Day: January 18, 2023

ABU DHABI, As part of its commitment to achieving net-zero goals, Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, recently signed the Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge initiated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE).

Ahead of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) being hosted in the UAE, this pledge bolsters the UAE’s climate leadership in the region as it prepares to harness innovation and cutting-edge technology through partnership between the public and private sectors, demonstrating how the world can take on and tackle climate change.

The pledge was signed during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week which is following a theme of “United on Climate Action toward COP28”, this year.

Johnson Controls, represented by Mohammad Khalid, the company’s vice president and general manager in the Middle East and Africa, signed the pledge during the 8th installment of the MOCCE-hosted National Dialogue for Climate Action (NDCA). The NDCA, a sector-specific assembly, was attended by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment.

In signing this pledge, Johnson Controls is building on its commitments to sustainability. Recently, the company was honoured at the 4th Emirates Energy Award 2022, at the World Green Economy Summit, in the category of “Energy Efficiency in the Private Sector”. Johnson Controls is helping deliver immense energy savings at Dubai Airports, a feat projected to bring down the annual carbon footprint by more than 5,000 tons.

Khalid said, “We thank the MOCCAE for giving us the opportunity to join the Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge which will support the UAE’s 2050 net-zero target. We strongly believe in the ministry’s efforts which align with Johnson Controls’ vision to strengthen cross-sector collaboration to accelerate climate actions and make measurable changes when it comes to protecting our environment.”

As a part of a collaborative effort between the UAE government and private organisations in the country to tackle climate change, Johnson Controls in the UAE will measure and report greenhouse gas emissions and also develop plans to further reduce emissions. This initiative aligns with Johnson Controls’ commitment to 55 percent Scope 1 and 2 and 16 percent Scope 3 GHG reduction by 2030, as approved by the Science Based Target initiative and Net Zero operationally by 2040. Globally, Johnson Controls has already achieved over 40 percent reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2017.

Moreover, this commitment demonstrates that Johnson Controls is developing and deploying the cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology that is needed to take on climate change.

Johnson Controls’ efforts will also include focusing its attention on identifying where to achieve the most significant carbon reduction across its value chain, which includes customers, partners and suppliers. The company will also assist other private entities in the UAE, strategise their decarbonization journey by developing a plan focusing on key steps including design, digitalize and deploy.

“For its global operations, Johnson Controls is committed to achieving net zero for scope 1 & scope 2 emissions by 2040. Not just internally, within the organization, but we are also supporting our customers and other stakeholders in the region to lower their emissions through Johnson Controls’ vast portfolio of energy-efficient and digital solutions. We are happy to be a part of this noble cause spearheaded by the ministry,” Rohan Chopra, director of sustainable infrastructure, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Johnson Controls, said.

MOCCAE has launched the UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge to increase the engagement of the private sector in the country’s decarbonization drive in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 initiative.

Besides the MOCCAE-led initiative, Johnson Controls has also joined other global coalitions and initiatives including the Corporate Coalition for Innovation & Technology Toward Net Zero announced recently at COP27 and the Sustainable Markets Initiative where Johnson Controls leads the Sustainable Buildings Task Force to accelerate the adoption of net zero buildings.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai real estate market recorded 461 sales transactions worth AED1.25 billion, in addition to 95 mortgage deals of AED5.22 billion, and 53 gift deals amounting to AED154.86 million on Wednesday, data released by Dubai’s Land Department (DLD) showed.

The sales included 384 villas and apartments worth AED921.97 million, and 77 land plots worth AED332.08 million. The mortgages included 80 villas and apartments worth AED5.12 billion and 15 land plots valued at AED106.71 million, bringing the total realty transactions of today to over AED6.6 billion.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced that it has selected the UAE Gender Balance Council as a knowledge partner to advance gender balance globally. The announcement recognises the UAE’s influential role in promoting gender balance in the Arab world.

The recognition reflects the UAE Gender Balance Council’s significant achievements, guided by the UAE leadership’s vision to create an environment that empowers and enables women to succeed in their chosen fields and contribute to national development as equal partners.

H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, affirmed the UAE Gender Balance Council’s keenness to forge influential partnerships that can help advance gender balance globally.

She said that the Council’s initiatives reflect the UAE’s commitment to supporting global efforts to empower women at all levels and accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals, as part of achieving the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The announcement of the UAE Gender Balance Council’s selection as a knowledge partner for the World Economic Forum was made at a meeting attended by Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum and the UAE Gender Balance Council delegation headed by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, on the sidelines of the Forum’s meeting in Davos.

H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed said that being selected as the World Economic Forum’s knowledge partner is an endorsement of the UAE’s ability to set a global example for advancing gender balance and its emergence as a role model for the region in the field.

Her Highness added that since its establishment in 2015, the UAE Gender Balance Council has launched many initiatives and projects in cooperation with organisations both in the UAE and across the world to accelerate the country’s gender balance journey that began more than 50 years ago.

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum expressed his appreciation for the pioneering role played by the UAE “The United Arab Emirates is leading the region in women’s empowerment, and it has once again achieved the highest level of gender parity in the Arab world according to the Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2022. The United Arab Emirates’ Gender Balance Council is a formidable knowledge partner whose inclusion in the work of our Centre for New Economy and Society will help to bolster the global movement to put gender parity at the centre of an equitable economic recovery.”

