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At last week’s GITEX Global, one of the region’s most influential tech events, Al Masaood Group, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Instagrid – a Global pioneer in portable battery systems – bringing to the UAE the first professional-grade, portable, emission-free energy source.

Who Is Instagrid?

Founded in 2018 by PhD Engineers Sebastian Berning and Andreas Sedlmayr, Instagrid emerged from a simple yet transformative idea: to create a high-performance portable power solution for professionals. While the market was saturated with leisure-focused power supplies, there was a clear gap for robust, mobile energy systems capable of meeting the demands of industries like construction, events, and emergency services. Today, Instagrid powers over 125,000 professionals worldwide, offering clean, reliable energy wherever it’s needed.

What makes Instagrid unique?

Instagrid’s innovation lies in its micro-inverter technology, which replaces traditional generator components such as large fan-cooled inverters with smart, modular battery architecture. Each Instagrid unit contains 144 individual battery cells, intelligently managed to deliver peak power outputs of up to 18,000W - all from a compact, 20kg device.

The flagship product, Instagrid ONE, delivers 3,600W of rated output power, equivalent to the power performance you’d expect from a 5-7 kVA generator, but with zero emissions, no noise, and no fossil-fuel consumption. Instagrid’s innovative technology replicates grid-like power in the form of a pure sinewave, dynamically drawing power from the necessary cells to meet the fluctuating demands of professional equipment - from drills and pumps to welders and lighting systems.

Unlike traditional generators, which must be oversized to handle peak loads (resulting in wasted fuel and idle time), Instagrid delivers power only when needed, instantly and efficiently.

Product range and scalability

∙Instagrid ONE: A compact, robust unit with 2.1 kWh capacity, fully rechargeable in under 3 hours. Built to withstand dust, moisture, and harsh environments.

∙Instagrid LINK: Connects up to three Instagrid ONE units to triple capacity to 6.3 kWh, ideal for high-demand applications like diamond core drilling.

∙Instagrid LINK MAX: Combines three Instagrid ONE units into a portable three-phase power supply, revolutionising the portability of 400 V power sources.

Sustainable by design

Instagrid’s technology is not only clean - it’s circular. The company’s latest Impact Report highlights its commitment to sustainability with impressive headline figures:

∙Over 701,005 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided to date - equivalent to removing over 300,000 cars from the road.

∙215,378 tonnes of carbon monoxide (CO) and 279 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions avoided to date, improving air quality.

∙96% product repair rate, with a Material Circularity Index of 48%.

∙91% material recyclability at end of life for Instagrid ONE and similarly high scores across the product line.

Instagrid’s supply chain and manufacturing processes align with the EU’s latest sustainability standards, ensuring long-term product durability and responsible resource use.

Cost efficiency compared to generators

Beyond environmental benefits, Instagrid offers compelling economic advantages. Based on 5 years average usage an Instagrid unit will reduce total lifetime costs by an average 70%* when compared with a similar sized combustion generator (*based on local market costs) - thanks to savings on fuel, maintenance, accessories, and downtime.

Global trust and adoption

Today, Instagrid stands as Europe’s leading provider of high-performance portable power systems, rapidly expanding its footprint across North America, Australia, Singapore, and, most recently, the UAE. Instagrid has become the portable power solution of choice for leading global contractors like Strabag and Balfour Beatty, and rental giants such as Sunbelt Rentals, who have invested heavily to meet growing demand for sustainable energy.

Strategic partnership with Al Masaood Power

Instagrid’s entry into the UAE market is powered by its partnership with Al Masaood Power, who have a deep heritage of over 50 years driving UAE’s industrial and energy sectors with innovative solutions. a leading energy solutions provider in the region. As the official distributor, Al Masaood will make Instagrid’s full product portfolio - including Instagrid ONE, LINK, and LINK MAX - immediately available across the Emirates.

Supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Vision

This partnership will support the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and Al Masaood Power’s innovation roadmap.

By leveraging Instagrid’s proven success in Europe and adapting it to the unique needs of the UAE and GCC markets, this collaboration aims to accelerate the transition to clean portable power across key sectors including construction, infrastructure, utilities, and emergency services.

For more details, visit Instagrid and Al Masaood Group. 

The Dammam Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) was officially inaugurated earlier this week. 

