and will comprise more than 22 buildings and major structures to support operations, processing up to nine trains a day.
The facility will enable the distribution of goods across GCC countries and the UAE, where it will connect quarries in the northern emirates to industrial centres in the Musaffah area, in addition to connecting Ruwais, Khalifa Port and the container companies in Dubai within Jebel Ali Port. The containers will be hauled by rail to and from other freight facilities following a road journey to the end-user location, a statement from Etihad Rail noted.
As such, track-laying works and conducting successful tests on the new line have been completed. It extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centres, Etihad Rail added.
In April 2022, Etihad Rail announced a new freight terminal at Dubai Industrial City.
Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of Rail Relations Sector at Etihad Rail, said: “Connecting the railway freight terminal at ICAD with Etihad Rail’s main line ensures our readiness to start providing our clients with logistics solutions by linking Abu Dhabi with various industrial centres and import and export points. This milestone brings us closer to achieving our goal of providing an integrated transport system that connects the industrial and manufacturing centres with freight terminals and ports across the emirates. The strategic location of the ICAD railway freight terminal will also drive value for all our customers as it is the largest indoor railway freight terminal in the UAE.”
“We are proud of this achievement, which supports our efforts to encourage companies to restructure their logistical operations and opt for rail logistics solutions, thereby cutting costs, increasing efficiency, and providing safer transportation of goods. This is exemplified by the trade agreements that we have made with some of the biggest companies in the UAE, such as Stevin Rock LLC, Western Bainoona Group, and Al Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC.
Our network will have a positive impact on end users, as it will contribute to reducing trucks on roads and bring down their maintenance costs. It will further drive the sustainable development that we are witnessing across the UAE, by enabling a positive socioeconomic impact on industry, commerce, the environment, and more,” he added.
In June, Etihad Rail signed a $326.7mn deal for passenger trains with CAF.
This achievement comes in line with the goals of the UAE Railway Programme, he said. The programme aims to connect the country’s key centres of industry and production, open new trade routes and facilitate population movement.
The railway freight terminal will act as a logistics hub for heavy industries enabling a seamless distribution of raw materials and machinery for manufacturers, in addition to facilitating better connections to vital trade infrastructure, such as ports. It will also offer customs services, which will make ICAD tenants more competitive, Etihad Rail noted.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new railway freight terminal will offer a range of competitive advantages for businesses, at the highest levels of efficiency in terms of transport costs and sustainability. When fully operational, the ICAD railway freight terminal will foster a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation capacity, and process over 15m tonnes of loose raw materials, 1.5-tonnes of general cargo, and around 116,600 20-foot shipping containers annually.
Upon the completion of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions from the railway terminal, which is located at the heart of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, burgeoning hub of industrial companies in the area.
In August, Etihad Rail said that it had received its first batch of new and advanced rolling stock.
The post Etihad Rail completes connection between ICAD railway freight terminal and UAE National Rail Network appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
Maersk Kanoo UAE has signed an agreement with Dubai South for a new warehousing and distribution (W&D) facility in Dubai. The 162,000sqft Maersk Integrated Logistics Centre DWC facility will be located in the Dubai South Logistics District and will have a capacity to cater for 15,000 pallet positions and 10,000 bin locations. It will also serve as an e-fulfillment centre.
The agreement was signed by Christopher Cook, Managing Director, Maersk UAE and Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District, Dubai South, at the regional headquarters of Maersk West & Central Asia in Dubai.
“At Maersk, we are in constant dialogue with our customers to understand their logistics requirements and supply chain pain points. Our customers have appreciated the single-window access to all their logistics requirements through our integrated solutions,” Cook said.
In April 2022, Dubai South inked a deal to develop a premium golf community project.
“Upon carefully studying different possibilities, we zeroed in on Dubai South for our new fulfillment centre considering its strategic location connected to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and the mainline port and hub of Jebel Ali. This will allow us to further build on our air-sea hub operation, which has become increasingly important while also satisfying the right balance between speed and cost with tremendous flexibility,” he added.
