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In The Spotlight

Jimmy Joseph, director of GDS Middle East. (Image source: GDS Middle East)

Manufacturing

As manufacturing across the GCC accelerated towards digitalisation, advanced design and engineering software becomes central to competitiveness. GDS Middle East has played a pivotal role in supporting local manufacturers to modernise product development, engineering workflows and production processes.

In an exclusive interview with Technical Review Middle East, director Jimmy Joseph highlighted the company's main offerings, which include bespoke solutions for the manufacturing sector. 

The company enables local firms to shorten product development cycles by facilitating the adoption of tools such as Solidworks, Catia, Enovia and Simulia.

These are platforms which, according to Joseph, allow engineering teams to iterate designs more quickly, test and optimise solutions early in development, and respond faster to market demands.

“These technologies allowed engineering teams to test, refine and optimise designs early in the development phase, which significantly reduced time to market,” he said.

Solutions such as Solidworks Sheet Metal Design also help manufacturers optimise material usage and streamline production processes, reducing waste and lowering costs.

GDS additionally supports firms seeking differentiation through customisation, allowing manufacturers to meet specific client requirements and target niche markets.

But this is not the company's only offerings. 

Training and upskilling forms a core part of GDS Middle East’s approach.

Joseph highlighted the importance of capability building, explaining that “technology alone does not deliver results. It is about enabling engineers and designers to use these tools effectively, and that comes through hands-on training and ongoing support.”

How can automation help? 

Industry insights and analytics provided by GDS further helps manufacturers align their product strategies with market trends, improving efficiency, productivity and competitiveness across the region.

Digital tools also reshaped engineering workflows. Platforms such as Solidworks PDM and Enovia, deployed either on premise or via the 3D Experience cloud platform, enabled real-time collaboration across teams and stakeholders, regardless of location.

Automation through tools like DriveWorks allowed repetitive tasks to be handled efficiently, freeing engineers to focus on complex design and innovation.

Data-driven features and AI-enabled analytics provided insights that helped optimise both processes and products.

Simulation tools such as Abaqus and Solidworks Simulation accelerated development by allowing virtual testing and validation before production, reducing time, costs and risk.

Generative design and additive manufacturing added additional efficiencies by creating optimised, material-efficient designs.

GDS Middle East also addressed the challenges manufacturers faced in adopting new software.

But there are challenges ahead

Resistance to change, integration with existing systems, skill gaps and high initial investment costs were common barriers.

Joseph noted that the company worked closely with clients to demonstrate the long-term value and ROI of technology adoption, and that “annual subscription offerings from Dassault Systèmes help customers reduce the initial cost drastically and absorb it into operating budgets.”

Tailored solutions and ongoing technical support ensured firms could continue optimising their workflows.

Looking ahead, Joseph believes the greatest opportunities for design software lay in streamlining the entire manufacturing lifecycle.

“Advanced design and analysis tools can streamline the design process through simulation, reducing time-to-market and enabling faster iterations and modifications,” he said.

Cloud-based collaboration facilitates communication across dispersed teams, generative design enables customised products, and integration with manufacturing execution and ERP systems creates connected workflows that reduce errors and enhance efficiency.

GDS Middle East positions itself not simply as a software provider but as a technology implementation partner.

A fully integrated platform

Its end-to-end approach—from collaboration and design to manufacturing and dispatch—combined with in-house technical expertise and continuous support, allows manufacturers in the GCC to adopt, integrate and benefit from digital tools effectively, improving competitiveness in an increasingly digital industrial landscape.

As Joseph puts it, “GDS Middle East is uniquely positioned to seize new opportunities in the GCC by serving as a true technology implementation partner rather than just a product supplier.”

He adds that his company's skilled in-house technical team “sets us apart in the region, allowing us to support clients beyond the sale with hands-on customization, training, and continuous support. In short, GDS captures opportunities by being the partner that helps customers implement and succeed with technology, every step of the way.”

Logistics

UAE-based fuel technology company Fuelre4m has announced new results showing its fuel treatment can deliver consistent fuel efficiency and emissions reductions across buses, trucks, and heavy equipment operating in real-world conditions.

Independent testing led by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), one of Europe’s leading engineering and applied sciences universities, evaluated Fuelre4m’s technology under tightly controlled laboratory conditions using a commercial diesel engine running on standard B10 biodiesel. The tests recorded 3.5–6.7% lower fuel consumption at identical engine speed and mechanical torque, alongside consistent efficiency improvements of 15–21% in the dominant mid-load operating range of approximately 1,400–1,550 RPM.