Delivered by a consortium led by Metito Utilities alongside Mowah and Orascom Construction, the project marks a major step forward in supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s National Water Strategy through an innovative Public–Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

Awarded by the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), the Dammam ISTP was developed with a total investment of SAR690mn (US$185.26mn) under a 25-year Build–Own–Operate–Transfer (BOOT) model. The plant has an initial capacity of 200,000 m³/day, expandable to 350,000 m³/day, serving nearly one million residents in western Dammam.

The performance-based PPP model mobilizes private sector capital, technology, and expertise to deliver critical infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s growing water demands.

The plant utilises Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) technology, achieving high treatment efficiency while reducing civil works and tank volumes. Its sustainable design incorporates anaerobic digestion to convert sludge into biogas for on-site use, alongside solar drying greenhouses that harness Dammam’s abundant sunlight. These features minimise emissions and reduce operational costs.

Construction, which began in 2020 after financial close, recorded over 6.9 million safe man-hours with zero lost-time incidents (LTIs), created hundreds of local jobs, and enhanced sustainability through resource recovery and reduced landfill dependency. The project contributes directly to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Saint Gobain has announced a new ‘Lead & Grow’ strategic plan, which envisages around €12bn (approx. US$13.95bn) in growth capex and acquisitions globally over the 2026-2030 period

With a focus on light and sustainable construction, the group says it is raising its profitable growth trajectory in the years ahead, and aims to increase its exposure to the non-residential and infrastructure sectors.

“In the current geopolitical context, Saint-Gobain benefits from the powerful operating model it has established and optimised country-by-country, based on local value chains,” said Benoit Bazin, Saint-Gobain’s chairman and CEO.

The group outlined growth plans across major developed regions, including Asia, North America and Europe, especially in the Middle East. 

Its latest investments across the region aim to support local manufacturing and sustainability efforts.

Growth across sectors

“We will also expand into new growth markets: in infrastructure, particularly thanks to our established leading position in construction chemicals, and in non-residential, where the group holds key advantages,” added Bazin.

The widening of the group’s product offer over the past few years has opened up new opportunities in non-residential (including educational and healthcare facilities, hotels and data centres) and infrastructure (transport, energy), the company added in a statement.

In the data centre segment, it highlights solutions including focusing on speed of construction, low-carbon partitions and concrete, airflow management and improved thermal insulation.

On the infrastructure side, it said it was targeting niche areas in the bridges and tunnels segment, such as technical waterproofing, specialty admixtures, expansion and injection grouts, repair and protection mortars.

And on the airports side, it highlighted products for runway reinforcement, fire-resistant and fire safety glass, solar controlled façades, technical flooring and acoustic partitions.

Saudi Arabia has awarded exploration licences for 25 sites in the Nabitah–Ad Duwayhi belt, located in the Makkah region, to nine local and international companies and consortia. The winners have committed more than SAR156mn (US$42mn) in exploration spending, according to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

The successful bidders include four consortia: Ma’aden–Hancock Prospecting, Ajlan and Bros Mining–Shandong Gold Group, Technology Experts–Andiamo Exploration, and McEwen–Sumo Holding. In addition, five standalone companies secured licences: Al-Eitilaf Al Mumayaz for Mining Company, Saudi Gold Refinery, Batin Al-Ard for Gold, Aurum Global Group, and Almasar Minerals.

The ministry confirmed that competition for the final site, ND26, was suspended after exploration spending bids exceeded technical evaluations and reached levels deemed commercially unfeasible. The site will be re-evaluated according to the approved timeline under the Mining Investment Law.

Further bidding rounds are planned, with competition for an additional 10 sites in the same belt resuming from 16–18 September. Results will be announced after all regulatory procedures are complete. Another 162 mining sites in the Al-Naqrah and Al-Sukhaybirah Safra belts in the Madinah region will be offered from 28 September. These form part of the ministry’s target to make over 50,000 sq km of mineral-rich belts available by 2025.

Saudi Arabia’s mineral resources are estimated at more than SAR9.4tn, underscoring the sector’s role as a cornerstone of Vision 2030. The Al-Baha region alone is valued at nearly SAR285.4bn (US$76bn) and is rich in resources including gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, feldspar, marble, and pozzolan. The region also contains mineralised belts for gold, copper, and zinc, as well as 19 mining complexes dedicated to building materials.

The Kingdom views mining as a key driver of economic diversification and aims to position the sector as the “third pillar” of its economy alongside oil and petrochemicals. By accelerating exploration and development of its mineral wealth, Saudi Arabia is seeking to enhance its global competitiveness in mining and attract further international investment.