Ocean shipping, as well as inbound logistics and distribution, have traditionally been shared among multiple stakeholders in the Middle East, resulting in complex logistical requirements. To create a seamless experience and integrated logistics solution for its customers, Maersk has strategically invested in W&D facilities and provided ocean and land-side transportation, the statement said.
Following the inauguration of the first W&D facility (108,000sqft) in Dubai at JAFZA earlier this year in March, Maersk will more than double its total footprint in the UAE with the new fulfillment centre, it added.
In July, Dubai South Properties launched South Bay in the Residential District of the freezone.
Mohsen Ahmad said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Maersk, which will help expand its footprint across the UAE. Our mandate at Dubai South is to attract top international players to the Logistics District with the aim of boosting the sector, and diversifying the emirate’s economy, in line with various government initiatives and strategies.”
Ahmad added, “In reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global trade and air-freight logistics hub, we will spare no effort to offer Maersk optimal solutions to further advance its air cargo operations, as well as support them in their growth journey.”
The Maersk Integrated Logistics Centre DWC at Dubai South will become operational later this month. The new facility will allow Maersk to operate a hybrid model of a bonded and non-bonded warehouse, and truly fulfill different customer needs, including that of a fulfillment centre for end-to-end e-commerce solutions, the statement noted.
The facility will also play an important role in supporting Maersk’s existing services, including ocean shipping, landside transportation, customs clearance, etc. Customers taking advantage of the integrated solutions from Maersk will benefit from reduced handovers of their cargo through its journey, leading to potentially faster turnaround times, higher visibility, better control, and more predictability of their supply chains, it concluded.
In July, the world’s largest vertical farm opened in Dubai near the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South.
The post Maersk Kanoo UAE and Dubai South sign agreement for new 162,000sqft W&D facility appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind AMAALA, has announced tangible progress across the project, with more than 300 contracts signed to date, worth in excess of US$1.7bn.
In a statement, TRSDC said more than 98% of the total contract value has been awarded to Saudi firms, highlighting the commitment towards strengthening the local economy. These include agreements for the design and build of state-of-the-art accommodation and facilities at the destination for future employees. An additional $1.62bn of contracts is currently out to tender, across 54 proposals.
“Surpassing 300 contract awards underscores the scale of this project and the significant progress being made, as we press ahead with activity on the ground to bring our destination to life. At AMAALA, we are working to create a sustainable, purpose- and meaning-driven destination for the discerning traveller and remain closely aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, as we develop one of the top global tourism destinations of the future. I am delighted to be able to showcase the results achieved by our brilliant team and partners,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of TRSDC.
In April 2022, TRSDC and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority inked a deal focused on innovation in smart technology, while later in the month, the developer announced the successful rollout of solutions to boost productivity and enhance health and safety.
Spanning over 4,155sqkm of pristine terrain and set within the Prince Mohammad bin Salman Natural Reserve, the first phase of AMAALA is focused on the Triple Bay masterplan. Eight hotels and upwards of 1,200 hotel keys are set for completion in 2024.
Work is said to be well underway on-site to progress the enabling infrastructure and groundwork required to develop the destination, with more than 2,400 staff already on site and 9.9m manhours logged to date. This includes the successful completion of 11km of roads ahead of schedule to better connect the site. The entrance for Triple Bay is under construction and expected to be completed by October 2022, the developer noted.
The first section of the Construction Village, a home to 5,000 construction workers, is now operational, while an additional two sections are in progress to provide accommodation for a further 10,000 workers, the TRSDC commented. Secondary infrastructure works are also in progress for the development of the first phase of AMAALA’s world-class accommodation at the Employee Village in Triple Bay, set to accommodate nearly 20,000 employees who will eventually operate the destination.
