The Sustainabilist ISSUE 22
Cities of the Future
ABU DHABI’S DSM STRATEGY
ISBN 978 - 1978357310
Energy Rationalisation for the Growth of the Emirate
WOMEN IN BANKING Empowering the Female Workforce
IRIS-3
SMART CITY COMPLEXITIES From Cyber Security to Edge Computing
Next-Generation Reporting Tools WWW.THESUSTAINABILIST.AE
Veolia innovates to preserve resources and develop a sustainable agriculture in the Middle East.
Issue 22 | March 2020
C
ities globally are growing in number, size and density and are giving rise to urbanisation challenges such as poor air and water quality, waste disposal problems, high energy consumption, among others. Despite this, I see my city, Dubai, continuing steadily on its path towards becoming a global leader of innovation and urban development.
Eng Waleed Bin Salman Editor in Chief The Sustainabilist
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Focussing on the initiatives that are shaping the cities of tomorrow, we will guide you through some of the key technologies that will unlock the transformative power of urbanism. In the coming years, together, we will witness how technology can behave more intelligently and produce novel solutions to improve urban development, also from a sustainability perspective. This issue looks at the emergence of smart cities and the wide array of contributing factors that are taking place in our prosperous region. One of the key supporters of the smart city transition is the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). In this aspect and more, DEWA has gone above and beyond. With its numerous programmes dedicated to supporting the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and transforming Dubai into a global hub for clean energy, DEWA has achieved a tremendous 19% reduction in carbon emissions in the emirate. This accomplishment has well surpassed the Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 goals, with substantially lower
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In the coming years, together, we will witness how technology can behave more intelligently and produce novel solutions to improve urban development.
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Letter from the Editor in Chief
carbon emissions and two years ahead of time. By placing the utmost importance on exceptional standards of sustainability and efficiency to implement its initiatives and strategies, DEWA is ensuring the sustainable urban development and is receiving the merited international recognition. With success stories ranging from the technology to waste management to finance sectors all across the region, we tried to capture compelling initiatives pertaining to the entire infrastructure of smart cities. We strived to gather insights from the most passionate entities and individuals. As the world and its cities are transforming, Dubai continues to drive international dialogue, set standards, and foster platforms to create a preserve and sustain the environment for generations to come.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
Contents INVESTING DURING CLIMATE VOLATILITY
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The Sustainabilist ISSUE 22
Cities of the Future
ABU DHABI’S DSM STRATEGY Energy Rationalisation for the Growth of the Emirate
IRIS-3 Next-Generation Reporting Tools
WOMEN IN BANKING Empowering the Female Workforce
1
EIC
3
Development Metrics
5
Smart Cities for the People
8
How Schneider Electric is Building Smart Cities for the Future
10 Abu Dhabi Steps Up the Sustainability Drive
SMART CITY COMPLEXITIES From Cyber Security to Edge Computing
16 Advancing Innovations 18 Plant Based Bottles
ON THE COVER
20 Then and Now
His Excellency Mohammed bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
22 Interview: Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi 24 Scientific Solutions for a Sustainable World 26 What Future Cities Need
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28 Mohamed Karam, InSinkErator
MOHAMED KARAM
30 Building the Cities of Tomorrow 32 5G Evolution 34 Silicon Valley 2.0 36 ONE MOTO Floors the Electric Pedal 38 Interview: Michael Zweck 40 Managing the Road Ahead 43 My Urban Freej 44 Designing for Citizens' Wellbeing 46 Top 5 Smart Cities of MENA 48 Adding Human Experience to Tech Cities 50 Investing During Climate Volatility 52 A Digital Humanitarian Network 53 'Dumb' Cities 54 Saving Time for the Environment
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2
PLANT BASED BOTTLES
38
56 Smart Tutors, Literally 58 Unbeatable Dubai
MICHAEL ZWECK
59 Green Jobs
Issue 22 | March 2020
WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG INNOVATION THAT WILL REDEFINE SMART CITIES DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
46%
26%
12%
5%
2%
OTHERS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
SMART CITY SOLUTIONS
SUSTAINABILITY
9%
(PARKING/TRAFFIC/LIGHTING)
CYBERSECURITY
BIG DATA
42%
39%
37% 36%
35%
32%
20% 18%
17%
15%
OTHERS
SMART POLES
CYBER SECURITY
BLOCKCHAIN
ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION
SMAR T PARKING
BIG DATA
SMART LIGHTING
SMART TRAFFIC SYSTEMS
SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
5%
SOURCE: MEGA CITY INFRASTRUCTURE ANNUAL REPORT 2019, THESMARTCITYASSOCIATION.ORG
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING NEW SOLUTIONS OR TECHNOLOGIES ARE YOU LOOKING AT TO IMPLEMENT IN YOUR UPCOMING OR CURRENT PROJECT?
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
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Issue 22 | March 2020
FEATURE
Smart Cities for the People
Supporting people-focussed smart cities at the World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi By Giovanni Savio Global CEO, Planet Smart City
S
etting the tone of this year’s World Urban Forum (WUF10) in Abu Dhabi in February, were the words of Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat: “Digital technologies have the potential to serve people and improve public services
and working conditions. But persistent digital divides remain, and the digital revolution must be directed and governed in a democratic and inclusive way”. For the world’s preeminent forum for policymakers, NGOs and businesses to
discuss the challenges facing our cities, WUF10 chose a theme focussed on “connecting culture and innovation”. Among the halls of Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Centre, it was widely recognised that while there have been significant advances in technology, some are yet to deliver a higher quality of life for everyone in society. As Sharif pointed out, 50% of the world’s population is connected to the Internet, but only 15% have access to affordable broadband. Speaking at the launch of UN-Habitat’s new flagship programme - “People Focused Smart Cities” - Sharif emphasised that “digital technologies, depending on their use, can be a force that widens social 5
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
gaps or reduces them”. She warned that the smart cities field is “often too focused on top down shiny new technology and not sufficiently grounded in the real needs of the cities and the people who live in them”. With that said, Sharif also set out a positive vision; one in which the latest innovations are deployed by developers and investors who listen to and meet the needs of local people.
housing and community building in their countries. I have personally engaged with them and our concept has proved to be valuable for the authorities in these countries.
What is clear from all of these calls to action is that our cities will be the centre of a fundamental shift over the coming decade. The ever-growing Internet of Things (IoT), enabled by greater connectivity and, soon, 5G, will allow With 1.6 billion people worldwide living urban planners not only to build public in inadequate homes, the question of spaces like halls, parks and shops, but how the smart city model can benefit to create digital linkages, connecting those with lower incomes by fusing with programmes, such as affordable housing, is individuals to their wider community and now a growing priority for both developers transform their ability to interact with the local environment. and governments. At Planet Smart City’s event - “How affordable neighbourhoods Private businesses have an important role can be smart and innovative” to play in realising this vision. For too representatives from both the Asian and African development banks embraced the long, the real estate sector’s slow uptake of new technology and approaches to possibility of using digital platforms to neighbourhood design have hampered engage city residents, connect them with affordable and efficient services, and give its ability to build affordable housing, them a stronger voice in the development delivered with quality services. Embracing innovations in planning, construction, of their communities. Similarly, officials from Nigeria, Angola, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and IoT can chart a new path. Innovations and Uzbekistan all expressed an interest in in planning, digital modelling and pursuing a smarter approach to affordable construction present an opportunity to
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deliver homes at a lower cost, erasing the barrier of price versus quality for those with low incomes. At the same time, developments in smart energy and water management provide a path for developers to lower the longterm cost of living for residents while also reducing their impact on the planet. Ultimately, the digital realm opens new opportunities for developers and community managers to deliver cost efficient services and engage residents in the evolution of their neighbourhoods. UN-Habitat’s vision challenges policymakers and businesses. We need to stop seeing technology as exclusive to those with high incomes and recognise it as a key enabler of equality, sustainability and community life. Two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, and urban areas are central to global development. Our ability to deliver people-focussed smart cities will determine whether we live as individuals in the cities of the future—divided by our access to wealth, services and technology—or enjoy all the benefits of a strong community, enabled by new means of communication and collaboration.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
How Schneider Electric is Building the Smart Cities of the Future The Sustainabilist spoke to Marwan Zeidan, Real Estate and Healthcare Segment Director for Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric, about the complexities of smart cities and how these needed to be addressed
A
s the technology required to implement Smart Cities becomes increasingly sophisticated and complex, what steps are being taken to ensure it operates effectively and reliably? Much has been said about the benefits of a
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smart city to its citizens. There’s the ability to better access information through city apps, and better manage material issues, such as traffic flow. Much has also been said about how smart cities can improve how governmental bodies can engage with businesses and residents. These benefits
make life more convenient for sure, but there’s another discussion to be had. Sustainability hasn’t featured much in discussions around smart cities – it’s hardly featured here at all – and we need to change the conversation. There’s increasing pressure to not just make cities more efficient, but to make them greener as well. Our belief is that urbanisation and technology can work together to contribute to sustainable growth. One example of this is energy consumption; cities consume 75% of global energy resources, and account for 80% of emissions. With the right energy management solutions in place, the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of cities can be reduced. What are the security challenges that must be overcome to protect Smart Cities from threats, such as hacking? Governments must be proactive when it
Issue 22 | March 2020
comes to both identifying and mitigating potential risks. Cyber prioritisation should be a risk discussion at the highest level. The damage of a hack is both physical and psychological, and can both result in reputational impact, and “panic” in the ecosystem. In matters of cyber risk, it’s no longer an if but a when.
devices we have in our houses are already using the internet to process data. The same is true of our offices and factories. Right now, companies are generating about 10% of their data outside a traditional data centre or cloud. But within the next six years, that will increase to 75%, according to Gartner.
Our cyber security practice advises our customers to do three things. First, build resiliency into a multi-layered approach to security. Second, ongoing cyber resiliency includes a recovery plan to act on emergencies as well as proactive improvement plans to manage cybersecurity incidents and vulnerability reports. Finally, a good practice is to learn as much as possible from any incident that occurs through root cause analysis, both related to people, process, and technology, and the mapping of issues roadblocking prevention.
Edge computing is computing that takes place at or near the source of the data, instead of relying on the cloud at one of a dozen data centres to do all the work. The cloud won’t disappear. Rather, Edge computing enables computing to move closer to the source of the data, namely you. The shorter distance means that costs to transmit data are reduced, and the time needed to analyse the data is drastically reduced.
How can Smart Cities meet the challenge of population growth within cities and what steps can be taken to prevent disruption in services or infrastructure caused by excessive demand? I want to specifically talk about one big technology trend that’s going to dramatically shift how data is analysed. Edge computing is one of the most important trends in the technology industry. Edge computing is bringing about a radical shift in how organisations go digital, and how they engage with their customers. And this trend is being driven by the Internet of Things, by the idea of making devices such as air conditioning and fridges ‘smart’ by embedding sensors that transmit information back and forth.
What impact can the smart city concept have on preventing the spread of diseases such as the coronavirus? Healthcare is an industry that’s going to be transformed by smart city solutions such as Edge computing. Faced with rapidly rising healthcare costs, healthcare
providers are seeking new concepts to benefit patients and doctors. Two examples are tracking mobile medical devices for nursing efficiency as well as optimisation of equipment, and wearable devices that track user exercise and offer wellness advice. By using artificial intelligence, city authorities will be able to monitor the health of their citizens remotely, and spot anomalies in their early stages before outbreaks can occur. What can be done to encourage smart cities in less developed countries? The smart city concept can be scaled to any location, no matter the cost. You don’t have to look at a whole city. Build solutions in smaller grids, by towers or squares, for example. Two examples of how smart cities are taking off outside of Europe and the US are India and Malaysia, both of which were pioneers in rolling out smart city technology. What we need here is creation and innovation, rather than just money. And that’s why focussing on STEM education matters – we need more graduates with technology skills, especially in the Middle East.
