Future Cities October 2015 by Future Cities ME

October ISSUE 5

CONTENTS The Sections

smart technologies

government

Future Cities and ‘The Internet Future of Everything’ P.44

Green Deal to drive UAE sustainable economy P.14

construction

transport 36,000 kms of new railway planned in the Middle East P.54

BIM to improve decision-making on construction materials P.26

health & communities

sustainability

UAE’s Digital Payments Market Set to Outpace Cash Use by 2020 P.58

AFED annual conference returns to Beirut P.34

food & agriculture

waste management

Land grabbing poses a fresh challenge to regional food security P.60

Waste Management in the UAE and Bee’ah’s Establishment P.40

early collaboration Inspire and Educate P.6

FUTURE CITIES ME

CONTENTS PAGE October ISSUE

2015 October issue

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2015 October issue

October EDITION 06

FUTURE CITIES ME . VOLUME 1 NUMBER 5 2015 October

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publisher’s note

his issue of Future Cities is inspired by inspiration. Our special guest writer Stephan Frantzen of P&T Architects, explores the philosophy of “Inspire Not Educate” where he talks about employing an all-inclusive approach that should be taken by all parties within the construction sector. At the latest Knauf discussion series held earlier this month, we look directly into the role of multinationals in building cities of the future and what practical process improvements can be implemented. The discussions threw up some unique and interesting insights into where multinationals can share knowledge and inspire developers and at the same time add to their global knowledge base through local experiences. In this issue we also have introduced a Waste Management section in which we explore innovative methods and programs to recycle waste in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The UAE government’s Green Deal initiative has taken off in right earnest and we speak with H.E. Fahad Al Gargawi Secretary General of Dubai GEP and CEO of Dubai FDI, who shares his vision of a smart, sustainable future for the region. The GITEX Technology Week was held this month and we bring you a 360 degree view of the event and latest developments in the Middle East of the major players in the industry. The 21st century business model is a highly evolved creature. Simple money no longer makes more money. We have entered the age of smart money. It is only with technology and innovative use of the same will companies remain profitable and successful. Future Cities’ primary agenda is to promote this innovation in a sustainable manner across all industries and societies so we may create a better future for everyone. And your future, and mine, starts right here, right now!

FUTURE CITIES ME . VOLUME 1 NUMBER 5 2015 October

Publisher & CEO Liam Williams liam@flipflopmedia.ae Managing Director Harry Norman harry@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9062 Editorial editor sunil Thakur sunil@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 Katy Elliot info@flipflopmedia.ae

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2015 October issue

roundtable

Discussion Series - Multinationals

INSPIRE AND NOT EDUCATE In our increasingly diversified world we have an absolutely endless number of techniques, systems, materials and costs at hand when designing buildings. And the flow of new things is increasing. Written by: Stephan Frantzen Partner – P&T Architects

rchitects, engineers and suppliers must therefore compile an incredible amount of data and knowledge to come up with solutions that optimizes the given task functionally, technical and aesthetically – all at the same time. This can at times be overwhelming and it can often be difficult to explain new ways of doing things to developers and also to the authorities. The architect Calatrava explains that he spends half his time on projects explaining how his sophisticated structures meet regulations when submitting them to the authorities. In this situation it is easy for us in the construction industry to say that we must EDUCATE developers and authorities to make them understand what and why we are doing what we do. Using the word EDUCATE is however both condescending and unnecessary, and creates an ‘us and them’ situation that is not very positive and conducive. In a recent debate among architects, engineers and suppliers I suggested to use

2015 october issue

the word INSPIRE instead. Not because of being humble – something that is not very popular these days - but because the truth is that no one – not even specialists - can be sure to be totally updated. The most compelling reason is that new knowledge can come from anywhere. From developers that are engaged in the construction process and sometimes, from people that have absolutely nothing to do with the construction industry. Cross-information between very different industries is probably the most interesting and effective way to move forward and develop new solutions. It is often said that music and architecture have a lot in common, that the rhythmical sequence of music resembles the way one moves through buildings: compressed space, open space and compressed again, as an example. But we could probably learn from looking into other industries such as the shipping industry where every part in a super tanker is numbered and assembled in a logical sequence in only six months or 1/3 of the time used to construct a typical high-rise building after completing the foundation. I could imagine that we could learn from the metallurgical industry and medical science if we started to look for ideas. Inspiration is the best way to spread knowledge and to learn in return, not being humble but curious. l

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Roundtable

“In a recent debate among architects, engineers and suppliers I suggested to use the word INSPIRE instead. Not because of being humble – something that is not very popular these days - but because the truth is that no one – not even specialists - can be sure to be totally updated.” stephan frantzen

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2015 october issue

roundtable

Discussion Series - Multinationals

Earlier this month, Future Cities ME sat down with industry leaders to discuss the role of multinationals in the GCC construction market. During the discussion we examined areas where collaboration can be increased and global knowledge and experience shared within a local context. As expected, the interchange gave rise to the key themes of inspiring developers and local governments to build sustainably, but interestingly, also how multinationals need to recognize and understand local requirements better and not be focused only global trends in order to create local projects successfully.

The discussion, which is part of the Knauf program for building better communication in the industry, was attended by the following: Andrew Body Managing Director – Mouchel Issam Ezzeddine Design Director – NEB Christian Vasquez Architect & Executive – NEB Stephan Frantzen Partner – P&T Architects Joe Saghbini Director – Dewan Clinton Bull Associate Director – SSH Lee Evans ASTM Technical & Training Manager - Knauf Roberto Pignato Regional Sales and Marketing Manager – Knauf

Do multinationals need to do more to understand local and regional markets? Stephan Frantzen: Yes, you always need to know more and need to improve. It’s very important to understand the local markets you work in and

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create connections. P&T have worked all over the world, and you have to do your homework. It’s all about the planning of the plan. You don’t know what’s going to happen when you go to unfamiliar places but if you are well prepared you have something in your arsenal so that you can move very fast and understand the important things that could effect what you are doing. Homework, respect for culture and understanding the way people work, then engaging with them, these are key. When you do expand and open an international office, its important to understand that you have to engage with the whole city or country you will be working in. That is critical. Our company was formed in 1868. Since then we have always reinvented ourselves to suit the time and place.

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Roundtable

Andrew Body: It is not necessarily to do with multinationals or about being in the Middle East. It’s about connecting with clients. Different clients move in different ways and as Stephan mentioned: “homework”. Effort is important. Clients in Taiwan are different to those in Riyadh, but then we have 3 clients in Riyadh, which operate very differently from each other. For me, it starts with trying to instill the importance of the client’s focus through the organization. If you are doing that then it doesn’t matter where you are. If I am going to do the job, and do it in a way which will delight the client…. I need to first understand my client. Roberto pignato: What do you do if the client is wrong Andrew? Andrew Body: You have to be honest, but you need to understand the local practices and do it the right way. But it’s not only about local practice. No one likes to hear that they are wrong. The message is the same wherever you are from. Roberto pignato: Absolutely, it is about understanding. We are working with consultants, contractors and sub-contractors who sometimes are sure they are right. But it can be a lack of understanding of the local requirements that can lead to the wrong decisions. Joe saghbini: We need to make sure that we have open dialogue, to really understand. I think it is really important that we listen. Sometimes multinationals have more experience than the country they work in but they need to listen, only then by opening dialogue can they bridge the gap between what is done globally and what is done locally. Clinton Bull: The multinationals need to think differently when they come into a new region. I am sure we have all seen it. A multinational has a system that they have successfully used before and want to implement that in a new market. A company that is based in Australia may want to work everywhere in the Australian way. The approach is different, the arrogance nauseating, and in the first client meeting they sit and discuss what they will do without understanding the

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It is not necessarily to do with multinationals or about being in the Middle East. It’s about connecting with clients. Andrew Body

2015 october issue

roundtable

Discussion Series - Multinationals

local requirements. This doesn’t work. We need to build relationships and understanding. When you go into new cities and markets you need to understand the local culture before you set up, otherwise you will be rejected. Multinationals need to be patient and take time to gain local knowledge. Lee Evans: I think it’s important to keep up to date with local requirements. These can change very quickly, it’s not just about setting up out here and then moving forward. You need to stay abreast off all the changes with the civil defense and legislations locally. Do Multinationals companies need to fulfill the needs of local standards? Christian VASQUEZ: Local standards are very important, we cannot skip the local standards. But it is not just the local standards but we must work with the local authorities on the updates on the standards and collaborate with the different authorities to make sure these are best. Regulations are changing regularly and which means there is something still wrong. It is our duty to collaborate and make sure that the changes are positive. Andrew Body: We need to think of our position. Local governments want to innovate and raise standards. That’s why they want multinationals, but you have to be careful that you don’t come across as arrogant saying, ‘Yes that might be your standard, but that’s not how we do it in New Zealand.’ That just doesn’t work. To get approvals we have to understand the standard, over time when you develop relationships you can help influence new standards. It is also important not just to see design standards, but also things like Health and Safety, we do a lot of work in KSA and our challenge is to make sure there is a Mouchel standard on our sites, not just a local standard. The legislation requirements may have a lower threshold for Health and Safety outside of Dubai, but we need to ensure that we have a Mouchel standard. That is what a multinational can bring to the region. Issam ezzEddine: I worked with a UK consultant, the policy of this UK consultant was hiring 90% UK Citizens in this region. They faced complications within the business between themselves and the authorities. After six years, they had 20% UK Citizens, the reason is you have to hire people to be a link between the business and the public, owner or client. Hiring Local people and different nationalities plays a significant role in meeting local standards. Lee Evans: We have to safeguard from arrogance, I am from the UK and have problems working with other UK citizens. They may be used to UK standards, but it

2015 october issue

doesn’t mean that they should always be implemented. The same is true of other nationalities that I have worked with. However, rather than mixing between different standards, American, German, British, what would help is creating stronger local standards that were based upon European standards. For Instance, someone from the UK has probably never worked with American standards and that becomes a problem. Joe saghbini: The fact that we have people from so many different countries here and everyone is bringing their own standards. This does create a problem in a relatively young market. The market needs some time to find balance, a big American consultant will push for American standards. The market will mature with fewer dramatic changes over time and this will create its own local logic and standards. It is important that if you try to adapt you need to be flexible. It is our responsibility to inform the client of these changes and be the communicator between the authorities and the client on legislative changes. Constant communication and anticipating change is the challenge for consultants. Clinton Bull: One of the challenges we face as a consultant regarding regulations is, you will have a client based in a certain region, which is repeat business so they are used to working in a certain way. Then you go to another region with the same team and client but because of different standards the same product is now 20% more expensive in the different region. We make sure we are very upfront with our clients, every region is very specific in terms of certain

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Roundtable

requirements. The same hotel will not work in every region because of the different standards, these expectations need to communicated earlier on. We can’t simply copy and paste into different regions. How can multinational firms share knowledge from other markets to improve standards within the GCC? Do we share knowledge from the GCC globally? Stephan Frantzen: In our profession (Architects) we never do the same job twice. We are actually doing a project with a hospital in Riyadh and the same in Jeddah but they are completely different. We need to offer different analysis, and do the homework before we put pen to paper. We need to understand the standards and regulations, and only then can we bring in what we know from other regions. We did a 70-storey tower in KSA where there wasn’t much regulation or other towers in area. So then we could bring experience from outside the region. This way the knowledge is spread. Within our company we have an internal exchange of knowledge where we can take the experience of Smart Cities in South East Asia and incorporate that here. Joe saghbini: It is clear that the projects we are working on here are large scale, probably larger than anywhere else in the world. That is something we can share, the big projects, which are undertaken here, and the lessons learned can be used in smaller projects. We need to also understand that it is not always a good plan to try and impose

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something we have done here to another market. We have to maintain a balance between the local market experience and trying not to go over board. Andrew Body: I think it is different in different cases, as an example, in New Zealand we got really good at road maintenance and the 4 things you worry about is water, water, trucks and then water. If you try and share that with Abu Dhabi or Doha it doesn’t quite work! You can share some things and not others. Intelligent transport solutions are areas where you can take knowledge from other areas and implement them here. We have to pick what we share, as some things just do not make sense. Issam ezzEddine: There are challenges in the region we face. For example, we use steel structures globally yet locally we still rely upon concrete. This doesn’t always suit the project. So we need to work closer with the authorities to share the knowledge from other markets to show why other techniques are more beneficial. We all want to bring knowledge to the region, but in some areas there are obstacles.

