The Sustainabilist - Year of Zayed

The Sustainabilist SPECIAL EDITION

Green is the New Gold

ISBN 978 - 1978357310

“ Today we continue in the footsteps of Sheikh Zayed. With the blessings & guidance of Sheikh Khalifa, the Year of Zayed 2018 is in gratitude for & recognition of his wisdom, generosity & benevolence. It is our responsibility to embody & share Zayed’s legacy with future generations.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sponsored by

Issue 08 | June 2018

Letter from the Editor in Chief

Eng. Waleed Bin Salman

Chairman Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence

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The Sustainabilist is published by Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence PSC. Articles reprinted in this issue are copyrighted 2018 by Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence PSC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, without prior written permission of Dubai Carbon is expressively prohibited.

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This year marks 100 years since the birth of the Founding Father, and to commemorate this historic national occasion, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has declared that 2018 will officially be known in the UAE as the Year of Zayed.

The Year of Zayed is built on four pillars; Wisdom, Respect, Human Development, and of course, Sustainability. In this month’s edition we honour this movement by taking a look at various initiatives launched by organisations, and thought leadership by individuals in line with the mission disseminated by Sheikh Zayed.

The late leader’s passion and love for the environment is well known, as he famously said: “They used to say that agriculture has no future [in the UAE], but with God’s blessing and our determination, we have succeeded in transforming this desert into a green land.”

landscape, but are also placing equal focus on the human side of things.

Sheikh Zayed’s “philosophies certainly facilitated the UAE to come a long way in a short time, but also cultivated a nationwide mindset and approach to building a sustainable future.

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The ideas proliferated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan resonate in the memories of Emiratis throughout the generations. His stance on development, progress and his people, galvanized an entire nation to align with his values and beliefs for the future of the UAE.

Sheikh Zayed’s philosophies certainly facilitated the UAE to come a long way in a short time, but also cultivated a nationwide mindset and approach to building a sustainable future.

In kind, the UAE’s private and public sectors have not only advanced the development and implementation of new technologies that could see the transformation of the country’s physical

To read the latest digital copy go to: www.theSustainabilist.ae 1

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

Contents The Sustainabilist SPECIAL EDITION

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S LETTER

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INTERVIEW Sara Al Madani

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YOUTH YouthSpeak Forum

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SCHOOL Jumeira Baccalaureate

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NEWS ROOM Latest News

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TOP TIPS Year of Zayed

06

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EXPO 2020 DUBAI Dubai World Majlis

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FEATURE UAE Water Aid

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COVER STORY Interview with HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer

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INTERVIEW Nayef Shahin

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THE GREEN ECONOMIST A Tribute to Zayed

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FEATURE WGEO

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FEATURE My Energy, My Responsibility

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DISRUPTOR Sharjah’s Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa)

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FEATURE Future Energy Role Model

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CASE STUDY CDA’s Drones of Suhoor

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FEATURE Learning Sustainability Lessons

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INNOVATION in5 Innovation Centre

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I AM THE SUSTAINABILIST Majed Al Suawidi

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FEATURE Global Goals

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CASE STUDY Emirates Conservation Award

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FEATURE Dubai Cares

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CASE STUDY Dubai’s Cycling Paths

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CASE STUDY Beyond the Pitch

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INTERVIEW Fatema Al Mazrouie

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PERSON Mahmoud El Burai

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RESEARCH Founding Father - A Timeline

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PROJECT Emirates Airline

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FEATURE Oracle’s Zayed Innovation Hub

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PRODUCT Smart Dubai’s Robot

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FEATURE DEWA on Climate Change

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INDEX

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Sponsored by

ON THE COVER

Official logo in celebration of the Year of Zayed, the centennial of the birth of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father.

FEATURE HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer speaks to The Sustainabilist about how DEWA is aligning its strategies with the Year of Zayed.

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First solar-powered petrol station in the UAE

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

YOUTH made up of approximately four in each household, that ends up being 10,000 people, and so forth. So there is a lot of indirect impact that we plan to achieve,” Samara says.

100 Years, 100 Lessons

A number of schools who partook in the Forum have also pledged to embed the SDGs in their curriculum.

In honor of the 100th day of the birth of Sheikh Zayed, AIESEC’s YouthSpeak Forum held the World’s Largest Lesson, on the 6th of May aiming to teach 100+ classrooms about Sustainable Development Goals.

“If you look around you in the UAE, it’s all Sheikh Zayed. You see it in all the decision-making processes by the leaders today. Sheikh Zayed had a vision to take the UAE to the next level, and looking around it is way beyond anyone’s expectations in a matter of 30 to 40 years and it’s still growing. I would say that Sheikh Zayed is a symbol for everyone in the UAE, in the Gulf, of growth,

This year’s edition of the YouthSpeak Forum focused on 3 Global Goals as main topics that are relevant to the UAE community and the government actions.

Keynote speeches and workshops regarding each topic were delivered that impacts directly each of the selected goals, while taking our participants through a unique and interactive framework to be Inspired, feel Engaged, to finally motivate them to Act upon these Goals locally and globally.

What better than teaching about the Sustainable Development Goals to celebrate the day Sheikh Zayed was born, the 100th birthday on the 6th of May 2018.

Schools across the UAE sent students to attend workshops, preparing them to go back to their schools to teach about the 4

SDGs in their schools, exceeding the total of 100 classrooms across the UAE. “We wanted to celebrate Sheikh Zayed’s day of birth with something he pushed for, which was sustainability, being humanitarian and developing youth. So we aimed to teach in 100 classrooms, but we actually signed up over 138,” says Ahmed Samara, CEO of AIESEC Dubai.

The YouthSpeak Forum hosted more than 50 schools and seven universities. The age group ranged from 15 to 27.

“How it works is that the students at the Forum all received information on the Sustainable development goals in Arabic and English and then they will be taught how to teach, so it’s a train the trainers session,” he explains.

“We are trying to grow a seed in the young people to make this a daily habit. So, by teaching 100 classrooms, each of those 20 students in each of those classrooms will pass on what they’ve learnt onto others, and so on. That’s 2,000 people – 2,000 people going back home to their families

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If you look around you in the UAE, it’s all Sheikh Zayed. You see it in all the decision-making processes by the leaders today.

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ringing together both young and senior leaders, the YouthSpeak Forum is a premier event that forms a diverse crosssector and multi-generational space to create solutions and actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to the UAE.

massive growth, rapid, undisruptive growth in every sector. And if you look at telecommunication, architecture, internet, everyone in the Gulf is trying to exceed, trying to be ideal like the UAE.” he adds.

AIESEC is a global youth-led organization striving to achieve peace and fulfillment of humankind’s potential leadership .

Issue 08 | June 2018

NEWS ROOM

Ramadan Aman, which means Safe Ramadan, aims to reduce the number of crashes that occur during the iftar rush hour.

As dusk falls in Ramadan, 70 volunteers patrol traffic junctions across the UAE as they hand out iftar meals to slow down motorists’ racing wheels before maghrib prayers.

Ramadan Aman, which means Safe Ramadan, aims to reduce the number of crashes that occur during the iftar rush hour. The campaign, by Al Ihsan Charity Association, a non-profit organisation based in Ajman, is in its seventh year.

Source: The National

1,500 volunteers offer a helping hand across the UAE during Ramadan this year Over 1,500 volunteers across the country are taking part in community programmes organised for Ramadan by the Emirates Foundation (EF).

Careem launches a Ramadan initiative to deliver to UAE food banks Dubai Municipality and the UAE Food Bank have signed a special partnership agreement with ride-hailing service Careem, to provide food collection and delivery services during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The activities are being run by the EF’s volunteer group Takatof, with the programmes including iftar meals for labourers and families, as well as distributing clothes for needy families. The volunteering initiatives during Ramadan has become one of Takatof’s main annual programmes, and has seen them reach tens of thousands of people within the community with their support.

Under the special sponsorship agreement, UAE residents can order a “Food Bank” delivery car type via the Careem app for free.The food will be delivered to one of the 80 food bank community fridges distributed in residential areas and mosques. The fridges are available for the public to donate packaged and canned food under safety measures supervised by Dubai Municipality.

Source: Khaleej Times

Source: Tahawul Tech

du Encourages People to Keep on Giving This Ramadan With Its Mawaed Al Rahman Initiative In the spirit to #KeepOnGiving and of coming together as a community, du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), is calling on people from all over the UAE to join in its flagship annual Mawaed al Rahman volunteer initiative. The initiative, in line with the Year of Zayed, brings volunteers together to distribute boxes of essential food items to thousands of underprivileged families across the UAE so they can enjoy hearty and home cooked iftars throughout the holy month.

This year, Mawaed Al Rahman coincides with the Year of Zayed launched by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and which focuses on the four pillars of wisdom, respect, sustainability, in addition to human development and instilling his values across the community including values of tolerance and charity.

Source: Albawaba

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Volunteers hand out 600,000 meals during Ramadan to ease iftar rush

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

HE Reem Al Hashimy speaking at Expo 2020 Dubai’s World Majlis

EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Sustainability Through New Eyes

Expo 2020 Dubai’s World Majlis series launched by bringing together change-makers and aspiring thought leaders to explore Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a sustainable future.

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n the founding years of the UAE, Emiratis would gather together in a dedicated space, sometimes under the stars, to help shape the future of their nation. This welcoming of all opinions and perspectives is known as the ‘majlis’ and became one of the many legacies of the Founding Father of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Expo 2020 Dubai is continuing this important tradition with its World Majlis series, which is bringing together change-makers and aspiring leaders from around the globe to stimulate a powerful dialogue on how to create a legacy of meaningful impact that reflects the World Expo’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

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The launch session, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, celebrated the Year of Zayed by gathering thought leaders from various government, professional, academic and cultural backgrounds to engage in an in-depth discussion about the lessons and values of Sheikh Zayed and his vision for a sustainable future.

said: “The reason we have chosen sustainability as the topic is because it’s always been so natural for people in this country to live in balance with nature. We need to regain that grounding.”

With the theme ‘Sustainability Through New Eyes’, the World Majlis was chaired

by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, and comprised 17 thought leaders, 14 students and two professors from local and international universities.

The deep kinship between Emiratis and their natural surroundings is epitomised

by Sheikh Zayed’s work, which focused on building sustainable communities, agriculture, water, education, health, infrastructure, peace, love for the environment, economic development, and an understanding of the importance of advanced science and technology.

While Sheikh Zayed may not have used the word ‘sustainability’, creating a sustainable future represented much of his life’s work.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy

An appreciation for the lessons and

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values of Sheikh Zayed was evident among World Majlis participants. Dr Nawal Al Hosany, Deputy Director General at Emirates Diplomatic Academy, said: “There’s a lot of sustainability innovation that is happening here and it’s not just something that we’re talking about because it’s fashionable; it has been one of our pillars of thinking from the very early days.”

This pillar remains more important than ever, not only in the UAE but on the global stage. Reconciling the need to expand opportunities for a growing population while ensuring that humanity continues to thrive on a healthy planet is one of today’s most significant challenges.

Even so, debates about sustainability can sometimes feel divisive and disheartening.

While conveying the scale, scope and urgency of the solutions needed, these conversations frequently emphasise existential threats to humanity rather than ways to shape a happier and healthier world. What people are asked to give up often overshadows what they stand to gain.

Frauke Heard-Bey, Historian and Political Scientist, said: “The consumer really has to be motivated to want to buy and consume items that are sustainably produced.”

Speaking about how language can help shift the focus of conversations from ‘loss’ to ‘opportunity’, Alireza Haji Hosseini, Executive Producer at CNN, said: “The audience really connects with you when you’re telling positive stories; don’t just say ‘stop consumption’.”

Participants agreed that the UAE must adopt a holistic approach if it is to realise Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a sustainable future. Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director at Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “The question is not just the sustainability of the economy… it is about sustainability of our values.”

With at least 50 sessions due to take place in the lead-up to and during Expo 2020 – both in the UAE and abroad – the World Majlis series aims to hear different voices, reach greater understanding and connect people who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to engage with each other.

Sheikh Zayed once said: “Future generations will be living in a world that is very different from that to which we are accustomed. It is essential that we prepare ourselves and our children for that new world.”

Expo 2020’s World Majlis series could act as a valuable tool in preparing for the new world envisioned by Sheikh Zayed. It is already opening up new avenues of thought and will continue to inform conversations on the journey to 2020 and beyond.

Speaking on the need to incentivise sustainability, Dr Lars Heikensten, Executive Director at the Nobel Foundation, said: “In the end, if you’re really going to build a sustainable society you really need to build the economy right – it has to pay off to behave in a good way… It’s important to inspire people to behave in a way that is good for the environment.”