While the notion of a smart home may still seem far off, many of the electronic 9
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
COVER STORY
Abu Dhabi Steps Up the Sustainable Drive The emirate’s DSM strategy will ensure economic growth and social development By His Excellency Mohammed bin Jarsh Al Falasi Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
I
n line with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Abu Dhabi is building momentum for climate action at home by introducing policies and initiatives to embed sustainable practices in every walk of life. The emirate has ambitious plans for economic growth and social development. The government foresees rapid economic and population growth leading to 2030 and beyond, and as such has formulated a number of policy frameworks to ensure sustainability considerations are at the forefront of development plans. As the population grows and living standards improve, the demand for water and electricity will increase significantly. Abu Dhabi’s built environment is defined by modern buildings, and the capital is one of the few places in the world with nearly 100% electrification of buildings.
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Issue 22 | March 2020
Due to the emirate’s hot climate— which can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius in the summer months—most of the energy consumption in buildings is driven by cooling, which makes up more than 60% of building energy demand. Abu Dhabi’s water intensity is higher than global benchmarks, largely due to the demand for water in agriculture and irrigation, which comprises 65% of water consumption. The hot climate, purchasing power, large green spaces and higher penetration of villas compared to apartments also contribute to high water intensity. On the demand side, the government has also been studying opportunities for improving the energy and water efficiency of end users across different sectors, including residential, commercial and institutional buildings, industry and agriculture. To this end, the Abu
Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) developed the “Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy 2030” that defines specific targets for reduction of electricity and water consumption of 22% and 32% respectively by 2030 as compared to the 2013 business-as-usual baseline. There are three main objectives of the Strategy: • To conserve the emirate’s resources by rationalising consumption and raising energy efficiency; • To enhance energy security by reducing dependence on external natural gas; and • To meet environmental targets by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water resources. Demand Side Management (DSM) can
be defined as the process of managing energy and water consumption to optimise available and planned resources for power and water generation, thereby reducing the need for new infrastructure, reducing natural gas and gas oil consumption and better utilising existing infrastructure. DSM incorporates all activities that influence customer use of electricity and water and results in the reduction of the electricity and water demand, which are mutually beneficial to the customers and the utility. The Strategy is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and several programme owners and key stakeholders. It contains nine programmes that are led by one or more specific government entities, who manage the implementation of the programme(s) and are responsible for achieving annual targets that contribute to the overall targets of the Strategy. 11
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy (DSM) 2030 Reduce electricity consumption by 22% by 2030
Reduce water consumption by 32% by 2030
Electricity Saving: More than 19,000 GWh
Water saving: More than 480 Mm3
*Against the 2013 BaU Scenario (baseline)
Objectives
1
Conserving the emirate's resources by rationalizing consumption and raising energy efficiency
Building Regulations Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities
Street lighting
Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities
2
*Against the 2013 BaU Scenario (baseline)
3
Enhancing energy security by reducing dependence on external natural gas
District Cooling
Department of Energy
Energy Storage
Conservation of the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water
Rebates & Awareness
Emirates water & Electricity Company
Al Ain Distribution Company / Abu Dhabi Distribution Company
Standards & Labels
Demand Response
Abu Dhabi Quality Conformity Council / Emirates Authority For Standardization & Metrology
Emirates water & Electricity Company
Building Retrofits
Water Use & Reuse
Abu Dhabi Power Corporation
Al Ain Distribution Company / Abu Dhabi Distribution Company
abudhabidoe
doe.gov.ae
Department of Energy Abu Dhabi
The nine programmes included in the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy 2030
The effective implementation of the DSM strategy is projected to save around 19TWh of electricity and 483Mm3 of water by 2030 saving 14-18 billion dirhams in electricity costs and 8-15 billion dirhams in water costs by 2030 in addition to offsetting 9.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Building Retrofits A key programme of the DSM Strategy is the Retrofit Project, which aims to improve energy efficiency in buildings by modifying existing systems with energy efficient ones. The programme aims for a 12
30% reduction in electricity consumption, which in turn will lead to savings and reducing costs to building owners, tenants and the government. The Emirate recently completed the first pilot project retrofitting eight government buildings including Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC). The pilot tested different Energy Saving Performacne Contracting (ESPC) models and delivered energy savings through innovative building and energy management solutions.
The buildings were identified after carefully studying high energy consumers among government entities in the capital. Three ESCO companies were selected for the Investment Grade Audit (IGA) phase to conduct a detailed analysis to estimate the water and electricity consumption baseline along with the usage breakdown. Based on this, a number of smart energysaving solutions were deployed in the buildings to improve the efficiency of cooling, lighting and water components. The project deployed several technologies such as solar rooftop PV installations, smart metres and thermostats, LED
Issue 22 | March 2020
lighting, efficient chillers, new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlled chilled water pumps and innovative chiller evaporative cooling membrane to meet the targeted savings.
On completion of the pilot retrofit, the average energy intensity in a sample building came down to 293kWh/m2 from 470kWh/m2 and resulted in reducing 4,800 tCO2/year. With an initial average energy saving of over 30% across the eight buildings, the project goes to show the potential ESPC holds in terms of resource and cost savings. The pilot project is the first for government buildings to follow the ESPC (Energy Savings Performance Contract) model and utilises private energy service companies or ESCOs to implement energy and water conservation measures. H E Bin Jarsh Al Falasi said: “The success of the pilot has opened a world of opportunities in the retrofit sector. We are now all set to launch Abu Dhabi’s Super ESCO, which aims for achieving unprecedented levels of efficiency in the emirate and make the existing buildings more sustainable. While energy efficiency is the main target of the programme, it will also have economic benefits and will eventually be a boost to the emirate’s GDP. It will lead to the creation of a whole
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While energy efficiency is the main target of the programme, it will also have economic benefits and will eventually be a boost to the emirate’s GDP. new business sector and introduce new companies, new products and new jobs in the market.” Following the success of the pilot, the DoE will support the tendering process for the retrofitting of 150 governmental buildings starting this year. This will be followed by a large-scale rollout of Super ESCOs to drive the Building Retrofit programme across 3000 buildings in the emirate by 2030. The Super ESCO programme has been projected to result in a saving of 2.7 TWh electricity and 9 Million cubic meter water over the next decade. In addition to the cost and resource savings, the programme has a far-reaching economic impact. It is poised to create new business opportunities and introduce
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Since cooling consumes the biggest chunk of energy in these buildings, innovative cooling solutions were effective in cutting down the overall consumption. Smart computer-aided solutions such as Energy Control and Management System (ECMS) helped the operators in monitoring, controlling and optimising system energy performance; and smart metres obtained live measurements of chilled water and electrical consumption in certain areas.
new companies and financial products as well as give rise to new job opportunities in the field. It will lead to the formation of a new business infrastructure and boost the emirate’s GDP. For a million USD invested in the building of energy efficiency retrofitting business, it is estimated 8 -11 new highly skilled jobs will be created. Moreover, the value of retrofitted older buildings value will increase due to the energy efficiency and cost saving as well as the healthier living environment they offer to their occupants. AD Power has recently announced Abu Dhabi Energy Services (ADES) establishment as the first Super ESCO, which will lead the implementation of the building retrofit programme in the emirate. 13
A New Era of Ultra-High Efficiency module to deliver Lowest LCOE
D
riven by the rapid industry transformation, continuous technology evolution and increasingly complex market demands of the solar landscape in recent years, JinkoSolar has utilised its technical leadership to create cutting-edge technologies of tomorrow, adding to its portfolio the new Tiger module using 9-busbar Mono PERC and Tiling Ribbon (TR) technology. With module efficiency of 20.78%, the new panel is capable of generating up to 460 Wp of peak power output which is suitable for both utility and rooftop installations. JinkoSolar incorporated Tiling Ribbon technology into the new Tiger module to eliminate the inter-cell gap and increase efficiency. The Tiger module comes in monofacial and bifacial, using half cut and Tiling Ribbon technology in order to achieve 460W per panel. The Tiger will gain traction in MENA as it is suitable to maximise on plant size with the best power density; that’s what our new Tiger technology is offering.
The possibility to use modules with higher Wp class can significantly reduce BOS costs and LCOE consequently. Deploying this product, you can maximise your plant power output by putting more powerful modules or reduce Balance of Systems: number of arrays, structures, and cables. For the rooftops, it translates into lighter weight per sqm. Lower EPC cost and lower BOS cost consequently contribute to lower LCOE and higher IRR. Gulnara Abdullina, JinkoSolar’s General manager for MEA said: ‘’At JinkoSolar, we are here to stay, we are invested in Middle East and Africa! I’m proud to say the company has the most localised footprint in MENA when it comes to our team. Clients trust us and we speak the same language. We remain committed to facilitate knowledge sharing by connecting clients in different geographies to exchange experiences and best practices; to learn and implement the knowledge in their unique environments’’.
ABOUT JinkoSolar is one of the leading and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. Jinko distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, USA, Japan, Germany, UK, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, UAE, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. Jinko has built a vertically integrated product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 12 GW for silicon wafers, 8 GW for solar cells, and 15 GW for solar modules, as of Sept. 30, 2019. When it comes to product quality, Jinko’s No.1 ranking in shipments for 3 consecutive years and a solid track record speaks for itself. As a leading module manufacturer, Jinko has shipped over 50GW solar modules to customers in 108 countries around the globe. middleeast@jinkosolar.com
www.jinkosolar.com
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
Advancing Innovations Waqas Mirza, CEO of Avanza Innovations, shares with The Sustainabilist his insights on future cities’ technologies
W
hat does Avanza Innovations do and what solutions does it bring to the market? In a nutshell, Avanza Innovations uses blockchain technology as a vehicle and “trust glue” that brings organisations together to solve a common problem or achieve a common goal.
is helping our customers in the following areas:
Avanza Innovations is the latest venture of Avanza Group - a 20-year-old technology power house that serves over 300 customers across 45 countries. We launched Avanza Innovations in 2018 to focus on nascent technologies such as blockchain, AI, and robotics.
• Financial Regulation & Supervision: we set up national scale platforms that help address an area of regulation or compliance such as trade finance risks, paperless artefacts exchange, and more;
Within two years of inception, Avanza Innovations has achieved the biggest market share of production-grade blockchain implementations across numerous verticals in the MENA region.
• Trade & Supply Chain: we help large enterprises, ports authorities, customs authorities and numerous other stakeholders automate crossorganisation information flows in areas of procurement, government NOCs, logistics operations and many other areas of the overall trade supply chain.
With our 20 plus blockchain projects championed by leading enterprises and tier 1 government entities, Avanza Innovations 16
• Digital Government Transformation: we help and enable government entities achieve paperless journeys for its individuals across multiple organisations;
How is Avanza Innovations encouraging the development of smart cities? Most of our projects are being championed by government entities who are taking the next leap of automation and innovation by rallying their eco-system partners to collectively improve customer service and the pace of information flow. These projects eliminate the use of paper in government services, help make back-end information exchanges between entities much more robust, and have a safety net of trust and transparency across all parties. So, while on one hand smart cities need a coherent services layer to engage with its residents in real time, it is equally (if not more) important that the building blocks and foundation of these services are secure and can withstand internal and external threats and risks. This is where blockchain enables smart cities’ e-infrastructure to become secure and efficient at the backend, so that organisations can add smart solutions and services on top of this base.
Issue 22 | March 2020
transformation. Every city has different challenges and aspirations. However, there are a few guidelines that need to be followed. Some guiding principles that we educate government leaderships on are stated in the following: • City transformation agenda has to be led by a responsible and an all-encompassing office or organisation. This organisation should have the big picture view of the “Future State” and should have the foresight of putting different pieces of a multi-year transformation journey together.
“
Blockchain enables smart cities’ e-infrastructure to become secure and efficient at the back-end.
“
What is the UAE’s main current organisational challenge and do you believe that its solution can be found in other digitally transforming cities around the world? Establishing and running a business in the UAE is much better than most countries in the region. There are still areas of improvement that can be automated, and I am aware of initiatives and projects that will address some key problems that businesses face today, right from company incorporation all the way to seeking permissions, NOCs and other certificates from government entities.
• Government entities and private sector should have the autonomy of taking on transformation projects in their own domains while the Transformation office acts as an enabler and counsellor only. • Leadership should define transformation KPIs and set up award and recognition models to keep entities on their toes. • Projects should be prioritised on the basis of the number of people’s lives a project impacts.
The government sector is extremely forward-thinking and is constantly trying to improve services for consumers and corporates.
the challenges that organisations in general and SMEs in particular face in the UAE.
City transformation journeys involve a lot of pioneering work – which means at times there is no precedence for the kind of project that is being undertaken.
A similar mindset in the private sector is, however, missing. Banks for example need to completely change their outlook on SMEs especially on the lending side. Similarly, other sectors need to rally behind their regulators and help address
Many speculate that the full potential of future cities will be undermined if the transition is not executed optimally. How can the full potential of future cities be heightened? There is no formula to such a
Mistakes will be made, miscalculations will happen. Therefore, it is very important to have the agility and an adaptive approach to alter the course and overcome setbacks while ensuring end objectives are achieved. 17
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Plant-based bottles: What does Sustainability look like in the Bottled Water Industry? Bio-degradable packaging could revolutionise the industry, and Tariq Al Wahedi, CEO of Agthia Group PJSC, is leading the way
T
he food and beverage industry, just like all industry sectors, is undergoing a sustainability revolution, and product packaging is at the centre of this transition. It is difficult to imagine a life without the cheap, versatile, safe, and extremely useful plastic packaging. But as billions of pounds of plastic flow into the ocean each year and inevitably end up in our own bodies, bioplastics have emerged as a potential alternative. Agthia Group PJSC was the first in the Gulf region to act on this unconventional material and launched a 100%
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Issue 22 | March 2020
Agthia is one of the leading Abu Dhabi based food and beverage companies that pledged its commitment to the environment a number of years ago. Since then, Agthia has been promoting a circular economy by developing more sustainable packaging and ensuring the collection and recycling of the products at their end-of-life stages. Years on, the company continues to focus its efforts on sustainability and it is clear to see that these have come into fruition. The bio-degradable bottle was developed at Agthia’s Packaging Technology Center in Al Ain. The Center was one of the first of its kind to open in the UAE and was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Reinforcing Agthia’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, the Center focuses on the development of sustainable packaging technologies under the strictest quality standards and energy-saving manufacturing conditions to innovate the food and beverage industry. When we interviewed Tariq Al Wahedi, the Group CEO, at the launch at Gulfood 2020 last month, he claimed: “I am proud to say that we are one of the few companies that is taking the lead”. During our conversation, it was very clear that this business mogul is genuinely committed to making a change in the industry for the better. What was exceptionally captivating
was his urge to share his ideas within the industry and create a lasting impact. In fact, also on the sidelines of Gulfood, the Gulf Bottled Water Association (GBWA), dedicated to the bottled water industry, was formed. The association, founded by Al Wahedi, the Chairman of Emirates Refreshments, and the CEOs of Mai Dubai, and National Food Products Company, was formed to bring together
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Years on, the company continues to focus its efforts on sustainability and it is clear to see that these have come into fruition.
of the biggest sustainability challenges – misconceptions. PET plastics is one such case. Water bottles are made of completely recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics which are globally recognised as safe, recyclable packaging material. Pressured by environmentalists, countries around the world have begun to ban the use of single-use plastics, including PETs, or imposing taxes on them to reduce their consumption. The trouble with this is that, as Al Wahedi phrased it, “PETs are not the villain, we are”. This packaging material is 100% recyclable thus it reduces the use of fossil fuels and the emission of CO2 in comparison to virgin plastics. The problem lies in the circular system. Without proper consumer awareness, and a collection and segregation system, the recycling of the bottles cannot take place.
Agthia is leading also in this aspect. The company has partnered with Veolia, a global leader in optimised resource management, to launch several sustainability initiatives that will establish a circular ecosystem and pave the way towards more PET recycling in the region. The MoU will increase the accessibility and easiness of recycling through a number regional industry leaders to address of waste collection schemes in the UAE sustainability and environmental issues and includes the use of digital solutions, along with the sector challenges, improving various awareness programmes, as well economic competitiveness, and increasing as incentive schemes. The initiative awareness among consumers. “We are was praised by HE Dr Al Zeyoudi, and excited to bring a voice to the GCC’s underscores the companies’ shared bottled water industry through the launch commitment to drive sustainability efforts of Gulf Bottled Water Association. This by working together with the community. MoU welcomes any entity, partnership, or There is no single solution to the problem corporation engaged in the bottling of water of plastic waste – the approach needs to or in the distribution of bottled water, or combine reducing, reusing and recycling. in supplying related products or services Through Al Wahedi’s leadership, Agthia within the GCC” said Al Wahedi. is promoting recycling of plastic waste and reducing plastic consumption – creating a The association is key to addressing one more sustainable and circular economy.
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recyclable plant-based bottle for its signature product, Al Ain Water. The environmentally-friendly bottle uses plant fermented sugars which are converted into a special resin polymer that entirely eliminates the need for petroleum or its by-products for production, thus reducing the bottles’ CO2 emissions.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
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now The phone I bought a few months ago is telling me they released a new one. Guess I won't be needing this one anymore
We have 3 channels! How on Earth will I be able to pick?!
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Alexa, read me a book!
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi
Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi is the Vice Chairperson of the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS)’s Women’s Committee. On top of this, she is the Chief HR Officer at Tafeeth, of the Emirates NBD Group as well as a scholar and an active member of the community. Simply put, she is a role model in the nation. We had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Fatima after the most recent Women’s Committee assembly. We talked about women in the workplace in the UAE, the goals of the Committee, and how these will be achieved. She is an excellent example of a hardworking and determined woman, with a successful career and looking to encourage and empower other women.
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I am very proud that women make up to 70% of nationals in the banking sector
Q. WHAT ARE THE MAIN GOALS OF THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE IN BANKING AND WHAT STRATEGIES IS THE COMMITTEE DEVELOPING TO ACHIEVE THEM? A. The women empowerment committee in the banking sector, the first of its kind, was established in 2019 to support EIBFS in providing a platform to promote the effective and influential role of women as employers, leaders, and successful entrepreneurs in the banking and financial sector in the UAE. One of the committee’s goals is to mentor young emiratis who are heading to be part of workforce in the sector and provide networking and mentorship opportunities that support strong workplace environment. The committee also aims to support and promote entrepreneurship opportunities for proficient businesswomen. The committee is not limited to women in the banking sector, as we hope to partner with other sectors and establish a mutual support for women in different industries. Q. AS WOMEN IN THE LABOUR FORCE IN THE UAE IS INCREASING, HOW DOES THIS REFLECT IN BENEFITS FOR ECONOMY? A. The UAE has made focussed efforts to empower its women – who make up 65% of the country’s graduates – in recent years, including the formation of the Gender Balance Council and special military schools for women. Emirati women currently hold 66% of government jobs (30% of which are deemed leadership roles). They also have a presence in the diplomatic corps, armed forces, in national service, police and security. Their presence in space sciences, technology, engineering and medicine is a key factor in the development of the country and its economy.We have 9 female ministers in the UAE’s Cabinet. That accounts for one third of the Cabinet. The youngest appointed minister was Shamma Al Mazrui at age 22, who is the Minister of State for Youth, and she entered the Guinness world record for being the youngest cabinet minister in the world. Moreover, the directives of the President include doubling women’s representation in the Federal National Council to 50%, aiming to rank the UAE in the top positions worldwide in terms of representation of women in parliament.
Issue 22 | March 2020
Q. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE AND WHAT DO YOU AIM TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS ROLE? A. I am honoured to be part of the first Women’s Empowerment Committee in the banking sector and to be appointed as the Vice Chairperson, working side by side with all the committee members in leading new initiatives that support women who are working in banking sector. We established a Women’s Counsel in Emirates NBD and have already seen a positive impact which is why I am excited to scale these efforts at an industry level. My aim is to accomplish all the goals set by the committee, in alignment with Her Highness Shaikha Fatma bint Mubarak’s vision and plans to position the UAE among the advanced countries in the area of women’s empowerment. Q. SPECIFICALLY IN THE BANKING AND FINANCE SECTOR, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US SOME FIGURES THAT REPRESENT THE GROWING EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THIS FIELD? A. The banking and finance industry is a strategic sector for the UAE, as it plays a key role in the country’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil and create a sustainable economic future. I am very proud that women make up 70% of nationals in the banking sector as this is one of the highest rates of working Emirati women when compared to other sectors.
Q. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MOST INSIGHTFUL IDEAS THAT WERE SHARED DURING THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING AND HOW WILL THEY HELP THE WOMEN’S NETWORK PROSPER? A. In January, the Women’s Empowerment Committee set up by EIBFS organised an event titled “Her Challenges – Her Ideas”. The event was attended by over 60 women employees from the UAE banking sector, representing various institutes, including Central Bank of the UAE, Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and others. A report was published following the session with all the findings and action plans. In Febuary, we discussed designing a special training programme with EIBFS for women in banking to understand their needs and tackle specific areas related to women’s challenges. Finally, we discussed and planned for the upcoming events related to women, on which the committee will work to spread our message. 23
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Scientific Solutions for a Sustainable World Science and technology are imperative to efficient resource management and sustainable development
By Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi Managing Director of Dubai Science Park and Chairing Member of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Taskforce of the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030
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s the world continues to pursue conservation and environmental projects to protect and safeguard, businesses and their projects are now innovating to adapt this. Many consumers and stakeholders increasingly expect to see sustainability initiatives; and as such, sustainability has become a new part of the strategic, tactical, and operational 24
environment of many businesses. This raises some interesting questions. Why should organizations adopt these principles and methods alongside ongoing programs, projects, and operational work? What is the role of science as we move forward on this path? As businesses focus on “going green” and enforce sustainability, there is an increasing
need to keep innovating. Innovation is an integral element of the ‘United in Knowledge’ pillar of the UAE Vision 2021 that focuses on building a competitive knowledge-based economy. Validating this overarching focus, the UAE maintains its top position as the most innovative country in the Arab world on the Global Innovation Index 2019 while jumping two places from last year, to rank 36th on the list.
Issue 22 | March 2020
A new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned that the world is soon going to be hit by a tsunami of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) due to the sheer volume of such waste being generated and the lack of its recycling. The document, titled ‘A New Circular Vision for Electronics’, notes that the waste stream reached 48.5 million tonnes in 2018, and the figure is expected to more than double by 2050, if nothing changes. To make things more alarming, only 20% of global e-waste is being recycled. Given the growing demand for sustainable solutions, science can help identify new ways to reuse or recycle existing resources in an efficient manner. As part of this priority, companies are increasingly targeting future-proof waste management solutions. In line with the UAE Vision 2021, that seeks to make the country cleaner and more sustainable through diverting 75% of waste away from the landfill, Averda – have made great strides
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Sustainable development entails various science-backed strategies that ensure responsible use of resources with the aim of achieving balance that can last over a long period of time.
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Powering a Sustainable Future In the past, the quest for convenience and affordability were the main drivers of innovation. This meant that the focus was predominantly on efficiency and cost. However, with natural resources steadily depleting and environmental challenges continuing to surge, the spotlight has shifted. The world has long been aware of the acute need to mobilise science and technology to advance sustainable development. Scientists today face the formidable task of aligning the needs of society with prevailing economic and environmental interests to arrive at a sustainable model of growth. Organisations globally are also building models of sustainable growth that leverage this very principle.
in the field of e-waste recycling across the Middle East and Africa. Averda is leading the way in leveraging science and technology to address a broad range of environmental needs. Their successful partnerships with private and public sector entities in the UAE and abroad help preserve our natural resources and protect the environment. A Top-Down Approach Heralding a new wave of positive change, the focus of governments on innovation for sustainability continues to have a ripple effect in ensuring paradigm shifts in mindsets and behaviours. Sustainable development entails various science-backed strategies that ensure responsible use of resources with the aim of achieving a balance that can last over a long period of time. There are countless ways in which technology can play a role
here. Technological advances create opportunities for communities. Innovation is not limited to recycling but is also increasingly present in how we consume existing energy. Petra Systems is transforming energy-efficient streetlights into revenue-generating, renewable assets that deliver a smarter city through mobile voice and mobile data offload. Their LED streetlight networks improve energy efficiency and streetlight network management and reduce consumption by up to 75% enabling a highly efficient, smart net-zero energy streetlight network. It is delivering the next generation of public-private partnerships and generating revenue streams for utilities, municipalities, and mobile carriers. Businesses and societies can find approaches that will move towards all three goals - environmental protection, social wellbeing, and economic development - at the same time. Sustainable development is good business. It creates opportunities for suppliers of ‘green consumers’, developers of environmentally safer materials and processes, firms that invest in eco-efficiency, and those that engage themselves in social well-being. These enterprises will generally have a competitive advantage. They will earn their local community’s goodwill and see their efforts reflected in the bottom line. Deploying sustainable scientific solutions across industries is not just the latest trend but the imperative. Simply put, sustainability should be a business approach to creating long-term value by taking into consideration how a given organization operates in the ecological, social and economic environment. Sustainability is built on the assumption that developing such strategies foster company longevity. 25
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
What Future Cities Need Kostas Poulopoulos is the Area Managing Director of Gulf, Levant and Pakistan at Grundfos, a company that is adopting the latest technology innovations for its digital transformation journey. The Sustainabilist spoke with Kostas about Grundfos’ sustainable operations and how they are making an impact
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ow is sustainability integrated in Grundfos’ business operations?
At Grundfos, sustainability has been at the heart of what we do for the last 75 years! This is not a statement for our 26
annual report and communication, but the way we see the world, act, develop and do business. We pioneer innovative solutions for the world’s water and climate challenges and being world’s largest pump manufacturer makes us responsible for leading the way.
Our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals on water and climate change makes it critical for us to ensure our business operations are in line with our vision and values. Sustainability is at the core of our strategy. In fact, Grundfos is the first company of its kind
Issue 22 | March 2020
What are Grundfos’ iSolutions and how does the creation of a comprehensive system support the efforts to transition to a smart city? The smart city concept will enable a more efficient management of available resources, as well as assets and services, through the implementation of live data harvested thanks to IoT and city-wide connectivity. Pumps are at the heart of every building, wastewater network, and treatment facilities. Moreover, it is calculated that they comprise about 10% of world’s total electricity consumption. We are committed to pioneering solutions which enable the world to optimise and efficiently manage safe water applications. Grundfos iSolutions brings together intelligent pumps, cloud connectivity and digital services for a system which offers real-time monitoring, remote control, fault prediction and system autooptimisation. In essence, it is a solution which optimises the entire system by ensuring reliability and performance across all components within the system. Grundfos iSolutions works in all kinds of buildings, industries and water utilities, delivering savings of energy, labour and maintenance costs while maximising system performances.
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Grundfos is the first company of its kind to introduce the sustainability index as a key performance indicator across the organisation.
Regionally, how are Grundfos’ solutions enabling governments to attain their sustainability goals? Grundfos is working with leading utility companies, municipalities and authorities across the emirates and the wider region, with the aim of achieving the sustainability goals. With over 30 years of experience in the region, our applied knowledge, capabilities, and intelligent solutions for managing water and wastewater applications, we are contributing to optimisation and operational efficiency in the existing and expanded networks.
As Grundfos operates in a great number of industries, which one do you believe faces the greatest challenges in terms of integrating sustainable management of resources? Each segment represents its unique set of challenges and opportunities. With consideration factors ranging from reliability to financing, there are solutions to enable sustainable management of resources across all segments.
Through our Energy Check service, we conduct energy optimisation studies for existing systems, highlighting energy and water savings potential.
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to introduce the sustainability index as a key performance indicator across the organisation, inspiring other global technology giants to do the same. In our facility in Dubai, we use sustainable packaging; recycle water in our pump testing beds; source over 70% of the light in the factory naturally; recycle our waste; we have removed single-use plastic; and as we speak, we are implementing solar panels that will meet approximately 60% of our annual power need.
In the future, water demand will continue to rise, placing more pressure on supply and distribution of water and wastewater. Water utilities have the critical role of providing water to their citizens, and to keep up to speed with the growing demand, water networks need to be expanded and existing ones optimised. On the other hand, one of the highest consumers of energy in the Middle East is old buildings with outdated HVAC systems. Financing retrofit of these systems can be a challenge for building owners, as such, Grundfos partners with ESCOs to finance these projects and pay through savings actualised.
What do you believe are important measures that will need to be adopted globally for water conservation, environmental protection, and transitioning to smart cities? Partnerships between businesses locally and globally are critical to exponentially increase impact, discover new synergies, and explore opportunities that tackle these challenges. Government legislations lay the foundation for framework that businesses can operate in and the direction they need to move in. We continue to see amazing initiatives by the UAE government on this front, including the initiatives towards the SDGs and the 2050 Energy Strategy. But we also know that it is up to every household to adopt and incorporate changes that will help in terms of water conservation, environmental protection and the transition to smart cities. 27
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
“It is a long and continuous journey that starts with us, for a better future and for the coming generations�
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# I AM TH
Issue 22 | March 2020
#IAMTHESUSTAINABILIST
MOHAMED
KARAM Senior Business Development Manager Middle East & Africa Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions, InSinkErator
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ver the past 18 years, I’ve been working with several multinational companies, building brands and solutions across key industries to meet consumers’ needs, that have exposed me to international markets and become aware of various cultures. During this journey, I noticed the race between companies to innovate and introduce products to improve the quality of our lives. But, what about the world we live in? How could we make it a better place, for us and for the future generations? Climate change, floods and other natural disasters, why are they happening? Who is responsible for them? All these questions lead to my passion for sustainability and made me focus my efforts on helping protect our natural resources and on spreading awareness about it. I was lucky to Join Emerson Electric Co. in 2010 to open
HE SUSTAINABILIST
our regional office in Dubai, and to introduce InSinkErator food waste disposers technology and solutions for the Middle East and Africa region. Studies show that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally each year, which is one third of all food produced for human consumption. Food waste typically ends up in landfills where it emits harmful greenhouse gases. However, waste disposal technologies limit the amount of food waste sent to landfills and make good use of it. Food waste can yield biogas and vital soil nutrients which can be recovered at wastewater treatment plants. On January 1 st 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit, officially came into force. To fulfill the strategy and its goals, governments need to drive
sustainability amongst both consumers and industries, pushing a strategic approach to recycling, including the introduction of a zero waste to landfill strategy and action plan and the opening of several new recycling centres. The UAE government took the lead in this notion. In January 2012, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Green Economy initiative under the slogan “A Green Economy for Sustainable Development.” Under this initiative, the UAE seeks to become a global hub and a successful model of the new green economy, to enhance the country’s competitiveness and sustainability, and preserve its environment. It also includes an important goal to divert 75% of waste from landfills by 2021. It is a long and continuous journey that starts with us, for a better future and for the coming generations. 29
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Building the Cities of Tomorrow
Upgrades to our urban centres and the creation of brand-new smart cities are key to sustainable growth in the region By HE Khaled Al Huraimel Group CEO, Bee’ah
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he term ‘smart city’ is used a lot these days and for good reason. Here in the Middle East, our urban centres must develop quickly to leverage the power of information to make optimal use of resources and operations. This is not a 30
choice - our populations are growing, we must confront climate change, and we need economic diversification that paves the way for future growth beyond the oil industry. We must always put the wellbeing of our citizens at the forefront of our considerations.
The good news is that we see multiple examples of government initiatives across the GCC to meet these challenges. Bahrain has heavily promoted FinTech Bay in a bid to be a low-cost tech hub. Oman is developing a 2030 strategy to help plan smart cities. The most striking example
Issue 22 | March 2020
In the UAE, we’ve seen a host of activities that push the smart city agenda. Examples include the Center of Excellence in Smart, Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Cities by Abu Dhabi University, and Dubai’s Global Blockchain Council, which aims to make Dubai the first blockchain-powered government in the world. The government has also put technology at the heart of its Vision 2021 and 2030 Agenda goals. Outside the GCC, I expect to see a lot more news about Egypt’s smart city plans in the coming years. With a population set to rise from 100 to 150 million by 2050, the government has bold plans to cater to future demand. It plans to build 14 new cities, including the Administrative capital, which will house 6.5 million residents upon completion. Covering 700 km2, it will include smart city innovations including a US$ 834 million business park, a city-wide digital security system, a US$ 2.44 billion telecommunications network, and a 21-station monorail. The city vision includes smart traffic monitoring, smart utilities and smart buildings, an emphasis on renewable energy and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to save power. I’m delighted that Bee’ah will contribute to this progressive vision, thanks to our recent appointment as the city’s waste management partner. Our role will be to bring the best sustainable practices in waste management and technologies to enable a circular economy for Egypt. This is an exciting project because we have the opportunity to help Egypt grow in a
sustainable manner, while incorporating advanced digital solutions to increase efficiency and productivity. For example, one of the many digitisation measures we will bring to the project is the region’s first fully integrated, digital waste management solution, WastePro+. Developed by Bee’ah and first used in Sharjah, the platform will monitor waste from collection right through to recycling and treatment facilities, ensuring that our team, and our fleet of green vehicles, work as efficiently as possible.
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Our role will be to bring the best sustainable practices in waste management and technologies to enable a circular economy for Egypt.
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is Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which has served as the blueprint for a host of innovations, most notably the US$ 500 billion Neom city.
We will also launch community recycling initiatives, provide 24/7 customer service support along with behavioural reward programmes that encourage recycling, while a Bee’ah app will allow citizens to avail our services. These are all vital steps that will help us reach the Administrative Capital’s goal of 80% waste diversion. We’ve already achieved a 76% waste diversion rate for Sharjah – the highest in the Middle East – thanks to our advanced reclamation and recycling facilities. And this is projected to reach 100% in 2021 upon completion
of the Middle East’s first waste-to-energy plant in Sharjah. Building a sustainable future and smart city infrastructure is only possible through leveraging technologies and innovation. Most urban centres regularly struggle with horrible air quality due to the pollution from motor vehicles. But because of innovation, the solution to urban air pollution is already here – electric vehicles, which have become increasingly viable and affordable. Governments, recognising the obvious benefits are offering tax benefits for electric vehicle buyers, while there are free-to-use public electric vehicle charging stations in Dubai and Sharjah. Moreover, a growing number of countries are looking at decarbonising their cities and buildings. A recent International Energy Agency study revealed that buildings alone account for around 40% of worldwide emissions. Achieving this decarbonisation will be a complex task involving multiple stakeholders. Urban planning must factor in renewable energy sources to power buildings, which need a digital building management system and intelligent design to become far more resource efficient. In every sector imaginable there is a chance to implement new technologies that will change our lives for the better. These improvements need to be substantial, since cities already consume two-thirds of the world’s energy and create more than 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions. I’m heartened to see that countries across the region are taking action. We’re delighted to be a part of that change, cocreating new value propositions for existing and new cities here in the UAE, now in Egypt, and hopefully many more in the coming years. 31
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
THE EVOLUTION OF WIRELESS NETWORK TECHNOLOGY GENERATION Telecommunications and networking have reshaped our world in ways that we could have never predicted. Had it not been for the intricate data transmission and communication channels, we would probably not have the advanced technologies that we have today. As most countries plan to start adopting 5G this year, the resulting drive of the Internet of Things and big data will assist in the development of smart cities. Wireless communication technology generations – abbreviated to the renown G – have evolved momentously over several decades. 5G, the latest revolution, is set to continue this trend, with expected speeds three times greater than current 4G standards.
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Issue 22 | March 2020
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Silicon Valley 2.0
DMCC is launching a Crypto Valley in JLT offering unprecedented services to the community
By Feryal Ahmadi
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Chief Operating Officer, DMCC
ow is DMCC supporting the UAE Vision 2021 and promoting sustainability? By enabling and promoting trade through the emirate, we are supporting the UAE’s efforts in becoming a competitive knowledge-based and diversified economy. Over the years, we have created an ecosystem for businesses to succeed. As a result, 17,000 companies 34
have chosen to set up in DMCC. This is also why we have been named Global Free Zone of the Year by the Financial Times’ fDi magazine for the past 5 years. Together with our members, we are proudly contributing over 10% to Dubai’s GDP. In the coming period, our efforts will remain focussed on further enhancing the emirate’s attractiveness for foreign investment.
Sustainability is also a key pillar of our strategy and embedded across the organisation. For us, social and sustainable development go hand in hand with economic development. It comes as no surprise that we were the first Free Zone in the GCC to sign the UN Global Compact. To date, DMCC has issued two sustainability reports and we are working on the third one, which will be published later this year. The DMCC’s sustainability report outlines our performance against our sustainability framework and is prepared in accordance with the globally recognised Global Reporting Initiative Standards. The report details DMCC’s progress under its four strategic sustainability pillars: People, Marketplace, Environment, and Community.
Issue 22 | March 2020
As part of our commitment to bolstering sustainability governance, DMCC appointed a new corporate-level Sustainable Development Goals Steering Committee (SDGSC) in 2019. The Committee’s role is to oversee and monitor progress towards commitments and development of the corporate-wide sustainability strategy. What is DMCC’s Crypto Valley in JLT and how will it impact the community? Crypto Valley is the world’s largest ecosystem for cryptographic, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies. By signing a strategic partnership with CV VC and CV Labs, we will have our very own ‘DMCC Crypto Valley’. We will offer a variety of services including incubation for early-stage startups, innovation services for corporate clients, blockchain training, education, and funding. This will boost the emirate’s overall blockchain ecosystem and support the wider strategy of the UAE Government to attract innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers that will shape the future economy.
environments, supports disruptive and innovative technologies, and adapts to growing environmental requirements. In 2018, we launched a strategy to transform our business hub into a smart and sustainable district. The strategy is based on three core pillars (operational efficiency, customer centricity, and sustainability) and focuses on six themes: Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Infrastructure, Smart Business, Smart Environment, Smart District Platform, and Governance.
As part of our collaboration, we will also develop a comprehensive DMCC Blockchain Strategy that is aligned with the Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021, and supports the Dubai Blockchain Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
In line with our strategy, we recently partnered with Etisalat to transform JLT into the first smart and sustainable district of its kind in the region powered by the 5G network. This will ensure residents, employees, and visitors have a more seamless, efficient, and safe experience when in the community. We are also currently working with Careem to roll out a bike-sharing initiative within the JLT community, which aims to promote mobility, sustainability and overall health and wellbeing.
What is the Smart District; how will JLT become the first smart and sustainable community? At DMCC, we are committed to creating an agile culture that transforms business
Overall, the smart solutions will accelerate our sustainability drive and increase safety, reduce health risks, lower pollution, boost social connectedness and ultimately, deliver
a cleaner and more sustainable environment for all. How will the smart district promote the core infrastructure features of a smart city? DMCC’s Smart and Sustainable District Strategy focuses on key pillars of a smart city and includes environmental, social, and governance initiatives. We are developing the infrastructure, platforms, tools, and services that address everything from enhancing mobility and reducing our environmental footprint to promoting good governance and enhancing the quality of life in JLT. The smart city will roll out devices, services, and platforms that will drive efficiency across public amenities, energy consumption, asset and building management. The solutions will transform all aspects of the community even as far as parking, lighting, air quality, environmental performance, and traffic monitoring. This intelligent application of data and technology will allow us to deliver a better quality of life for the thousands of residents, organisations and visitors in our community. 35
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
ONE MOTO Floors the Electric Pedal
Adam Ridgway, CEO of ONE MOTO, talks to The Sustainabilist, about the electric motorcycle brand that’s driving the extra mile on the road to sustainability
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hat is the EVRT and what does it mean to ONE MOTO to be the first ever electric motorcycle to enter the EVRT Dubai event? Although we’ve been following the Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) journey for the past three years, we wanted to wait to launch with exceptional, highly tested vehicles. 2020 is our year. We are honoured to be invited and work with the team to showcase the future of mobility. EVRT and Generation E are truly world class pioneers of the industry, their dedication is compelling and empowering. We believe we are in the age of collaboration and doing. Too many talk about what they will or plan to 36
do – whereas EVRT and ONE MOTO are actually already there, doing what we believe in, following our passions and truly making a difference. What vehicles will embark on the EVRT Dubai trip? This year we will have the Deliva Mobicool, our flatbed, pick up and grocery vehicle, with a 200-kilometre range; then we’ll be saddling this with two byka, the delivery motorcycles designed to change the last-mile delivery industry both financially and environmentally; and I’ll be following on the electa, the modern classic moped, loaded with chrome and full options. We cannot wait to join the trip. What new brands and exciting projects has ONE MOTO recently released?
We’ve recently partnered with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai to create The ONE MOTO Academy working with three disciplines of students namely Business, IT, and Engineering to further develop a fleet of UAE-designed and built vehicles. We’ve also been following the kick scooter and micro-mobility trends and have created a solution to eliminate the issues surrounding this market, such as scooter graveyards, abandonment, and maintenance. Our solution entails the utilisation of a customised Deliva pickup to collect, charge, and redeposit scooters in designated areas, ensuring consistent mobility. Also, we are working closely with AFIA
Issue 22 | March 2020
Insurance to address the fears of accidents surrounding micro-mobility by providing insurance for scooter owners, the same as any vehicle insurance. This is another first for the industry.The charging ecosystem of infrastructure has always been regarded as an issue when adopting EVs in cities. ONE MOTO has targeted this from the design stage. Our vehicles don’t need separate charging stations, we offer swappable battery systems and 3-pin charging, making EVs convenient, finally.
The leading solution to underline convenience and collaboration is working with the RTA to provide mobile battery banks to all ONE MOTO vehicle owners. We’re developing modules to carry 50 batteries at a time and users can ride up, swap their depleted batteries for fullycharged ones, and carry on. Although we can calculate the cost-savings with EVs to the operator and environment, calculating the ‘downtime’ for servicing, maintenance, and refuelling is challenging. We believe this is the solution that will add convenience to switching to EVs. How do the ONE MOTO vehicles distinguish themselves from traditional ones? We have built our business and vehicles on modular foundations, eliminating the unnecessary and ensuring quality, affordability, and convenience throughout. We are not in the market to build high-end
two-wheeled motorcycles. We are focussed on providing vehicles to serve a purpose and solve a problem. There are several ways to create propulsion through the wheels, and we’ve opted for direct-to-wheel – which limits the speed, yet ensures a positive change right now. Fewer parts equals less servicing and maintenance resulting in greater productivity and lower costs to operators. I personally believe this is a foundation to help achieve the potential of an autonomous mobility environment. At some point in the next 10 years, I don’t believe we’ll have as many vehicle models as we do today, we’ll have five models per manufacturer, all vehicles will deliver the same speed, range, and price, which is great for autonomy and monitoring. The only differences will be the driving experience of comfort and convenience. Those first to the market, who are building their reputation now, will succeed. Customers are far more willing to invest in environmental, sustainable brands and this will only flourish – the future of consumerism is community focussed. How is ONE MOTO contributing to the development of smart cities in the UAE? As a team of avid riders, we are aware of the issues surrounding safety of motorcycle riders, so we’ve developed a solution for this too. Delivered through tech and an inter-connected vehicle eco-system, ONE MOTO is developing an app to understand riding styles, behaviours, and much more to advise operators to further train and develop their staff. The pressure to deliver high volumes of orders each shift will be reduced by eliminating the downtime, but also encouraging the delivery companies to all pay base salaries without reduction of fuel and servicing. Would you prefer to order from a company with sustainable values and who invest in their riders’ safety?
WHAT DOES 16,560 TONNES OF CO2 EQUATE TO? TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE FACT THAT 12,000 PETROL DELIVERY MOTORCYCLES IN THE UAE PRODUCE MORE THAN 16,000 TONNES PER YEAR, HERE IS WHAT THIS AMOUNT EQUATES TO:
3,440 PASSENGER VEHICLES DRIVEN FOR ONE YEAR OR 64,694,974 KM DRIVEN BY AN AVERAGE PASSENGER VEHICLE
2,743 HOMES’ ELECTRICITY USE FOR ONE YEAR
CARBON SEQUESTERED BY 272,831 TREE SEEDLINGS GROWN FOR 10 YEARS
21,157 ACRES OF FORESTS COULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED IN ONE YEAR
37,507 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED
2,066,077,603NUMBER OF SMARTPHONES CHARGED
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW Michael Zweck
Michael Zweck, the Senior Predevelopment Engineer at Audi Electronics Venture Gmb, has held various positions within technical development departments of Audi, since he joined the company in 2002. In 2011 he initiated the predeveloped project “traffic light information”. After three years, he moved to the Silicon Valley to introduce this Vehicle-toInfrastructure feature as an industryfirst into the US-market. Following the successful market launch of the function and the preparation of the first US cities, he came back to Audi to drive the European rollout and develop new Smart City functions. We talked to Michael about Audi’s latest innovation – cars that communicate to their surroundings. We’re ready to relax, take our foot off the pedal, and enjoy the ride.
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We expect Car-to-X communication to increase at a rapid rate as cities become smarter and ever more data can be transmitted seamlessly.
Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON CAR-TO-X COMMUNICATION AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? A. I initiated the predevelopment of the V2I service Traffic Light Information in 2011 and it is overwhelming to see that so many people are excited about the feature.
Q. AUDI IS WORKING ON THE COMMUNICATION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS, HOW EXACTLY DOES THAT WORK? WHAT IS THE GREEN WAVE? A. Audi Traffic Light Information consists of two functions: Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory (GLOSA) and Time-to-Green. GLOSA calculates the ideal speed for getting a “green wave”. For example, if the function indicates the applicable speed limit, the next traffic light reached will be green. If stopping at a red light is unavoidable, a countdown displays the seconds remaining until the next green phase begins (Time-to-Green).
Q. IN WHICH CITIES AROUND THE WORLD IS THIS SERVICE BEING OFFERED? A. Audi Traffic Light Information premiered in 2016 in Las Vegas. Today this V2I service is available at more than 10,000 intersections in North America, including some 2,000 in Manhattan, New York City, and more than 1,600 around the US capital, Washington D.C. The service is also available in some cities in Germany and Canada – more cities are to come. Q. DO CARS REQUIRE ANY SPECIFIC ADD-ON OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS? A.We use the existing vehicle communication and the available traffic infrastructure networks. Of course, the cities have to digitalise their infrastructure first and provide open data. As 5G becomes more widespread, we expect Car-to-X communication to increase at a rapid rate as cities become smarter and ever more data can be transmitted seamlessly.
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Issue 22 | March 2020
Q. WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHEN ROLLING OUT THE TECHNOLOGY? A.One of the biggest challenges is to get access to the data of the traffic lights and to establish digital processes in the agencies of the cities.
Q. WHEN DO YOU THINK THE MIDDLE EAST WILL BE READY FOR CAR-TO-X COMMUNICATION AND THE AUDI TRAFFIC LIGHT INFORMATION? A. At the moment no decisions have been made. But what we can say is that the infrastructure in Dubai is pretty new and the traffic lights are already connected to a traffic management centre, which makes it a lot easier to implement our system here than for example in old European cities, which have grown historically.