Construction on the destination’s transport links has also commenced, with the air-side infrastructure works for the destination’s new airport progressing on schedule. The fast-track contract for the works was awarded to Rawabi BUTEC in 2020 and includes the development of the airport’s 3,150m runway, taxiways and aprons, alongside additional infrastructure.
Rawabi BUTEC Chairman, Abdulaziz AlTurki, said: “This project is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, and it is an honour for Rawabi BUTEC to contribute to such a unique destination. We look forward to applying our sustainable design and construction know-how to ensure the safe and timely achievement of delivering the new airport, while preserving the exceptional surrounding environment.”
In addition to key infrastructure construction, AMAALA is breaking ground across its tourism offering. Bulk earthwork is in progress, with nearly 50% of the total fill quantity completed to date in key super plots. This includes the AMAALA Yacht Club, the Red Sea Marine Life Institute, The Marina and the Wellness Core, as well as three of the first hotels.
In June, the developer highlighted the exterior and interior design of the Triple Bay Yacht Club.
In line with TRSDC’s broader commitment to responsible development across its expanding portfolio, AMAALA aims to operate with a zero-carbon footprint. Like The Red Sea, the destination will be powered by renewable energy with no connection to the national grid and will send zero waste to landfill.
“From the rich natural capital that surrounds our site to the local communities, AMAALA’s masterplans are deeply grounded in maximising positive environmental, economic, and cultural impacts. As we transform our regenerative commitments into concrete actions, the destination will undoubtedly be an important steppingstone to redefining tourism in the region and beyond,” Pagano explained.
AMAALA is a core component of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the Saudi economy, by enabling rapid growth in the tourism sector. Once complete in 2027, it will offer approximately 3,000 hotel rooms across 25 hotels, as well as high-end retail establishments, fine dining, wellness, and recreational facilities.
The project is expected to create upwards of 50,000 new direct, indirect, and induced jobs for Saudis, as well as contribute upwards of $2.93bn to the country’s GDP once the project is fully operational.
“Our progress across infrastructure, groundworks, and key assets is testament to our unwavering ambition to champion tourism as a powerful force for good, remaining closely aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Saudi Green Initiative. We are trailblazing regeneration at an unprecedented scale to create better conditions of life across the destination ethos, while catering to global demand for inclusive, non-extractive, and equitable experiences,” concluded Pagano.
In an exclusive to Middle East Construction News (MECN), Ian Williamson, Group Chief Projects Delivery Officer at TRSDC reflected on the project’s achievements over the past five years.
The post The Red Sea Development Company says contracts worth $1.7bn signed for AMAALA to date appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
Dubai’s real estate market recorded 9,720 total sales worth $6.62bn in August – this is said to be the highest-performing month in terms of sales transactions volume and value in the last 12 years.
Comparing period-over-period growth, August witnessed a monthly growth rate in volume of around 37.1% and 69.6% year-on-year over 2021. In terms of value, August registered a month-on-month (MoM) growth of 16.1% and around 63.6% year-on-year (YoY), said a report by Property Finder.
In early September, Strategy& said that developers can differentiate themselves from the competition through data-driven customer relationships.
With regards to the growing volume of transactions, total sales for ready properties jumped 27.4% over July 2022 at 67.5% compared to August 2021. Additionally, the value of transactions witnessed around a 6.7% MoM increase at 57.4% year-on-year, the report said.
The off-plan market transacted 4,392 properties worth $2.31bn, the highest monthly transaction in 12 years. Considering the transactional volume, the off-plan market presented a significant increase of 51.1% MoM at 72.1% YoY. In terms of value, the market surged by 38.5% MoM at 76.5% YoY.
The August rental market recorded an increase of 10.6% MoM, whereby rental contracts dipped to 9.3% YoY due to the decrease of the renewal rate by 18.9% YoY.