World Majlis participants explored ways to reframe conversations about sustainability by making them less about ‘giving up’ and more about how the worlds of consumer goods and mass production can help drive new modes of consumption.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

COVER STORY

A Hundred Year Strategy HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA on how the company embodies the vision and ideals of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

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ow are the principles and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan being integrated within DEWA’s own corporate culture this year?

A hundred years ago, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was born. He was the Founding Father of the UAE and oversaw its rapid development as a nation on the world stage. His humanitarian legacy became a guiding light for our nation to launch the UAE Centennial 2071, to become one of the best nations in the world by its golden jubiliee. His legacy will live forever thanks to his leadership, wisdom, and vision that started the UAE’s journey towards excellence and sustainability. This has continued under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh

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Issue 08 | June 2018

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sustainability is at the very core of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) vision and mission. Our vision is to become a sustainable innovative worldclass utility and sustainability is a key part of both our strategy and our values.

DEWA’s strategy has evolved to embed the three dimensions of sustainability, economic, social and environmental goals giving us a fully integrated sustainable business strategy (Triple Bottom Line).

Sustainability includes improving efficiency, and DEWA has made real achievements in this to ensure that its operations work to support society and the environment.

In addition, when the President of the UAE announced that 2018 is the Year of Zayed, DEWA formulated an integrated programme to celebrate this.

DEWA has aligned its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and voluntary strategy with the main objectives of the Year of Zayed, in a holistic corporate approach. Our integrated programme for the Year of Zayed includes 6 main programmes to provide 29 initiatives.

These include ‘Zayed’s Footsteps’ which consists of initiatives that contribute to consolidating the principles of the late Sheikh Zayed, such as love and loyalty to the homeland, social cohesion, and spreading love among all members of society; ‘Zayed Al Khair’ to support People of Determination, charities and orphans to ensure a decent life for them and provide them with a fixed income; ‘Zayed and Giving’ to support sustainable

international projects that serve the national vision and translate the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed in philanthropy and giving; ‘Zayed the Leader’ which includes initiatives that contribute to preparing a generation of young leaders who work according to the principles of the late Sheikh Zayed, to enable them to lead development and charity projects, and become creative Emirati leaders; ‘Zayed and the Environment’ which includes initiatives that support the environment, provide clean energy, and prepare a generation that realises the importance of sustainability and protects the environment and natural resources; and ‘Zayed the Inspirer which supports students in the UAE, and other countries, by providing a learning environment for them and fulfil their educational needs.

Over the course of the year, we continue to have other local and international volunteer programmes, and national, environmental, cultural and traditional events to celebrate the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed. All of these build upon our earlier 12 main programmes to provide 27 social and humanitarian initiatives that directly supported the three themes of the ‘Year of Giving’ 2017 initiative.

How do you think communities could be encouraged to adopt the vision promoted by the Year of Zayed beyond just participating in one-off initiatives?

The Year of Zayed is introducing to our youth the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in shaping and enriching our beloved nation.

Many communities have taken some of these ideas to implement in the private sector and we encourage all private sector companies to promote the Year of Zayed among their employees, starting from this year and embedding it, to go beyond this

calendar year to become a permanent part of their corporate social responsibility.

We are determined to continue with the CSR programmes we started this year and build upon them in the future to honour the memory and legacy of Sheikh Zayed for the next 100 years.

What can you tell us about the late Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, and his impact on the nation?

The memory of the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is always in our hearts and minds. We take the opportunity of Zayed’s Centennial to commemorate his role in building the UAE, underline his national and humanitarian legacy, and his noble values and philanthropic work. Sheikh Zayed’s legacy will live forever thanks to his leadership, wisdom, and vision that has started the UAE’s path of excellence.

We are also reminded of his efforts in establishing a unique, collaborative experience and building a country that has become a role model for happiness, tolerance and acceptance. Today, our wise leadership, follow the steps of Sheikh Zayed, according to a vision that not only anticipates the future but also makes it, and continues our journey towards development and prosperity, to make the UAE the best country in the world.We are Zayed’s legacy’ is a phrase that makes us proud to be associated with the name of Sheikh Zayed, and motivates us to achieve more. However, it also carries great responsibilities. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai once said, “We are all the ‘children of Zayed,’ and his children don›t hold his name and love to the nation alone, but they hold the values of his morals and indulgence and his love to all 9

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

What is one of DEWA’s most exciting and innovative efforts to enhance sustainability in Dubai?

In Dubai, we have a comprehensive vision for sustainability, which is the basis for the transition towards a green economy and will support the sustainable development of the Emirate. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 was launched

by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050.

Dubai is the only city in the region to have launched such a promising strategy, with set goals and timelines that map the future of energy until 2050. This marks considerable progress in our efforts to transform the Emirate into a global hub for clean energy and green economy; and consolidate its global position as the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world.The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, with a total of 13.6 billion dollars (AED 50 billion) in investments to accelerate our diversification to clean energy. It is a key pillar in our strategy, considering that our ambitious targets require at least 42,000 MW of renewable energy by 2050. Upon completion, the solar park will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

What are some of the biggest challenges in terms of energy and water conservation that DEWA is looking to tackle?

The biggest challenge not just for Dubai 10

and the UAE, but the entire world is global warming and climate change. At the same time, our energy needs and population continue to grow. The BP Energy Outlook forecasts a 49% rise in the Middle East’s energy use by 2035, and the United Nations estimates that by 2030, the UAE’s population alone will rise by 18% to over 11 million. So, we have to prepare proactively for all of these scenarios and challenges, by rationalising our electricity and water use and engage all our customers and society

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The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, with a total of 13.6bn dollars in investments to accelerate our diversification to clean energy.

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the people.” At DEWA, we are guided by the vision of our wise leadership in serving the nation, working with all branches of government to serve society.

about our sustainability and conservation programmes, to become a happy, smart and environmentally-friendly city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050.

To reduce energy and water demand by 30% by 2030, the Demand Side Management Strategy has focused on reducing energy demand, the rational use of energy, and the adoption of best international techniques and practices

to reduce the consumption of resources, by raising awareness about the practices and techniques to save energy and reduce costs. This strategy is built around core programmes that address every facet of our everyday life, making this the mostintegrated approach globally. The DSM components include building regulations, building retrofits, district cooling, standards and labels for appliances and equipment, water reuse and efficient irrigation, outdoor lighting, and the Shams Dubai initiative to regulate the generation of solar energy in buildings.

In support of this, DEWA has a full range of innovative initiatives, programmes and awareness activities for the residential, commercial, and industrial and government organisations, to encourage all segments of society to adopt positive behaviour and adopt a conscious and responsible lifestyle for electricity and water consumption, which supports our efforts to protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint.

The Shams Dubai initiative encourages building owners to install photovoltaic solar systems to generate their electricity.

The electricity is used on-site and the surplus is exported to our grid; an offset between exported and imported electricity units is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset. To date, we have connected 1,032 buildings to DEWA’s grid with a capacity of 43.77MW. We intend to cover all buildings in Dubai by 2030. Also, Dubai has developed a Carbon Abatement Strategy targeting a reduction of 16% in carbon emissions by 2021.

We realise that young people will play a key role in driving global sustainability, which is why we are hosting two consecutive competitions of the Solar Decathlon Middle East. This was created

Issue 08 | June 2018

through an agreement with the United States Department of Energy. The first will be held this year and the second in 2020, to coincide with Expo 2020 Dubai.

University teams will compete to design, build, and operate sustainable models of solar-powered houses that are both costeffective and energy-efficient. Some of the houses built during the Decathlons will be model houses for future sustainable living in Dubai.

Investments in projects to implement the DSM strategy for rationalising water and electricity, require a total cost of about AED 30 billion, while current savings are AED 82 billion of the pure total saving of AED 52 billion.

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Water, electricity services need huge investments to meet this increasing demand, which is a major challenge.

Thankfully, the UAE, and Dubai in

particular, is used to transforming challenges into opportunities. DEWA’s strategy is to invest AED 81 billion over the next five years to meet the energy needs of the Emirate.

This will strengthen the UAE’s global competitiveness with a focus on green economy, by launching projects in clean and renewable energy infrastructure.

This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and diversify the energy mix so clean energy will generate 75% of Dubai’s total power output by 2050. Our efficient, effective and sustainable practices are clearly reflected in our international performance results. We succeeded in reducing electricity line losses to 3.3% and Unaccounted for Water to 7.1 % and these are global benchmarks. The UAE, represented by DEWA, ranked first in

the world in getting electricity, as per the World Bank’s Doing Business 2018 report.

Cost effectiveness in all our projects is achieved by adopting recognised international best practices and using state of the art tools, to ensure world class levels of reliability, efficiency and safety, taking into consideration best resource utilization. Our proactive planning activities starts with comprehensive longterm power and water demand forecasts, based on economic and demographic growth as well as inputs received from different government entities, private sector and developers in Dubai. All of our strategies are intended to support the growth of a green economy and create a competitive advantage for the UAE in energy-efficiency technologies, to ensure a sustainable future, for generations to come.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

#THEGREENECONOMIST

A Tribute to Zayed

By Ivano Iannelli CEO, Dubai Carbon

Long before the idea of sustainable development was written into policy around the world, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was already enacting his longterm vision for transforming the desert into an oasis. multifaceted approach and efficiency that can only come from a solid ideology.

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heikh Zayed infused in the UAE a spirit of responsibility, camaraderie and collaboration.

It’s a legacy that has endured over generations, and was fuelled by his longstanding vision for social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable development, which by definition requires foresight and strategic planning, touches all aspects of life, from growing populations, climate change, halting biodiversity loss, to migration and youth employment.

Meeting the current economic needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, calls for a 14

After years of research into the environmental history of the Arabian Peninsula, found to have been a lush arable area tens of thousands of years ago, Sheikh Zayed’s primary motive became to offset the effects of desertification and one day restore the land back to its former green glory.

With this goal in mind, the late leader worked tirelessly to develop extensive projects in soil stabilization, agriculture, wildlife conservation and water.

Along with protecting the heritage, environment and natural resources of the UAE, he also placed great emphasis on education and empowerment, on the welfare of the less fortunate in the region and around the world.

It was this holistic approach that formed the bedrock for his vision for a sustainable future. However vision alone wouldn’t be enough, the ideology had to be spread

and instilled across the nation for it to be effective. While he acknowledged the responsibility that government must assume in conserving the natural environment, he also called upon individuals to play a role in ensuring the region developed sustainably.

In a speech he delivered to mark the UAE’s first Environment Day, in February 1998, Sheikh Zayed articulated his beliefs: “With God’s will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us.

It is a duty, and, if we fail, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance, and of our heritage”.

Today, these social, economic, and environmental pillars continue to form the basis for continued innovation, putting forth a massive opportunity to embed plans that provide guidance on incorporating effective sustainable strategies on a national scale.

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FEATURE

My Energy, My

My Energy, Responsibility My Responsibility

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy recently launched a new initiative in line with their 2030 strategy which seeks to encourage general members of the community to be responsible for their energy resources.

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he efforts of the UAE and Dubai to spearhead clean energy development in the region contribute greatly beyond the borders of the UAE. In a rapidly changing world, Dubai has seized the opportunity to follow a sustainable development pathway as it continues to grow.

The clear and supportive leadership vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sulatn Al Nahyan, paved the way to develop a long-term strategy and deliver a phased roadmap towards sustainability and environmental quality in the UAE. In a short time, the emirate has created a platform to find solutions for energy challenges through the development of

specific programs and projects. The firstin-the-region Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 details programs that integrate alternative and renewable energy to diversify Dubai’s generation mix.

Further underscoring the significance of awareness creation in achieving the energy reduction target, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), officially unveiled the ‘My Energy, My Responsibility’ campaign.

This strategy will allow the emirate to manage its energy demand, increase efficiency, and develop sector-based Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets.

The initiative seeks to encourage general members of the community to be responsible for their energy resources through cutting down usage, constant monitoring of consumption patterns and promoting energy efficiency behaviors.

To design a performance-based approach for carbon abatement, the strategy defined major sectors contributing to carbon emissions. These sectors are power and water, manufacturing, road transportation and waste.

Creating Awareness

The launch of the initiative, supported by the Dubai Government, mandated by DSCE and led by TAQATI - the dedicated Program Management Office for the DSM strategy featured a community-based video that provides useful tips to 15

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

save energy in Dubai, as a well as a coordinated and unified campaign by Dubai government entities.

The joint campaign aims to encourage and support Dubai residents to adopt energy efficient practices and behaviors and brings Dubai Government’s energy efficiency campaigns under one umbrella

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The supportive leadership vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, paved the way to develop a longterm strategy and deliver a phased roadmap towards sustainability and environmental quality in the UAE.