Furthermore, it is quite challenging to predict precisely how traffic lights will behave in the next two minutes. Most signals react variably to traffic volume and continuously adapt the intervals at which they switch between red and green.
There we’ve faced a lot of challenges due to partly old and different traffic light systems and responsibilities in one single city.
Q. HOW DOES THE MORE EFFICIENT DRIVE PAY OFF? LET’S SAY THE WHOLE COUNTRY WOULD BE CONNECTED, HOW MUCH FUEL COULD YOU APPROXIMATELY SAVE? A.Drivers do not have to accelerate unnecessarily, they are not stressed, and they drive more safely. A number of studies concluded that drivers move through cities more efficiently thanks to networked traffic lights. In a pilot project, Audi was able to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Managing the Road Ahead How technology is keeping our city moving By Paul Bogan Chief Digital Officer, Serco Middle East
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t is no secret that the UAE has ambitious plans when it comes to smart mobility. The leadership has been vocal on its motivations to create a city that is the ‘happiest on Earth’, with a focus on how we can improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike who enter through our doors. Of course, technology plays a huge role in 40
that; in fact, it is actually at the helm of the vision of Smart Dubai 2021. When it comes to the sectors that will work together to empower the city to achieve its collective aims, the role of creating an integrated transport system is, of course, mission critical. By its nature, Dubai is a commuter city; the average commute is around 45 minutes, so an integrated
transport system is vital in enabling us to travel seamlessly. With an increasingly mobile population and momentous events, such as Expo 2020, the city is set to see an influx of visitors. For this, Dubai is already planning, provisioning resources, and setting itself up so that it is ready to face the challenges that lie ahead for the future. Keeping the city moving – and continuing to move at pace – is vital to our growth trajectory. With that in mind, technology is playing a vital role in offering sustainable solutions for our future mobility. Dubai is committed to the world-class digitisation of the city, and numerous implementations ranging from Internet of Things (IoT) systems, data analytics, blockchains, hyperloop projects, innovative 3D
Issue 22 | March 2020
printing, autonomous vehicles and drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence applications, have all been developed and are in motion. Empowering each of these is data. Harnessing of data is helping us to move around the city quickly and efficiently. It is providing seamless, responsive, and unparalleled resident and visitor experiences and benefits, such as integrated Intelligent Transport Systems, Smart Traffic and Parking Management. Each of these are helping to improve our mobility to ensure there is a fast flow of movement with limited bottlenecks. Underpinning the use of data is digital transformation, and this is having a major impact in the transport sector. With Dubai’s autonomous transportation strategy targeting 12% of city trips to be through autonomous driverless systems by 2021, this can already be seen through intelligent mobility and how we move around the city.
(MaaS) is set to help bring about huge commuting efficiencies. All services from the customer journey are integrated into one user friendly application which unites all types of transport service providers. Imagine being able to get live updates that help you switch to different modes of public transport when congestion on the roads is high; or being able to plan a journey from start to finish at the tap of a button. From a city-wide perspective, the benefits are endless: improvements to traffic management, customer experiences, reduction in congestion and support for data-driven sciences, which provides information that can be used to improve efficiency and mobility services. But whilst technology is powering future mobility in ways we have never seen before, we of course have to be mindful and act now to prepare for the challenges ahead. The protection of data from cyber security is always in front of mind, to ensure that
our systems are safe from potential attacks. Policy and legislation also needs to have a consistency of approach from design through implementation because, ultimately, transport networks are particularly interlinked. Essentially, as we move towards this new era of digitisation, technology is empowering our decision-making. Data is helping us maximise the economic life of assets and infrastructure whilst minimising costs. In addition, it is helping us to focus on the customer experience and enhancing it with real time feedback, thus it is assisting in making improvements in our infrastructure hubs. As we work towards the ambitions set out by our visionary leaders, and as we work towards the seamless movement of people across our city, it is the invisible infrastructure – our technology – which is keeping the city moving in ways like never before.
The progression to Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Cars & Hybrid Cars is gaining traction, showing that the future of mobility is truly electric. The infrastructure is fast in motion, with charging points developing throughout the UAE, and the likes of DEWA extending its free charging incentive for non-commercial electric vehicle users who register for the EV Green Charger initiative until December 2021. Continuing the ease of access to these charging points will be critical to providing a sustainable infrastructure when it comes to intelligent and greener transport options. Aside from intelligent mobility, we also see technology driving impact when it comes to Journey Management. Take public transport for example, Mobility as a Service 41
Issue 22 | March 2020
art installations will be created by the community, for the community, both local and international, reinforcing that the arts – and Expo 2020 – are for everyone to enjoy”.
FEATURE
My Urban Freej From the streets to The World’s Greatest Show: UAE communities to celebrate Expo 2020 Dubai with public art By EXPO 2020 Dubai
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ibrant art installations are set to adorn public locations across the UAE as part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s new grassroots initiative to highlight the nation’s unique identity, as it prepares to welcome millions of people from around the world. My Urban Freej is a programme of public art that encapsulates the creative spirit, dynamic multiculturalism and strong sense of community in the UAE. Open to everyone in the UAE aged 18 and above, My Urban Freej will work in collaboration with university arts departments and youth centres across the nation. A series of workshops will allow aspiring artists and those passionate about art to work with professionals, both local and international, to acquire new skills and collaborate with their peers. Focusing on graffiti, street art, calligraphy and 3D installations, the workshops will run until the end of April 2020.
A select number of workshop participants will then be offered a mentorship and invited to collaborate with professional artists to create stunning public installations that celebrate their community’s journey to The World’s Greatest Show and reflect their ‘hayyakum’ (the Arabic word for ‘welcome’) spirit. The final 30 installations will be located in public spaces in all seven emirates, forming a fun art hunt for people of all ages to explore. During the six months of Expo 2020, designs will also appear on the 360-degree projection surface of Al Wasl Plaza, an architectural wonder at the heart of the Expo site. Manal AlBayat, Chief Engagement Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “With less than eight months to go until our gates open to the world, we are continuing to engage with people across the country and offering exciting opportunities for them to be part of this incredible national project. Through My Urban Freej, public
Throughout history, World Expos have been a showcase and celebration of art and culture from around the world. My Urban Freej will highlight the talent of the UAE’s creative community and enable them to become part of the legacy of the first Expo to be held in the Arab World. The emphasis on community and inclusivity is reflected in the programme’s name – ‘freej’ means ‘neighbourhood’ in the colloquial Arabic of the Gulf region. Ten artists have been chosen to support the workshops, including Emirati artist Maitha Demithan and Saudi calligraffiti artist Wafi Albakheet. Maitha Demithan said: “We are working to create a powerful visual metaphor for ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, not only between us artists but also with the public, who will be invited to engage with the artworks”. Wafi Albakheet said: “As a participant in this project, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to engage with residents of all backgrounds, including students and people of determination. Together, we will create something truly meaningful”. Running from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, Expo 2020 Dubai will bring together 192 countries and millions of visitors for a global celebration of culture and innovation. In addition to My Urban Freej, Expo 2020 has also launched a design and crafts programme created to support and promote local brands and emerging talents, aligned with the UAE’s efforts to accelerate the creative economy. 43
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Designing for Citizens’ Wellbeing CallisonRTKL’s industry experts have unveiled their forecasts for some of the top trends of design and architecture in the Middle East over the next decade By CallisonRTKL
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n line with the region’s visionary governments to create happier and livable urban communities, industry experts from CallisonRTKL (CRTKL), a global consultancy specialised in architecture, design, and technology have identified that the design and architecture industries are adopting urban technology and scalable smart city solutions. This is to create cities that enhance the wellbeing of citizens and push for a positive society, a trend that will be deployed and developed in the region over the next decade. Smart cities have been identified as a key pillar in reducing energy consumption, optimising traffic flows, monitoring air quality, automating waste management,
Issue 22 | March 2020
and digitising government functions, all of which are observable factors affecting wellbeing. Driven by smart technology, cities are able to adhere to fundamental livability problems facing urban communities in the region. In fact, in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai’s vision of adopting a methodological approach to measure and sustain happiness, tangible ‘quality of life’ improvements will be offered by various smart city innovations and technologies. “In recent years, smart cities have transitioned from being novelties to becoming principal targets of urban policy,
Commenting on economic benefits of smart technology, Paul Firth, Senior Associate Director, Shopping and Entertainment Districts at CallisonRTKL, said: “The implementation of smart construction machines has encouraged efficient design and construction processes making deliverables faster and more repeatable while retaining authenticity”. Alongside an increased willingness by property and architecture firms to implement smarter design and building technologies, there has also been a
Driven by smart technology, cities are able to adhere to fundamental livability problems facing urban communities
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enabling cities to achieve social benefits for residing citizens”, said Matthew Tribe, Executive Director at CallisonRTKL.
significant momentum to improve energy efficiency across the country to comply with current green building regulations. Complying with social and environmental objectives may provide greater opportunities for wellbeing amongst residents as it allows for increased green spaces, reduced energy consumption and less pollution. Tribe added: “Planning, designing and developing smart cities paves the way for architects and developers to build infrastructure that contributes to a more sustainable and productive environment. Rather than contributing to carbon emissions, smart infrastructure contributes to empowering citizens as it provides smart solutions to everyday problems”. The upcoming period will be the testbed of new technologies in urban planning and architecture as it will pave the way to showcase how smart technologies can improve living standards. The successes and failures of the concepts will provide opportunity and insight into how the modern-day user has evolved, allowing the future of design to take a one step forward in creating solutions that are adaptable to an individual’s needs and tackle issues that arise from urbanisation. “Whether it’s using smart simulations to optimise traffic and urban planning layouts to reduce congestion, sensors in buildings and objects to reduce the amount of wasteful resources, or human scale technologies in houses that control and regulate mechanical services to reduce our carbon footprint, developers are working towards a more sustainable future to improve the wellbeing of citizens regionwide”, said Firth. 45
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
TOP 5 SMART CITIES IN THE MENA REGION
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DUBAI UAE 76
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THE SMART CITY INDEX
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The following infographic shows the Scores of the Technology pillars of the top 5 smart cities in the MENA region. These technology pillars describe the technological provisions and services available within the cities and are scored out of 100.
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The pillars are evaluated over various factors in 5 key areas: health & safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and guidance. The factors’ scores have been used to calculate the average score of the key areas.
CAIRO EGYPT
LEGEND
MOBILITY
OPPORTUNITIES
GOVERNANCE
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ACTIVITIES
SOURCES IMD SMART CITY INDEX 2019
HEALTH & SAFETY
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3
54
66
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ABU DHABI UAE 74
RIYADH KSA 67
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3
76
69
84
77
73
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RABAT MOROCCO 70
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40 41 56 51 38
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
Adding Human Experience to Tech Cities Ali Rebaie, Data Anthropologist and President of Rebaie Analytics Group, discusses the ways in which anthropology will shape the cities of tomorrow
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hat made you go into the field of anthropology? I had no idea, when I was intrigued by pattern recognition games when I was a kid, that data would become my bread and butter. It wasn’t until I visited Al Hambra castle during 2011 in Granada, Spain that I became fascinated by patterns, mathematics, visual arts, and social sciences manifested in the architecture there. At that time, I used to build data warehouses and I predicted the rise of AI and its innovative applications. It was eyeopening to me, I noticed that what is really needed in this decade for AI to achieve its promise, is arts and social sciences, like anthropology. As AI continues to develop, the only way to make it human-centric is to extend and understand our ancestor’s cognitive evolution and the experiences we aim to achieve. That’s one of the roles of the data anthropologist who constructs and understands the consequences of AI on society along with other influences like privacy and ethics. 48
As the global cities begin their transition into smart cities, how can an anthropology perspective aid in this transition? As cities worldwide aim to become smarter, their ultimate goal is to become percipient, astute, and quick. Anthropology is key in this as it helps city stakeholders understand the historical timeline of a place, behaviours, needs, and feelings of people living there, improve an urban space by observing behaviour, map their emotional experience of a place, and predict how a new construction would affect their current state. AI combined with urban anthropology, or what we coined at Rebaie Analytics Group, urban data anthropology, helps in mapping the emotional experience of a place by collecting physiological measurements. Anthropology excels at understanding the “why” of human behaviour. Some of the tools used in urban data anthropology to assess urban forms in a city are visual arts, anthropological methods like direct observation, ethnographic methods, machine intelligence, and AI algorithms.