“The laboratory result establishes a conservative baseline under fixed torque, while real-world operation allows the same efficiency improvement to reduce torque demand, improve gear behaviour, and compound over time, resulting in larger total fuel savings across a complete duty cycle. Crucially, the only variable introduced during testing was the treatment of the fuel itself, with no changes to engine hardware, electronic calibration, operating limits, or fuel specification,” Fuelre4m said.

The NTUA laboratory findings are now being reinforced by repeatable real-world trials across UAE transport and industrial fleets. These include city and intercity buses operating on Dubai service corridors, mixed fleets incorporating VDL and King Long buses, and heavy trucks and off-highway equipment operating under high-load conditions. Once sufficient fuel contact time is achieved, measured fuel efficiency improvements frequently match or exceed laboratory results. Fixed-route trials on UAE buses show directional fuel consumption reductions of approximately 14–17%, with the strongest improvements consistently appearing in the mid-RPM “working bands” that dominate urban and intercity duty cycles.

Trials were conducted across mixed fleets spanning multiple manufacturers, engine sizes, and emission standards, confirming that the benefits are not limited to a single platform or technology generation. No adverse impacts were observed on drivability, engine temperatures, or aftertreatment systems. Quarry and heavy-equipment trials, including large off-highway haul trucks, demonstrated reduced fuel consumed per unit of work, with several recording double-digit efficiency improvements while maintaining or increasing productivity.

Commenting on the findings, George Papalambrou, Associate Professor of Control Systems at NTUA, who oversaw the independent testing, said, “We were genuinely surprised by the consistency and magnitude of the mid-range efficiency improvements. The results were not isolated to a single operating point and were observed under multiple control regimes. This is a positive development not just for one sector, but potentially for all industries relying on internal combustion engines, including shipping and maritime transport.”

Rob Mortimer, CEO of Fuelre4m, said, “For decades, the industry has optimised engines around the assumption that fuel behaviour is fixed. These results show that when you improve how fuel behaves, efficiency and emissions improve immediately, using the engines already operating across the UAE today.”

Fuelre4m is expanding controlled in-service validation programmes across the UAE in collaboration with fleet operators, government entities, and industrial partners. These programmes will focus on high-utilisation routes, long-duration performance validation, and quantified emissions reduction under representative operating conditions. Further independent testing using fully instrumented dynamometer facilities is also planned to extend validation into transient operation and regulatory-grade certification environments.

Logistics

Parsons Corporation has officially opened its new regional office in Doha, marking a significant expansion of the company’s footprint in Qatar and reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting national development priorities.

The office was inaugurated by Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer of Parsons Corporation. The event was attended by senior representatives from the U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar’s Public Works Authority, Qatari Diar, the American Chamber of Commerce Qatar, alongside Parsons’ regional leadership team and employees.

Located in Al Emadi Financial Square, the new Doha office will serve as a regional design hub for Parsons’ expanding portfolio of infrastructure design, urban development, mobility and programme management projects across Qatar. The facility is intended to enable closer collaboration with clients, project teams and stakeholders as major infrastructure and development programmes across the country continue to progress.

“Parsons’ growth in Qatar underscores the company’s outstanding reputation in the Middle East, our position as a trusted partner to our customers, and our competitive advantage in the region,” said Smith. “For more than two decades, we’ve proudly partnered with important customers across Qatar to deliver on some of the nation’s most prominent and vital infrastructure projects. Expanding our physical presence in Doha strengthens our ability to deliver complex, mission-critical programmes with speed and agility. This expansion strengthens our regional presence and global capabilities, and highlights the important role our thriving Middle East portfolio plays in the company’s continued global success.”

Parsons has maintained a presence in the Middle East since the 1950s and brings extensive regional expertise across project and programme management, urban development, transportation and master planning. Its capabilities span rail and metro systems, aviation, roads and ports, smart mobility solutions, asset management and large-scale urban development programmes.

In Qatar, Parsons has played a key role in delivering sustainable infrastructure and smart city initiatives aligned with the country’s long-term vision for growth. The company has contributed to several landmark national projects, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Seef Lusail Development, Al Khor Expressway, Lusail Light Rail Transit, Doha Metro networks and the expansion of Hamad International Airport.

The new Doha office builds on Parsons’ more than 25-year track record in Qatar, during which the company has supported transportation planning, expressway programmes, major roadway and drainage systems, as well as programme, construction management and advisory services for national infrastructure initiatives.

The office will host multidisciplinary teams supporting a pipeline of ongoing and upcoming projects across Qatar, positioning Parsons to respond efficiently to future opportunities while continuing to deliver complex infrastructure programmes that support economic growth and urban development in the country.

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Energy

Energy

Cleanova, a global provider of advanced industrial filtration solutions, has secured a contract to supply critical filtration systems for the Liverpool Bay Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Transportation and Storage project, part of the UK government’s HyNet North West low-carbon and hydrogen initiative.

The contract was awarded by Saipem, the international engineering, procurement and construction company responsible for converting an existing gas compression and treatment facility at Point of Ayr, North Wales, into a CO₂ Electrical Compression Station. The facility will enable the permanent storage of captured CO₂ emissions from heavy industry across North West England and North Wales, with compressed CO2 injected into depleted hydrocarbon fields beneath Liverpool Bay.

Under the agreement, Cleanova will supply purpose-engineered filtration units designed to ensure operational efficiency, safety and long-term reliability across the CO2 transportation and storage process. Each unit, weighing around 50 tonnes, will remove residual amines, water, hydrocarbons and other condensed liquids or particulates from the captured CO2 stream. Removing these impurities is critical to protecting compression equipment, maintaining process integrity and enabling safe, long-term storage.

The Liverpool Bay project is a cornerstone of the HyNet North West industrial decarbonisation cluster and is expected to support the capture and permanent storage of up to 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Once fully operational, the project will make a significant contribution to the UK’s net-zero targets and wider energy-transition objectives.

Macer Braidwood, Cleanova’s global market manager ‐ energy transition, said, “Our custom filtration systems already play a vital role in the energy transition by capturing emissions and purifying process streams across a wide-range of clean-energy applications. Being selected to support the UK's first large-scale carbon capture and storage project is an important milestone for Cleanova. We are proud to partner with Saipem on the Liverpool Bay CCS project and to contribute our filtration expertise to an initiative that will deliver meaningful, long-term environmental impact. It is another step to our mission to provide filtration solutions today for a better tomorrow.” 

Vertiv unveils Next Predict, an AI-powered service that predicts and prevents data centre risks before they arise. (Image source: Vertiv)

Water

Water

Ecolab, a global leader in sustainability solutions for water, hygiene and infection prevention, has signed a non-binding MoU with the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) aimed at accelerating water innovation and supporting the Kingdom’s long-term sustainability ambitions.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing more efficient, resilient and circular water systems in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The MoU was formalised during the US-Saudi Water Summit 2025, held last month in Palo Alto, California. The summit brought together international water sector leaders to discuss emerging challenges, technological advances and collaborative models capable of transforming water management across the Kingdom. Against a backdrop of rising demand, climate pressures and industrial expansion, the agreement highlights the growing importance of public-private partnerships in securing Saudi Arabia’s water future.

Under the MoU, SWA and Ecolab will collaborate to position sustainable water management as a strategic enabler of national development. By improving water efficiency and reuse, the partnership aims to help safeguard scarce water resources while enhancing water quality across key sectors. These efforts are also expected to deliver wider environmental and economic benefits, including reduced energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions and improved operational efficiency for industrial and commercial operators.

The framework for cooperation includes the exchange of technical insights and best practices across sectors such as data centres, refineries, petrochemicals, heavy industry, desalination, manufacturing, food and beverage, and hospitality.

Key areas of partnership

The collaboration also covers support for water source selection, regulatory development and performance monitoring, alongside workshops focused on advanced digital solutions such as smart water systems and predictive maintenance. In addition, the partners will explore pilot projects within Saudi industrial cities, applying Ecolab’s global technologies under local operating conditions, and identify opportunities to support innovation initiatives, including Rabigh Oasis, the Global Water Innovation Prize (GWIP), collaborative research and development roundtables, and broader innovation promotion programmes.

Ecolab has maintained a strong presence in Saudi Arabia for more than four decades through its Nalco Water business, supporting major industrial players in optimising water use. Today, its solutions are deployed across energy, manufacturing, food and hospitality, helping organisations conserve water, reduce energy consumption and strengthen long-term business resilience while meeting sustainability goals.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority, highlighted the partnership as a step toward building a world-class water sector that safeguards resources, supports national growth, and demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can secure water for future generations in line with Vision 2030.

Stefan Umiastowski, Ecolab’s Senior Vice President & CEO for India, Middle East, and Africa, said, “This collaboration represents an important step in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 commitment to long-term water sustainability in a region where water is one of the most critical resources. As digitalization and AI reshape economies and create new demand patterns, intelligent water management has become essential for sustainable growth. By combining Ecolab's global innovation capabilities with the SWA’s vision and local expertise, we're creating a powerful platform to scale water transformation across the Kingdom's most strategic industries.”

Overall, the MoU demonstrates how closer collaboration between government and industry can translate sustainability ambitions into measurable outcomes, supporting the transition towards Net Zero while enhancing industrial competitiveness and water security across Saudi Arabia.

Construction

Construction

Cedarapids, a Terex brand specialising in modular, portable and static crushing and screening equipment, will preview two new developments at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas: the CRH5064 Portable Horizontal Shaft Impactor (HSI) Plant and the TRAC Vibration Analyser. Both products will be showcased at the Terex booth in the Silver Lot during the event, which runs from 3–7 March at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The CRH5064 Portable HSI Plant has been developed to deliver high-capacity crushing performance while reducing maintenance demands across quarrying, recycling and demolition applications. The plant is built around the TI5064 horizontal shaft impactor, powered by a 400 hp motor and incorporating a high-inertia four-bar rotor. Design features include a monoblock primary curtain with replaceable tips, hydraulic tramp iron relief, hydraulic-assisted apron adjustments and a hydraulically opening hood to support faster inspection and servicing.

Prototype testing of the CRH5064 recorded throughput rates of between 600 and 700 tonnes per hour when processing 30-inch minus shot rock limestone, positioning the plant for operations requiring consistent output and the ability to handle large feed sizes of up to 30 inches.

A further enhancement is the inclusion of the latest 60 in x 20 ft Cedarapids Advantage Series Feeder. Compared with previous models, the feeder widens the intake opening by eight inches, improving material flow, crusher loading and fines removal. The plant can also be specified with multiple axle configurations and a removable feed-hopper module to improve transport flexibility between sites.

Optional features available for the CRH5064 include feeder lift functionality, a jib crane for blowbar changes, a self-cleaning magnet, an under-crusher pan feeder and expanded electrical and conveyor configurations, allowing operators to tailor the plant to specific operational requirements.

Alongside the new impactor plant, Cedarapids will introduce TRAC, a vibration analysis system engineered specifically for crushing and screening environments. Developed by Terex engineers, the system was designed in response to distributor demand for clearer and more accurate screening diagnostics than those offered by general-purpose vibration tools.

TRAC uses four WiFi-enabled sensors mounted on the screen structure to capture data on acceleration, velocity, movement, inclination, orbit and bearing behaviour. This information enables operators to identify issues such as loose components, damaged screen media, broken springs, imbalance, timing problems and hazardous frequencies, while also confirming correct screen installation and operating performance.

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, visitors will be able to view the TRAC hardware on display, alongside simulated diagnostic outputs demonstrating the system’s reporting capabilities.

Mining

Mining

Energy Capital Group (ECG), a Riyadh-based specialist investor, has launched a $300 million private equity fund aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

The ECG-Industrial Metals and Services Fund will focus on investments in integrated industrial and mining services that strengthen local supply chains and support long-term industrial growth.

The fund has already secured around US$100mn in soft commitments from investors. ECG focuses on energy, industrial and resource-based sectors, with a strategy centred on building and scaling businesses that reinforce critical supply chains and contribute to sustainable industrial development across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sets out an ambitious agenda to diversify the economy, attract domestic and international investment, and position the Kingdom as a global industrial and investment hub. Through targeted investments in metals services and supply chains, the new fund is intended to support these goals while capitalising on the Kingdom’s expanding mining and industrial base.

Ali Alturki, Managing Partner of ECG, said, “The aim of this fund is to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s generational mining investment opportunity, supporting the localisation of essential services and driving innovation across industry and downstream processing.
This new fund will support the Kingdom’s ambition by investing in Saudi-based service platforms, positioning metals supply as a reliable, contracted service to the Kingdom’s industrial base.

“For this fund we are partnering with Jay Hambro and the Verdigris team who bring broad knowledge of the metals sector and an excellent track record of value delivery.”

Jay Hambro has joined ECG as Managing Partner for the ECG – Industrial Metals and Services Fund, with the team from Verdigris Strategic providing sector-specific strategic advice. Verdigris Strategic is a metals supply chain services advisory group with experience across global markets.

Hambro said, “ECG’s new fund’s strategy places it at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector critical to the energy transition and supply chain resilience. Saudi Arabia has identified US$2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resource capability which is being scaled rapidly through licencing rounds, public capital and policy support. The Kingdom has recently issued over two thousand exploration licences and is targeting a US$75bn contribution to its GDP before the end of the decade.

“My team and I have been working with ECG, one of leading industrial services private equity investors in the region, for nearly four years and the fund is a natural evolution in this partnership.”

The fund was launched at the 2026 Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, a government-led platform focused on shaping the future of the global minerals sector, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

THi Holding Management Corporation (THi) has marked a major milestone in its Middle East expansion with the groundbreaking of the THi Ras Al Khaimah Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park, officially launching construction of its first industrial park project in the region.

The development is the first project under THi’s Middle East industrial and real estate platform and forms a central pillar of the company’s long-term strategy to support advanced manufacturing and industrial localisation. The park is being developed on a site spanning more than 300,000 sq m within the Al Hamra area of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), and is intended to serve high-value manufacturing and industrial companies seeking modern, scalable and high-specification facilities in the UAE.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from local authorities, financial institutions, and regional and international industrial partners, highlighting the project’s strategic importance to Ras Al Khaimah’s broader industrial development ambitions.

Designed as a high-standard industrial development, the THi Ras Al Khaimah Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park will be tailored to the needs of advanced and smart manufacturing sectors. The project is planned to accommodate a range of industries, including new energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics and industrial technology. Sustainability considerations and efficient infrastructure planning have been embedded into the design, reflecting growing demand for environmentally responsible and operationally efficient industrial facilities.

THi will act as developer, asset manager and operator of the project, overseeing the full lifecycle from construction through to long-term management and operations. Construction will be delivered in phases, aligned with tenant requirements and operational readiness, allowing flexibility as market demand evolves.

“The commencement of construction at Ras Al Khaimah marks an important step in THi’s international expansion,” said Frank Wu, Founder of THi. “This project reflects our commitment to bringing our industrial development and operational experience into the Middle East, and to building high-quality industrial platforms that support long-term manufacturing growth and economic diversification in the region.”

The development follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between RAKEZ and THi in 2024, which established a framework for collaboration in industrial development and education. The agreement supports the creation of advanced manufacturing infrastructure and knowledge transfer in Ras Al Khaimah.

Commenting on the project’s launch, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We are pleased to welcome THi to the emirate and see this project move from strategic intent to on-the-ground delivery. The scale and ambition of this industrial park reflect the confidence global partners place in both RAKEZ and the emirate as a base for advanced manufacturing. Through our collaboration, we are enabling high-value industrial activity, skilled job creation, and long-term industrial innovation aligned with Ras Al Khaimah’s economic priorities.”

Drawing on extensive experience in industrial and manufacturing-focused real estate, THi plans to use the Ras Al Khaimah project as a foundation for further expansion across the Middle East, adapting its global expertise to regional market and regulatory requirements.

Noritsugu Mifune, CEO, Al Gharbia Pipe Company. (Image source: Al Gharbia Pipe Company)

Jimmy Joseph, director of GDS Middle East. (Image source: GDS Middle East)

Logistics

Logistics

Saudi Arabia has claimed the top spot globally in the Road Network Connectivity Index, according to a report by the World Competitiveness Forum. The Kingdom also ranked fourth among G20 nations in the Road Infrastructure Quality Index, highlighting its ongoing investment and development in the road sector.

For a country of Saudi Arabia’s size, these rankings underscore its growing international prominence and the strategic importance of its transport network. The Kingdom’s road system stretches over 73,000 km—almost double the circumference of the Earth—providing critical domestic connectivity while linking Saudi Arabia to eight neighbouring countries, including GCC states, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen. The network supports key sectors such as Hajj and Umrah, tourism, trade, and broader logistics, positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub.

A spokesman for the Roads General Authority (RGA) attributed the achievements to the adoption of global best practices and safety-focused regulations. “We have launched the Road Code as a unified technical reference for all entities responsible for roads, guaranteeing the highest standards of planning, design, implementation and maintenance,” he said.

The authority has also introduced the Road Right-of-Way Permits Regulation, which organises activities within road corridors, enhances safety, and improves user experience, the spokesman added.

The RGA continues to roll out major projects and initiatives under the Roads Sector Program to strengthen infrastructure and achieve strategic targets. These include aiming for sixth place globally in the Road Quality Index by 2030, reducing road fatalities to fewer than five deaths per 100,000 people, implementing road safety features across the network in line with the International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP), and maintaining advanced service levels to meet growing traffic demands.

Saudi Arabia’s recognition in these international rankings reflects its commitment to combining world-class infrastructure with enhanced safety standards, while supporting economic growth and regional connectivity. The Kingdom’s road network is increasingly seen not just as a transport system, but as a driver of development and a vital component of national strategic planning.

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