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‘My Energy, My Responsibility’ and includes collaborations and contributions from various government entities, including, ESMA, DEWA, Dubai Municipality, RTA, ENOC, Dubai Airports, Etihad ESCO, Empower and others.

As part of this campaign, a one stop shop website is made available to the general community to provide information on energy efficiency, along with measures that can help them reduce their consumption. This information will also be available through social media platforms.

A recent survey commissioned by TAQATI shed light on the current awareness levels and the extent to which energy-conscious practices are being applied by communities in Dubai. The survey, which covered all key target

segments for electricity and water, found that awareness amongst respondents of their consumption levels of water and electricity is generally low, indicating a need for awareness improvement on energy efficient practices.

HE Ahmad Buti Al Muhairbi, the Secretary General of DSCE said: “The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy remains committed to its vision to become a role model for electricity and water efficiency. DSCE designed the DSM Strategy to reduce electricity and water consumption in Dubai by 30 per cent by 2030, an ambitious target considering the current consumption rates. The ‘My Energy, My Responsibility’ initiative is a key enabling mechanism to enhance awareness amongst Dubai residents to achieve significant energy savings.”

ENABLING THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION IN SCIENCE In the city with progress in its DNA, there is a place where great minds gravitate to search for new answers and stretch the boundaries of science and technology.

An enriching space where new frontiers are explored, Dubai Science Park is a vibrant business hub where science companies harness the power of pioneering minds to innovate.

A member of TECOM Group www.dsp.ae

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE

The Future Energy Role Model Etihad ESCO has launched all new initiatives to pave the way to its new ambitious 2030 targets.

I

n line with the new targets set out

by Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) this year, Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad ESCO, recently inaugurated the first session of Dubai’s Energy Efficiency Training Program.

The Dubai Energy Efficiency Training program, which combines an array of internationally and locally certified training programs and modules, is an initiative by the Dubai Government, mandated by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and led by TAQATI 18

the dedicated program Management Office for the Dubai Demand Side Management (DSM) strategy - in partnership with the British University in Dubai (BUiD), the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and the International Institute for Energy Training (IIET). TAQATI entered into a partnership with BUiD for the program as part of its mandate in March this year.

“The initiative is aimed at building the right capabilities to help achieve Dubai’s ambitious target of 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption by 2030, by nurturing a community of innovators and

thought leaders capable of leading the energy efficiency programs in Dubai.

This highlights the importance of the creation of continuous opportunities for professional development in the energy sector as well,” said Ali Al Jassim.

Professor Abdullah Al Shamsi, Vice Chancellor of BUiD, said: “Promoting sustainability through education is one of the key tenets of British University in Dubai and it is an honor for the university to partner with Etihad ESCO in this very special program which aims to increase the adoption of energy management by

Issue 08 | June 2018

Also, 5.6 billion imperial gallons of water will be saved, and through Dubai’s solar projects, 1,000 kWp to be generated on the rooftops of Dubai World Trade Center, as well as 3,000 kWp from solar panels on the roofs of 640 villas in Hatta.

Etihad ESCO believes that through these projects Dubai will become a role model in energy efficiency by implementing cost-effective electricity and water demand saving measures, as well as developing a green service market.

The company has also implemented several pioneering energy conservation projects including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Project, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Lighting Project, Jebel Ali Free Zone and other projects that resulted in providing approximately 88 GWH and 246 MIG of water, equivalent to AED 52 million in 2016. In addition Etihad ESCO’s existing projects and future projects such as Dubai International Airport, Al Wasl are expected to save more than 75 GWh and 262 MIG, equivalent to savings of AED 47 million.

increasing the capability in the country through continuing education in United Arab Emirates.”

New Targets Ali Al Jassim recently revealed Etihad ESCO’s new targets at the fourth annual RetrofitTech Dubai Summit & Awards in April, saying that through these new initiatives more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide will be abated by 2030 and 1.7 TWh of electricity will be saved by the same year in Dubai.

Al Jassim stated that training programs for executive managers, engineers, technicians and financiers in partnership with local universities will significantly add to the solar sector and reach out to the other GCC countries.

The event also showcased case studies of how DEWA has made 30% energy savings through retrofit projects as well as AED 2 million a year in monetary savings. This was a result of replacement of chiller plants, significant retrofit of HVAC systems and retrofit of seven DEWA buildings in Dubai.

Lighting was analysed as a key aspect of energy efficiency and described as a

‘low hanging fruit’ during the event.

It was shown how lighting can have an important impact on energy savings with the example of Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Limited’s project. It involved lighting retrofit of 1,656 villas and 110,000 lighting fixtures leading to energy savings of a remarkable 80% as well as AED 0.57 million a year.

Al Jassim commented: “It is important that we continue raising awareness in Dubai on the benefits of retrofitting and its positive impact on the environment.

We are working closely with residential groups, government, commercial entities and industrial organizations to provide support and assistance on education around energy efficiency and sustainability. This event goes a long way in spreading the message and in setting new targets for the future.”

“We have launched the Dubai Energy Efficiency Training program which is a consortium of three local and international partners who will deliver 19 training sessions, offering 12 certifications for members. Initiatives like these will help educate and motivate people to consider changes in technology that will lead to more energy efficient buildings across the Emirate,” he added.

It was also revealed for the first time that Etihad ESCO has signed its first project outside of Dubai in Abu Dhabi to retrofit two industrial facilities.

Another significant announcement was that Etihad ESCO will now manage the building labelling scheme for existing buildings under the leadership of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the regulation of Dubai RSB. 19

The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE

Learning the Sustainability Lesson from Sheikh Zayed Emirates Global Aluminium cultivates an environment focused on innovation and forward thinking embodying the goals of the UAE’s Founding Father.

Abdulla Kalban Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Emirates Global Aluminium

2

018 marks the Year of Zayed.

Inspired by the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, the year is built around the themes of wisdom, respect, human de-velopment and sustainability.

At Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), sustainability is about finding new ways to do things that are better than the previous way. This is particularly relevant to keep in mind during the Year of Zayed.

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June 2018 08rd |October 2017 Issue 01Issue | 23

Sheikh Zayed said “We must not rely on oil alone as the main source of our national income. We have to diversify the sources of our revenue and construct economic projects that will ensure a free, stable and dignified life for the people.”

In many ways, as the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, EGA embodies the goal Sheikh Zayed had for diversifying the UAE economy. We are pleased to be playing such a role in this important cause for our society. Our aluminium is the largest made-in-the-UAE export and a broader aluminium industry has grown around us that employs tens of thousands of people.

Just as Sheikh Zayed once had noble visions for putting the UAE on the world map, we are proud that by following his vision we have grown to become the largest producer of ‘premium aluminium’ in the world last year.

Yet we realise like Sheikh Zayed that what we are doing today is not enough and we must always strive to do more tomorrow.

Environmental responsibility, a cause Sheikh Zayed spoke about often, is one important area.

Since 2011 EGA has reduced total CO2 emissions per tonne of aluminium produced by 10%. We have achieved this through a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

This has included the development in the UAE over more than 25 years of advanced

electrolytic reduction cell technology at our smelters. This technology reduces the amount of energy we need to produce each tonne of aluminium, reducing both our costs and our greenhouse gas emissions.

Sheikh Zayed also once said: “History is a continuous chain of events. The present is only an extension of the past.” Today we are in a position where we can benefit from the efforts we have put in over many years, but we also have a watchful eye on the future.

“

It is incumbent on a company like EGA to cultivate an environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.

“

More than half a century ago, Sheikh Zayed realised the UAE needed to change and envisioned putting in place the infrastructure that would serve generations to come. He knew that for the UAE to thrive, it must diversify and become sustainable.

Our industry is energy intensive and we are always on the hunt for ways to increase energy efficiency. It is incumbent on a company like EGA to cultivate an environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.

Borrowing one of the other themes for the Year of Zayed, wisdom, we are proactively trying to share the lessons we have learned with others for the betterment of all. We are always looking for ways to work with others to ensure the industry as a whole is sustainable. This is why we partnered

with the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment and General Electric, as one of the first entities to participate in the UAE Government Accelerators programme, with a target to achieve 10% reduction in power-plant NOX emissions in 100 days - the equivalent to taking 280,000 cars off the road.

Working together, we did better than even we expected, reducing our emissions by 16% under normal operating conditions.

To share what we have learned and learn from others, EGA is a member of the Aluminium Steward-ship Initiative, an organisation introducing standards of ethical performance and sustainability for industries. We will measure ourselves against the targets set by this body and it helps to guide our thinking on the strategies and plans we need to put in place in order to reach our goals. In many cases, we have already achieved the targeted reductions laid out for member companies years in advance.

Sheikh Zayed was driven by his love for his people. His example is why we have invested so much effort in programmes to develop our own people. Seven members of our Executive Committee originally joined as fresh graduates and we work hard to ensure that we develop the leaders of the future. We typically have over 120 graduate trainees at any time, and we provide training for thousands of people every year. We have pioneered the role of Emirati women in heavy industry and more than 17% of people working at supervisory level and above at EGA are female.

Sheikh Zayed’s forward thinking and innovative approach to leading a nation inspires us in our own field. Sheikh Zayed was a visionary for the UAE and the world and his legacy will live long into the future.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

“

There is no doubt that the world’s media industry has also rapidly advanced, creating new opportunities for this region.

“

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Issue 08 | June 2018

I AM THE SUSTAINABILIST

Majed Al Suwaidi Managing Director Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City at TECOM Group Dubai Can you describe the impact that Sheikh Zayed’s vision had and how his leadership was ingrained in the community you were brought up in?

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a remarkable leader with great vision; the vision that has created what the UAE is today. The Emirate was undeveloped, with an economy based primarily on fishing, pearl diving and simple agriculture. And now, the UAE is among the top 10 most competitive nations in the world with a big pool of opportunities within several different sectors, including the media, film making and production. His vision was beyond infrastructure and landscaping, and he focused on education as a top priority in order to raise new generations and create a better future.

How is Media City involved in adopting the government’s ambitions for sustainability?

Creating a vibrant environment where people can work, live and play is our key goal. Just last year, we organised a free ice-cream treat for blue-collared workers in Dubai Production City in support of the summer heat.

But it is worth noticing that the transition to a greener economy involves a combination of several approaches, including the government’s contribution,

world-class infrastructure and facilities, and an environment where leaders and entrepreneurs can grow and foster. With the launch of multiple initiatives that support sustainability, we are starting to have a lasting impact on the entire economy and in turn attracting further investments.

For example, within the media industry, we aim to encourage people to recycle paper, radios, televisions and many more items. Not only that, but all of our parks have a good geological location and excellent connectivity with easy access to public transport including bus, tram and metro stations at its doorstep.

A couple of months back, we launched a carpool initiative to encourage less usage of cars on the roads. Green growth efforts will definitely succeed in the long-term.

Sheikh Zayed was outspoken about his support for a robust media industry to support a healthy society. What role does Media City play in building a landscape for progress, innovation and sustainability in this sector?

At all our media business districts, we aim to not only develop a smart infrastructure by adopting the latest technologies but also create a space supporting media talent for startups, entrepreneurs and large companies. In 2018, we have launched some knowledge-sharing workshops such

as ‘VAT in Media’, showcasing how VAT functions within the media sectors, and ‘CineMENA’, which educates people on various aspects on filmmaking and production.

Our media business districts have also become the destination for media companies to base their offices and regional headquarters. We always aim to welcome entrepreneurs and companies from all around the world, supporting Sheikh Zayed’s vision of making UAE a model of tolerance in the region.

There is no doubt that the world’s media industry has also rapidly advanced, creating new opportunities for this region.

With the ever-changing technologies, the way we consume information has changed completely with the Internet and social media. This has definitely led to solving sustainability issues and further innovation.

How are Dubai’s companies embracing these ideas and how can more awareness be created among them?

In the UAE, with the strong government push, companies are already making a huge impact on the UAE’s green economy vision. Through our efforts, we hope to inspire startups, SMEs and MNEs within the media sector to integrate green practices to help sustainability become the standard norm.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

CASE STUDY

Rewarding Conservation

The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) is rewarding those individuals and organisations who put water and electricity conservation into practice this year.

A

s part of FEWA’s strategy to create, promote and reward the efforts of various sectors in water and electricity conservation, HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the FEWA Board of Directors, has launched the Emirates Conservation Award. The award seeks to encourage behaviour in business and society that will eventually lead to a sustainable future.

to reinforce change by installing special water-saving devices, comparing the levels of saving and rewarding the winners in monetary incentives of more than AED 750,000 for different categories.