Only with Urban Data Anthropology can we pave the way for an augmented smart city. This transition will enable what I call a “kin-directed city”. Kin selection comes from biology and anthropology, and refers to preferences for kin, and the benefits of mutualism and reciprocity among kin. Humans and machines carry on a cooperative behaviour and inhibit dispersal of resources in an Internet of Things environment. The idea is to have generated data shared with among devices.
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stated: “When I first came here during the winter,” Lee says, “I felt something cold.” It was not about the weather, it was about human warmth and interaction.Thus, to feel warmth in a smart city, understanding the human experience towards a city, its architecture, and holistic human development is needed.
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This transition will enable what I call a “kin-directed city”
Do you believe that creating more human-scale sustainable cities
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Citizens in the AI nation will walk down the streets of an augmented city with wearable devices that monitor their health and send them real-time alerts. They will share the data with smart nearby devices like CCTV cameras, drones, and vehicles on the streets. These devices will reward them with bigger computational power than their tiny wearable can achieve.
necessitates the analysis of urban environments, and why? Indeed, the analysis of urban environments stated above is a cornerstone. We are seeing some great efforts to build humanscale sustainable cities for disabled people, like developing a network of sensors to assist the visually impaired to move around independently. However, the term “smart city” is becoming a misleading euphemism of the “ghost city of sensors”. Lee, a citizen of Songdo, Korea’s smart city
The physical connection of citizens towards their buildings is not enough, there should be an emotional and spiritual connection to create a “topophilia” towards a place. To illustrate the usage of urban data anthropology to analyse urban environments, AI sensors can show detailed behaviour in a smart building and how they interacted in spaces. But why people behave the way we do is where anthropology excels. These insights could be used to improve productivity and liveability in smart buildings. Sustainable architecture is reflected in the relationship between the built and natural environment. It influences and is influenced by citizens’ behaviours and both cannot be built and grasped without strong ethical values. Campaigning sustainability will only yield results when everyone is involved, not just urban planners and architects. Thus, the ways urban forms are architected can help us monitor the philosophy, sustainability attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyles, and influences of citizens who architected them. Are you optimistic about the future, why or why not? As humans, we are masters of flexibility and this is what helped our ancestors fight climate change and build a circular economy. Behaviors that shaped our humanity like social learning should be adapted in cities so we can teach each other ethical AI and provide us with an “unforgettable spectacle”. 49
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
I FEATURE
Investing during Climate Volatility Asia is sinking, flooding, burning, and freezing – all at the same time By Kay Van Petersen Global Macro Strategist at Saxo Bank
t seems like each year volatility in temperatures, seasons and weather — as well as natural disasters —become more extreme.
Climate disasters tend to act like volatility in the markets, whereby volatility begets more volatility. One disaster raises the probability and potential magnitude of another type of disaster, because nature is interlinked. For instance, fires lead to flooding due to destroyed vegetation. Meanwhile, the mega-cities of major countries are now at risk of sinking & flooding. As a case in point, the capital of Indonesia is Jakarta, whose greater metropolitan area has a population of 30 million. Jakarta is one of the world’s fastest sinking cities, dropping over 10cm a year. That is about the width of an adult male’s palm. The irony that faces the sinking city, that is regularly hit by tropical cyclones as well as sea storms, is that it has a lack of clean drinking water. Given its thirteen polluted rivers, for decades the city has been pumping ground water with virtually no meaningful replenishment of the natural underground basins. This is all due to a population explosion, lack of green space
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Issue 22 | March 2020
and poor infrastructure. And it is leading to a collapse in the pressure of the ground that is holding up the city. Some studies suggest that in just ten years, northern Jakarta could be permanently flooded: including the airport. An estimated US$ 40 billion sea wall is being built along Jakarta bay, with the objective of alleviating the flooding pressures and
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When around 40% of the city lies below sea levels, this is the equivalent of insisting on staying in a burning house
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allowing lower water levels so the city’s rivers can drain more efficiently. When around 40% of the city lies below sea levels, this is the equivalent of insisting on staying in a burning house while occasionally dousing the flames with a cup of water. On a proactive note, the government announced in April 2019 that a new capital would be built elsewhere in Indonesia at an estimated cost of US$ 34 billion. Sometimes it’s better to start afresh and design a city that is built for the sustainability of the future.
There are traditional allocations to the renewables sector which you can access directly through our Saxo Investor. There are also lifestyle consumer choice themes. Tesla, for example, is seen by its fans as a disruptor in the renewable and storage energy space from traditional fossil fuel engines and CO2 emitters. Beyond Meat focuses on the plant-based protein theme by creating foods that taste just as good as traditional animal protein, yet sourced from plants. This is a powerful investment theme in social impact/lifestyle change that is going to be Godzilla in size and likely run for decades.
WE HAVE HAD ALL TIME HIGH TEMPERATURES RECORDED IN AUSTRALIA, WHERE FIRES CONTINUE TO RAGE.
OVER 25 MILLION ACRES HAVE BURNT THAT’S BIGGER THAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS SOUTH KOREA, HUNGARY, AUSTRIA OR NORWAY.
There are going to be at least two key structural driving forces. The first will be demand driven. More and more consumers will want to use their spending capital to vote for companies that practice sustainability. For instance, probably about 5% of the US’s 330 million people are currently vegetarians, but that ratio that is likely to grow. Companies and entrepreneurs that are proactive in regard to consumer sustainability lifestyle choices will thrive and move ahead. The second will be supply driven. Governments are coming to fully understand that we are likely pass the tipping point where the cost to do nothing in regards to sustainable growth is much greater than the cost of addressing it now. To put it another way, governments need to tip over from being reactive to proactive on the climate crisis. They need to spur innovation, R&D as well as investments through subsidies, grants and tax breaks.
AN ESTIMATED 1 BILLION ANIMALS HAVE BEEN KILLED THE KOALA BEAR IS NOW FUNCTIONALLY EXTINCT.
THE DAMAGE TOTAL IS AU$ 100BN 5% OF AUSTRALIA’S AU$ 1.9 TRILLION GDP.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
#THEGREENECONOMIST
A Digital Humanitarian Network By Ivano Iannelli CEO, Dubai Carbon
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inked to climate change, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters have been increasing for decades. For this reason, there is a necessity to plan for and evaluate their risk, in addition to establishing effective communication with the affected populations. With the development of communication channels and the growth of digitalisation, an approach increasingly being adopted by crisis-affected local communities and humanitarian organisations is the exchange of information through the use of media and other channels via a two-way process. Disasters can immobilise a city. Conveying and receiving information is vital to ensuring the needs of those affected are met efficiently, yet this is often a challenging task for humanitarian organisations. Fortunately, technological innovations are providing innovative digital solutions for the humanitarian sector, which increase effectiveness and
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responsiveness, essentially saving more lives. One example of such a solution is the latest mobile networking technology. Using satellite antenna, reliable mobile and portable IP-based communications solutions can be established even when other infrastructure is affected and thus keep emergency services running in the event of crises. In addition, these services allow for efficient data collection, resulting in massive cost savings of US$ 5 million annually and a great reduction in the time spent to collect surveys. SMS and voice response technologies are being used to gather responses from vulnerable communities rapidly. Additionally, social media is being used to communicate with crises-affected populations. Facebook and Twitter have and continue to play an important role in aiding those affected. The platforms also allow local and international actors to enhance coordination and communication. While humanitarian organisations have
long had access to information on the crisis-affected people, communication with them has been limited. Billions of people today use social media – those trapped in emergency situations can use the online platforms to source information on accessing shelter, medical assistance, food and many other services provided by humanitarian organisations. Essentially, they are real world lifelines. Beyond the wide array of communication tools available and deployed by humanitarian organisations, the ubiquity of mobile phones and social media platforms has assisted humanitarian responses in meeting and engaging with affected people online to respond decisively, collaboratively, and accurately. In times of disasters and crisis, it is of critical importance to establish two-way communication channels that are locally relevant and trusted. The development of innovative technologies can greatly benefit the humanitarian sector by providing these platforms.
Issue 22 | March 2020
HOT SEAT
‘Dumb’ Cities
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ities are dynamic, they grow and shrink over time – sometimes millennia, sometimes decades. Building infrastructure for a new city is difficult. It’s even more difficult when a city is located in the middle of nowhere. The buzz term of the past years is smart city, yet we have witnessed the rise and fall of some quite un-intelligent cities that failed along the way and eventually disappeared from the map. In India, the city of Lavasa was projected to grow from zero properties to thousands. The idea was to put India on the map by creating a smart city from scratch. The Lavasa project was to be built as a theme park in a location quite far from commercial Indian routes. This was probably the beginning of the race down the roller coaster hill. The city was built over a number of years, and though initially designed for 250,000 inhabitants, only 10,000 actually remained, and those who stayed, aren’t very happy with the city’s disorder. Now, Lavasa requires massive government spending, and developers and investors are both bankrupt.
Ordos has been dubbed as the ghost city of China. Also founded in the middle of nowhere, and costing US$ 200 billion, the city was designed for one million inhabitants. It was only in 2019, 16 years after the commencement construction, that satellite images began to show vehicles parked near the endless rows of houses. The city is coming to life but is doing so very slowly with great struggles. The properties in Ordos are of higher quality than the Chinese average, making them too pricey for the majority of the population. And those who can afford the properties opt for nearby cities that are not unpopulated and built in the middle of the desert. Located in the north of Spain, Santander became famous for having the highest number of sensors in the world. Last year, it had 20,000 sensors. The issue is that smart cities don’t work based on the number of installed sensors, especially when these are simply pilot projects. Sensors can be revolutionary, but in addition to their functioning, trained technicians must be able to understand the sensors and maintain them. Without this component, the investment in developing a smart city is lost.
Smart city projects have the potential to develop exceptional plans for the future, but these require collaboration between public and private stakeholders. The smart cities in India, China, and Spain are just some of the failed attempts at building smarter, greener, and more inclusive cities from scratch. Without proper consideration of residents’ needs, smart city developers were unable to create suitable governance and infrastructure to stimulate growth of an innovative urban community. In comparison, there are established cities, like Dubai, that are enabling the transition swiftly but gradually, which are actually becoming smart. These cities and their governments have highlighted the importance of embracing advanced technologies to design services and experiences for residents’ and visitors’ happiness. Essentially, developing a smart city is more than planning and building. Any city, including the smart ones, will not succeed without its citizens, the core component of a thriving urban ecosystem. 53
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
Saving Time for the Environment The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has unveiled a new tool that will revolutionise environmental reporting. Ahmed Baharoon, the Executive Director of Environmental Information, Science & Outreach Management at EAD and Acting Director at Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) told The Sustainabilist everything there is to know about it.
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hat is IRIS-3, its purpose, and how does it work? IRIS-3, is the third generation release of the Indicator Reporting Information System - a webtechnologies application that automatically 54
produces status, performance, compliance, and other reports from monitoring data. It is designed to support all tiers of government from sub-national to national, regional, and global, and makes reporting easier, faster and more unified.