Furthermore, annual contracts witnessed around a 12.4% growth rate MoM at 4.4% YoY, while non-annual contracts dropped by 52.2% YoY. Residential contracts are growing larger than expected, achieving 70.9% in August – 7.5% MoM – unlike contracts for commercial purposes, which witnessed an increase of 21.3% MoM with a slight decrease of 0.6% YoY.
Commenting on the growth statistics, Marc Bellamy, Founding Partner of Williams International, said: “We are optimistic about the performance of the real estate market. Time and again, Dubai has leapt over other metropolises amid global economic challenges. We have witnessed an influx of HNWIs and overseas buyers investing in the emirate’s high-end developments, all of which is proving to be a testament to a city that holds an abundance of safe and unmatched opportunities as a global hub for business, tourism and innovation.”
In September, Reportage Properties said it was starting construction of a new townhouse project in Dubai, while in Abu Dhabi, IMKAN said it was accelerating its project launch schedule on the back of strong sales performance.
The post Dubai property market tops $6.6bn in August appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) is developing a pipeline of new policies, including a hydrogen policy and regulatory framework, to accelerate a carbon neutral future for the emirate and the broader UAE. The move is said to align with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and its global climate change commitments.
DoE Chairman His Excellency Engineer Awaidha Murshed Ali Al Marar, shared details of the Abu Dhabi 2035 integrated energy framework and the hydrogen policy that would help drive the country’s energy transition, while speaking on a high-profile ministerial panel on the opening day of Gastech 2022 in Milan.
The DoE’s hydrogen strategic framework will set out the policies, regulations, standards, and certifications for the hydrogen industry to become globally competitive. The framework also aims to fast track the UAE’s national hydrogen strategy and place Abu Dhabi at the global forefront of countries producing low carbon hydrogen, a statement from the DoE outlined.
In April 2022, Enowa launched the region’s first hydrogen and innovation development centre.
“We are very excited about hydrogen as a new energy vector in our energy transition plans and to develop Abu Dhabi as a low-carbon hydrogen industrial hub,” said H.E. Al Marar.
According to the DoE, the new hydrogen framework is expected to position Abu Dhabi as a global leader of low-carbon hydrogen production, encourage new local industries and jobs, offer growth for existing firms, develop new skill sets, facilitate further research, and stimulate more foreign direct investment in the energy sector.
His Excellency emphasised that the transition to a decarbonised economy could only be achieved through broader collaboration and significant investment in clean energy technologies. Abu Dhabi has been investing in decarbonisation for the past 15 years, with more than US $40bn invested into clean energy projects. The UAE has earmarked a sizeable investment to increase the contribution of clean energy (such as renewables, battery storage, and nuclear) in the total energy mix over the next few years, he pointed out.
In April, Acwa Power announced that it had won a $900mn EPC contract for the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project.
“Abu Dhabi has already made progress in reducing its carbon footprint by investing in a power generation mix that includes nuclear, solar, and decoupling power and water production. We have also initiated, through several policies and regulations, projects that are starting to drive energy efficiency for Abu Dhabi residents and businesses,” commented H.E Al Marar.
With natural gas and petroleum still accounting for most of the energy currently consumed however, H.E Al Marar highlighted that much of the energy transition to a carbon-neutral future depends on new clean and renewable energy sources, the advancement of emission-reducing technologies, reducing energy costs, and investment in infrastructure, while ensuring socioeconomic and environmental benefits.
As a result, the DoE, as a policymaker and regulator, said that it is collaborating and partnering with other government entities and key commercial players to model several pathways towards Net Zero. “The transition away from carbon-based energy will be highly dynamic, but our projections and scenarios provide long-term visibility and policy signalling to guide the investment decisions needed to deliver on a carbon neutral future for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE,” he concluded.
In early September, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment introduced the National Air Quality Agenda 2031.
The post Abu Dhabi DoE reveals new policies to accelerate UAE’s move towards Net Zero appeared first on Middle East Construction News.
Source: ME Construction News