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The Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA Congress is set to take place from 10 - 12 February 2025 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.

This event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to explore advancements in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and aviation decarbonisation within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

A key highlight of the congress is its collaboration with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to launch the Global Sustainable Aviation Markets (GSAM).

This initiative aims to serve as a global platform to promote aviation decarbonisation and the scaling of SAF production worldwide.

Delegates can expect panel discussions, keynote addresses, and fireside chats delivered by over 100 expert speakers, alongside extensive networking opportunities with professionals in aviation, energy, and policymaking.

The congress will delve into crucial topics, such as the potential of Power-to-Liquid (PtL) and eFuels, the role of low-carbon aviation fuels (LCAF), and sustainable aviation fuels in advancing the energy transition.

It will also explore policies and incentives for sustainable fuel production in the MENA region, corporate sustainability strategies, and innovations in aircraft design and operations aimed at reducing emissions.

OQ, Oman’s integrated energy group, has launched Luban LL-8446.21, an advanced rotomoulding polymer aimed at addressing critical water storage challenges worldwide.

Debuting at Arabplast 2025, the polymer is engineered to produce durable water tanks and storage solutions, with a focus on communities in regions suffering from acute water shortages.

As water scarcity intensifies due to climate change and population growth, Luban LL-8446.21 offers a practical, long-term solution for creating resilient infrastructure. This LLDPE grade ensures durability and reliability, making it a vital resource for water-stressed areas globally.

Rotomoulded articles made from OQ Luban LL-8446.21 provide superior environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) and weatherability, positioning them as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials. This advanced polymer is designed for durability, ensuring long-term performance even in harsh environmental conditions. It is particularly well-suited for critical applications such as water tanks and agricultural storage, offering reliable solutions for water security.

The material’s advanced processing features enable reduced cooking times during production, leading to significant energy savings for manufacturers. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also lowers the carbon footprint associated with production. Additionally, its lightweight and resource-efficient properties help conserve energy during manufacturing, transportation, and installation.

OQ’s Luban LL-8446.21, a versatile rotomoulding-grade polymer with over 100 global customer approvals, has earned a nomination for the 2024 OPAL Best Practices Award for addressing water and food security challenges. Beyond water tanks, the material is used in applications such as traffic barriers, consumer goods, and durable products. OQ continues to innovate with advanced material development to expand its application scope and enhance performance.

“Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and Luban LL-8446.21 reflects our commitment to addressing this issue with solutions that benefit communities and industries,” said Abdul Rahman Al Tamtami, Vice President of Global Marketing at OQ.

“This OPAL nomination showcases the strong impact of Luban LL-8446.21 on both our business and the industries it serves,” said Sadiq Al Lawati, Managing Director of Polymer Marketing at OQ. “It is a testament to our dedication to providing sustainable and high value solutions to our customers.”

HD Hyundai Construction Equipment is a top contender for a nomination in the Climate Protection category at the Bauma 2025 Innovation Awards.

The HW155H hydrogen-powered wheeled excavator concept is set to take centre stage in April, showcasing the next step toward production for this innovative machine.

Praised by judges for its ability to significantly cut engine exhaust emissions, it highlights a promising pathway to achieving carbon reduction on construction sites.

At the heart of HD Hyundai’s stand, the hydrogen-powered concept will feature alongside a variety of advanced machines and operational solutions.

Hyundai has been actively exploring zero-emission technologies for construction and industrial equipment.

The showcase will include a groundbreaking range of energy storage and refuelling solutions, developed in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company.

These innovations aim to position hydrogen as a practical energy source for global infrastructure, civil engineering, and building projects.

The Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City project in Kuwait's Al Khiran region is an engineering marvel. Unlike typical artificial developments in the Gulf that rely on land reclamation, this ambitious endeavour carved approximately 300 km of canals directly into the desert and filled them with seawater.

With a projected construction timeline of 46 years divided into ten phases, the project aims to create a city for 250,000 residents. Upon completion, it will include a comprehensive infrastructure network, utilities, and luxury buildings.

A major challenge for such a project is constructing stable structures on desert sand. Dynamic soil compaction has proven to be an effective solution for stabilising loose, non-cohesive desert soils. This method increases soil density and reduces the risk of liquefaction during earthquakes, making it ideal for desert conditions, according to Steffen Fuchsa, head of duty-cycle crane division at BAUER Maschinen GmbH.

How it works

Dynamic compaction involves dropping 25-tonne steel plates, called pounders, from a duty-cycle crane to compact the soil. These plates are hoisted into the air and dropped in controlled free-fall up to 15 times, creating craters and compacting deeper soil layers through kinetic energy. The process is fully automated, with operators inputting target parameters like compaction levels and impact counts into the crane’s intelligent control system.