Driving Change

The categories for this reward are divided into two, namely; Residential and Government.

With this new initiative, FEWA hopes 24

After the second cycle of this award, FEWA already achieved more than 300 Million Gallons of water being saved with approximately 20 - 40% being conserved in all categories.

UAE Citizens The first sub-category under Residential, is for the Residences of UAE Citizens.

Here FEWA aims to install water saving devices, follow the consumption and reward the resident who saves the most water in each of FEWA’s six jurisdictions.

During 2017, “The Year of Giving”, FEWA announced that it would subsidize 100% of all UAE nationals’ residences under the name of “Conservator for Good” or “Lil Khayeer Norasheed” in Arabic, which includes houses, villas,

Issue 08 | June 2018

The second sub-category is for High Consumption Residences. In this initiative, FEWA monitors the consumption of houses belonging to UAE nationals for both electricity and water, under the name “Your Home Our Care ” or “Baitok Yahomona” in Arabic.

FEWA has been studying 100 high consumption residential homes for locals to identify saving opportunities, by retrofitting these homes with Energy Conservation Devices (ECD). The study has identified at least 25% conservation without any major retrofit. In 2018, FEWA announced it would implement this initiative at their expense and would reward the home with the highest saving in both electricity and water.

Government Entities Under the title “For my Future”, schools form part of the first sub-category. These include public schools in northern areas, which are selected according to the level of water and electricity consumption. The authority targets 60 schools annually to install water saving devices and closely follows their consumption, and the school with the highest in savings in each of FEWA’s six areas will be rewarded.

Currently, FEWA has recorded more than 80 million gallons of water conservation in this category.

The second sub-category is titled “Wala Tsreefo”, which is focused on mosques in

FEWA’s six areas. They are also selected based on their level of consumption.

FEWA targets 60 masjids annually to

“

FEWA achieved more than 300 Million Gallons of water being saved with approximately 20-40% being conserved in different categories of the Emirates Conservation Award.

“

and apartments. With this, FEWA managed to saved about 200 million gallons of water and an average of 30% of water conserved in total by the end of 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, it installed Water Conservation Devices (WCD) in 25,000 residential premises.

install water saving devices and follow their consumption. The masjids in each of FEWA’s six areas that saves the most is rewarded. Currently, FEWA has achieved more than 31 million gallons in conservation in this category.

The last sub-category covers other government entities such as hospitals,

health centres, sports clubs, etc. and is titled “Working Together.”

Entities also include federal and local government departments and municipalities, as well as agencies like ministries, authorities, and organizations operating in FEWA’s areas.

FEWA targets 20 buildings annually, installs water saving devices and follows their consumption. In this category, FEWA has achieved more than 1.4 Million gallons in conservation.

Electric Vehicals Additionally, in this, the Year of Zayed, FEWA will facilitate the use of electric cars within the northern emirate, by installing more than 50 electric car chargers (quick and public types) all over the northern emirate’s petrol stations, public locations and government offices.

FEWA’s conservation department was established in 2014 to prepare and manage the electricity and water conservation strategy within FEWA and to communicate and cooperate with regulatory bodies and other concerned parties in the UAE. It also strives to build and encourage partnerships with governmental agencies and leading private sector companies in the techniques and methods of electricity and water consumption optimisation.

It also works to establish rules and regulations for water and electricity conservation, research and development, and to identify the latest technologies and feasible methods that can be introduced into society in the fields of electricity and water conservation.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

CASE STUDY

Why Pedal?

Dubai is transforming the face of its urban infrastructure little by little to promote an alternative form of mobility for its residents and visitors alike.

W

ith everything from converted camel tracks to new state of the art cycling tracks, there’s a palpable boom in cycling events and businesses growing around the city’s mission to encourage a more pedestrian environment.

Among its many benefits, cycling provides an efficient way to shed unwanted weight and build up fitness. “It gets all the blood flowing and circulating and is known to be a terrific stress buster and mood stabilizer,” explains Mirza. “A vigorous bike ride leaves you feeling very calm, and it’s also easy on the knees. And one can’t forget the importance of sunlight and fresh air.”

The Business of Bicycles According to Mirza, there has been a huge uptake in businesses catering to cyclists and athletes. Many outlets around Dubai have sprung up where you can either buy or rent high quality bicycles, helmets and accessories. Among these is the popular Wolfi’s Bike Shop in Al Quoz; Trek Bikes at the Al Qudra Cycle Track; Revolution Cycles at the Dubai Autodrome; The Cycle Hub, also at the Autodrome, which also offers healthy cuisine at its Cycle

shutterstock.com

“Dubai isn’t a pedestrian city right now, but I certainly hope this changes as cycling culture continues to grow in our region,” says Amber Mirza, doctor, personal

trainer, and founder of Pedal Uprising in Dubai.

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Issue 08 | June 2018

Cycling Circles

Spinning off from this, Velo Vixens is a cycling club for women of all ages who share a love of biking.

Other circles include: Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Roadsters, which was one of the first cycling clubs in Dubai, and Revolution Cycles, based at the Dubai Autodrome, holds popular night rides.

Racing Revolution Dubai has also seen the number of cycling events grow significantly. The Dubai Tour is the city’s premier event. The five-stage tour welcomes many of the best teams and sprinters from around the world, including Marcel Kittel from Germany and Brit Mark

Build it and they will come In the past few years the awareness for this alternative mode of transport has grown as the cycling tracks have become more widespread. Although cycling is viewed more as a sport in Dubai, many labour workers are seen using bicycles as transport, and a number of people who live near to where they work are making use of the new tracks in their communities during the winter months.

Mirza is confident that a widespread shift to a cycling culture will come with more tracks being built. “My personal belief is ‘If you build it, they will come’,” she says.

218 KM

Dubai cycle tracks (exising)

LO

CA

S/AREAS CO ON I V T Seih Assalam, Bab Al Shams, Al Qudra Street, Dubai Water Canal, Jumeirah Street, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street and Al Mankhool Street

32 KM

New cycling tracks (covered 3 areas: Mushrif, Mirdif and Al Khawaneej)

O BE COV ST ER A E

ED

“There has also been a larger movement of beginner women into the sport. Two years ago, the Women’s League was formed to accommodate women’s cycling and give them a platform to enter competitive cycling events,” says Amber.

“I have seen much better organization by race directors and the government at these races. The number of participants in the races is growing. Both for men and for women. We even have some very young competitive cyclists. I do feel like we will see more children entering the sport. I see those numbers slowly inching up too... though very small right now,” says Mirza.

While it’s tough in the summer months, the winter is perfect. It could certainly be more friendly if we had the infrastructure to support it,” she says.

ED ER

Last year, the Dubai World Trade Centre held their first annual Bicycle exhibition where regional and international bicycle companies showed off the latest cycling technology and services. Cycling clubs from across the Middle East also attended.

The inaugural event saw more than 3,000 visitors from the UAE and the wider region pass through its doors.

Cavendish, all competing for the Circle of Stars trophy. Under the Cycle Challenge Dubai umbrella is Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge. This is the largest cycling event in the Middle East, attracting 1,850 riders in past events.

As the title suggests, it stretches over 92 km and has a lot of different categories including an Under 16 and a corporate challenge option.

AR

Bistro.There are also a number of shortterm-rental stations dotted around the city. Bike-sharing facility Byky allows you to rent a bike for up to 24 hours and even offers family fun bikes, go-karts and tricycles. Altogether there are 85 rental stations across Dubai, from Downtown to the Marina and the Palm Jumeirah.

Al Warqaa, Jumeirah Beach, Nad Al Sheba, Expo 2020 site, Downtown, Jebel Ali, Al Quoz, Al Karama, Oud Metha, Hor Al Anz, Al Qusais and Al Barsha Target 2021: 500km of cycle tracks in Dubai.

234 KM

Cycling tracks planned (2018-2021)

“We also have weather elements to consider. During the summer, the heat is unbearable. But yet we do see men on motorcycles, so why not bicycles?”

“There are many who would love to cycle to work and back if this was a safe option.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

INTERVIEW

Portrait of a Nation

Fatema Al Mazrouie is an Emirati artist from Abu Dhabi who has dedicated many of her artworks to the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan.

H

ave you always wanted to be an artist? Who encouraged you the most?

I decided to be an artist from the age of 9, when I started drawing pencil portraits. The atmosphere around me was all about art. My family and my teachers have played a major role into what I have achieved so far in my art journey. It is through them that I was able to discover

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new insights into my artistic skills and design my path. My sister, the artist, Salama Al Mazrouie, played a big role in my journey as she took me to art courses during my summer vacations where I started to draw still lifes and portraits with pencil when I was 11 years old and I followed this way.

Your work is often attributed to the UAE and Sheikh Zayed. Can you tell us about how the community you grew up

in has influenced you?

I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the region and many of my works draw inspiration from the cultural and social changes that took place in the first decades after the UAE’s unification. Even though the country is relatively young, so much happened in those first decades and they are so remarkably different from today. There are still rapid changes taking place, which I think heightens the

Issue 08 | June 2018

sense of nostalgia – that sense of yearning for a past that has gone. I like to celebrate this, I think it’s important to remember – it’s the foundation of our present.

media, also fabric, wood, papers, stamps, postal letters, etc. All these items can make special artworks if the artist uses them in the right way.

What inspires you about Sheikh Zayed and how do you capture that in your artworks?

Sheikh Zayed is known for not only advocating for sustainability but also human development and women empowerment, can you tell us how these ideals have affected you and your work?

I read about him a lot, and I also researched his photos, the old and the newer ones, for almost two years before I started creating the artworks.

What’s been missing from the art scene is artworks about the heritage of UAE. So I wanted to join the elements of this old media from UAE heritage and Sheikh Zayed together with this new, sophisticated and modern way in my artworks. I was always influenced by photos and with an artist eye, I see artistic dimensions in photos and mixed

As an Emirati woman, I can’t help but accredit all of the opportunities and support we receive to Sheikh Zayed’s profound respect for women. His progressive vision has brought forth much understanding for the importance of education and evolution – a legacy that continues to help our people prosper long after his passing. This collection celebrates the attributes of our culture that I am proudest of.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

Born into the Bani Yas family in the Jahili area, Al Ain.

Appointed the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region.

1946

Opens the first Al Nahyaniah Primary School in Al Ain.

1959

Orders the building of the first mud road that runs from the palace to Al Maqta Bridge in Abu Dhabi.

1961

First oil export from Das Island

1962

Becomes the new Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Establishes new administrative departments and houses.

1966 RESEARCH

1970

Opens first wildlife sanctuary near Al Ain and a second one on Sir Bani Yas island.

Founding Father

1971

Elected as President of the UAE. The federation and Federal National Council is formed on December 2 (Ras Al Khaimah joins a year later).

Inaugurates the 50-member Abu Dhabi National Consultative Council assembly’s first meeting.

1918

A Timeline

1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0

Forms the Abu Dhabi Fund for Economic Development to distribute wealth among poorer Arab states.

Inaugurates the first Federal National Council session in Abu Dhabi.

The official currency of UAE — the dirham — is issued.

1972 1973

Appointed Supreme Commander.

1976 1976 1979

UAE University is established.

1981

Zayed Sports City is inaugurated in Abu Dhabi.

The Gulf Cooperation Council is formed and hosts the first meeting in Abu Dhabi.

1982

Inaugurates $700 million project for development of one of the largest oil fields.

Inaugurates the multi-billion dollar petroleum industrial complex in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.

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Issue 08 | June 2018

Declared Year of Zayed to mark 100 years since the birth of the Founding Father

2018

The UN General Assembly holds a special commemoration session for the late Sheikh Zayed.

2004 2003 2002

Passes away after ruling the UAE since the birth of the federation.

Signed ratification of the Agreement for Preserving the Wildlife and Natural Habitats in the GCC. Honoured by the UNDP for his work to protect the environment and encourage conservation Decorated with the first degree of the Abubakar Siddiq Order for Charity and Humanitarian Services, the highest order, by the association of Arab Red Crescent Societies.

2001

Awarded Medal of the International Food Day by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

Awarded the ‘Golden Shield’ of the Arab and Muslim Historians Association for his services and contributions to scholars.

2000 1998

Awarded the shield of the organisation for his stance towards Islamic and Arab causes by ISESCO.

1997 1995

1996

Awarded the Sheikha Fatima Benevolent Award in recognition of his humanitarian contributions.

Expresses his support and encouragement for Emirati women to join the Federal National Council (FNC).

Awarded the Golden Panda award by the World Wildlife Fund, the first award to a world leader by the fund.

Abu Dhabi named the federal capital of the UAE.