2015 october issue

roundtable

Discussion Series - Multinationals

We have been fortunate to work with some fantastic clients, for example the Opera House in Kuwait we are doing at the moment. We have exhausted 2 ears of the entire worlds titanium supply just to do the roof. Clinton bull

Roberto pignato: It is the same to shift from brick and blocks to light weight solutions. For you as an architect it adds value, as it is lightweight from the foundations to the top. Yet it is almost impossible to convince people to go from brick and blocks to this. In Europe, it only started 10 – 15 years ago, so it may take some more time here. Joe saghbini: It is the age of the market. It is a younger market. We also need to understand the decisions are made by many factors, cost of labor is not the same, the amount of space is not as restrictive, so the reasons to change are not as pressing. We can come up with new solutions, which are not always traditional ways of constructing, but we must be brave enough to propose this. As consultants we always look to innovate, but at the same time we need to win projects. Clinton Bull: It depends on the client’s appetite for innovation and looking at different techniques. We have been fortunate to work with some fantastic clients, for example the Opera House in Kuwait we are doing at the moment. We have exhausted 2 years of the entire worlds titanium supply just to do the roof. The client wanted something, which also happened to be expensive, but still went with it. We want innovation, we want to push the envelope, but sometimes when we present these ideas, the client has ‘X’ amount budget and wants the quickest ROI. Then there is the other extreme. There are very few clients who say ‘we really want this iconic structure, we know its expensive but lets do it anyway’. l

2015 october issue

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GOVERNMENT

Green Deal to drive UAE sustainable economy As part of the U.A.E. Government’s smart and sustainable practice initiatives the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai in collaboration with the Dubai Green Economy Partnership (Dubai GEP) and Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI) has launched ‘Green Deal’ - the region’s first crowd sourcing platform entirely focused on verifiable green initiatives

reen Deal is an effort to promote everyday sustainable practices at the grass-root level by informing and educating the general public of the benefits - both environmental and financial – of creating energy efficient living, working and leisure spaces. It is part of the overall strategy to foster stronger participation in community initiatives through providing innovative services and products to individuals. In keeping with its green philosophy, the campaign carefully screens products in terms of its economic viability, its impact on the environment and its strategic fit to the Dubai Demand Side Management 2030 through a purposely convened high level committee of experts. We spoke with H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of Dubai GEP and CEO of Dubai FDI, who explained in his own words the principles and goals of the Dubai Green Deal initiative. “Green Deal is the latest product of the Dubai Green Economy Partnership initiative launched in 2012 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. The Green Deal is an initiative to encourage the adoption of clean technologies within the Emirates and to promote the same through overall government policies and legislations that will facilitate adoption of green technologies and products among UAE residents.

2015 October issue

Removing as much complexity as possible from the procurement exercise as well as leveraging the collective bargaining power of larger communities using crowd funding methods is essential to supporting the switch to green technologies and products. “As a one stop shop, Green Deal will result in a hassle-free alternative that will encourage a faster adoption of green products in the region and invite numerous new providers to the marketplace. Crowd sourcing has been successful nationally, and internationally, hence a green-focused platform is expected to further enhance the success potential. Green technology is one of the most rapidly growing technologies of the day and expected to reach a global market of nearly $15 trillion by 2020. Green technology is beneficial not just for creating a sustainable global environment but it also makes sound business sense. It will also help us to better use available resources and create a better life for future generations,” said Mr Gergawi. There is a huge discussion going on globally about profitable sustainable practices that will help not only large corporations but even individuals improve the bottom lines in an eco-friendly manner. For the past three years there have been many efforts in this direction made by the UAE government and semi-government agencies like Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), DEP, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and others towards creating clean energy projects and processes. “The key element in achieving environmental sustainability is the role of the individual and that is what the Green Deal aims to promote and facilitate. So how can you make individuals understand and feel the benefits of green technologies and dayto-day practices? The best way is to have them use green technologies in their homes and make them realize that there are actual financial savings in putting up solar panels or water conservation systems or smart switches for lighting and appliances,” said Al Gergawi. “Government agencies are talking to local companies that distribute alternate energy products like solar panels, photo voltaic cells, and energy saving devices like water conservation and smart lighting systems. The company’s licenses will be cross-checked and products fully verified. Only then will they be brought to a common platform that will be easily accessible to individuals who are looking to install ‘smart’ energy saving systems in their homes. This way, when consumers purchase these products they can verify the purchase and even calculate their actual savings using the Green Deal’s online portal,” added Al Gergawi. Then there is financial part. Emirates Islamic Bank is partnering the initiative and will provide financing options to

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government

“The key element in achieving environmental sustainability is the role of the individual and that is what the Green Deal aims to promote and facilitate “

companies and individuals who would like to install green energy, and energy conservation systems in their offices and homes. “This way people will not feel the financial pinch but instead, immediately experience cost savings as their monthly energy bills come down.” According to Al Gergawi, the Green Deal website will be officially launched in early November. This will provide a major impetus to the green movement in the UAE. The city of Dubai is leading the way and demonstrating to other cities in the Middle East and across the world that energy conservation and green practices are not just good for the environment but makes financial sense as well! l

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2015 October issue

GOVERNMENT

DEWA launches 8 smart initiatives to boost customer happiness Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched an innovative package of eight smart initiatives named ‘Your Happiness Is Our Priority’ to spread happiness among customers and partners by providing innovative and efficient smart services.

his supports the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve government services to the highest international standards, and the vision of Government of Dubai to make Dubai the happiest city in the world, and in accordance with DEWA’s vision to be a sustainable innovative world-class utility. “DEWA is among the first government organizations to apply the Happiness Meter launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. DEWA is also actively implementing the ‘Smart City’ initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world in three years through 100 initiatives and 1,000 smart services. DEWA’s ‘Your Happiness Is Our Priority’ initiative reflects its tireless efforts to simplify and speed up procedures, and provide quality services according to the highest international standards,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO, DEWA. “In accordance with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to reduce the number of visitors to government departments by 80% by 2018, DEWA is incorporating the Happiness Factor in the its main strategy by offering innovative channels that enable customers to complete their transactions anytime, anywhere,” added Al Tayer. ‘Your Happiness Is Our Priority’ includes eight innovative smart initiatives: The first initiative, Takamul, is an integrated initiative between DEWA and Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) that allows a customer to instantly request DEWA service connections at RERA-authorised offices after registration of rental contracts.

2015 October issue

The second is Fawran, A fast service for connecting or disconnecting electricity and water instantly through smart meters. The third, Shura, is an online forum for DEWA’s customers to share opinions on DEWA’s development initiatives in order to improve them. Hayak is an online video chat service that allows customers to directly communicate with DEWA’s call centre staff. It is available on DEWA’s smart app and website. The fifth Initiative, Estareeh 2, enables customers to claim refunds of DEWA security deposits easily and safely through a direct-transfer facility. The Tarsheed smart audit initiative is an electronic service by DEWA to provide technical specifcations and guidelines for companies to help them achieve the most sustainable use of their electricity and water. The seventh Initiative, Pearl collection, provides new services and improves existing ones in an innovative way based on customer feedback and suggestions as precious as pearls. DEWA’s objective is to provide the best results in terms of efficiency and added value for customers. The eighth Initiative is Shams Dubai, which enables customers to generate solar energy by installing photovoltaic solar panels on residential and commercial buildings and connecting them to DEWA’s grid. This initiative boosts the diversification of energy sources in Dubai and supports the development towards a green economy and sustainable development. “These eight initiatives are result of elaborate planning based on feedback from DEWA customers. The aim is not only to provide quality services according to international standards, but also listen to their views, suggestions and feedback and put them into practice. DEWA is confidently raising the bar on all its services it provides to customers,” said Abdullah Al Hajri, Executive Vice President of Customer Service at DEWA. “DEWA is always keen to embrace creativity and technical innovation to implement the directives of our leadership to make the experience of living in Dubai the most efficient and comfortable. This is done through integrated services that exceed expectations. In this sense, ‘Your Happiness Is Our Priority’ initiative is designed to enrich and enhance the experience of customers,” commented Moza Al Akraf, CIO of DEWA.