Developed under the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), IRIS-3 is a first-of-its-kind tool that has been designed to significantly save
Issue 22 | March 2020
organisations around the world thousands of employee hours and reduce the institutional burden of routine environmental reporting. Currently, gathering information for reports can be very time consuming. IRIS-3 will help solve this problem as it will automate the vast majority of the reporting process. It is a gamechanging tool for organisations that have to produce reports on a regular basis, namely monthly, bi-monthly or annually. IRIS-3 works by reading data from the organisation’s monitoring database and then automatically calculating the values for indicators. By converting data into a standardised report, organisations will be able to offer their expertise on the situation and explain the causes and consequences. With this information, it will help provide a wider picture of the state of the environment that is easy to understand for all types of people, whether they are scientists or members of the public. While EAD and UNEP designed IRIS-3 to make environmental reporting much easier, it is in fact universal and can be used for many other purposes where monitoring data must be converted into actionable information, so we expect IRIS-3 to have a big impact worldwide. What are the benefits that can be drawn from using an automated system to collect and convert data into a standardised report? One of the key advantages is that it helps reduce the amount of time that is required by human beings to put reports together. It’s not just
the efforts of the staff, it can also save organisations a significant amount of money. We realise that every situation will differ according to how many reports are required, but we estimated that every year approximately US$100 million are spent globally by subnational organisations in staff time alone in converting data into actionable information. With the IRIS-3 software available as a remotely-hosted web platform or intranet app, it means it can also be used by all kinds of organisations. The standardisation of environmental reporting is a potent means to combat greenwashing. How will EAD promote the global adoption of IRIS-3 and support honest and transparent reporting? AGEDI is implemented by EAD at the sub-national scale and by UNEP at the global scale. UNEP, through their World Environment Situation Room initiative, their global network of regional offices and their global network of collaborating centres and partners will encourage the use of IRIS for objective, evidence-based reporting and decision-making. As a government entity, we will work with our partners in the UAE and the region to ensure IRIS-3 supports the diversity of environmental priorities facing the region. IRIS allows for transparency and honest reporting that is driven by data. Experts with local knowledge can add informed commentary but they cannot change the evidence. What does launching this innovative technology mean to EAD and its
mission to protect and enhance the quality of the local environment? As a founding partner of AGEDI, EAD is extremely proud to have played a central technical role in developing this transformative technology which is intended for global deployment. We are very much in the view that IRIS-3 will be an essential tool for environmental reporting that will be implemented by organisations around the world. With the world continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, we realise the importance of using technology to not only deal with the current state but also for the future. At EAD, we have regularly been using data and science through technology to monitor our environment, and with the addition of IRIS-3, it will help us even further to assess the quality of our environment and what areas we need to look at to improve the standards. As part of our commitment, EAD is already playing an active role in helping to protect our biodiversity and preserve a quality of life for a sustainable future. During the last 25 years, we have made huge strides to tackling environmental challenges and conserving our nature and biodiversity whether it’s improving the water or air quality in Abu Dhabi, or looking after our wildlife. This has helped EAD become the largest environmental regulator in the Middle East. With IRIS-3, the efficiency of the reports means we will be able to advise local organisations, including the UAE government, on the environmental situations more frequently while also suggesting solutions that will help ensure that our environment is clean, safe and healthy. 55
The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
INTERVIEW
Smart Tutors, Literally Synkers is the ed-tech startup that perfectly matches students and teachers By Audrey Nakad
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Co-Founder and CEO, Synker
hat is the concept behind Synkers and how does the system work?
Synkers’ story began when the founders noticed the constant struggle of students and parents in finding trustworthy and qualified tutors. As a solution, we created Synkers, a mobile application that easily connects learners to highly qualified 56
private teachers. Finding the right tutor can be done in three simple steps: select the course, choose your preferred tutor, finally, book a session with your chosen tutor. The Synkers app eliminates the hefty 5-hour search spent on average to find a private tutor. The application utilises dual business models; B2C, whereby any learner can book a tutor; and B2B, for universities and schools to utilise the platform for their own students. Synkers
is now operational in Lebanon and the UAE and teaches more than 60,000 learners. The team is working hard to build the largest community of synergetic knowledge exchange to make education more accessible and personalised. Is the data derived from the app used to optimise the learning and teaching experiences? Our assessment tests aim to gauge each student’s understanding of the course material as well as identifying their individual learning style (visual, kinaesthetic, etc). The Synkers app then processes this information and matches each student with the right tutor.
Issue 22 | March 2020
How is Synkers measuring its success? With a customer satisfaction rate of 99% across Lebanon and Dubai, Synkers’ greatest metric of success is the happiness of its clients with the service. Meticulous tutor selection and efficient training programmes with the British Council ensure that our tutors deliver quality sessions and adapt their content based on the learning style of their students. The second crucial success metric is the improvement in results and grades. For learners, the application has also spearheaded an average increase in results of 21% after seven sessions. Thanks to these two metrics, we were able to attract a large number of new learners and tutors organically. As for tutors, Synkers has not only facilitated thousands of career development opportunities but also aided them in developing hard and soft skills essential in the modern business environment. How are the Middle Eastern nations responding to new technologies that are allowing the community to develop the knowledge of the community? Often, our Middle Eastern clients are sceptical towards online tutoring as well as online payment methods as opposed to face-to-face interactions and cash on delivery payments. However, when we educate our clients and show them how easy and effective this solution is, they end up trying the Synkers platform. Once they use the application and enjoy their experience, they become our most avid ambassadors.
Any hesitance towards new technology quickly transforms into fascination and excitement towards its potential to transform the educational landscape.
achieve our overarching goal of stellar performance - “Adaptive Learning” is on the horizon as the next level for personalised training.
Which novel technologies is Synkers planning to implement in the future? As a technologically progressive application, Synkers is actively developing a plan to create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutor that elevates the tutoring experience to new heights of customisation. The shift from offline to online tutoring is being led by our engineering team which is introducing a new technology whereby the tutor will be able to explain the whole session using our intuitive note sharing technology. Going forward, we will start analysing the sessions and learning behaviour of students in order to see how private tutoring is impacting their performance and we will rely on AI to optimise the matching between students and tutors.
How do you envision the education sector to look like in future smart cities? In the near future, grade levels will not be uniform for students across all subjects. Rather, each student will be assigned a grade level on a subject-to-subject basis via knowledge assessments. Such a framework acknowledges individual variations of understanding, interest, and pace of learning as it relates to different course material. This way, natural affinities for certain humanities or science subjects can be recognised and nurtured from early childhood. Different learning paces for various courses can be catered to in a more intimate manner than the current educational structure.
Additionally, our data scientist team will interpret data from students’ first sessions and feed our AI with the proper metrics. Such AI implementations will vastly improve the quality and accuracy of Synkers’ e-services, from creating compatible matches between tutors and learners to precisely computing student improvements after private tutoring. However, AI alone is not sufficient to
“The Synkers app eliminates the hefty 5-hour search spent on average to find a private tutor.
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Continuous improvements to our algorithm aim to provide learners with an optimum and personalised learning experience. To ensure satisfaction, Synkers collects data regularly after each tutoring session to track the learner’s improvement over time.
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The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Unbeatable Dubai Dubai sets a new global record in performance indicators in the energy sector By DEWA
“We continuously work to enhance the capacity and efficiency of transmission and distribution networks to provide electricity and water services according to the highest standards of reliability, availability, efficiency, and sustainability. This is to meet the growing demand for energy and water and keep pace with Dubai’s ambitious urban and economic plans. We are proud that DEWA is part of the UAE’s global achievements that are accomplished by Emirati men and women who do their best to provide state-of-the58
art services to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. Al Tayer noted that DEWA adopts the latest technologies for energy production, transmission, and distribution. DEWA is also building an integrated smart grid, which is a key component of its strategy to develop an advanced infrastructure to support Dubai’s efforts to become a smart and happy city. The smart grid strategy contains 10 programmes to be completed over the short, medium and long-term by 2035. DEWA’s results surpass major European and American utilities in several indicators. In 2018, losses from electricity transmission and distribution networks were 3.3% compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA. Water network losses were also reduced to 6.5% compared to around 15% in North America.
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DEWA recorded 1.86 minutes, in Dubai, compared to around 15 minutes recorded by leading electricity companies in the European Union.
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ubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has achieved a new world record in electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) per year. DEWA recorded 1.86 minutes, in Dubai, compared to around 15 minutes recorded by leading electricity companies in the European Union. This is a new addition to DEWA’s record of international achievements in electricity and water services.
The UAE, represented by DEWA, ranked first for the third consecutive year in Getting Electricity, as per the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 report. The report measures the ease of doing business in 190 economies around the world. DEWA achieved 100% in all of the Getting Electricity indicators, including procedures required to obtain an electricity connection; the time needed to complete each procedure; costs associated with each criterion; and reliability and transparency of tariffs.
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greenjobs Dubai Tourism Data Scientist 19001751
Deliver analytics capabilities with deep insights required to support strategic decision making. The role is required to conduct rigorous end-to-end analytics based on robust models simulating a diverse range of situations and with varying levels of data architectures, among other responsibilites.
Dubai Customs Project Manager 20000105
Acquisition, assessment, assignment and management of the resources required (IT and/or 3rd parties /suppliers) for the project. Planning, monitoring and controlling project. Defining and applying methodology. Builds and maintains project planning tools and techniques, among other responsibilities.
To apply, please visit: jobs.dubaicareers.ae
Dubai Tourism Assistant Manager PMO (UAE National) 19000062
Responsible for program and project support for the current and future DTCM portfolio of projects by monitoring small to mid-sized project initiatives, or functioning as support for large projects involving cross-functional teams, among other key responsibilities.
RTA Senior Specialist HR Business Partner 18002295
Review & recommend updates for defined policies and processes that support RTA’s and Agency/Sector strategy and objectives. Use and understand RTA’s HR tools and policies, to ensure their compliance across the designated Agency/Sector.
Dubai Tourism Senior Executive Follow-up and Coordination Internal Audit (UAE National) 19001934
To perform wide variety administrative support and contribute to the project, liaise and collaborate with internal and external parties to ensure smooth operations of the office, other responsibilities.
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greenjobs RTA Investment Strategies & Policies Manager
Dubai Economy Planning Senior Executive
Develop, review, implement, and update Commercial and Investment Strategies, Policies, Procedures and methods concerning Advertising, Real-Estate, Outsourcing, and Public Private Partnerships in coordination with the Agencies Commercial & Business Development Sections, among other key responsibilities.
Contribute to reviewing, updating and preparing organisational structures and job descriptions; contribute to conducting the annual recruitment needs analysis in coordination with coordinators and officials in organisational units and under the direct supervision of the Director of the Planning Division.
19002318
Dubai Customs Senior Officer Research 20000307
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Ensure and conduct updates to the data available in the GRP database, among other key responsibilities.
Effective participation in the management of the institutional system, for the application of studies measuring public opinion, by conducting studies that reveal the satisfaction and the needs and expectations of the concerned and relevant groups.
RTA Chief Specialist – Roads & Facilities Maintenance
The Supreme Legislation Committee Administrative Officer
Provide support to the department’s director in the strategic level including, operational plan, performance Management, contract Management.
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Carry out various administrative and office duties. Provide coordinated administrative and logistic support to all Organisational Units across the SLC to enable them to implement the approved initiatives, programmes, and plans. 60
To apply, please visit: jobs.dubaicareers.ae
19001525)
Provide accurate technical support and problem solving in maintenance management and procedures regarding maintenance activities to increase expected assets lifetime with high standards and safety performance, among other key responsibilities.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) was established in February 2018 to drive the future direction and provisioning of the emirate’s energy sector in all its forms and to create an efficient system that enables economic growth, energy security and sustainable development. DoE’s mandate includes enacting policies and regulations and developing strategies to ensure an effective energy transition that underpins Abu Dhabi’s sustainable growth, all while protecting consumers and the environment.
abudhabidoe
doe.gov.ae
Department of Energy Abu Dhabi