Awarded a gold medal from FAO for contributions to agricultural development in the UAE & globally.

The new Abu Dhabi International Airport begins operations.

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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT

June 2018 08rd |October 2017 Issue 01Issue | 23

Applications, ECEMEA, Oracle.

“The ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’, that will serve as the ultimate platform for driving awareness, experimentation and implementation of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE; and the opening of a state of the art Digital Hub in Dubai that has now employed more than 400 cloud sales professionals, are solid evidence of Oracle’s commitment to continuously invest in enhancing our local capabilities and service offerings in the UAE.”

FEATURE

A Drive For Artificial Intelligence Inspired by the vision of progress that Sheikh Zayed had, Oracle is launching a platform for innovation in Artificial Intelligence, and honouring the Founding Father in its inauguration.

As the nation celebrates 100 years since the birth of the founding father of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with the ‘Year of Zayed’ initiative; Oracle has named the new facility, ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’ to honour the progressive vision of the UAE’s First President.

The ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’ was inaugurated by His Excellency Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for

Artificial Intelligence, Government of the United Arab Emirates, at an event that was attended by key dignitaries and executives from across the UAE. “The success of strategic government initiatives like Smart Dubai and Expo 2020 is underpinned with emerging digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence driving the creation of an automated infrastructure for the realization of these projects,” said Arun Khehar, Senior Vice President – Business

“

“However making Artificial Intelligence easy to adopt is critical – a key challenge for organizations is that they can’t afford to wait. The ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’ will aim to address this challenge by engaging with key UAE audiences by raising their awareness levels, helping drive an innovative approach and also supporting the skills development of next generation of Emirati leaders,” added Al Thehaiban.

The ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’ will... help drive an innovative approach and also support the skills development of next generation of Emirati leaders.

“

M

ultinational technology giant, Oracle, has announced the opening of an Innovation Hub in Dubai that will help drive the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the country’s businesses, public sector and the academia.

Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Senior Vice President – Technology, Middle East and Africa, Oracle said, “Forrester predicts that businesses that use Artificial Intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) to uncover new business insights will steal $1.2 trillion per annum from their less informed peers by 2020. An Oracle research also shows an increasing interest in Artificial Intelligence capabilities, with nearly a third (29 per cent) of cloud users citing the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence as a key requirement of cloud.”

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE shutterstock.com

A Call To Action Climate change. The alarm that unites the world against unsustainable practices.

D

ubai: A global centre for clean energy and green economy

Dubai is moving forward in the fields of renewable energy, sustainability and the environment and enhancing its efficiency.

The Supreme Council of Energy has set a strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16%, equivalent to reducing 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2021.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to transform the Emirate into a global hub for clean energy and green economy by providing 7% of Dubai’s

34

energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.

This ambitious strategy consists of five main pillars: infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and an environmentally friendly energy mix, to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050.

As part of its global efforts, Dubai annually hosts the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) to realise Dubai’s ambitions as a global capital for green economy, and provide an ideal platform for leading green economy experts to build public-private partnerships and develop green initiatives for a sustainable future. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the World Green Economy

Organisation (WGEO) in October 2016, and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This aims to promote cooperation between the UAE and the world in green economy. His Highness also launched the Dubai Green Fund, worth AED 100 billion, in November 2015, to finance investors in the clean energy sector. The Government of Dubai and DEWA provide the core of the fund.

Green investments are expected to reach USD 30 billion in Dubai by 2030.

Large projects & ambitious objectives DEWA strives to support national efforts to promote sustainability and transition to a green economy through

Issue 08 | June 2018

The solar park includes an Innovation Centre, which has under its umbrella a group of research and development laboratories in the field of clean energy with a total investment of AED 500 million by 2020.

DEWA launched Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), to provide promising investment opportunities to companies specialising in energy efficiency. DEWA is working to retrofit over 30,000 buildings to ensure energy efficiency. In adherence with the Demand Side Management strategy, the project will reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030.

DEWA is also working with Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (EMPOWER), the world’s largest district cooling system provider in the world, to highlight the benefits of district cooling for public and private sectors on an international level.

Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon) works to develop a green economy, by developing new operational standards to reduce carbon emissions in daily activities. The United Nation Framework on Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) announced the launch of the UAE Solar Programme of activities, in cooperation with Dubai Carbon), to implement the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in ongoing solar projects under Shams Dubai. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Dubai Carbon collaborated with the United Nations Development Program in launching the State of Green Economy Report 2018.

Sustainability Culture Indicator DEWA achieved a world record in the Sustainability Culture Indicator achieving 88.8% in 2017, which exceeds the global average of 62% by international participating entities in the same year.

The Sustainability Culture Indicator is conducted annually by organisations to measure their ability to instil a culture of sustainability among the business community. This highlights DEWA’s uniqueness in promoting a culture of sustainability among stakeholders, and supporting sustainable development, in adherence with the directives of the wise leadership, and based on its vision to become a sustainable innovative worldclass utility.

The survey received feedback from over 3,000 employees from DEWA’s different divisions and departments. The results showed a remarkable increase across all individual and organisational levels in the areas of commitment, leadership, and sustainability. This reflects DEWA’s efforts throughout the year, to improve institutional performance, and implement

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DEWA achieved a world record in the Sustainability Culture Indicator achieving 88.8% in 2017, which exceeds the global average of 62% by international participating entities in the same year.

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the launch of green projects, initiatives and programmes to increase reliance on clean energy and improving the efficiency of energy and water production and consumption. The projects include the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which emphasises the UAE’s leadership in sustainable development and its recognition of the importance of renewable energy in balancing development and maintaining a clean, healthy and safe environment. The solar park is the largest single-site solar project in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It will produce 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030, with a total investment of AED 50 billion. When completed, the project will achieve a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

a culture of sustainability among employees while enhancing their abilities to the highest international standards.

The impacts of climate change will require serious action from governments and countries. They are expected to take comprehensive action to reduce carbon footprint, reduce emissions and conserve natural resources for a bright future for our future generations, with a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

INTERVIEW

Sara Al Madani Board Member at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Board Member at UAE SME and Enterprise Council, Board Member at ShjSEEN, Entrepreneur, Investor.

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ou’ve started and manage a number of businesses, and are on the board of several organisations. What is your overall approach to sustainability and human development and how do you go about instilling these values into the workplace?

To be sustainable is not just something you apply at work, it’s something you apply in your life as a human being as well, you need to have a sustainable personality. Sustainability can be applied to so many things. If I want to break down the idea of sustainability, I would say creativity (innovation), people and, most importantly, leadership. These three things create sustainability and if one is missing then whatever you stand for is weak. If people are happy in their work, then there is efficiency. If there is creativity, there is renewability, but when you have zero leadership everything 36

Issue 08 | June 2018

It also transcends business. You can be a great leader at work, at home, with friends, with family, with everything. Being a strong leader is important, it drives your engine towards sustainability. A lot of people have certain leadership qualities, but they are not sustainable because their vision does not include all three pillars.

To me, my staff come first, before anything because first of all they are like our family.

I see myself as a boss, I am a manager, I am a friend, I am a sibling, I am a mother, I am a parent, I am everything under one roof, because if they are not happy nothing happens. I really believe that we need to invest in people.

What are some of the challenges that you have experienced that you feel need to be addressed in terms of sustainable business growth in the long run.

Gender equality and women empowerment is a big thing for me. It was a challenge I had when I first started at 15 years of age, it was bit of a man’s world back then, but it’s the complete opposite now. I feel like the UAE is really growing in gender equality especially in the government. It will take some time for the private sector to apply this because they have their own minds, but it’s a trend that is gaining momentum, and people are waking up to it more and more. What I love is that our leaders are implementing it so the rest will follow suit.

How have the ideals of Sheikh Zayed been instilled across all communities of the UAE and how has it endured over generations?

I was born in Dubai but raised in Ajman

and later I moved to Sharjah. So from moving from emirate to emirate, I saw that the cultures are a bit different and the mentalities are a little bit different, but there is one thing in common that we were taught growing up—that His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed was a central, unifying role model in the way he was structured, the way he thought.

His legacy is firmly embedded and resonates in every single Emirati in the nation.

We are very patriotic people, from birth you’ll find pictures all over the house, the UAE flag is all over the house. We grew up not fearing him, but loving him, which is very important. Fear doesn’t come with respect, because once that person you fear is gone you won’t care, but the genuine love we have for him lives on, and leads us to still obey and respect him beyond his living years.

What are your thoughts on the future of the UAE in terms of government strategy for sustainability, innovation and talent, to move away from the oil economy?

Well in the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed said that “we are going to celebrate the last barrel of oil in 2050”.

Celebrate — not cry over. Him saying that just shows his end goal. His foresight.

We know this is going to end and we are preparing for it. The UAE is so young, but for a young country to accomplish this much is amazing.

Now, I am board member at the UAE SME Council in the ministry of economy, and we are identifying the necessary pillars for SMEs and are setting up the rules and guidelines. It’s a learning experience for us, and it will take some time. But

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A lot of people have certain leadership qualities, but they are not sustainable because their vision does not include all three pillars.

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falls, so it all comes from strong, visionary leadership.

ultimately we all know that SMEs are the backbone of the economy and the startup phase is considered the backbone to the new economy as well.

So I’m not worried about where the UAE is going, it might be going too fast for some people, for some people it might be going slow, but I’m not worried because we have visionary leadership, they are strong, they take that leap of faith in taking different and innovative directions.

It’s interesting watching such a young country do this and we are setting records and we are also showcasing this to the world.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

SCHOOL

A Past For the Future Jumeira Baccalaureate School is learning from the UAE’s history to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Richard Drew Principal at Jumeira Baccalaureate School

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ere at Jumeira Baccalaureate School (JBS), a Taaleem school, we firmly believe that the UAE government’s Year of Zayed initiative is a wonderful way of capturing the next generation’s imagination to understand and appreciate the amazing progress that the UAE has made in just a few decades, and to inspire them to dream big dreams as Sheikh Zayed did.

Unlike many other countries, the UAE’s progress has been built on its leaders’ emphasis on peace and tolerance, a fact that we believe is crucial for students to understand in order to grasp why the UAE is the country it is today and to take it forward with them, wherever their lives may take them in the future.

As a school that is at the heart of the Jumeira 1 community, we are privileged to be educating many children whose entire

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family’s heritage is deeply-rooted in Dubai and the UAE. Some may be the children of long-term expatriate families, while others are local Emirati families. We wanted to find a way to give students an opportunity to learn more about how Sheikh Zayed’s legacy lives on in their community, which is why we are conducting Zayed’s Living History – an oral history project – throughout 2018.

Over the course of the Year of Zayed, students at the school are interviewing and recording the viewpoints of Emiratis from different walks of life about Dubai’s ‘then and now’, to learn more about the impact of the late leader.

They are also interviewing the expatriate population to discover more about their views on how Sheikh Zayed impacted the UAE’s world-renowned multicultural society.

Most recently our students were fortunate enough to interview His Excellency Khamis Bin Butti Al Rumaithy, former

minister of the Office of His Highness the President of the UAE, and a close personal friend of Sheikh Zayed. His Excellency taught the students a number of key lessons about how Sheikh Zayed built the UAE and passed on his wisdom and wishes for the future of the country.

The collection of students’ interviews will be used in our Moral Education and History lessons as key primary source material to help inspire future leadership in the children for years to come.

Our English students have also been involved in the project, writing editorial content based on the project which was recently featured in Gulf News as part of their Young Editors project, in partnership with the KHDA. As one of our Grade 9 students, Aya Abdel Rahman, recently commented about Zayed’s Living History: “True wisdom can be learnt from the past, living in the present and looking forward to the future.” We hope that JBS’s Year of Zayed initiative will help our students to do all three.

Issue 08 | June 2018

TOP TIPS WISDOM

Top Tips for the Year of Zayed SUSTAINABILITY

Take into consideration, the environmental impact of your everyday choices including your home living.

Small steps that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle include but are not limited to investing in a recycling bin, fixing any leaks, turning off appliances not in use, installing energy-efficient lights, upcycling furniture and using eco-friendly paint.

The alignment of the Founding Father’s vision with a global sustainability initiative presents a great opportunity for the progress of sustainable development namely the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Choose one or more of the goals and participate in initiatives aligned to your goals.

RESPECT Give back to the community and the environment. Motivate people by getting involved in a volunteering program in the field of environment. Set an example by taking the initiative and change the way people respond to environmental issues. Be the change you want to see.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Children are the future stewards of the Earth.

Teach your children to respect the environment and integrate these values as part of their upbringing.

Educate them on climate change, recycling, water conservation and flora. Buy a plant for them and teach them to take care of it. These small steps will ensure that your children will grow into environmentally responsible adults.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE

The Legacy Carried Forward The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) is committed to carry forward the philanthropic legacy of Sheikh Zayed, founder of the UAE, in the service of humanity by providing clean drinking water.

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ccording to the United Nations, water scarcity remains a real problem for 40% of the world’s population, and this is expected to get worse. Despite considerable progress in providing 2.6 billion people with improved water sources since 1990, approximately 663 million people still have no access to clean water. Despite there being sufficient fresh water on our planet, millions of people die every year from diseases caused by poor water quality. By 2050, at least one in four 40

people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.

The UAE is actively contributing to global efforts to combat these challenges, the foremost being water scarcity. The launch of the UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia, an entity under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, plays a major role in supporting and bolstering international efforts reach out and aid underprivileged communities that suffer

from drought and access to clean and safe water. Suqia is committed to carry forward the philanthropic legacy of Sheikh Zayed, founder of the UAE, in the service of humanity, especially in ‘Year of Zayed’ by fostering the UAE’s pioneering and global position in pursuing humanitarian initiatives.

Suqia believes that water is a basic human right and a driver for sustainable growth and development. Water is critically linked with food security, agriculture, education, climate and gender equality. Access to

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safe water can quickly turn problems into potential: unlocking education, improved health and create work opportunities.

Clean and accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we all want to live in. Suqia has helped establish a global role for the UAE with other nations around the world looking to solve this problem. As of the end of 2017, Suqia have achieved providing clean water for more than 8 million people in 25 countries.

Today, Suqia is implementing 6 initiatives for the Year of Zayed to continue its mission while embedding the ideology and themes of sustainability and leadership of the Year of Zayed, more specifically marking 100 years since the birth of the founding father of the UAE. The first is the 100 Volunteers Initiative, which encourages and promotes a culture of volunteerism and humanitarian work among DEWA employees and youth. The second is called 100 Water Projects. During the Year of Zayed, Suqia is implementing 100 projects to provide safe drinking water to different

communities around the world. The third initiative is both an innovative and compassionate one, called 100 Letters to Zayed, it is collecting heart-warming letters addressed to the late Sheikh Zayed from Suqia volunteers, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) employees, community members, school students, and beneficiaries of Suqia’s projects.

The fourth initiative, called 100 Water Endowments, provides 100 water coolers in various parts of Dubai. The fifth initiative covers the international initiatives, including international voluntary field visits by Suqia, in cooperation our sister entity under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment and DEWA to implement sustainable projects that serve the needs of families that face challenges in getting water.

Lastly, and in honour of Sheikh Zayed and the Holy Month of Ramadan, Suqia is undertaking the Suqia Zayed

initiative to provide drinking water for Ramadan Iftar Tents and Mosques in cooperation with 14 local associations.

This Ramadan, more than 8 million water cups has been distributed across all the Emirates. Moreover, the initiative extends internationally for the first time to 13 countries, in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment.

These countries include Uganda, Tajikistan, Chad, Egypt, Brazil, Canada, USA, Palestine, Philippines, Tunisia, Jordan, Ukraine and Bangladesh.

Suqia is also carrying out its Ramadan Awareness Campaign to raise awareness about the global water crisis and how access to clean water means more time to pursue education, get an income, take care of family and health and happiness for the communities in need. Guided by the legacy of Shiekh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, Suqia is committed to reach out and aid underprivileged communities that suffer from access to clean water and take a step closer to achieving a water-secure world for all.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

INTERVIEW

Nayef Shahin Founder & Managing Partner at METIS Management Consultancy, Former Manager at YASAT, Investor in sustainable businesses.

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ow were the values and beliefs of Sheikh Zayed ingrained into the community you grew up in and how did it impact you personally?

Well I think the mission and vision of Sheikh Zayed, is planted in all Emiratis.

It’s more of lifestyle, where the projection of his vision was more of what an Emirati should be, how we should be representative of our culture; in kindness, helping people, sacrifice, education, working for the country, supporting other people and their communities as a whole, and of course, sustainability.

Sheikh Zayed started the industrial revolution in the UAE, but he also knew that oil is not forever. He focused on taking a different direction, looking into other forms of growth like innovation, like tourism, education. I feel grateful for growing up in that sort of environment.

It’s a way of life, I would call it rather than just beliefs or traditions that you

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It seems that Sheikh Zayed had a plan to bring innovation to the UAE not only from the outside but from within, through education. Tell us about that.

Sending Emiratis to go and study was a calculated step by the government. There was a particular focus on engineers, lawyers, doctors – the high skilled fields.

Why would we focus on that? Because we know where the future is heading. We know that technology and innovation is the thing to focus on, not just business. So I feel that these governmental strategies on educating Emiratis, all goes back to the roots, the vision of Sheikh Zayed.

He set up that framework for long-term decision making.

After graduating high school I was sent to study abroad on a scholarship from the government of Dubai. After I finished, the first thing I thought was how am I going to give back? How will I apply what I have learnt and bring that back to my country?

I started working for YASAT in Abu Dhabi in the satellite division. I was part of the design team of the satellite which was recently launched and I’m so proud of that. We feel that we are a part of of something, we have that sense of belonging, and the feeling that we’ll always go back to our roots.

What are your thoughts on the future for business in the UAE in terms of sustainability and human development?

Honestly I think everyone knows what’s

happening around the world by now, in terms of global warming, climate change and everyone is waking up to innovation.

The way I see the UAE heading, there will be a lot more new technology being implemented and a lot of focus on sustainability and renewable energy.

There is already that shift away from the oil economy. In the latest National Innovation Strategy released by the UAE government, there are seven sections but the first and

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We feel that we are a part of something, we have that sense of belonging and the feeling that we’ll always go back to our roots.

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have to follow, it’s an ideology and it was entrusted in all UAE residents since they were young. It’s in the way we were raised so it’s part of you. It’s not something you see and you learn, it’s not a corporate vision or mission that you have to push people to adopt.

most important one is renewable energy, and next is tech, health, space, education and water. Water is a category on its own.

The agenda for cultivating a sustainable future is there and we see it in the long-term vision of our leaders today.

I believe everyone notices this and that spirit is transferred to the way we do business. There is much more awareness

– everybody is starting to focus on renewable energy, starting to reduce their waste and carbon footprint in any way they can – from small to large businesses.

What can be done to create more awareness and implement more strategies? Is it on the shoulders of the government to implement regulation and legislation to get things going? Or is it the responsibility of the private sector?

We run the UAE more like a corporation.

To embed something like a corporate structure you need to make it part of your culture, to make it part of your culture you need to provide the ideal environment to get that.

I think this is something that has to come from the government first to lead by example through legislation. When people start seeing the government focusing on sustainability then the public and private sectors will follow.

Any thoughts on future investments in terms of your company goals and strategies?

Personally I have seen the potential in sustainability, in developing new innovative ideas that can help the UAE achieve its goals, and it’s something I am currently looking into. There are a couple of deals that have come across my desk that are in the sustainability fields and I’m seeing more and more traction here. These entrepreneurs know there is huge potential for innovation in this field here, and so are bringing their ideas here.

I think it’s the next big thing in investment for sure, and I think there is a huge potential for new tech and entrepreneurship to grow the industry.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE

Collaborating For a Green Future

The World Green Economy Organisation is working to promote partnerships between the public and private sectors to build a sustainable future.

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he advancement of the UAE’s green economy efforts could not have been made without a strong vision driven by the founder of UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passionate belief in social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Armed with the valuable lessons of the past, he believed that it is important to pursue development that meets the needs of present and future generations. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid out a vision that would ensure the sustainable development of the UAE. And today, the example of the UAE devotion to sustainable development, inspired by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, serves as a role model for other nations of the world, too.

He placed great emphasis on education, youth empowerment and a global welfare.

He worked determinedly to protect the heritage, the natural resources and expand UAE’s energy resources, and strengthen the economy.

While he acknowledged the responsibility, that government must assume in preserving the environment, he also called upon individuals and 44

private sector institutions to play a role in ensuring the region developed sustainably and to diversify the economic sector.

Following in Zayed’s footsteps; The World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO) launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in October 2016 and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is now serving as a platform for international cooperation and knowledge-sharing between developed and developing countries, the public and the private sectors, international organizations and all other key stakeholders, aiming to promote implementation of green economy policies at all levels, in a manner that endeavors to drive sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and job creation, particularly for women, youth and the poor.

In 2015, three core developments, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Financing for Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, recognized the importance of green growth and sustainable development for

our collective future. Given the adoption of these landmark agreements, it is more important than ever for businesses, investors, NGOs and Governments to collaborate with one another to enable rapid, large-scale transformation and to act together for inclusive green growth and create the successful business models of the future.

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We believe that via knowledge and experience development, cooperation enhancement amongst various stakeholders in charge of developing strategies and by putting policies in place, we will reach sustainable future.

WGEO will promote the widespread acceptance and increased importance of the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, by linking financing, technology, capacity-building and all other elements of the enabling environment for green economy to ensure happy and sustainable future for many generations.

Zayed will always be a respected visionary leader in promoting and implementing green economy principles and approaches driven by his passion and global ambitions into sustainable, profitable investment, youth and green growth.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

DISRUPTOR

A Foundation for Growth Now in its third year, Sharjah’s Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) is well on its way to generate positive change in the UAE’s society and beyond.

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aunched in January 2016, under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sheraa (Sharjah’s Entrepreneurship Centre) provides a launchpad for aspiring and established entrepreneurs in the UAE, and works to help them grow, as well as connect them with the country’s SME’s and government organisations.

The Zayed Effect Now in its third year, the centre will see its second cohort graduate from its incubator, and its third cohort graduate from its

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accelerator. Aligning itself with Sheikh Zayed’s belief in investing in human capital, Sheraa aims to help the UAE transition towards an innovationbased economy.

that enterprising spirit is the foundation on which this great nation was built.

The UAE has always fostered innovation - encouraging entrepreneurship and startups is just the next natural step.”

“At its core, Sheraa believes in human potential — in humanity’s ability to generate positive change in our societies and beyond. His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan firmly believed in investing in human capital, stressing that to guarantee a sustainable future means placing it in the hands of the people,” says Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa.

“We are so fortunate to have forwardthinking leaders who recognize that startups have the potential to change the status quo and lead us into the future, especially with the rise of the fourth industrial revolution and the digital economy,” she adds.

“Our forefathers – traders, divers, fishermen - were all entrepreneurs, and

In its effort to cultivate solutions for real-world problems, Sheraa believes

Entrepreneurship for Sustainability

Issue 08 | June 2018

path, and help shape the ecosystem from the ground up,” she says.

that an entrepreneurial spirit between government, SME’s and startups and a collaborative environment across industries is key to building a sustainable future.

“Not having the skills or the confidence that entrepreneurship – and the job market – need, generally speaks to a deficiency in how we educate our youth.

There needs to be a shift in focus, leaning towards action, learning by doing, and instilling a culture of entrepreneurship.

Learning portable skills – entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, industry-specific skills with the ability to adapt to different scenarios — is vital,” she explains.

“The first step is creating awareness, not only of the problems that society may face, but also of the entrepreneurial opportunities that exist by attempting to solve them,” says Al Midfa.

“Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is fortunate to have the strong support of the government, in addition to growing support from the private sector who are looking to collaborate and help startups grow.”

With this in mind, Sheraa has partnered with Air Arabia, Bee’ah, Crescent Enterprises, Sharjah Media City – Shams,

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Our forefathers traders, divers, fishermen - were all entrepreneurs, and that enterprising spirit is the foundation on which this great nation was built.

Najla Al Midfa, CEO, Sheraa

Fortunately, she says, this shift is beginning to occur, both within educational institutes and with the rise of entrepreneurship centers such as Sheraa around the UAE.

and Sandooq Al Watan in order to promote entrepreneurship in the fields of travel and tourism, sustainability, social enterprise, the creative economy, and Emirati innovation, respectively.

“The new generation are also becoming more active in their learning, taking their future into their own hands and seeking out the knowledge they feel best equips them for it,” she adds.

The Challenge of Future Humans

Sheraa – ‘Sail’ in Arabic – is fortunate to have the backing of the government, and Sharjah’s ability to invest in human capital.

The emirate continues to show its support for entrepreneurship, and has launched three free zones, including Sharjah Publishing City and the Sharjah Media City – Shams, thus offering a friendlier licensing environment for startups.

With the future promising an epic shift in the jobscape, today’s youth are faced with the prospect of learning skills for jobs that haven’t even been invented yet. A feat easier said than done, with industries lacking the ability to provide enough guidance and job preparation for the new generation, as well as, according to Al Midfa, an aversion to entrepreneurship.

“In this region, there is the issue of culture. Our culture is unaccustomed to acceptance of failure, and so we are less open to experimentation and risks – both of which go hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship. This will certainly change with time as the ecosystem continues to grow, but more people need to consider entrepreneurship as a viable

Sharjah is also home to the upcoming Research, Technology and Innovation Park, which aims to strengthen Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem by promoting increased industry-academia partnerships.

The government and its leaders are also driving investment in human resources, technology, and research, preparing to adapt to the kinds of changes that the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital economy will bring.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

CASE STUDY

Drones Of Suhour

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he Youth Council at the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA) launched the second edition of “Their Suhour On Us” initiative for Ramadan this year, which will see Suhour meals distributed to laborers and needy people in Dubai.

With Smart Dubai as the initiative’s Diamond Sponsor, the Youth Council and its volunteers will deliver meals to the Al Quoz Mosque every night, and will also be visiting seven more mosques in Deira and Bur Dubai throughout the month. On the sideline of this tour, DHA youth council will also provide free medical checkup for laborers. Maeed Bin Saud Al Mualla Charity Foundation will also distribute “Their Suhour On Us” meals at two mosques in Um Al Quwain.

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CDA’s Youth Council aims to distribute 32,000 meals this Ramadan. 1,000 volunteers will be working hand in hand to achieve this, and among them will be volunteers from PWD. Weighing 1.1kg, each meal pack will contain the essentials for those observing the fast throughout the month, for a nutritious meal to open the fast.

Flying Meals Khalfan Hablel, the UAE inventor, has developed a drone to help PWD to distribute meals as part of this initiative.

More than 3,000 meals to labourers using drones, the CDA said.

With one drone able to carry up to 10 food packages (about 10kg), the drone will be

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For this year’s “Suhour On Us” initiative, launched by the Community Development Authority and sponsored by Smart Dubai, drones will be delivering Suhour meals to the needy of Dubai.

able to fly for 30 minute periods, several times a day.

To execute the activity well, the drone’s designer told local press that three volunteers will have to “maintain visual line of sight, announce when the drone has taken off and landed, and make sure it is on the right route”.

“They will be doing this from the control room and will have contact with the volunteers at the distribution site who are receiving the packages. Once the meals have been offloaded, the volunteer in the control room will then monitor the drone as it flies back to its original site.”

All three drone volunteers will be trained by the Sanad Academy in Dubai, with the training commencing next week.

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“Ramadan gives us an opportunity to step outside the confines of our day-today preoccupations and give back to the community, and this campaign is an ideal platform for us to support humanitarian efforts in the UAE, adopting the true spirit of the Holy Month,” she added.

HE Ahmed Julfar, director general of the CDA honored the partners of the initiative, stressing that their support will significantly contribute in achieving its goals and reaching the largest possible segment of beneficiaries. He pointed out that every member of the society as well as every institution is responsible, each from his own position, for sustainable community development that will be enjoyed by future generations.

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“This Ramadan, the initiative will take new dimensions, it will be bigger, more organised and provides several sponsorship and partnership packages that allow any private or government entity to support it the way they prefer.

This year we also have pre-registered

1,000 volunteers and volunteers from PWD which convey a message that everyone can contribute to the society in some way”, he concluded.

“Their Suhour On Us” this year is supported by Sadia in collaboration with Food Bank, Carrefour, Yam’at Al Tayebeen, Al Shalal Water, Al Rawabi, Al Marai, Camelicious, Dubai Police, Civil Aviation Authority, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Department and Dubai Ambulance Youth Council.

Mr. Suhail Al Bastaki, Director of the Department of Happiness and Marketing, said, “The initiative is aligned with the strategic objectives of the Union’s cooperation to promote good deeds, we hope by supporting it we will be able to encourage more volunteering and spread Zayed’s heritage for doing good for others. We are keen to support CDA initiatives and programs in general, especially youth initiatives, in order to empower them to contribute as they should to the country’s development.

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Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office (SDO) commented on the initiative: “2018 marks the 100th Birth Anniversary of the most generous man the nation has ever seen – our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Embracing his values and bolstering the spirit of giving, we are proud to join hands with the Community Development Authority this Holy Month of Ramadan, supporting the ‘Suhoorhum A’aleina’ initiative for the second consecutive year.”

Ramadan gives us an opportunity to step outside the confines of our day-to-day preoccupations and give back to the community.

“

In the Spirit of the Founding Father

“During last Ramadan, CDA Youth Council managed to organise the initiative and to achieve great results, the initiative attracted large numbers of volunteers and many institutions to participate in it. I expect that the great enthusiasm and the success achieved by the initiative will make it an annual platform to do good in the month of good”, he said.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

INNOVATION

A Space for Innovation Ammar Malik, Executive Director of Internet City and Head of in5 Innovation Centre talks about growing innovation in honour of the UAE Founding Father’s legacy.

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estled between some of the biggest names in technology, in5 Innovation Centre was initially launched in Dubai Internet City with the aim of supporting startups and entrepreneurs and incubating them to their next stage of growth. Now in its 5th year, in5 has grown from one innovation centre to three that span strategically important sectors, including technology, media and design.

How does in5 work to support an environment of innovation?

Shaping an innovative ecosystem requires various stakeholders to come together, explore, create and develop ideas, and eventually to monetise those 50

ideas to help increase efficiencies within the economy. At in5, we provide startups and entrepreneurs with stateof-the-art infrastructure that features dedicated facilities such as editing suites, recording studios, workshops and labs. In addition, we aim to create a conducive environment and forge synergies - connecting our startups with more than 100 seasoned industry leaders and over 160 industry partners such as IBM, Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, DIDI and U-turn, as well as investment opportunities that help fund these ideas.

What sub-sectors are booming in tech right now, and are there any that are set to change the economy in the UAE?

Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and artificial intelligence are trending right now. They have the potential to transform the economy of Dubai and the wider UAE dramatically.

Consider artificial intelligence for example - a recent research study by Accenture, a leading global professional services company, has shown that technology will add a staggering US$182 billion to the UAE economy by 2035. The country is also very active in adopting blockchain in a big way. The Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021 expects 50 per cent of the UAE’s federal transactions to be powered by blockchain technologies as early as 2021, saving the country over US$3 billion that is otherwise spent on documentation and logistical transactions.

Issue 08 | June 2018

Technology has opened new avenues particularly through mobile and other smart technologies that did not exist a few years ago. For us, this offers unprecedented opportunities to innovate and to become leaders in these emerging domains. Dubai Internet City, the region’s leading ICT hub and home to in5 Tech has attracted a total of US$2.1 billion in investments since its inception. Many in5 startups are exploring opportunities to streamline emerging technologies for products and services. Some of these include Wrappup, WeAreVR, Healthigo, SalesARM, Nester, Derq, Bridg and AtCash.

The late Sheikh Zayed laid out extensive plans for a sustainable future in the UAE. How is in5 aligned with this goal?

The year 2018 marks the 100-year anniversary of the birth of the founding father of the UAE, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. With an innate wisdom and respect for his fellow human beings, Sheikh Zayed paved the way for the nation to achieve human development and sustainability. Through providing an enabling platform for some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the region, we hope to support Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and articulate his vision of creating a generation of empowered Emirati citizens and businesses.

What are your views on sustainability, and what role does new tech play in this?

Technology impacts all aspects of our lives and leading a sustainable lifestyle is vital for the advancement of the UAE

in all spheres. Our startups at in5 tech, such as 3eApps are working on multiple interesting projects that look at how technology can increase efficiencies through reducing energy consumption.

In addition, we are running an e-waste campaign in partnership with Uber across the Dubai Internet City community that allows Uber’s customers to use their

“

Dubai Internet City, the region’s leading ICT hub and home to in5 Tech has attracted a total of US$2.1 billion in investments since its inception.

“

Dubai is making a huge push for diversifying its economy. How much investment have you seen shift to tech and will we see this grow in the future?

mobile app to hail a driver to collect electronic gadgets and devices that they no longer use. Our partners from Averda then dispose of the retired electronics in an environment-friendly manner.

There seems to be a gap between technology giants and tiny startups in Dubai. Many startups begin here but might move to a more mature ecosystem as they hit their growth stage. How do you view this issue?

A few years ago, I might have agreed

with this statement. Today, however, the tech landscape in Dubai has transformed dramatically. Dubai Internet City has connected some of in5’s most promising startups with leading tech-giants located within the technology hub. Most recently, we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Oracle, the American multinational computer technology corporation. Under this agreement, experts from Oracle will host monthly meet-up sessions for in5 member entrepreneurs on key topics including the importance of emerging technology solutions like AI and machine learning in driving business growth, and prevailing technology trends that impact startups around the world.

What is your definition of ‘innovation’?

We need to have courage in our convictions, the ability to try our hand at something – even if we fail.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

FEATURE

Goal!

In honour of the Year of Zayed, women from across the UAE came together to raise awareness of gender equality and UN Sustainable Development Goals by participating in the region’s first Global Goals World Cup tournament.

T

he Global Goals World (GGW) Cup is an international initiative to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Global partners are EIR Soccer, UNDP, UNGC, Save the Children and the Government of Denmark.

Sustainable Mindz, a Dubai-based Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility consultant and provider, hosted the GGWCup in the UAE and the region for the first time on January 19th.

This initiative focused on empowering young girls and women around the world.

It is an open women’s soccer, spectator friendly, five a side tournament designed to leverage the power of sport to engage women to achieve the SDGs. Their strategic partners locally included the

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UNGC UAE, UN Women, UAE Football Association, Royal Danish Embassy and Celebrity Ambassadors were Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Hollywood) and John Abraham (Bollywood).

“We were honored to be part of the events and initiatives in the UAE and internationally designed to commemorate the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, showcase his impact and legacy, and promote the values that he displayed throughout his life in creative and interactive ways,” says Dima Maaytah Founding Partner of Sustainable Mindz.

The GGWCup UAE is aligned with the sustainability theme of the Year of Zayed, and consistent with the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE who was an

avid believer that sports improves lives, empowers women, and breaks down barriers between people and nations.

“We had 168 women who formed 23 teams that played for SDGs. We had 10 corporate teams, 5 university teams, and 8 teams from community SDGs advocates. All teams worked on projects related to their chosen SDG, they all did presentations on the day,” says Maaytah.

“The UN Sustainability Goals give a clear direction towards what must be achieved to ensure a better future. By empowering each other, women can shape and achieve this future.They had a team representing the UAE Women’s National Football Team supported by their Coach Ms. Houriya Al Taheri, the first Emirati coach, who participated as a referee and a

Issue 08 | June 2018

“We aimed to have an event that is as environmentally friendly as possible. From choosing the right venue [Sustainable City] to having filtered water dispensers and biodegradable cups available for visitors and reusable bottles for teams to avoid single use plastic bottles,” she added.

All decorations used were either handmade from household waste or printed in a manner that made it reusable at various events. All waste generated was segregated and recycled including food waste.

Medals and trophies presented to the winning teams were also sustainable. The solar powered medals designed by artist Olafur Eliasson symbolising the bright light of hope for a better and sustainable future. And the very unique UAE Tournament Trophy named Mother Earth, was made of recycled wood and construction waste by the artist Hayan Maani.

Social media reach for both Instagram and Twitter was over 4,000,000. The teams analyzed both hashtags #GGWCupUAE and #100DaysofSDGAction, and 8+ new social media accounts were created by individuals and groups as a result of this campaign in support of specific SDGs. Sustainable Mindz works with businesses to implement effective CSR strategies, and supports them in achieving sustainability goals. “Because we provide specific and independent technical advice, we are able to achieve a broader view of environmental and social projects and operations, and balance the needs of businesses, communities and other stakeholders,” says Maaytah.

The Sustainable Mindz team works with businesses to determine what direction and approach a company should take to manage CSR most effectively, through evaluating organizational performance and setting SMART CSR and Sustainability related targets and KPIs.”

“

We aimed to have an event that is as environmentally friendly as possible. From choosing the right venue, to having filtered water dispensers and biodegradable cups available for visitors and reusable bottles for teams to avoid single use plastic bottles.

“

Dream Team member,” she says.

They also help businesses with sustainability reporting. From data collection and stakeholder engagement, to developing a full CSR and sustainability reports that meet stakeholder requirements.

“Passion for sustainability and CSR isn’t enough. Get the training and skills your team needs to enable them and advance sustainability in your organization,” says Maaytah.

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The Sustainabilist ||SUSTAINABLE. YEAR OF ZAYED BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT

FEATURE

Caring Globally To mark The Year of Zayed, Dubai Cares will launch two editions of its Volunteer Globally initiative which will see volunteers build schools in a developing countries.

D

ubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in May announced that it will be organizing two editions of Volunteer Globally, one of the main pillars of Dubai Cares’ community outreach activities, to mark the “Year of Zayed 2018”. The organization is now accepting applications from interested volunteers through the UAE Volunteer Platform for both editions, with the first taking place in Senegal between September 2 and 8 and the second in Nepal between October 30 and November 6. Each edition of Volunteer Globally will involve 15 UAE-based volunteers travelling to a remote village

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to set the foundation of a new school alongside members of the community, while also participating in cultural education workshops.

Interested volunteers, aged 21 years and above, can submit their application by visiting www.volunteers.ae before Sunday 27th May, 2018. For each edition, 50 applicants will be shortlisted based on the responses provided in the application, with priority given to volunteers who register first.

A one-on-one interview will be held with applicants, out of which only 15 volunteers will be selected to participate in

each edition. The 50 shortlisted applicants for the Senegal edition will be invited to participate in one-on-one interviews between June 10th and 13th, 2018, while another 50 shortlisted applicants will be interviewed for the Nepal edition between July 1st and 5th.

Following the interview process, Dubai Cares will select a total of 30 volunteers who will participate in Volunteer Globally 2018 in Senegal and Nepal.

Speaking about this initiative, Abdulla Ahmed Alshehhi, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Cares, said: “Given the huge demand for this initiative, we feel

June 2018 08rd |October 2017 Issue 01Issue | 23

great pride at announcing that we will be organizing two editions of Volunteer Globally this year. This community engagement initiative truly reflects the UAE’s values of empathy and charity instilled in all of us by our late Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed. We had an immensely rewarding and fulfilling experience last year in Nepal and the positive impact left on the community there will be felt for many years to come.

I am confident that this year it will be a life-changing experience for all participants as it will give them a real insight into the lives of people living in disadvantaged communities in developing countries. Ultimately this initiative is about achieving a positive impact and changing the lives of children and young people by providing them with that most valuable asset of all – an education.”

Each edition of Dubai Cares’ Volunteer Globally comprises a weeklong mission to build a school in a developing country. Working alongside the local community, volunteers will assist in digging, picking, mixing concrete and making bricks.

Volunteers will also immerse themselves in the local culture, interacting with families, learning local values, and forming positive relationships with the local population.

Prior to the trip, all volunteers will receive a comprehensive briefing which will cover the ground situation in the country they are visiting, the socioeconomic background, and an overview of the activities that will be undertaken as part of the schoolbuilding mission.

Speaking about this year’s initiative, Rana Awad, Community Engagement Manager at Dubai Cares said, “Through Volunteer Globally, we have so far helped construct three schools in Cambodia, two in Nepal and one in Senegal and provided access to education to 1,150 students. This year, we are looking forward to continue building schools alongside our volunteers and positively changing the lives of children in underprivileged communities around the world. We are confident that the selected volunteers for the upcoming 2018 editions of Volunteer Globally will demonstrate their sense of commitment, compassion and global citizenship during this unique week-long volunteering mission.”

“

This year, we are looking forward to continue building schools alongside our volunteers and positively changing the lives of children in underprivileged communities around the world.

“

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Dubai Cares will cover the cost of the trip for all chosen volunteers, while volunteers are responsible for covering the cost of vaccinations, medication and medical check-ups prior to travelling.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

CASE STUDY

Made in the UAE Beyond the Pitch is a new unique startup showcase hosted at NYU Abu Dhabi that seeks to grow the UAE’s young entrepreneurial talent in this, the Year of Zayed.

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n an effort to support the UAE’s commitment to establishing an innovative and diversified economy, startAD, the innovation and entrepreneurship platform anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, recently launched its inaugural “Beyond the Pitch” Programme.

It’s a new startup initiative open to all UAE youth from ages 18 to 25 with an idea for a technology-based venture that they feel will impact the economy and sustainability in a meaningful way.

The programme offers up to 20 teams with an existing startup project handson training, workshops and mentorship over a period of six weeks to help them develop a business model that is scalable, repeatable, and capital efficient.

Support for Success “Beyond the Pitch is very much in line with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed, since it is all about the youth in the UAE working together to achieve economic and environmental sustainability through diversifying the economy, fostering innovation, preserving the land and marine environments, and developing clean and renewable energy sources,” says Robyn Brazzil, Director of startAD.

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“It is also a manifestation of startAD’s mission to support the UAE’s vision 2021 of ‘nurturing and supporting a new class of entrepreneurs’ among citizens and residents of the UAE. Creating the right initiatives to harness the entrepreneurship potential of our youth is an important step in making this vision a reality,” she adds.

At the completion of the programme, participant teams will have received the proper knowledge and mentorship to help them evolve as the main driving forces of the fast-growing UAE startup ecosystem.

With participating teams representing five out of seven emirates and putting forward four all-female Emirati teams between them, Beyond the Pitch is also a critical step towards creating entrepreneurial initiatives that target the local youth population and encourage the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship for the next generation.

The Inauguration To mark the completion of the very first six-week journey, startAD held a ceremony in April to showcase the work of the participants.

17 student teams from more than 11 universities across the UAE convened as finalists at startAD’s coworking space in NYU Abu Dhabi, to showcase their startup projects spanning society, education, health, mobility, sustainability, and happiness.The teams pitched their startups under the theme “Made in the UAE.” Grants have been awarded to three winning teams across three different award categories.

Project Vision, from Manipal University Dubai, was awarded $3,000 in the category for Best Business Model for their virtual assistant app. The grant will be used to further develop their concept, which seeks to aid the visually impaired in their day-to-day activities through artificial intelligence.

Winning $1,500 for Best Presentation was AutoChain from RAK Incubator, a decentralized application that is built on the Ethereum blockchain with a goal of creating UAE’s first blockchain car platform, while IDiaBeat from UAEU won $500 for being the Most Improved business model presented with their innovative glucose monitor for diabetes regulation.

Issue 08 | June 2018

PERSON

Mahmoud El Burai CEO of the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI)

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ubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the educational arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), has announced that it will provide 50 real estate student grants to celebrate the values of the ‘Year of Zayed 2018’.

The scholarships are open exclusively to UAE nationals wishing to improve their qualifications by joining the 49-hour Accredited Real Estate Diploma Course.

“We are proud to support the ‘Year of Zayed’ initiative and celebrate the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE. Through our courses, we contribute to spreading knowledge and work towards enabling UAE youth to be strong future supporters of the local real estate market.

The courses provide students with opportunities to learn and gain important real estate industry knowledge from DREI, which is the leading regional academic destination in this field,” Mahmoud El Burai, CEO of the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), commented.

“DREI’s courses help us to achieve our vision of being the world’s leading

reference for the deployment of real estate knowledge, and also go toward developing a new generation of UAE nationals who are equipped with the skills and qualifications to take the lead in the real estate sector,” El Burai added.

DREI will organise two ‘Accredited Real Estate Diploma Courses’ in Arabic and one in English, with each course lasting for seven days. The courses will be held during April, July, September and November 2018.

management, marketing, economic and market analysis, valuation and investment, and the real estate legal environment. The aim of the course is to develop the skills of real estate professionals by giving them a comprehensive overview of the real estate sector, best practices and marketing procedures, and providing them with real-world studies to develop their market analysis skills. Passing the course is an opportunity for people who have not been able to complete their university studies to work in the real estate market.

The ‘Accredited Real Estate Diploma Course’ is designed for those wishing to enter the real estate market and for new real estate license holders. Other people can also join the courses to learn more about the basics and principles of real estate management, mortgage finance, economics and investment, in an atmosphere that combines theoretical and scientific aspects. The course content includes the basics of real estate

DREI organises conferences, workshops and real estate courses in cooperation with international academic and real estate associations such as the National Association of Realtors, as well as with universities and prestigious institutes such as Harvard University, Salford University and MIT. The institute also organises international experiences for real estate professionals to educate them in global best practices.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

PROJECT

Taking the Year of Zayed to New Heights Emirates is flying the name of Sheikh Zayed high, literally.

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n honour of the centennial birthday of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emirates Airline landed six of its special ‘Year of Zayed’ livery aircraft on six continents in May. This tribute to the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was first unveiled in November 2017 on the fuselage of Emirates’ 100th A380 aircraft, commemorating the 100th year of His Higness Sheikh Zayed’s birth. A total of 10 Emirates aircraft carry the special livery for 2018.

“Today, we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the birth of the UAE’s founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed, who dedicated his life to building a thriving and vibrant UAE. The principles and initiatives he set in motion have

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become the foundations for the UAE’s progress. We hope through our special liveries we honour his memory and legacy and help spread his inspirational messages around the world as our aircraft continue to circle the globe in 2018,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

In line with Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a greener future, Emirates has also adopted a four-pillar strategy to reduce emissions developed by the aviation industry body – the International Air Transport Association (IATA). hEmirates implements this strategy by employing advanced technology throughout the group, including in aircraft and engines; encouraging governments to make air navigation more fuel- and emissionfriendly; reducing the environmental

impact of ground operations; and supporting the development of a global sectoral approach to carbon emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations agency for international civil aviation.

In addition, the aviation industry has actively called on the world’s governments to put in place a single global marketbased measure to address carbon emissions from international aviation.

Governments reached a historical agreement on the framework for this new scheme, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) in 2016.

The CORSIA is intended to help achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020, covering international aviation emissions between countries that have volunteered to participate.Emirates supports the efforts in ICAO to establish this global approach, working with the the organisation to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020.

Issue 08 | June 2018

PRODUCT

Robots for Good The children at the Dubai Autism Centre have a new helper in their therapy sessions – a specially designed human care robot, donated by Smart Dubai.

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n line with the values of the ‘Year of Zayed’, Smart Dubai donated a robot to the Dubai Autism Centre in attempt to support the Center’s expanded efforts after the opening of its new premises – the largest purpose-built in the region.

His Excellency Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General, Smart Dubai said: “Inspired by the vision and example of the UAE’s leadership, Smart Dubai always puts people first in all of our initiatives and projects. Our primary objective has always been to leverage the power of advanced technologies to spread happiness among citizens, residents and visitors of Dubai.”

“Working with the Dubai Autism Center on this initiative allows us to reach a new

niche segment of society – a segment with incredibly high potential – and putting the bulk of our expertise into this project brings us closer to making Dubai the happiest and smartest city on Earth,” H.E. Al Nasser concluded.

Al Emadi expressed his thanks and appreciation to Smart Dubai for its support to the Center’s new program “Robot-Assisted Therapy” which has been specially designed for human care robots that are capable of a vast number of physical and social exchanges, praising Smart Dubai’s humanitarian efforts which shows their commitment to the welfare of children in the society.

“As a non-profit organization, we continue to rely on community’s support to help students achieve the levels of

independence they and their families always hoped for,” said Al Emadi.

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that lasts throughout a person’s life; it affects the person’s verbal and nonverbal communications as well as imaginative play and social skills. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) transcends social, cultural and geographic boundaries.

According to recent studies, one out of every 68 children is affected by ASD.

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The Sustainabilist | YEAR OF ZAYED

INDEX

Meeting Future Energy Demand

As the global energy demand increases and the energy sector transitions to new energy systems we take a look at reports from McKinsey and DEWA to highlight its main concerns.

DEWA Planning processes start with demand forecasting up to 2030 which is updated annually considering demographic and econometric growth and captures the effect of future uncertainties through scenario planning. This ensures achievement of DEWA strategy 2021 and full alignment with Dubai and UAE key strategies.

McKinsey Driven by population growth and increasing wealth, India, Africa, and the non-OECD countries in Asia (excluding China) will lead energy demand growth from 2015-2050, with each ultimately surpassing Europe in absolute demand.

All OECD regions will experience declining energy demand, and Chinese demand will peak well before 2050.

GRAPH: Peak Power Demand and Planned Capacity Additions (2016 -2 030)

22,000

Peak Power Demand (MW)

20,000

Available Power Capacity (MW)

18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000

Power (MW)

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 YEAR

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

OECD EUROPE 33

45

2027

2026

2028

37 2015 2030 2050

37

2030

Primary energy demand by region 2015-50, Million TJ Global growth in energy demand

OECD ASIA PACIFIC

70

2029

34

2015 2030 2050

CHINA 124

144

138

41 2015 2030 2050

OECD AMERICA 115 114 106

OTHER NON OECD ASIA 55

77

2015 2030 2050

INDIA AFRICA 33

45

57 70

70

35

REST OF THE WORLD 142 106 123

2015 2030 2050 2015 2030 2050 2015 2030 2050

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2015 2030 2050

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