The region’s leading exhibition for metalworking, metal manufacturing, and steel fabrication will return to Sharjah in January 2026, highlighting the UAE’s growing industrial strength and its commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability in advanced manufacturing.

Now in its 21^st edition, SteelFab 2026 will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from 12-15 January, bringing together global industry leaders to showcase cutting-edge fabrication technologies, machinery, and safety-focused industrial solutions.

Sharjah’s rapidly growing economy, bolstered by a 361% surge in foreign direct investment to US$1.5bn in the first half of 2025, further underlines the significance of the event. The emirate’s expanding industrial base and strong infrastructure continue to attract global manufacturers and suppliers, reinforcing its role as a hub for innovation and safe production practices.

“SteelFab continues to grow in relevance as the UAE intensifies its focus on industrial development and global trade partnerships,” said H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

“The UAE’s industrial sector is witnessing unprecedented growth. The event reflects the country’s strategic direction, where policy support, innovation, and international collaboration are driving a new era of industrial growth and competitiveness.”

The UAE’s industrial outlook remains optimistic, with GDP forecast to grow by 4.9% in 2025 and 5.3% in 2026. With over US$11bn in financing directed toward industrial companies, the country’s manufacturing ecosystem is poised for expansion, underpinned by strong regulatory standards and safety-driven innovation.

“The exhibition will feature next-generation solutions—from robotics, smart manufacturing, and inline metrology to noncontact measurement and portable 3D scanning, that enhance precision and reduce waste. Sustainability will be central, with energy-efficient tools and lifecycle analysis strategies. By blending automation with human expertise, SteelFab 2026 positions itself as the definitive venue for fabricators seeking resilience and future-ready operations,” said Sultan Shattaf, commercial director of Expo Centre Sharjah.

A major highlight will be the 5^th Best Welder Competition, sponsored by ESAB, spotlighting top talent and promoting safety in welding and cutting operations through advanced robotic technologies.

Building on the record-breaking success of its 20th edition, which attracted over 350 exhibitors from 33 countries, SteelFab 2026 is expected to host more than 650 leading brands and showcase the innovations shaping the future of safe, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing.

IVECO and its long-term partner MTT, through EuroMT Srl bodybuilder, have begun delivering 20 Eurocargo units to the Directorate of Civil Defense in Iraq.

The first batch of Eurocargo ML180E28 4x2 models marks the debut of firefighting water tankers in Iraq. Each vehicle is equipped with a EuroMT Srl 10,000-litre water tank and a high-performance firefighting pump system, designed to offer flexibility, efficiency, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

Machine Technology Trading Co. (MTT), an official IVECO dealer for several years, is headquartered in Baghdad with a secondary branch in Erbil, Kurdistan Region. The company provides full coverage across Iraq, offering the complete range of IVECO trucks.

Khalid O. Mawlood, general manager of MTT, said, "We are proud that our local Governorate has chosen our company together with IVECO brand for the fleet of firefighting vehicles and we hope to serve this mission as always we did in the past and we will continue to do."

Ali Sheikholmoloki, IVECO business manager for Iraq, added, “In this special year, which IVECO is turning to 50 years, we are celebrating together with our historical partner MTT the delivery of 20 Eurocargo units firefighting water tankers equipped to Al Diwanya Governorate in Iraq. I can proudly say that Eurocargo is the most versatile vehicle in its category which surely will bring us many more achievements in this market for different segments.”

Eurocargo: a multi-mission truck

Eurocargo stands out as a symbol of reliability, flexibility, and versatility. Designed for a fast-changing and competitive market, the model combines strength and agility with a refreshed design that enhances both aesthetics and performance.

Available in over 11,000 variations, the Eurocargo range includes seven gross vehicle weight options, four power ratings, seven gearboxes, and three cab types to meet any operational requirement. Its bumper design allows easy access to the windscreen, while LED Daytime Running Lights and optional Xenon headlights ensure safer night driving. Every design detail, from the reshaped deflector to the UV-filtered windscreen, improves aerodynamics and comfort.

Cab options for every mission

Eurocargo offers three cab types — Day, Sleeper, and Crew — each available with two roof heights. The Day cab is suited for urban use, balancing width and length for ease of manoeuvrability. The Sleeper cab, available in standard or high roof versions, offers overnight accommodation with one or two bunks and up to 260 litres of internal storage. The Crew cab, ideal for construction and emergency services, carries up to six passengers plus the driver, along with essential tools and equipment.