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government

“DEWA’s smart journey supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to be proactive in providing smart services and initiatives for all segments of society, including customers, consultants, suppliers, jobseekers, government organisations, and visitors. These initiatives and services are not limited to customer service in general, but also to customers with special needs to provide high-quality and exclusive services,” added Al Akraf. DEWA at GITEX DEWA is part of the Dubai Smart Government’s stand (S2-A21) in the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. DEWA is showcasing its latest smart services, initiatives, and solutions that support the Smart Dubai initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the Dubai Plan 2021 for Dubai to be a smart, integrated, and connected city that is proactive and creative in meeting the needs of individuals and society as a whole. DEWA informed visitors and customers about its smart services and initiatives that contribute to making their lives easier. “This achieves the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make customers happier by providing government services round the clock,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. Among the key programmes and solutions DEWA highlighted at GITEX, are its three smart initiatives. The first initiative, Shams Dubai, enables customers to produce solar energy by installing photovoltaic (PV) panels on their rooftops and connect it to DEWA’s grid. This contributes to

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diversifying the energy mix and supporting the green economy and the sustainable development. The second initiative, smart applications through smart meters and grids, enables using smarter electricity and water systems and smart meters which provide additional services. The third initiative, Green Charger, to build the infrastructure and electric vehicles charging stations. DEWA also showcased its Sirb drones initiative, which is significantly improving DEWA’s operational efficiency by accelerating operations, increasing safety during regular network testing and maintenance, and accurately detecting failures. It is helping in monitoring generation, and in field surveys for new projects. This initiative supports the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to employ drones in civil uses to improve services and keep up with the digital and technological advances to establish Dubai’s position as a global hub for innovation and creativity. DEWA also offers a range of services and smart initiatives, including the winning apps in the App Master competition, designed and developed by university students in the UAE to consolidate the concepts of rational use of resources to protect the environment in smart and innovative ways. DEWA first used smart technologies in 2009 with the launch of its smart app, enabling it to complete its smart transformation. All DEWA’s services are available through its app, which supports iOS and Android. It can also be used on other platforms, such as BlackBerry, Windows, Windows Phone, smart watches, Samsung home applications and Etisalat’s eLife. l

2015 October issue

GOVERNMENT

DSG launches Android version of mJobs app Dubai Smart Government Department (DSG) has launched the Android version of its smart app, mJobs, on the Google Play Store. Now customers can access the iPhone and Android versions from their respective stores.

oth sets of customers can access the latest job postings from 20 Dubai government entities on their smartphones. Multiple services include creating accounts, or login by Facebook, updating profiles, customized search, sharing job vacancies with friends, easy upload of CV from cloud-based Dropbox or smartphone, viewing notifications and tracking application status. The same smartphone account can also be used to login to the DSG job portal www.ejob.ae Ahmad Bin Humaidan, DSG Director General said: “The unprecedented success of the mJobs app is a strong indicator of the interaction the public has, with the smart transformation called for by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.” Humaidan added: “The manner in which the mJobs smart app has been designed aligns with the theme of the connected smart services of the DSG Strategy 2014-2017, which requires government entities to unify their services to enable customers to have easy and fast access

2015 October issue

through their smart devices. It is based on our customers’ feedback received through various surveys and on our belief in the importance for Dubai government entities to combine efforts to ensure the fulfillment of the leadership’s vision of meeting all the requirements that contribute to the satisfaction and happiness of all those living in our emirate and country and dealing with our government entities inside and outside the UAE.” Launched by DSG on April 27, 2015, mJobs is attracting a larger turnout with more people interested in downloading the app and applying through it for Dubai Government’s job vacancies. The app has been downloaded 21,000 times since it was launched. As many as 4800 people registered in the app by creating new accounts over the same period, while 27,000 applications were submitted for the announced job vacancies. The app features several other services including information on the app, how to communicate with DSG and the websites of government entities. For further queries about the new app, the public can contact AskDubai on 600560000 or use the email help@dsg.gov.ae .l

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GOVERNMENT

DUBAI Summer Surprises concludes on a high note Families of various nationalities carry home exciting memories of superb surprises offered by DSS

ith the 18th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), drew to a close last month. Thousands of families carried home memories of the fantastic experiences offered during the summer extravaganza. Dubai Summer Surprises will remain in the memories of both children and grownups who had the opportunity to experience the spirit of the annual summer festival through a packed calendar of events that included various fun attractions, excellent stage performances and leisure activities across numerous shopping malls and retail centres across the city.

It’s our first time visiting Dubai and we enjoyed the shopping bargains in the malls. It gave us the opportunity to pick up everything we needed and more. Mohammed Makram Al Mushly, a Syrian tourist The festival has also been equally exciting for others including retailers, kiosk owners, tourists, and lucky winners who got the opportunity to bag unbelievable prizes as part of the rewarding shopping promotions rolled out during DSS. Sanad Feras, an 11-year-old Jordanian living in Dubai, said, “Days of playing and fun have ended for me as we go back to school. However my summer days in Dubai have given me and my younger brother Faisal some very special memories, as we visited different shopping malls to watch our favourite shows during Dubai Summer Surprises.” 3-year-old Saeb and 4-year-old Hamza Maaita and their mother too have had the chance to share fantastic moments together while shopping and watching the superb stage shows at Dubai’s leading shopping malls. Saeb said his wish came

2015 October issue

true when he watched the Power Rangers Supermega Force and later also took photos with shows’ characters and then some more with his family at the Power Rangers Museum. Resident Jasem Mohammed Al Kanar who has come to Dubai with his family from Ras Al Khaimah, said: “We love coming to Dubai, as the kids enjoy their time watching different comic shows and playing fun contests and games, while my wife and I shop and take advantage of the big sales. It is sad that DSS and this summer are coming to an end; it was indeed a delightful season for my family.” Tourists from around the world too expressed their love for the city of Dubai which is home to people from various cultures and nationalities, and is always offering them the best of fun attractions. Laila, a Jordanian national who lives in KSA, who is among the numerous tourists visiting Dubai for DSS, said: “My experience of DSS has been incredible. I am very happy with my visit. I was left enthralled by the number of shopping malls in Dubai, with each one featuring its own unique architecture, design, and feel. They also offer the best brands and a beautiful variety and options for shoppers like myself.” “I loved Ibn Batutta Mall the most and I shopped for many items by popular labels and brands that were on a sale of up to 75%. I grabbed bargains on electronics, home items, and all the essential back-to-school supplies for my kids. Accessing the shopping malls is easy in Dubai with public transportation and then grabbing so many superb deals has truly completed my shopping experiences in Dubai. At these shopping malls, one can spend an entire day of shopping, relaxing, and dining without feeling a minute of boredom. The summer season in Dubai is beautiful, with so much to do indoors,” she added. Mohammed Makram Al Mushly, a Syrian tourist, said: “It’s our first time visiting Dubai and we enjoyed the shopping bargains in the malls. It gave us the opportunity to pick up everything we needed and more.” His wife Fatouma Ahmad Shawakh, added: “We are in love with Dubai. It’s a city full of life, love, happiness spread across the city. This is also my first time visiting Dubai and experiencing all the attractions of Dubai Summer Surprises. We have decided to come back to Dubai for the forthcoming festivals.” The 18th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises has also been a season of life-changing moments for many visitors who walked home with amazing prizes and rewards as part of the numerous DSS retail promotions offered across the city at numerous shopping destinations. One of the many lucky winners was Emirati national Fardan Al Fardan who said that this edition of DSS has indeed been a season of surprises for him as he won two fantastic cars as part of the Shop Together. Win Together (His and Hers promotion) run in collaboration with Dubai Shopping Malls Group. He added further that memories of this year’s edition will remain with him and his family forever as it is his first time ever winning a grand prize like this. Sharing his excitement, he said: “I took my family to BOXPARK and we had coffee at one

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government

Tourists from around the world express their love for the city of Dubai which is home to people from various cultures and nationalities, and is always offering them the best of fun attractions.

of the cafes and we received a coupon for the promotion which I filled in with my daughter Al Reem’s name. In about a week, I received a call announcing that I have won two Infiniti cars.” Ensuring brisk business across the retail segment, DSS 2015 has not only resulted in increased footfall at big shopping outlets, but has also led to brisk sales at smaller kiosks dotting the walkways of numerous shopping malls. Islam Ali Mohammed, owner of one of the kiosks selling accessories at The Dubai Mall, said: “DSS has attracted shoppers and visitors to the shopping malls and to our kiosks which has helped increase my sales enormously especially with our 50% sale offer.” “It has been a super busy season for us in terms of business sales and customer traffic. Despite the long hours and late night shifts to ensure that our customers can enjoy the convenience of shopping through late hours, we are very happy with the outcome and the increased sales.” l

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2015 October issue

GOVERNMENT

Sharjah showcases new destinations to promote tourism in the emirate Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) introduced the latest developments and tourism activities in the emirate as it celebrated the World Tourism Day with key partners of Sharjah’s tourism industry. A special event under the theme ‘All Things New in Sharjah’ was held at the soon-to-open Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa, the latest hospitality development in the emirate.

he event, organised in the presence of His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, was joined by representatives from Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah Museums Department, and a number of other key tourism stakeholders in the emirate. In a keynote address on the occasion, H.E. Al Midfa said the World Tourism Day offers an opportunity to look at Sharjah’s new developments and destination products to ensure the sustained growth of the tourism sector in Sharjah. “This is an occasion for us in Sharjah to celebrate the efforts of our strategic partners who have contributed to the development of tourism in the emirate and helped raise the quality and variety of Sharjah’s destination offering. Their prominent role has supported the emirate’s tourism strategies and enabled Sharjah to occupy a prominent (same word used twice in 1 sentence) position on the world tourism map,” H.E. Al Midfa stated. Commenting on the ‘All Things New in Sharjah’ theme for the event, H.E. Al Midfa said SCTDA is working under the wise directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi to follow an innovative path towards the sustainable development of tourism. H.E. Khalid Al Midfa added: “Today the tourism sector in the emirate of Sharjah operates under the new Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 which has activated main pillars as a

2015 October issue

focus to achieve the goal of attracting 10 million visitors to the emirate by 2021 to which all presented destination products and projects contribute.” We look towards achieving this goal with the active partnership of all organisations, government departments and private sector companies; working together to enhance the tourism experience in Sharjah.” Following on from the event, SCTDA will organize a series of product launches during which the UAE’s travel trade will be able to experience the new Sharjah destination products first hand. Highlighting the innovative initiatives for the development of the tourism sector in the emirate, His Excellency Khalid Al Midfa pointed to the launch of the ‘Marhabtain’ initiative aimed at raising efficiencies of workers in the tourism industry and related sectors such as transportation, hotels and museums. He said that SCTDA has also adopted an innovative approach to the promotion of Sharjah’s tourism sector in the most important tourism export markets in the world by participating in major international exhibitions and specialised events to build better partnerships leading to increased tourist traffic to Emirate of Sharjah. Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shorooq), shed light on some of the latest projects in Sharjah’s tourism sector, including Al Noor Island, Al Montazah, Flag Island, Souq Al Shanasiyah and Kalba and Mleiha Ecotourism projects. During the event, SCTDA invited many new tourism service providers to explain their products and their vision for supporting the Authority in meeting the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. Edwin Wijkhuijs, Complex General Manager at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa highlighted the features and facilities available as the latest addition to Sharjah’s hospitality sector and all present were given a preview of the nearly finished hotel situated at the end of the Sharjah Corniche near to the existing Coral beach Hotel. Alyah Alamiri, Head of Community & Academic Programmes at Sharjah Museums Department, gave an overview of the museums’ cultural programmes and re-opened Sharjah Hisn Museum, while Sherifa Madgwick, Manager of Communication and Development at Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication, described the initiatives to promote the concept of communication and the role of culture in the development of tourism in Sharjah. Jamile M. Haikal, Founder of Makanny project, described the prospects of developing farm tourism in Sharjah, which has already proved hugely successful and viable in other countries across the world.

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government

Today the tourism sector in the emirate of Sharjah operates under the new Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 which has activated main pillars as a focus to achieve the goal of attracting 10 million visitors to the emirate by 2021 to which all presented destination products and projects contribute. H.E. Khalid Al Midfa Remon Ramzy, Office CEO Manager at Al Shaab Village gave a comprehensive presentation on the indoor entertainment centre while Michael Camp, Sales Manager at Absolute Adventure, explained about the most important adventures activities in the Kalba area of Sharjah. Luis Morton Alvarez, Operations Manager at G20, spoke about the facilities and activities provided by the company at newly developed Al Khan Beach. Mari de Villiers, responsible of Marketing & Communications at Surf School Arabia highlighted the new trends in water sports within the coasts of Sharjah. The Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 is focused on four main pillars: Promoting Sharjah as an Ideal Family Tourism Destination, adopting an Innovative Tourism Approach, developing World Class Tourism Facilities and Capabilities, and Strengthening Sharjahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position as an International Cultural Hub. l

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2015 October issue

Construction, Development & Infrastructure

Arcadis launches new single brand

the new brand will be adopted across the 70 countries in which they operate.

rcadis has announced the launch of a new single brand. This follows two years of investment in bringing its 28,000 people within a single operating model which enables the company to bring its best possible knowledge and technical expertise to clients wherever required. The new brand will be adopted across the 70 countries in which they operate and will see legacy brands being phased out, including Langdon & Seah, Hyder Consulting, ARCADISLogos and EC Harris. Callison and RTKL, the architectural brands, are also merging to create CallisonRTKL. Neil McArthur, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our clients tell us that the challenges they face call for their business partners to adapt and innovate, to bring their best ideas and expertise from around the world. Over the past two years we have invested heavily in our business to meet these client needs. We have expanded our global account management team and positioned experts to lead the development of core value propositions that are delivered across the world. We have aligned our global and regional operating models thereby facilitating innovation and easing knowledge transfer, while enabling sharing of best practices and

2015 October issue

the use of Global Design. We are already seeing this approach bear fruit through applying our global capabilities to win work on mega projects such as the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia and the protection of New York following Hurricane Sandy. “Building on the rich heritage of the excellent firms that have joined Arcadis and our leading Design & Consultancy positioning, the refreshed brand reflects Arcadis’ ability to seamlessly draw on our global capabilities to provide exceptional and sustainable outcomes across the whole lifecycle of natural and built assets. Coming together under the single new brand is also an important step in bringing our people together to realize our passion of improving the quality of life and being recognized as the best.” The name Arcadis was first used in 1997 following the merger of Heidemij and Geraghty & Miller in 1993. One of the unique abilities of the company is to positively impact natural assets; air, water and land and built assets; infrastructure, buildings and processing and energy assets. The combination of design and consultancy and the unique at scale collection of professional technical skills gives it the capability to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes its clients worldwide. l

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Construction, Development & Infrastructure

BIM to improve decisionmaking on construction materials Atkins is developing a Building Information Modelling (BIM) strategy with the potential to radically improve how construction materials are evaluated to meet LEED V4 environmental impacts requirements

he new tool will enable comparison of multiple construction materials at the outset of a project to provide a clear understanding of capital cost against the long term environmental impact. As a first step, Atkins is using the tool to understand the impact of different concrete mixes on construction projects, to be followed by steel, glass and insulation materials. Simon Nummy, sustainable design manager for Rail, said: “BIM is a hugely powerful resource but it will only ever be as good as the information which is put into it. “By enriching our BIM tools with high quality, reliable information on materials we’ll be able to make more informed decisions at the outset of projects and programmes, with a clear understanding of cost, environmental impact and design implications.” The benefits of early decisionmaking for construction materials can be far-reaching. A typical example could be in providing evidence to support use of local materials rather than transporting cheaper products from overseas. Nummy added: “Use of local materials are often more expensive, but the long term benefits in terms of sustainability, design context and support for the wider economy will more than offset the money saved. Our tool will make it easier to arrive at the right long-term decisions earlier, and for smaller, local materials suppliers this time difference can be critically important for their planning and stock-piling.” The methodology for the BIM tool arose from Atkins’ long term collaboration with the British University in Dubai (BUiD), for whom the company sponsors the chair of sustainable design. Former Masters student Toufik Jabbour, who now works for Atkins as 6D BIM Specialist, is leading the development of the tool. He said: “We’ve started by focussing on concrete because it has the most significant environmental impact on construction projects. “It’s exciting because the tool will motivate an integrated design process right at the start of major projects, and that’s what BIM is all about. It improves knowledge and changes behaviours to deliver construction projects which are more sustainable in every sense of the word.”l Simon Nummy

2015 October issue

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Construction, Development & Infrastructure

Riyadh Metro: First phase of tunnel construction complete The FAST Consortium has announced that the ‘San’ah’ tunnel boring machine (TBM) has arrived at Salah Al-Din Station, completing 1.2km of its designated 5km stretch of work on Line 5 of the Riyadh Metro system in Saudi Arabia.

he drilling, which commenced on June 30 from the new headquarters of the Ministry of Education, will continue along the northern section of Line 5 until it reaches Riyadh Airport Roundabout.vw Once there, it will meet the consortium’s second TBM – ‘Dhafrah’ – which was the first TBM to start drilling the Riyadh Metro project. This will mark the completion of the 12.9km tunnel that makes up Line 5. The FAST consortium is one of three consortia commissioned by Arriyadh Development Authority to build the Riyadh Metro – the world’s largest public transport

2015 October issue

project. The consortium’s partners are FCC, Samsung C&T, Alstom, Strukton, Freyssinet Saudi Arabia, Atkins, Typsa and Setec. FAST is constructing three of the six lines of the Riyadh Metro network, which together will span a distance of 72.5 km, including underground, ground level and elevated stations, and will operate 69 driverless trains at speeds of up to 80 km/h upon the launch of the project. “We are committed to meeting our deadlines and we are proud that both our Metro TBMs have been the first in their achievements – Dhafrah being the first to be launched and San’ah the first to break through in the

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Construction, Development & Infrastructure

Riyadh Metro Project,â&#x20AC;? said Ian Redmayne, Atkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s project director for FAST Consortium. Riyadh metro is a rapid transit system under construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The metro is a part of the Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP). The RPTP will be the largest public transport project, which comprises construction of a metro, a bus system and other transport services in Riyadh. Construction of the Riyadh metro started in April 2014 and is expected to be completed by 2018. The metro project will be owned and operated by the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA). The project will have an execution period of five years and an optional maintenance service period for the next ten years. It is expected to create about 15,000 jobs in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh had a population of 5.7 million in 2012, which is expected to increase to eight million by 2030. The new metro system will fulfil the demands of growing population. It will also reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. l

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2015 October issue

SUSTAINABILITY

DEWA’s clean energy project on track

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and China’s Harbin Electric as preferred bidder for the first phase of the 1,200MW Hassyan clean coal power project.

2015 October issue

he consortium bid to provide electricity at a level cost of 4.501 cents/KWh based on May 2015 coal prices, state news agency WAM reported. The first phase of the $1.8 billion Hassyan clean coal power project comprises two units of 600 MW each and will be operational by March 2020 and March 2021 respectively. DEWA is planning to launch two additional projects, to bring the total capacity of the plant to 3,600 MW. The power project will be implemented using the IPP model on a build, own, operate basis. DEWA will hold a 51% share in the company that will be established. The state utility will invest $200 million in the plant, while regional and international lenders will be approached for 78% of the project’s total cost, according to media reports. The consortium is in talks with the stateowned Export-Import Bank of China and lenders including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Standard Chartered and First Gulf Bank for about a $1.4 billion loan for the power project, Paddy Padmanathan, chief executive of ACWA Power, told reporters on the side-lines of the press conference on Tuesday.

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sustainability

Harbin Electric and France’s Alstom will build the plant, which will be operated and maintained by them in conjunction with ACWA Power and US-based NRG Energy. Meanwhile, France’s EDF Trading will supply coal to the plant. In line with the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, DEWA plans to generate 7% of the Dubai’s energy from clean coal. The bulk of the emirate’s power needs (71%) will be met by gas, 15% from solar power, and 7% from nuclear power. Consultancy contract for solar park R&D center The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded Stantec International an engineering consultancy contract to build a laboratory for research and development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The scope of the contract includes services related to the design and building of the centre, developing

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tenders, the assessment of project contractors and onsite supervision during the building process. The contract pertains to the second phase of implementation of the Research and Development Centre, state news agency WAM reported. The center will enable the government body to stay abreast of the latest scientific advancements in renewable energy, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. It will also support the goals of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to diversify energy sources in the emirate, he added. “The center will contribute to raising Dubai’s position as a global hub for research and development in solar energy, smart grids, and water and energy efficiency,” Al Tayer said. The upcoming Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have a total capacity of 3,000MW by 2030. DEWA said last month it would float a tender for the 800MW phase three of the park in this quarter of the year. l

2015 October issue

SUSTAINABILITY

Eye on Earth set to overcome sustainable development data challenges at a critical time for decision makers Global movement provides data, tools and initiatives to support informed decision-making for sustainable development

he second Eye on Earth Summit was held in Abu Dhabi this month with leaders of the Summit Alliance partner organisations highlighting the critical role the movement is playing in promoting dialogue and driving international action to help overcome the challenges associated with data to support informed decisionmaking for sustainable development. Representing the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and new partners Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the

2015 October issue

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Resources Institute (WRI), these global thought leaders stressed the urgency of the need to foster a culture of collaboration and find global solutions to make environmental, social and economic data more available and accessible to achieve the global sustainable agenda. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Global agreement this year on major intergovernmental commitments on sustainable development has brought into sharp focus the need for transparent, timely and accurate data and information on the state of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources. These global agreements are creating a tipping point for the role of data in sustainable development and Eye on Earth will help to

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sustainability

accelerate this transition,” stated HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, EAD. In September, the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by 193 UN Member States. Earlier, in March, the UN also adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and in December the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “If good data drives better decisions, open data drives better collaboration. We will need both to meet the challenges of a sustainable future for our planet and its peoples. When information and knowledge are made accessible to

Global agreement this year on major intergovernmental commitments on sustainable development has brought into sharp focus the need for transparent, timely and accurate data and information on the state of the world’s resources.

everyone across the social spectrum, informed choices and decisions can be made at all levels that support the goals of sustainable development.” The Eye on Earth Alliance expects the 2015 Summit to drive further international action to revolutionise the way we collect, access, share and use data and information for sustainable development. Themed “Informed DecisionMaking for Sustainable Development”, delegates will aim to identify how governments, technology, the scientific community and citizen participation can enhance access to quality data and information. “By harnessing the data revolution for sustainable development, we have an opportunity to create a real turning point in our modern environmental history. This Summit, and the wider efforts of the Eye on Earth

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Initiative, will help us to pool our collective intelligence and resources to protect the future of the planet and humanity,” said Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN. “The global reach and contributions of the major organisations that currently represent the Eye on Earth Summit Alliance will bring significant momentum to the Eye on Earth movement as we work together in engaging many more actors in decisions that affect the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants,” said Barbara Ryan, Secretariat Director of GEO. Since its founding in 2011, Eye on Earth has seen its reach and impact grow. The eight Special Initiatives created to deliver the Eye on Earth mission have brought together more than 500 scientists, government officials, academics, NGOs and ordinary citizens through projects focused on data, data analytics and decision support systems to improve decision-making for sustainable development. Members of the Special Initiatives have identified an additional 120 projects to help close the data gap that currently hampers decision- and policy-making for sustainable development. These project proposals, some of which require funding, are being presented during Eye on Earth Summit 2015. They have also been made available to nations, funding organisations and interested philanthropists. During the three-day Eye on Earth Summit delegates, will aim to reach consensus on several outcomes, including the formation of new partnerships, guidelines for the implementation of data governance frameworks and the promotion of new environmental data policies in countries where this is most needed. “Good decisions start with good data, but decision makers often lack the tools to gather, understand and make use of the growing quantities of information now available to them,” said Janet Ranganathan, Vice President for Science and Research at the World Resources Institute. “The Eye on Earth Summit aims to spark innovations in the way people collect, use, and share data to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. Through Eye on Earth, we can help bridge the gap between governments, businesses, citizens and the data they need to make better decisions.”l 2015 October issue

SUSTAINABILITY

AFED annual conference returns to Beirut High level discussions on sustainable consumption

he Eighth Annual Conference of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) will convene on 16-17 November 2015 in Beirut, Secretary General Najib Saab announced at a press conference held at AFED headquarters in Beirut. AFED’s flagship report on Sustainable Consumption, which discusses how changing consumption patterns can lead to better management of resources and protect the environment, will be presented and debated at this high-level event. Chairman of AFED Board Dr. Adnan Badran said “This prime international environmental event returns to Beirut after relocating the past two years to Sharjah and Amman, as sign of confidence in the future.” The international conference, which will take place at Phoenicia Intercontinental hotel in Beirut, is expected to attract key players, including ministers, policy makers, heads of organizations, energy, food and agriculture industry leaders, experts and strategists. Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) is supporting this conference as regional official partner. Participating organizations include FAO, ESCWA, UNEP, Kuwait Fund, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences and Islamic Development Bank. Dr. Hafez Ghanem, Vice President of the World Bank for MENA region, will deliver keynote

2015 October issue

speech, concentrating on green finance and the World Bank’s views on how to assist the region in overcoming its difficulties in these crucial times. Over 100 top-notch experts have contributed to AFED’s report, which will focus on energy, water and food, with climate change in the background to promote and reflect the nexus approach. Speakers comprise renowned experts and policy makers, including, Taher Shakhshir, Jordanian Minister of Environment, Abdulrahman Al-Awadi, Executive Secretary of ROPME, Ali Al Tokhais, Chairman of the Water and Environment Committee at the Saudi Shura Council, Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, Regional Representative of FAO, Cosimo Lacirignola, Secretary General of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Alessandro Galli, Director of Global Footprint Network for Mediterranean region, Ahmed Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Jamila Matar, Head of Energy Directorate at the League of Arab States, Carlo Scaramella, Regional Director of the World Food Program (WFP), and Gaetano Leone, Coordinator of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). Over 50 university students from across the Arab countries meet again at AFED annual conference in the context of Future Environment Leaders Forum (FELF). Every year, AFED sponsors interns from its member universities to take part in preparations of its annual report and in the conference debates.

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sustainability

“This prime international environmental event returns to Beirut after relocating the past two years to Sharjah and Amman, as sign of confidence in the future.”

AFED Secretary General Najib Saab disclosed that the results of a pan-Arab environmental survey will be unveiled during the conference. “In view of tracking how people perceive consumption and to what extent they are ready for positive change, AFED carried out a wide-ranging public opinion survey, which attracted over 31,000 participants from 22 countries,” Saab said. Preliminary results showed that the Arab public is ready to pay more for energy and water and embrace changes in consumption patterns if this will help preserve resources and protect the environment, Saab added. However, a vast majority, reaching 99 per cent in some countries, thought that governments were not doing enough to address environmental problems and that the environment in their countries deteriorated over the past ten years. The conference will also include special thematic sessions, in cooperation with international and specialized agencies. ESCWA will be conducting a session on consumption and production in post-2015 sustainable development agenda. The Regional Activity Center for Sustainable Consumption & Production (SCP/RAC) in Barcelona will hold a workshop on innovative entrepreneurships for sustainable lifestyle. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) will host a regional consultation meeting on the Global Environment Outlook. l

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2015 October issue

SUSTAINABILITY

‘Greening’ the hospitality industry As part of its efforts to promote environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry, Emirates Green Building Council, an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, hosted a seminar on ‘Green Hospitality: Making Change Happen’ in Dubai

he Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Hospitality Programme Seminar addressed some of the current challenges hotels face with implementing green initiatives such as ecolabels and CSR strategies. The seminar brought together experts from the hospitality industry to share their experiences and identify best practices that can help bring positive outcomes. Amelie Zegmout, Board Member of EmiratesGBC, moderated a panel discussion with Nadine O’Connor, Housekeeping Manager at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel; Basant Kumar Kushwaha, Director of Engineering at Kempinski Hotel Ajman; and Bob Busman, Regional Responsible Business Coordinator Middle East at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. They shared their experiences in their journey towards sustainability, including the challenges they faced and their success stories. At the seminar, the participants identified key areas, including design and operations, which can lead the way to green hospitality, as well as the advantages and difficulties in securing eco-certifications, such as Green Key, and how these can provide guidance in the process towards a more sustainable hospitality industry. Saeed Al Abbar, EmiratesGBC Chairman, said: “The hospitality industry is a key contributor to the UAE economy, and the sector has an obvious role in supporting the energy efficiency movement in the UAE. By hosting this seminar, we aimed to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the hospitality sector to share their experiences and take home key learnings on best practices that can lead others in their path to

2015 October issue

‘greener’ hotel environments.” EmiratesGBC is the national operator of Green Key, a sustainability certification programme for hotels and accommodations that was developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Recognised by the World Tourism Organisation and United Nations Environment Programme, the nonprofit and independent programme is the largest global eco-label relating to accommodation. It offers clear guidelines to hotels in ensuring that a certain level of sustainability is being met, and provides guests with the assurance that the venue has a commitment to green practices. EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. The organisation has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community, and the wider Middle East. l

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sustainability

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2015 October issue

SUSTAINABILITY

Cloud-based, INtelligent street lighting Philips, the global leader in lighting solutions, today announced the launch of its innovative remote lighting management system, CityTouch, which uses mobile and cloudbased technologies to control street lighting. The new technology supports today’s vision on sustainability and livable cities. The lighting solution enables cities to save energy, reduces maintenance, and improves safety on streets, due to better visibility, and enhances operational efficiencies

art of the CityTouch solution is CityTouch connect application (app), a remote lighting management system that acts as the control center for adjusting and monitoring your city lighting. It communicates with various assets of the lighting system via the public mobile communications network – interactively and reliably. Once installed, it allows users to control all connected lights via the app, which offers information relating to the functionality of each individual light fixture, from energy consumption to faults. “The Gulf region has been at the forefront of smart city innovations that support visions for sustainable futures and livable cities,” said Rami Hajjar, General Manager Lighting Solutions Middle East. “With sustainability high on the agenda of governments throughout the Gulf, and a growing drive towards the evolution of smart cities in countries such as the UAE and Qatar, the latest innovation from Philips offers a smart solution to the challenges of energy consumption that cities face due to urbanization.” Cities consume more than 70% of the world’s energy supply, making energy efficient infrastructure more important than ever before. “Intelligent lighting is the future of sustainable city lighting. CityTouch connect app not only allows dynamic, intelligent and flexible control of street lighting with dimming control and schedule setting, it also provides the precise amount of light needed at any place and time, saving energy and providing the right level of visibility on the roads,” commented Rami.

2015 October issue

While already in use in more than 31 countries the CityTouch solution has helped cities, such as Los Angeles and Madrid, to better manage their energy consumption, improve the city’s livability, and safety, and reduce their costs. The smart “plug and play” approach, possible with the CityTouch Ready luminaire, not only reduces the cost of programming each fixture, it also reduces the time it takes to commission the CityTouch connect app from days to minutes by eliminating the need for on-site commissioning. Furthermore,

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sustainability

the entire system can be securely controlled and managed remotely through any web browser. Taking the management of LED street lighting to the next level, the Philips CityTouch connect app supports the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy efficiency initiatives and increases safety through uptime. At the same time, its effect on the streetscape is hugely beneficial, contributing to more vibrant and engaged communities. l

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2015 October issue

waste management

Supported by:

Waste Management in the UAE and Bee’ah’s Establishment UAE, along with its neighbouring states, have for long been regarded as some of the world’s largest producers of waste per capita, with a daily generation which tallies to over 2.5kg waste per person per day.

o tackle this issue, Bee’ah, a fully integrated environmental and waste management company was established in 2007, under a public-private partnership with the Sharjah Municipality. The achievements of the company have been remarkable, from setting up pedestrian recycling bins, in-office recycling programs, its Tandeef division for waste collection services, to efficient landfill management and operation of recycling facilities that process construction and demolition waste, used car tyres, discarded cars and light metals, organic waste, and recovering municipal “ solid waste; Bee’ah has proved that it means serious business as it has collected and treated more than 2.1 million tonnes of waste in 2014. As a result, and due to Bee’ah’s strategic objectives and its relentless focus on implementing effective waste management procedures, the company achieved more than 67% of diversion from landfill – the highest diversion rate achieved by any waste management company in the Middle East in 2014, setting Sharjah and the UAE apart in the area of sophisticated waste management, diverting it from landfills towards alternative sustainable sources. Key Best Practices in Waste Management The UAE is at the forefront of sustainable development, waste management solutions and recycling efforts in the region, and Sharjah is leading the way. The hands of government and non-government agencies engaged in this task are active, thanks to the growing needs of a rapidly growing population, industrialization and construction activities in the country. Growth of urban, industrial, service, commercial, and other economic sectors is usually associated with increased generation of wastes and emissions of all types: solid, liquid, domestic, commercial, agricultural,

2015 October issue

medical, hazardous, and non-hazardous wastes, as well as emissions in the air. Bee’ah follows a strategic plan for waste management in Sharjah, with goals to divert 100% of waste from landfill. Bee’ah aims to strengthen the environment and achieve added value for commercial enterprises, by following the best global practices and following its commitment towards business owners. With a clear vision and commitment to performance, the company commits to build partnerships with likeminded, environmentally-conscious organizations, as well as taking a main step forward to growing and achieving sustainability. Bee’ah’s team has a number of experts who have more than 30 years of experience in operating and managing waste management facilities and landfills. They aim to create a future of sustainable waste management that is more convenient and cost-effective for both Bee’ah and Sharjah, including solutions such as collecting and recycling commercial waste – including waste disposal tools, collecting and cleaning fleets, recycling programs for organizations to ensure