Mona Al Marri said the UAE Gender Balance Council’s new strategic cooperation with the World Economic Forum as a knowledge partner will help create new opportunities for international cooperation to achieve the Council’s goals. Her Excellency reiterated the Council’s commitment to continue working, in cooperation with the international community, to explore new approaches for raising women’s access to opportunities and their participation in the development process. She said the Council is keen to share the UAE’s experience in advancing gender balance with other countries across the world.

Mona Al Marri further said the UAE’s inspirational achievements in the field of gender balance have been made possible by the continuous support of the nation’s leaders and their steadfast commitment to putting in place the legislative and regulatory frameworks required to advance gender balance.

The UAE Gender Balance Council is participating in the 52nd Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, being held in Davos, Switzerland, as part of the official UAE delegation. The event runs until 20 January.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the global initiative championed by the UAE and its clean energy powerhouse Masdar to accelerate sustainable development, and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced today the signing of a three-year partnership agreement to sponsor ADSW and DEWA’s annual Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and Dubai Solar Show.

The agreement was signed at ADSW 2023 by H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DEWA and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar. As per the agreement, DEWA will be the ADSW Opening Ceremony Associate Partner from 2023 to 2025, while Masdar will be the WETEX Jubilee Sponsor for the same period.

H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said, “DEWA and Masdar have a strategic partnership that supports the vision of the wise leadership for a sustainable future in the UAE. We are pleased to sign this partnership agreement for DEWA to sponsor the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and Masdar to sponsor the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and Dubai Solar Show. This supports our common vision to enhance the pioneering position of the UAE in investing in renewable and clean energy. We collaborate to develop innovative solutions and projects that contribute to building a sustainable future for us and for generations to come. ADSW and WETEX are leading events that support the government strategies in the UAE, including the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Both events have become global platforms to share experiences and best practices, learn about the latest technologies, and explore investment opportunities in the clean energy sector in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as consolidate the UAE’s leading position in the shift towards clean and renewable energy sources.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said, “We are pleased to enter into this partnership that will help advance our shared goals for global collaboration for sustainability. Masdar has long recognized the value of WETEX, which stands alongside Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week as a major event on the global sustainability calendar and demonstrates the commitment of the UAE leadership to accelerating the energy transition. Through platforms such as WETEX and ADSW, the UAE is driving the global sustainability agenda and taking a leading role in climate action. We look forward to continuing to enjoy a productive partnership with DEWA on future events.”

Established in 2008 by Masdar, one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy companies, and hosted every January, ADSW is the first major sustainability gathering of a critical year for the UAE for climate action. DEWA organises WETEX and Dubai Solar Show annually to showcase technological advancements and explore trends in energy, water conservation, the preservation of natural resources, and building a sustainable environment.

The partnership agreement will ensure greater alignment between the two key UAE platforms, in line with the UAE’s long-term sustainability vision and net-zero objectives, and ahead of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), taking place in the UAE from 30 November to 12 December.

Held under the patronage of UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and taking place this week under the theme of ‘United on Climate Action Towards COP28’, ADSW 2023 is convening heads of state, policymakers, industry leaders, investors, youth, and entrepreneurs, for a series of impactful dialogues on the transition to a net-zero future.

Key stakeholders at ADSW 2023 are discussing priorities for the global climate agenda at COP28, the need for all stakeholders across society to be engaged and included, and how to leverage the assessments from the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement to accelerate climate progress at COP28 and beyond.

WETEX and Dubai Solar Show (DSS) are held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, in line with the wise leadership’s vision for UAE’s sustainable development and Dubai as a hub for green economy. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors attend the joint DEWA event. In 2022, WETEX and Dubai Solar Show attracted more than 1,750 companies from 55 countries.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Dubai, UAE – In efforts to promote and boost business relations between India and the UAE, the International Business Linkage Forum (IBLF) together with Dubai Chambers will host the India UAE Partnership Summit on the 23rd – 25th January in Dubai.

Jointly organized by IBLF and Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, the summit follows a rise in business interest between the two countries on the back of the CEPA agreement and the announcement of Golden visas in the UAE. It is also in line with the chambers’ priority of attracting foreign companies into the emirate and helping Dubai businesses expand internationally.

India is the world’s fifth largest economy and the second biggest trading partner to the UAE in 2021. Being the first country to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the UAE, India is integral to the country’s economy and is home to 3.5 million Indian citizens, making up 30% of the UAE’s population.

Held over the course of three days, the summit will discuss pertinent topics including trade opportunities between India and the UAE with a deep dive into a number of sectors such as manufacturing, startups, healthcare and food processing, as well as UAE’s Golden visa scheme and its prospects for entrepreneurs and investors alike. It will also present success stories from businesses that have set up and thrived in Dubai.

The India UAE Partnership Summit will feature a number of keynotes and panel discussions and bring together leading business and government speakers from the public and private sectors of both countries to discuss strategic issues as well as trends influencing the future of trade and economy. It is set to propel ties between the two countries to new heights, strengthen existing business relationships and unlock untapped opportunities in key sectors for both countries.

Inaugurated in 2018, Dubai International Chamber’s international office in Mumbai continuously engages with businesses in the UAE and India to share market intelligence and promote opportunity sectors for both sides to grow their international presence. The office supports the Dubai and India business communities by way of B2B meetings, trade missions, networking events, buyer-seller meetings and brainstorming with businesses on their plans for both markets.

Source: Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry