Latest news with #Aletihad
Al Etihad
17 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
From lab to market: ATRC entities turn breakthrough research into real-world technologies
20 June 2025 02:27 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Fuelling the UAE's push for innovation and a knowledge-based future are local labs and institutions that transform cutting-edge research into homegrown Advanced Technology Research Council's (ATRC) key entities - TII, ASPIRE, and SteerAI - are translating advanced science into real-world solutions that serve communities and national priorities, from AI to robotics and automation. "We are helping the UAE shift from adopting technologies to building them - delivering real economic and strategic value," said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, in an interview with Aletihad . "Whether it is AI, quantum, robotics, or advanced materials, we are working on scalable, secure systems that support industrial resilience and self-reliance."Radar systems, edge AI tools, and impact-responsive body armour are some of the technologies that are moving "steadily from lab to market", supported by TII's commercialisation partner VentureOne, Dr. Aaraj ProjectsTII has been working with major government entities to advance next-generation technologies across sectors, from aerial systems and quantum-secure space communications to AI-enabled healthcare."Our robotics centre worked with the GCAA on autonomous aerial corridors. In quantum, we are partnering with the UAE Space Agency on secure communications for space infrastructure," Dr. Aaraj said."In AI, we enable edge-based models for healthcare and government, while in autonomous robotics, we are advancing GPS-free navigation for logistics and inspections."TII also invests in local talent. "Programmes like NexTech embed top Emirati STEM students in international universities and bring them back to our research centres to build the next generation of UAE scientists," she with Real-World ImpactATRC's ASPIRE also seeks to "bridge the gap between breakthrough research and tangible, real-world impact", turning lab ideas into deployable tech across key sectors. Speaking to Aletihad , Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE and A2RL, said: "From tackling carbon storage monitoring to shaping air corridors for autonomous mobility, our work ensures that emerging technologies meet real industrial and societal needs." ASPIRE focuses on "dual-use, high-impact technologies", including AI, robotics, and advanced materials."We are proving high-performance systems can be designed and built in the UAE," Timpano said, highlighting projects like A2RL's EAV-24 autonomous lab-to-market process starts by identifying real-world challenges in priority sectors, he said."Then, we invite global and local innovators to solve (these challenges) through competitive, milestone-driven programmes. Once a solution proves viable, we help de-risk and scale it."The goal, Timpano added, is to "forge new collaborations and show how the UAE is not just buying innovation but building it"."Everything we do is designed to grow the UAE's intellectual capital," he SolutionsSteerAI, on the other hand, seeks to drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, told Aletihad that the company is helping drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility solutions."SteerAI is a direct product of the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing and AI innovation," said Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of an instance, its autonomous GPS-free system, CoreX, was developed at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and is now being deployed with partners like A2RL and Milrem Robotics."CoreX allows our vehicles to navigate unmapped terrain in real time without relying on GPS or maps," Sonderby said. "It has huge implications for defence, ISR, search and rescue, and more." SteerAI's CoreX system is designed to keep humans out of danger zones, he said. "It does not tire, get distracted, or miss signals. We detect and avoid obstacles faster than human drivers." By supporting the country's autonomous tech ecosystem, SteerAI's "goal is to contribute to the UAE's vision of becoming a global tech hub", Sonderby said.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Growth in UAE household wealth likely to continue despite regional conflict: UBS Chief Economist
19 June 2025 00:25 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) The outlook for household wealth in the UAE remains positive despite ongoing regional tensions, according to Paul Donovan, Chief Economist at UBS Global Wealth Management. Speaking at the release of the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, Donovan underscored that the impact of the regional conflict on the UAE's wealth trajectory is expected to be limited. "The conflict is obviously a human tragedy. We are seeing a great deal of suffering as it unfolds," Donovan told Aletihad on Wednesday. "However, it is primarily a localised conflict, and at a global level, the economic and financial market implications to date have been very muted. I think that is likely to continue."Donovan emphasised that while geopolitical tensions can cause short-term volatility in asset prices, they are unlikely to derail the UAE's medium-term wealth creation, which, according to UBS data, has been substantial in the last decade. "I would not be expecting a great deal of disruption to the local economies in the UAE if we see an extended period of conflict," he noted. "There may be some implications for, say, the tourism industry, but it's unlikely to lead to a dramatic shift in terms of the medium-term direction of the economy and the wealth creation that is going on there."One factor Donovan pointed out is the limited movement in oil prices despite the conflict. He said the sector had proven to be resilient and believed the UAE would continue to benefit economically under the current trajectory of the conflict. "The movement in the oil price has been a positive movement, but a fairly limited movement," he said. "We're not seeing significant disruption at the moment. The expectation is that there will not be any threats over the Straits of Hormuz. In that situation, again, I don't see this as having a significant medium-term impact," he UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, released on Wednesday, highlights strong underlying fundamentals in the UAE's wealth landscape. According to the report, the UAE has seen significant growth in median household wealth since 2020, with median wealth per adult rising by more than 23% after adjusting for inflation. However, average wealth per adult grew more modestly at just 2.35% over the same period, suggesting a more polarised distribution of wealth gains compared to neighbouring Saudi Arabia and other economies. The report shows that about 62% of the UAE's gross wealth is held in financial assets, while non-financial assets such as property account for roughly 48%. Debt levels remain modest, at around 9% of gross number of dollar millionaires in the UAE also continued to rise in 2024, reaching over 240,000 individuals. The country added 13,000 in the last year, the second largest rate of growth, just behind Türkiye. Globally, the report found that household wealth rose again in 2024, following a buoyant 2023, although growth was uneven across regions. North America and China remain dominant, jointly accounting for over half of the total personal wealth in the UBS study's 56-country sample. The report also noted the rise of the so-called EMILLIs, everyday millionaires with between $1 million and $5 million in assets, a group that has quadrupled globally since 2000, largely on the back of inflated real estate values. Looking ahead, UBS expects the global millionaire population to increase by nearly 9% by 2029, adding over five million new millionaires. The UAE is poised to contribute to this growth, fuelled by its economic diversification efforts and prudent wealth management practices.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi to offer 100 free energy efficiency audits for industrial buildings in retrofitting drive: DoE
18 June 2025 00:40 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)The Department of Energy (DoE) on Tuesday announced plans to offer 100 free energy efficiency audits for industrial buildings as part of its broader push to promote sustainable development. The initiative also aims to meet demand-side management targets by improving building efficiency through updated regulations and retrofitting older at the RetrofitTech and Sustainable Buildings summit in Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Al Hadhrami, Energy Efficiency Sector Executive Director (Acting) at the DoE, highlighted how this initiative fits within Abu Dhabi's wider sustainability goals."Building retrofits and efficiency form one of the most important pillars of our demand-side management programme," Al Hadhrami told Aletihad on the sidelines of the summit."It supports Abu Dhabi's goal to reduce electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by 2030."The audits, known as walk-through energy audits, will target key industrial sectors, including cement, food and beverage, glass, paper, steel, and heavy metals. Al Hadhrami explained that these audits will provide building owners and operators with clear insights into potential savings opportunities and help guide them towards more efficient energy practices."We want industrial owners to identify where they can reduce consumption, cut costs, and contribute to our collective environmental objectives," he said."So, the Department of Energy is trying to lead efficiency in the industrial sector by having this project, which we hope will enlighten industrial owners on how to improve their consumption." Cooling SolutionsAccording to Al Hadhrami, among the standout technologies being promoted as part of the retrofitting efforts are cooling solutions. Cooling accounts for 60-70% of energy consumption in most buildings across Abu Dhabi due to the region's hot climate, he said."The weather dictates our cooling needs, but we can still enjoy good cooling services while reducing electricity load significantly," Al Hadhrami said."This is where efficient cooling solutions come in, and we see enormous potential in scaling these technologies."One promising model gaining attention in the emirate is Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS). While globally recognised, the concept is still in its early stages in Abu Dhabi. According to Al Hadhrami, the DoE sees CaaS as a powerful tool for improving efficiency and reducing capital expenditure for building owners."Instead of purchasing and maintaining air-conditioning systems, building owners can essentially rent these services from private sector providers," he said."The provider ensures the system runs at optimal efficiency, typically delivering at least 30% savings on energy consumption or cost, while the building owner focuses on their core business."Al Hadhrami emphasised that CaaS represents a major opportunity for the private sector to partner with property owners and play a key role in the emirate's green transition."We already have successful cases of this model being implemented in Abu Dhabi, and we're looking to empower more providers and accelerate adoption across the commercial and industrial sectors," he free audit initiative and the promotion of advanced cooling solutions are part of a broader, deliberate strategy to help Abu Dhabi achieve significant reductions in energy Hadhrami revealed that the DoE aims to cut at least 6.7 terawatt-hours of electricity consumption through retrofitting and related efficiency measures by 2030."We are leading by example, but we need building owners and businesses to step forward and work with us," he said. "These free audits are a starting point, and we are calling on industrial players to register and seize this opportunity." Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi takes the lead in building sustainable, community-focused infrastructure, say experts
18 June 2025 00:37 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The UAE capital has brought together over 2,000 global leaders in the construction industry for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS), a two-day event that emphasises the role of human-centred sustainable infrastructure in developing liveable and resilient and thought leaders at the summit highlighted how Abu Dhabi takes the lead in redefining infrastructure to prioritise quality of life, sustainability, and wellbeing over traditional development by the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC), ADIS 2025 kicked off on Tuesday under the banner 'Future Cities: Rethinking Infrastructure for Better Lifestyles'.The summit opens up opportunities for investments and partnerships to key industry players from around the world, said Eng. Maysarah Mahmoud Salim Eid, Director General of ADPIC. In an interview with Aletihad , Eid emphasised the importance of fostering collaboration and innovation as part of Abu Dhabi's efforts toward realising its ambitious infrastructure agenda. "We are managing a massive portfolio of over 600 government-funded capital projects worth more than Dh200 billion. Delivering that alone is not easy — we need fresh partners and new blood to join us through investment or collaboration," he it comes to infrastructure, Abu Dhabi is distinguished by its human-centred approach, Eid said."The uniqueness of our infrastructure lies in its focus on social impact-developing what the community needs to enhance lifestyles, health, and wellbeing. As 2025 is the Year of Community, everything we develop is meant to elevate citizens, residents, and even tourists," he key projects, Eid noted: "We have a world-class housing programme, an upgraded transport network, and major tourism developments like Saadiyat Island, the Natural History Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Disneyland." Prioritising Quality of LifeAbu Dhabi has been redefining infrastructure to create "liveable - and even lovable-communities", said Mahmoud Dandashly, Chief Business Officer of Lead Development for Jubail Island, who was also present at the summit. "Infrastructure today is no longer just about engineering and utilities," he said. "It includes both hard and soft infrastructure, supporting not only growth and mobility but also environmental quality and social wellbeing."The high-end, nature-focused Jubail Island - with 40 million square meters of mangrove forests and coastal areas - is a living testament to this vision, he said."The integration of sustainability, wellness, and liveability into national planning shows how deeply the leadership values quality of life," Dandashly emirate's sustainability vision extends across the construction sector. For example, Abu Dhabi-based Build Hub provides high-quality, sustainable building materials under one roof."Our goal is to make it easy for customers to find everything they need in one place," said Eng. Al Anood Al Ali, CEO of Build Hub, and Oday Al Ahmed, Project summit participant, real estate developer Reportage Group, praised the emirate's focus on people over skyscrapers."What makes Abu Dhabi stand out is the quality of life it delivers," said Sara Satari, Senior Global Communications Lead at Reportage Group. "It is about cleaner air, better living, and holistic wellbeing."Developer Bloom Holding also aligns its strategies with the emirate's ambitions. "Successful master developments are about human connection - where people feel rooted, inspired, and empowered," said Carlos Wakim, CEO of Bloom Holding. AI Platform for Construction IndustryAt the event, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) showcased how its AI-powered 'BINAA' platform has been streamlining Abu Dhabi's construction journey. Eng. Maryam Almheiri, Acting Section Head of Business Systems Development at DMT, said BINAA allows developers, contractors and engineers to monitor the progress of their projects in real time. "It improves transparency, speeds up processes, and enhances communication among all stakeholders." Features like 360-degree project views, compliance charts, and a firm directory make it easier for users to manage timelines and select partners based on verified data.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
Revitalise body and mind on International Day of Yoga in Abu Dhabi
18 June 2025 00:51 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Saturday, June 21, is International Day of Yoga and if you are looking for a revitalising experience for the body and mind, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi is hosting an International Day of Yoga event in collaboration with the Indian Embassy at the Louvre Abu an inclusive community setting dedicated to health, harmony and holistic wellbeing, featuring outdoor yoga sessions in the picturesque Louvre Abu Dhabi Park, set against the backdrop of the tranquil Saadiyat Island you're a beginner or an experienced yogi, you will enjoy connecting with like-minded individuals as you breathe, stretch and immerse yourself in the transformative power of mats will be provided but participants may also bring their the Galleria Al Maryah Island invites guests to join its complimentary yoga sessions. Classes are being hosted indoors on Level 2, South Link Bridge near the food court, facilitated by professional free sessions are set to run every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, from 8.30am to 9.30am. Guests are required to bring their own yoga mats and towels. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