After the first phase of crater formation, the gaps between the craters are compacted in a second phase to ensure uniform soil stability. The craters are then backfilled and further compacted, creating a load-bearing surface ready for construction.

“In their basic design, our duty-cycle cranes are extremely stable and robust specialist foundation engineering equipment designed for high dynamic loads,” said Fuchsa. This is clear to see in the solid steel construction components of the upper and undercarriages as well as the boom. On the other hand, highly robust and powerful diesel engines are built into Bauer’s MC duty-cycle cranes. The coordinated hydraulic system transfers this power to the hoists. “This alone makes Bauer’s duty-cycle cranes the optimal equipment for dynamic soil compaction.”

^{On the project in Kuwait, six BAUER MC 96 duty-cycle cranes are currently in use.}

Dynamic soil compaction presents significant challenges for specialist foundation engineering equipment, particularly in projects of this scale and environment. In Kuwait, the sheer size of the area requiring compaction, coupled with tight project deadlines, necessitates 24/7 equipment operation. The desert environment adds further complications: extreme heat demands constant cooling to prevent equipment overheating, and pervasive sand poses a threat to machinery. To address these issues, protective measures, such as reinforced sealing and cooler guards, have been installed on the duty-cycle cranes to ensure reliable performance under harsh conditions.

“One of the major challenges when executing this method is to always roll the rope perfectly up and down into the groove of the hoist, otherwise there is excessive wear on the rope, which causes high costs for the operator,” said Fuchsa. “Bauer has developed and in some cases even patented several smart solutions for this problem which are unique features of the MC series. The active rope tightening system and the winding assistant should be mentioned here, they make the difference in daily operation compared to competing products.”

Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, presided over a meeting of the UAE Council for Environmental and Municipal Work, where a collaboration was unveiled to create a national waste exchange platform.

Held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Dubai, the meeting spotlighted the critical contributions of municipalities and environmental organisations in driving sustainable practices and enhancing municipal initiatives across the UAE. Dr. Al Dahak acknowledged the Council members for their active roles in agricultural and planting programmes, including Planting Week and the Our Green Emirates campaign, both integral components of the broader Plant the Emirates National Programme.

“The meeting represents a new step toward achieving the Ministry’s goals, which will actively contribute to the UAE’s overall development by fostering sustainable communities. The UAE’s model of integrated environmental and municipal work is one of a kind, and we look forward to building on our shared knowledge and strong partnerships to achieve our objectives and uphold our leadership in environmental and municipal work,” said Dr. Al Dahak. 

Key updates

The UAE Council for Environmental and Municipal Work convened to review progress on prior recommendations and discuss key initiatives. Updates on the "Our Green Emirates" programme highlighted significant contributions from municipalities and environmental entities, showcasing collaborative efforts to advance the UAE's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Stakeholders presented data and outlined projects addressing economic, social, and environmental priorities to enhance the UAE’s global standing on SDG achievements.

Key agenda items included strengthening mosquito control, enhancing facilities like shelters and zoos, and protecting endangered species listed under CITES. The Council also explored agri-tourism initiatives, focusing on improved licensing and regulatory frameworks to boost this sector.

Discussions provided updates on the National Integrated Waste Management Agenda for 2024. The Fujairah Environment Authority outlined current and future waste management projects, while Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport shared strategies for enhancing public aesthetics.

A significant milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Beeah Group to establish a national waste exchange platform. The platform aims to transform recyclable waste into economic resources by repurposing it as raw materials for various industries.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and representatives from key municipal and environmental bodies across the UAE.

The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport has announced the introduction of a new category of commercial motorcycle licence plates, set to launch on 1 January 2025.

These plates will feature a distinctive yellow colour, symbolising economic activities, and will be reserved for motorcycles used in commercial and delivery services.

This initiative underscores Abu Dhabi Mobility's dedication to advancing sustainable transport infrastructure and promoting operational efficiency within the emirate.

The new licence plates aim to streamline commercial transport operations, ensuring they adhere to regulatory standards while addressing the needs of businesses reliant on motorcycles for deliveries.

By distinguishing commercial motorcycles from personal-use vehicles, this measure enhances regulatory oversight, supports compliance with established transport guidelines, and fosters improved logistics across the commercial sector. It also aligns with broader efforts to boost economic efficiency and contribute to an elevated quality of life in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Mohammed Al Braik Al Ameri, executive director of the drivers and vehicles licensing sector, highlighted that the initiative will significantly enhance road safety and streamline motorcycle traffic management. By introducing distinct licence plates for commercial motorcycles, the system will simplify the identification of private versus commercial vehicles, boosting the overall efficiency of traffic operations.

This measure will also facilitate improved database management and classification of motorcycles, supporting the development of streamlined governmental procedures related to motorcycles and economic activities. The initiative reflects a commitment to creating a more organised and secure transport environment.