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waste management

that all waste products are completely managed in an environmentally safe way. Bee’ah is the most advanced fully integrated waste management company in the region, using the latest technology available to manage waste. We have invested in a fleet of waste collection trucks and sweepers, waste management facilities and equipment and sophisticated IT solutions. Bee’ah has focused on technological innovations to help achieve its ambitious goal of becoming the first Middle East city to achieve zero waste. This includes a sophisticated GPS-enabled fleet management system that has won several awards. Also, Bee’ah has invested in making its bins “smarter” with built-in sensors that help optimize the number of collection trips by the fleet. Waste Management Programmes at Bee’ah. Bee’ah has implemented a comprehensive strategy designed to divert waste away from landfill disposal and maximize

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2015 October issue

waste management

Supported by:

resource recovery in Sharjah. After all, achieving zero waste to landfill would catapult the emirate into the Environmental Capital of the Middle East and make it the first Arab city ever to divert 100% of its waste from landfill. In order to meet this target, Bee’ah sought out to evoke, transform and redirect environmental thoughts, attitudes and behaviours in individuals across communities and businesses. In recent years, Bee’ah has inaugurated a portfolio of waste management services – comprising waste collection, waste transfer, waste treatment, medical waste treatment, waste recycling and energy recovery – across Sharjah’s residential and industrial sectors. Since its inception, Bee’ah’s landfill diversion rates have been on the rise year after year, reaching its peak of over 67% by the end of 2014. Bee’ah works to drive sustainable growth by providing the infrastructure needed to spearhead environmental change. To achieve zero waste to landfill, Bee’ah launched a plethora of specialized divisions and subsidiaries. These include Tandeef, Bee’ah’s waste collection and street cleaning division; the Waste Management Centre in Sharjah, the region’s largest collection of waste segregation and processing facilities; and, Wekaya, the medical waste management division, for the safe and compliant collection, treatment and disposal of medical waste produced by healthcare establishments in Sharjah. Bee’ah’s extensive roster of pioneering facilities features a Tyre Recycling Facility, a Material Recovery Facility, a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Facility, Liquid Waste and Oil Treatment Facility, an Organic Composting Plant, a Medical and Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility, an End-of-life vehicles and Metal Shredding & Recycling Facility and a Waste-toEnergy Facility. Bee’ah also spreads the message of sustainability through awareness

2015 October issue

campaigns, training sessions, recycling activities and education initiatives. In the past seven years Bee’ah’s path towards achieving zero waste to landfill has been punctuated by milestones. For example, in 2010, Bee’ah inaugurated the Bee’ah School of Environment (BSOE) with the support of the Sharjah Education Zone (SEZ) and other corporate partners. The first of its kind in the region, the BSOE aims to educate students and change their outlooks towards the future, environmental issues, natural resource management and pollution prevention. Through the BSOE, Bee’ah has provided educational services to over 164,000 students across over 210 schools. In line with its sustainability plan, Bee’ah also diverted over 60% of waste from landfills in Sharjah in 2013 and has further enhanced the rate to exceed 67% in 2014. That same year, over 2.1 million tonnes of waste was managed by Bee’ah. In addition, since 2007, thanks to Bee’ah’s operations, over 15,000 desk-side blue bins have been distributed across Sharjah and the domestic recycling levels in the emirate have increased compared to the years before. All of Bee’ah’s waste management plants and community engagement initiatives – such as the myBee’ah Loyalty program, the Bee’ah School of Environment, Inter-School Recycling competitions, the Gulf Ecosystem Research Centre, Clean-Up Campaigns and recycling programs – are designed to help address future energy challenges in the emirate of Sharjah. These initiatives also support Bee’ah’s goal to serve as a powerful instigator of environmental change. Bee’ah’s Safe Collection and Disposal of all Types of Generated Waste With a commitment to reach zero-waste to landfill by 2015 for Sharjah, Bee’ah has set in place various facilities and initiatives, by implementing a holistic economic, industrial and social framework which promotes the 4 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover. Bee’ah endeavours to turn material and physical waste into recycled resources that can be re-used by the community, leading the way at the forefront of positive environmental change in the Middle East. With a high-tech fleet, Tandeef, Bee’ah’s waste collection, street and pavements cleaning division, plays a vital role in helping Bee’ah become the leading environmental management company in the region by providing coherent and sustainable environmental solutions to meet the challenges of the community it serves. l

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smart technology

Future Cities and ‘The Internet Future of Everything’

The Middle East is primed to become a global driver in Internet of Things (IoT) connected innovations, as the GCC’s cloud market is set to grow from $118.5 million in 2014 to $668.5 million in 2020, industry experts announced during the GITEX Technology Week 2015.

onnected cloud technology such as mobile apps, e-government, drones, 3D printing, and robotics will form the foundation of the region’s rapidly-growing Future Cities – a key spotlight at the landmark 35th GITEX Technology Week, running 1822nd October. By 2025, the global Smart Cities market will reach $3.3 trillion, with nearly half of the world’s 26 Smart Cities arising in emerging markets such as the Middle East. “Spearheaded by regional investment and development, the Middle East continues to be a significant pace setter in driving forward innovative discussion, implementation and knowledge exchange around IoT agendas. In testament to this, the 35th anniversary of GITEX Technology Week will be our most expansive and international edition to date. Our roster of world-renowned thought leaders and global technology companies reflect the strong demand for how Internet of Things technologies such as drones, robotics, and 3D printing can impact daily lives and every industry vertical in the Middle East and beyond,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organizers of GITEX Technology Week 2015.

2015 October issue

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the Official Country Partner, represented by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior. “As the Official Country Partner for GITEX Technology Week 2015, the Kingdom will use this global platform to demonstrate best practices in government-led innovation to boost economic diversification, while encouraging foreign direct investment in the Kingdom’s ICT sector and supporting home-grown technology entrepreneurs to expand beyond our borders to deliver transformative services,” said Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Asiri, Official Spokesperson, National Information Center, Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the start of the event. Celebrating transformative technology in the build-up to UAE Innovation Week and in line with the UAE’s Year of Innovation, GITEX Technology Week 2015 will be held under the theme of “The Internet Future of Everything,” revolving around the pillars of Innovation, Connected Cloud, Big Data, Mobility, and Security. Focusing on driving collaboration and next-generation agenda setting, a host of new initiatives were spearheaded at the 2015 event. In tandem with the Year of Innovation, the GTX Horizons Zone showcased leading edge demonstrations of next generation disruptive technologies across 3D Printing,

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smart technology

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2015 October issue

smart technology

(Left to Right) Dima Kandalaft, Smarter Cities Leader for the Gulf and Levant at IBM; Dr. Aisha Butti Bin Bishr, Assistant Director General of The Executive Office and SmartDubai Taskforce Leader; Ahmed Alkhaja, Senior Vice President – Venues, Dubai World Trade Centre; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Asiri, Official Spokesperson, National Information Center, Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Hannes Liebe, Chief Operating Officer, SAP MENA; Omar Boulos, Regional Managing Director of Accenture in MENA; Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre.

Autonomous Vehicles, Drones and Robotics. Innovation, Interoperation and Disruption were themes across the GTX Ignite conference of global thought leadership, and GTX Innovation Tech Talks, the free to attend sessions. In partnership with the UAE Drones for Good Award, GTX Horizons’ Drones Zone hosted a selection of this year’s award winners, and drones from top manufacturers such as DJI, the world’s largest manufacturer of drones. The GTX Hub provided new research, networking, and solutions for the key verticals of banking, construction, education, healthcare, retail, and oil and gas. There have been reports that the GCC’s vertical specific software market is set to nearly double from USD 756 million in 2014 to USD 1.45 billion by 2020. At the Robotics Zone attendees learnt how to enable robotics for the IoT era and witness the latest robotics across industry verticals. The event’s first-ever 3D Printing area showcased 3D printing across a variety of materials, and how it can impact fields such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Additional new and expanded GITEX Technology Week features included the world’s largest Google CSI Lab, All Night Hackathon, Hot Stuff Awards, Student Lab, and networking platforms the Connexions Majlis, Connexions Lounge, and Connexions Online. The show saw more than 110,000 visitors from over 150 countries, with more than 20,000 C-level executives, and more than 3,600 exhibiting brands from 62 countries. Global interest in the event is being further driven by the growth of Future Cities initiatives, which in the UAE is being spearheaded by the Smart Dubai Initiative and UAE Vision 2021 – key drivers of the country’s digital transformation. “Dubai is committed to becoming a global benchmark for Smart Cities of the future. We are collaborating with leading public and

2015 October issue

Cloud Solutions Spur Digital Growth, with GCC Cloud Market to Grow More Than Five Fold to 2020: Frost & Sullivan

private organizations to meet the needs of all residents and visitors, from government to education and healthcare, through a connected and responsive citywide infrastructure. Together with our partners, we are enabling smart economic conditions driving entrepreneurship and global competitiveness that will serve as a model for emerging nations. We are continually reviewing and refining the latest technology innovations, from mobile apps to drones, to understand how we may adopt these tools to make city experiences more seamless, safe, efficient and impactful for all,” said Dr. Aisha Butti Bin Bishr, Assistant Director General of The Executive Office and SmartDubai Taskforce leader. SAP, as Strategic Partner, is making its own contribution to the digital transformation with the regional debut of the Run Simple Truck and demos of Big Data analytics solutions. SAP speakers at GTX Ignite included Jonathan Becher, Chief Digital Officer, SAP, and Oliver Bierhoff, General Manager of the German National Football

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smart technology

More Than 130,000 Global Technology Visionaries and Architects, C-Level Executives, and Industry Professionals Converge at Region’s Largest ICT Event

Team, on how SAP solutions helped the team to win the 2014 World Cup. “In order for Middle East organizations to succeed in the Internet of Things era and remain competitive in the Digital Economy, they must embark on a complete reimaging of their business across three dimensions: Business Models, Business Processes and how to organize Work within their organization. The most pressing issue facing Middle East organizations today is business complexity, which is causing organizations to lose 10 per cent of their annual profits. With the regional Digital Economy set to double to $30 billion by 2018; real-time analytics of data will allow companies to reduce business complexity and run simple. At GITEX Technology Week, we will showcase roadmaps to support the digital transformation and demonstrate the power of Big Data analytics for real-time insights as the immediate entry that can drive digital growth and simplify business processes, from re-imaging the boardroom to Smart Cities and connected sports,” said Hannes Liebe, COO, SAP Middle East and North Africa.

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2015 October issue

smart technology

Amazing ‘Interactive Mirror’, a highlight of Panasonic showcase at Gitex 2015 The smart Interactive Mirror is the ‘magic mirror’ of the future Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa (PMMAF), in sync with its GITEX 2015 theme ‘Be Amazed – Experience the Future of Your Business’, uncovered the most innovative business solutions in the region for the first time. One of the key highlights was the ‘Interactive Mirror’, is set to change the future of businesses by its multi-functional incredible features which will entice customers from Retail, Beauty & Lifestyle industry.

Accenture, as the event’s Exclusive Digital Transformation Partner, delivered compelling, industry-leading insights on how digital technology and the Internet of Things is transforming businesses and governments in the region, as well as globally. “Digital transformation can boost competitiveness and economic growth, and our research shows that unlocking this potential can add trillions to the GDP of top global economies. This region’s appetite for innovation makes it uniquely positioned to take advantage of the digital opportunity and we were delighted to be at the heart of this conversation at GITEX,” said Omar Boulos, regional managing director of Accenture in the Middle East and North Africa. IBM returned to GITEX Technology Week as a Lead Smarter Cities Partner, under the theme “Welcome to the Cognitive Era”. IBM shared its industry leadership on how companies, leaders and cities can take this journey with IBM to become cognitive by capitalizing on all the work they’ve done to deploy cloud, mobile, analytics, social and security. IBM focussed on how cities can implement cognitive solutions to enhance its citizen services and experience such as building safer communities, providing cleaner water, more efficient transportation systems, healthier neighborhoods and smarter buildings. l

2015 October issue

Yasuo Yamasaki, Director, System Solutions and Communications Division, PMMAF comments: “Our industry is very dynamic and competitive therefore we need to develop products that must amaze our customers. This year our exhibits are going to stand out in terms of concepts, features and applicability. One of the key products is the ‘Interactive Mirror’ and we are confident that it will leave the viewers in awe.” Interactive Mirror will enhance lifestyle as a new professional health and beauty advisor. Using the in-built high definition cameras, the mirror is enabled with face analyzing feature to point out every flaw and suggestions to fix them. It has an oval “augmented-reality portal” that activates with a press of a button on the remote. This product is a turn-key solution and can be easily used by all ages and levels of technological comfort with only minimal instruction. Patricia Nazarian, Business Development Manager, PMMAF asserts, “The Interactive Mirror uses Panasonic’s smart technology to make suggestions for beauty tips based on one’s face type. The glass is both a mirror and a display. Transparent overlays on top of the user’s image appear, through which it identifies parts of the face, for example where the cheekbones are, and suggests makeup for those spots.” “It is the smartest development in the field of Beauty. Made to enrich the business of lifestyle, this smart mirror gives an image of the future. Additionally, it has the ability to detect skin conditions and recommend how to improve it, vital statistics check, magnifier and rear view too. It is a path breaking device for entities like Makeup Stores, Fashion Stores, high-end Residential Properties, Hotels, Beauty Clinics and even the Film Production Houses,” she adds. Visitors tried virtual makeup and make-up navigation. Men put on virtual beards and mustaches that suit individual facial contours.

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smart technology

Canon showcases latest sustainable services and solutions Canon, a world leader in imaging solutions, showcased sustainable services and solutions at The Hotel Show 2015. The digital imaging solutions leader highlighted IT best practices for the hospitality sector through interactive demos of eco-smart and cost-friendly products including copiers, security cameras, projectors, network video solutions, laser printers and more

anon, a world leader in imaging solutions, showcased sustainable services and solutions at The Hotel Show 2015. The digital imaging solutions leader highlighted IT best practices for the hospitality sector through interactive demos of eco-smart and cost-friendly products including copiers, security cameras, projectors, network video solutions, laser printers and more. The Hotel Show presented a holistic view of the hotel industry in Dubai, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest centres of tourism.

2015 October issue

The GCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospitality sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.5% to US$35.9 billion by 2018, from US$22.8 billion in 2013, according to a report by investment bank Alpen Capital. Hotels constantly seek ways to improve their business reach to potential customer and Canon Emirates has helped them in doing so. This year Canon displayed even greater innovation to its product range under four main categories: NVS and Projectors, LFP, Office and Laser, each of which demonstrates cutting-edge efficiency, productivity, and security-capabilities.

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smart technology

Kyosei, Canon’s corporate philosophy is the driving force behind all that we do. We try to live and work together for the common good, across our various offices. We aim to grow our business responsibly and we believe that sustainability is integral together as it makes for a healthier society and an improved environment.

As Vision Conference Partner for The Hotel Show, Canon showcased, first hand, how it is redefining the industry through the manufacture of hospitalityfocused products and solutions that can improve the sector’s carbon footprint while providing cost saving, efficiency, innovation and security. The company also highlighted its Business “Gamechanger” campaign wherein it demonstrated how it is effectively adapting itself to provide new and advanced services. During the event, Canon participated in The Vision Conference panel discussion on September 30. The Vision Conference, now in its third year, includes an extensive programme offering the latest insight, trends and market intelligence across hospitality. Shadi Bakhour, General Manager for Canon Emirates, contributed to the panel discussion ‘A hotel viewpoint

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- sustainability for a better tomorrow?’ Additionally, Canon was also a part of this year’s highlight, TecSec, a technology and security summit that educates hoteliers and restaurateurs on using cutting-edge automated practices to deliver a seamless guest experience. Bakhour said: “At Canon, we recognize that the hospitality industry is fast-evolving, especially in the UAE. We believe that there is huge room for Canon to grow by providing a wide spectrum of services and solutions that can not only improve costs for hoteliers, but also make their industry more eco-conscious and secure. “Kyosei, Canon’s corporate philosophy is the driving force behind all that we do. We try to live and work together for the common good, across our various offices. We aim to grow our business responsibly and we believe that sustainability is integral together as it makes for a healthier society and an improved environment.” Christine Davidson, Group Event Director of the dmg events hospitality portfolio said: “I am pleased to have Canon Middle East join the event as Vision Conference Partner and exhibitor. Canon is a wellknown global brand and this event provides the perfect platform for world leading global brands to connect and communicate with senior decision makers in the hospitality sector. They showcased a wide range of products including ones that can print documents from the size of a business card to banners the height of the Burj Khalifa. They shared excellent input and insight during the show.” Product highlights included the launch of the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C3320i*, with an ECO

STAPLER FINISH, which is the first in the world (floor standing model); it is a compact and user-friendly, colour A3 multifunctional printer. In the Network Video Solutions (NVS) and Projectors segment, cutting-edge network cameras such as VB-M741LE, VB-R11VE, VBH630VE and VBH43* were on display. l

smart technology

Synechron Digital Innovation Centre to open in the UAE Synechron, the largest independent pure-play technology consulting and outsourcing provider for the financial services industry, announced that it will open the world’s first digital innovation center dedicated towards banking, insurance and smart government.

he Synechron Digital Innovation Centre (SDIC) will act as an innovation hub for clients committed to investing in technology, and more specifically digital transformation – translating those assets into greater potential business success for the future. The SDIC will bring together a complete retail branch experience combined with several digital channels including mobile, tablet, touch walls, queue management, automation/ATM and mobile payments, to fully illustrate the customer journey and an Omni channel approach. Participants will also be able to spend a full day at the SDIC to brainstorm digital strategies and consult with experts on current trends

2015 October issue

and technologies that can impact their business. Synechron customers that don’t have a dedicated innovation lab of their own can avail of the free opportunity to prototype and work in a simulated digital environment. The SDIC will also provide a film studio facility in which innovation programs will be filmed offering customers with the option to record and publish regular video content. Faisal Husain, CEO of Synechron said, “Whilst we are a global organization operating across sixteen countries, we chose Dubai to launch our first Digital Innovation Centre due to it’s central geographical location. The SDIC represents Synechron’s long term commitment to supporting its clients in delivering true digital transformation and innovation solutions. We will continue to

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smart technology

State-of-the-art Innovation Center in Dubai Media City to enable businesses to step into the digital world through the combined innovation of Augmented Reality, Biometrics, Proximity, Mobile, Touch & Smart technologies

invest heavily in this area, by hiring thought leaders in digital and talented staff who have worked with the latest technologies impacting society today.” “We expect that the SDIC will be regularly visited by our banking and insurance clients, smart mGovernment entities, and any organization that recognizes the impact of digital transformation. With the launch of the SDIC, our customers can escape from their normal office space and be fully immersed in a creative environment with digital technologies and experts at their disposal,” stated Vimal Sethi, Managing Director, Synechron Middle East. “Synechron is a strategic Microsoft partner in digital transformation, and we would like to

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congratulate, and applaud them on building a showcase innovation center in Dubai. It is a clear indication of their commitment to leading the region in this space and is a great way for organizations to experience and envision how Microsoft technologies are spearheading the digitization of the financial and government sectors,” commented Samer Abu Ltaif, Regional General Manager - Microsoft Gulf. “Digital disruption in the mobile and payments space is clearly accelerating globally, and gaining momentum in the region. The Synechron Digital Innovation Centre is a unique place to witness and experience the change first hand, and will enable financial institutions to get valuable insights from the Synechron team on ‘what’s next’,” said Mohammed Qadadeh, Vice President, Government Services & Solutions Middle East / North Africa MasterCard. The SDIC is fully operational from 1st October 2015 and will offer Synechron’s customers three options: a half-day brainstorm session for executive management, a full day brainstorm and prototyping session or a one-hour dedicated technology workshop. In additional to the various digital zones, the SDIC will also play host to a brainstorm room in which visitors will be able to relax, strategize and envision their digitization journey with Synechron’s innovation team. “The broad range of technologies at the SDIC will inspire customers to be more creative. We expect our clients to leave fully energized and inspired, and with transformational concepts that Synechron has a track record of delivering,” added David Horton, Head of Innovation, Synechron Middle East. l

2015 October issue

TRANSPORT

36,000 kms of new railway planned in the Middle East H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works UAE, told the MEED MENA Rail & Metro Summit in Dubai that investment in mass transport is delivering economic and environmental benefits to the UAE. “The adoption of integrated mass transport including rail, metro, bus and water vehicles has allowed us not only to address traffic congestion issues but also to lower the environmental impact of transportation in general,” Al-Nuaimi said.

nitiatives include the use of bio-diesel and low sulphur diesel fuel for car transport, solar power for paid parking machines, using natural gas in ships and a central control and command centre for running traffic lights. Al Nuaimi said sustainable transport will remain a key feature of the country’s integrated medium and long-term development targets. Meanwhile, transport is the only sector of the world economy where demand for fossil fuel is set to rise, creating economic and sustainability challenges that will be hard for emerging and developing economies to address. “Transport will continue to use fossil fuel and its use will increase,” World Bank (USA) Lead Economist for Transport and ICT, Dr. Andreas Kopp said. “And despite progress being made (in increasing transport efficiency), developing countries are increasing their motorization radically.” In other announcements Eng. Sameh Refaat, Vice Chairman of Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) said that consultant engineers have been invited to bid for work on the first phase of Cairo Metros Line 4 by 28 October. Refaat added that a consultant is likely to be appointed by the first quarter of 2016. He said design consultants are finalising the tender

2015 October issue

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transport

documents for construction work on line four, which they intend to issue by the end of the year. NAT also recently launched a signalling tender for phase 4b of line three, which is under construction. The $300mln contract for the construction of Line 3 Phase 4a of the Cairo Metro between the Haroun and El-Nozha stations was awarded in April this year. The winning consortium comprised French contractors Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bouygues Travaux Publics, and their Egyptian joint partners, Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors. France’s Alstom was awarded two contracts totalling $85mln to supply signalling systems and infrastructure work for phase 4a of Line 3. The Cairo Metro is run by the state-owned NAT and comprises two lines that are fully operational and a third that is under construction. Bahrain is preparing to invite bids before the end of 2015 for the initial work on its proposed light rail network and how it will connect with the GCC railway. “The next phase is to connect the GCC railway with Bahrain’s public transport network,” Bahrain’s Deputy Minister for Land and Post Mariam Jumaan, Undersecretary, Land transportation at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (Bahrain) said. “We are looking at the possibility of light rail and we are going out to tender for consultancy for this project.” Jumaan said that that this will involve reviewing earlier studies about possible public transport modes in Bahrain. She said that neither a metro nor a tram system would work in Bahrain which has limited available land. She said that an elevated light rail network is possible. This could be a monorail she added. Jumaan said that the feasibility study into options for expanding the King Fahad Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain commissioned from Canada’s SNC Lavalin will soon be completed. It will include recommendations about whether an expansion of the causeway should include the construction of a road-only link or one that supports both road and railway traffic. She said that once this has happened, construction of the causeway expansion can proceed. “The GCC is enjoying a railway boom,” Jumaan said. “Railway

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2015 October issue

TRANSPORT

projects are a catalyst for growth…A study looking at an overall railway program for the region… would be useful at this point of time.” A total of 36,000 kilometers of new railway, metro and light rail lines are planned in the Middle East compared with 19,970 kilometers that exist now. “The total value of all projects planned or under construction in the Middle East is $427bln,” MEED Projects director of content and analysis Ed James, Director of Content and Analysis at MEED Projects said. “Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar are the biggest markets. But across the board, we are seeing very ambitious railway projects planned.” The largest planned project is the Riyadh-Dammam high speed project worth $14bln which is under study, James said. Other major projects planned include Tehran Metro’s lines eight and nine and four express lines. The Jeddah Metro is to be tendered by the end of this year, James said. Amman is inviting investors to support a $300mln railway line between Amman and Amman Airport that will follow the alignment of the Hejaz Railway. The line will be 32 kilometers long and have 12 stations, Jordan Hejaz Railway Deputy Director Abdullah Malkawi said. He said plans call for the line to be extended to Zarqa, Jordan’s second city. Tests of the first part of the Doha Metro in Qatar are due to start in the autumn of 2016, setting the scene for the full

2015 October issue

MEED Projects director of content and analysis Ed James, Director of Content and Analysis at MEED Projects said. “Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar are the biggest markets. But across the board, we are seeing very ambitious railway projects planned.”

completions of the project’s $15bn first phase in 2019. Louis Berger Egis Rail joint venture (LBERJV) Project Director Peter Housley said that the civil work in the 6km elevated and at grade section of Red Line South is due to be finished in less than one year’s time. LBERJV provides project management consultancy services for elevated and at-grade sections of Red Line North, Red Line South and the Green Line. They have a combined length of about 16 kilometers. “Civils design is complete with only the design of stations fit-outs remaining,” Housley said about the progress of Red Line South. “The enabling batching plant and precast yard are fully operational and are working at peak capacity.” “More than 75 per cent of all foundations and more than 60 per cent of all piers are complete and 35 per cent of all pier caps have been installed in readiness for viaduct installation,” Housley said. Housley said that nine viaduct spans have been completed. The Red Line South elevated and at grade project calls for the construction of three stations: Economic Zone, Ras Abu Fontas and Wakra. “The stations at Economic Zone and Ras Abu Fontas have progressed to concourse level,” Housley said. “The Al Wakra station is progressing at a pace.” Work has started on station mock-ups where finishes and fittings can be displayed and approved. l

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SMART MOBILITY AND LOGISTICS FOR SMART CITIES

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Our range of products and services includes Software & Services, Components, Data & Content, Consulting & Scientific Research. Our real-time solutions for smart traffic management designed to reduce traffic congestion and accident risk include: Transport planning taking road safety into account Pedestrian simulation for major events and evacuation scenarios Integrated transport planning across all modes of transport Solutions for urban logistics Intermodal mobility concepts

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Health & Community

UAE’s Digital Payments Market Set to Outpace Cash Use by 2020

UAE consumers, businesses, merchants, banks, forex exchanges, and even government service providers will be handling far less cash by 2020, according to the digital payments service company, Trriple

nnually, the UAE counts $230 billion in consumer payments to 170 government entities and more than 350,000 merchants. And yet cash accounts for more than 75% of all transactions in the Emirates, a number the company says is set to plunge as demand increases for a wide range of payment services, from mobile wallets and mobile point-of-sale to electronic payments and global money transfers. Trriple, a startup born in the UAE, is a first-of-its-kind, next generation, customercentric digital payments service provider whose payments platform enables both the unbanked using cash, and the banked using cards, to be able to make mobile payments on a mass scale. “We are poised to usher in the ‘cashless society’ here in the UAE,” says Ahmed Fasih Akhtar, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trriple, on the sidelines of the 35th Annual GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, an event the company is sponsoring. “By 2020, the UAE will be realizing an ‘anytime, anyplace’ approach to payments, a fascinating new dynamic that will allow for greater economic inclusion of the unbanked and under-banked across the country. We see strong nationwide demand for a multipurpose, cross-bank mobile wallet,” Akhtar adds.

2015 October issue

In order to best support the payment demands of the UAE, Trriple has brought together a strategic partnership ecosystem composed of best-in-class technology organizations, to include global giant, Ericsson. These partnerships will allow Trriple to leverage their core competencies in m-commerce technology, mobile point-of-sale technology, high volume transaction processing, and digital ID verifications. “We easily turn mobile devices into a convenient and secure way to send, spend, and receive money – even when customers don’t have bank accounts. Thus, we are proud to be supporting Trriple in bringing more economic opportunity and consumer happiness to the people of the UAE,” says Rutger Reman, President of Industry and Society Unit of Ericsson Region Middle East. The Trriple mobile commerce platform offers highly secure and convenient payment solutions that include NFC between consumers holding its mobile wallet and merchants deploying its mobile point of sale terminal. Mobile wallet users can fund, or ‘top-up’, their accounts in several ways: ATM machine; credit or debit cards; cash-in at certain locations; and direct debit service or funds transfer system. Trriple, as a bank-led mobile wallet provider has also partnered with major UAE banks to facilitate digital payments on its platform.

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health & Community

Strong Nationwide Demand Seen for “Bank-led Mobile Wallet” Technologies to Tap into Country’s USD 230 Billion in Annual Consumer Transactions According to Cap Gemini’s World Payments Report 2014, mobile payments from 2011-2015 are expected to grow more than 60% to 47 billion transactions. Trriple, a startup born in the UAE, is a first-ofits-kind, next generation, customer-centric digital payments service provider which is ushering in the country’s “cashless society” by delivering payments platform

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that enables both the unbanked using cash, and the banked using cards, to be able to make mobile payments on a mass scale. Trriple’s payment platform provides the highest accredited certification and security standard for digital payments, and is built around a multi-purpose and cross-bank Mobile Wallet, which can be funded by agent cash-ins, credit/ debit cards, ATM, payroll, or bank, and the merchants holding our Mobile Point of Sale Terminal (mPOS). Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society – a world leader in communications technology and services. They aim is to form long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world to allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future. l

2015 October issue

Food & Agriculture

Land grabbing poses a fresh challenge to regional food security Since 2000, more than 36 million hectares - an area about the size of Japan - has been purchased or leased by foreign entities, mostly for agricultural use. As of today, another 15 million hectares is under negotiation â&#x20AC;&#x153;

armland is lost or degraded on every continent, while 'land grabbing' the purchase or lease of agricultural land by foreign interests - has emerged as a threat to food security in several countries," writes Gary Gardner, contributing author of the Worldwatch Institute's State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability. About half of grabbed land is intended exclusively for use in agriculture, while another 25 per cent is intended for a mix of agricultural and other uses. The land that is not used for agriculture is often used for forestry. Land grabbing has surged since 2005 in response to a food price crisis and the growing demand for biofuels in the United States and the European Union. Droughts in the United States, Argentina

2015 October issue

and Australia, have further driven interest in overseas lands. "Today, the Food And Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reports that essentially no additional suitable [agricultural] land remains in a belt around much of the middle of the planet," writes Gardner. As a result, the largest grabbers of land are often countries that need additional resources to meet growing demands. Over half of the global grabbed land is in Africa, especially in water-rich countries like the Congo. Asia comes second, contributing over 6 million hectares, mainly from Indonesia. The largest area acquired from a single country is in Papua New Guinea, with nearly 4 million hectares (over 8 per cent of the country's total land cover) sold or leased out. The largest investor country is the United States, a country already rich in agricultural land. The United States alone has acquired about 7 million hectares worldwide. Malaysia comes in a distant second, with just over 3.5 million hectares acquired. Land grabbing is precipitated by the growing challenges shaking the foundation of food production: the water, land, and climate that make crop growth possible. Globally, some 20 per cent of aquifers are being pumped faster than they are recharged by rainfall, stressing many key food-producing areas. Land is becoming degraded through erosion and salinization or is getting paved for development. The changing climate is projected to cause a

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Godwin Austen Johnson Architects

SHAPING A NATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S VISION

THROUGH DESIGN

Our expertise lies in providing exceptional design and project management services across all stages of development, from concept design right through to the delivery of a built project. Our portfolio of work is a reflection of our ability to accurately incorporate the vision of our clients through contextual and innovative design. Our ability to successfully manage projects effectively, on time and within budget is one of the many reasons we receive repeat business from our clients.

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Food & Agriculture

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As demand for agricultural goods increases, and as our planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water and fertile land become more scarce and its atmosphere less stable, greater effort will be needed to conserve resources and to exploit opportunities for greater efficiency throughout the agricultural system,â&#x20AC;? writes Gardner

net decline of 0.2 to 2 per cent in crop yields per decade over the remainder of the century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The dangers of land grabbing are evident. Largescale purchases often do not consider the interests of smallholders who may have been working the land over a long period. Additionally, the transfer of resources from poorer countries to wealthier ones increases the vulnerability of the target countries that surrender their own access to land and water resources to foreign investors and governments. "As demand for agricultural goods increases, and as our planet's water and fertile land become more scarce and its atmosphere less stable, greater effort will be needed to conserve resources and to exploit opportunities for greater efficiency throughout the agricultural system," writes Gardner. By preventing food waste, increasing water efficiency, conserving agricultural land, and decreasing production

2015 October issue

of meat and biofuels (both of which require large quantities of land and water for grain or crops), Gardner believes that the stress on food systems can be reduced. In addition, the international adoption of the right to food, already integrated in the constitutions of 28 countries, will ensure that food cannot be withheld for political reasons. Worldwatch's State of the World 2015 investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. State of the World 2015 highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks. l

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