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The global hospitality sector is undergoing a profound transformation, with green energy integration moving from a niche consideration to a core operational strategy.

In Egypt, the push for sustainable tourism and urban development is taking significant strides forward. Leading this shift along the coast is El Gouna Red Sea, the flagship year-round destination developed by Orascom Development Egypt, which has officially announced the opening of its latest green infrastructure project, Solarize-2.

This new solar power facility marks a pivotal milestone in the resort town’s long-term sustainability journey, cementing its position as a pioneer in eco-friendly coastal development. By investing heavily in renewable energy, the destination is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also setting a formidable benchmark for the broader regional tourism industry.

Scaling renewable capacity: The Solarize Projects

At the heart of El Gouna’s green transition is a phased approach to solar energy expansion. The newly commissioned Solarize-2 facility represents a substantial upgrade to the town’s local energy grid. Developed in strategic partnership with SolarizEgypt, this facility adds significant capacity to the existing infrastructure.

Key project details and figures include:

• An impressive 8.6 megawatts (MW) of new solar capacity added through the Solarize-2 facility.

• A foundational 7.2 MW of capacity already established by the initial Solarize-1 project.

• A cumulative installed solar capacity of 15.8 MW now powering the integrated resort town.

• A strategic target for El Gouna to source more than 15 per cent of its total local energy requirements from renewable sources throughout 2026.

These capacity increases are essential for a rapidly expanding destination. As El Gouna continues to attract more residents and tourists, its overall electricity demands will inevitably grow. Consequently, the town has already outlined plans for additional solar installations in the future, ensuring that the share of renewable energy scales harmoniously with the town's physical expansion.

Strategic partnerships and private investment

The transition to renewable energy relies heavily on robust collaboration between developers, energy specialists, and equity investors. The delivery of Solarize-2 is a testament to this collaborative model. Ayman Waheed, CEO of SolarizEgypt, noted that the successful operation of the second solar plant reflects the strength of the companies' long-standing partnership and demonstrates the potential to scale privately financed renewable-energy infrastructure.

Furthermore, Energya Industries played a critical role as a major equity investor and owner in the Solarize-2 asset. Representatives from Elsewedy added that Energya Industries aims to expand its presence across the energy value chain while investing in technologies and infrastructure for Egypt and the region. This private-sector involvement is crucial for delivering the large-scale capital required to transition entire resort towns away from fossil fuels.

Financing the sustainability journey

Behind the physical solar panels and operational milestones lies a sophisticated green financing strategy. Funding such ambitious infrastructure requires significant capital backing, and Orascom Development Egypt has actively sought out sustainable finance mechanisms to support its long-term vision.

Recently, this long-term investment strategy has included a $155 million sustainability-linked loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This substantial financial package incorporates stringent environmental and resource-efficiency targets, ensuring that the developer remains accountable to its ecological commitments. By aligning its financial obligations with its sustainability goals, the organisation is ensuring that environmental stewardship is embedded at the highest corporate level.

Setting a regional benchmark for green tourism

The broader implications of the Solarize-2 launch extend beyond the borders of El Gouna. As the global climate crisis intensifies, holidaymakers and property investors are increasingly prioritising destinations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to the environment. The Red Sea region, renowned for its fragile marine ecosystems, requires particularly sensitive development strategies.

By generating 15.8 MW of clean energy locally, El Gouna is actively reducing its reliance on traditional power grids and minimising greenhouse gas emissions. This proactive approach to eco-tourism proves that luxury travel and environmental responsibility can coexist. As the resort town continues to pioneer solar integration, it offers a replicable blueprint for other coastal developments. Ultimately, the successful commissioning of Solarize-2 serves as a powerful reminder that the future of travel and urban living must be fundamentally green.

Industrial wastewater management across the Middle East is rapidly moving towards circularity, and Saudi Arabia is reinforcing this transition with a critical infrastructure expansion in Jeddah.

UK-based wastewater treatment specialist Bluewater Bio has secured a contract to upgrade and expand the MODON Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWWTP) at Jeddah 1st Industrial City, lifting capacity by 60 per cent whilst maintaining continuous operations for local manufacturers.

The project forms an integral component of a 20-year Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer (ROT) concession awarded by the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) to water management firm Miahona. Engineering, procurement, and construction contractor SUECO has been appointed to deliver the works, with Bluewater Bio supplying the core biological and tertiary treatment technologies.

Relieving flow pressures in Jeddah’s industrial hub

As the Kingdom broadens its manufacturing base, treating effluent at source has become an operational and environmental imperative. Jeddah 1st Industrial City represents one of Saudi Arabia’s most vital manufacturing centres, housing more than 1,100 factories across multiple sectors. Continued industrial expansion has driven daily wastewater flows and contaminant loadings beyond the plant’s original design limits. Consequently, modernising the treatment infrastructure has become essential to guarantee operational reliability, environmental compliance, and high-quality reclaimed water for local industry.

Crucially, the engineering design guarantees that the facility will remain fully operational throughout the upgrade, preventing any disruption to manufacturing tenants.

Core technologies and project delivery

To achieve the required capacity uplift without extensive site redevelopment, Bluewater Bio will deploy its proprietary modular treatment systems. The upgrade will expand the plant's overall processing capacity from 25 million litres per day (MLD) to 40 MLD, alongside supplying polished effluent suitable for reverse osmosis (RO) intake.

The scope of supply comprises:

• Fourteen SMART™ units driving the proprietary HYBACS® biological treatment process.

• Six FilterClear® tertiary filtration systems producing 24 MLD of treated water.

• Integration with a downstream reverse osmosis plant to enable high-grade industrial water reuse.

• Complete project delivery executed under live operational conditions to ensure zero plant downtime.

Fergus Rooksby, Commercial Director of Bluewater Bio, commented: “HYBACS was selected because it delivers a significant increase in biological treatment capacity without the need for major new civil structures. Combined with FilterClear for RO feedwater production, it provides a cost-effective, low-footprint solution that is straightforward to operate and minimises ongoing service and maintenance costs.
The ability to add further modules in the future also gives Miahona a flexible route to increase RO-treated water reuse, making this a highly compelling and future-ready solution.”

Daniyar Seipoldin, General Director of SUECO, said: “As an EPC contractor, SUECO is committed to implementing modern technological solutions that respond to the evolving needs of the industry — including energy efficiency, sustainable operation, effective use of existing infrastructure, and minimizing the need for additional civil construction.
It is in these principles that we see a strong strategic alignment between SUECO and Bluewater Bio. We value the professional collaboration between our teams and look forward to working together to successfully integrate the selected technologies and deliver the required project outcomes for Miahona and MODON.”

Aligning with regional infrastructure goals

The scheme is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2027, directly supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 targets for sustainable water stewardship and industrial resource recycling. For Bluewater Bio, the contract solidifies an expanding Middle Eastern portfolio that already includes landmark installations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Richard Haddon, CEO of Bluewater Bio, added: “This award reflects the strength of our technology offering in addressing complex industrial wastewater challenges. The MODON facility presents a highly demanding treatment environment, and the selection of HYBACS and FilterClear highlights their proven ability to deliver robust, reliable solutions under challenging conditions.”

Richard Haddon concluded: “This contract award further strengthens our presence in the Middle East and reinforces our position as a trusted provider of advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions across the region.”

The Middle East is currently overseeing some of the world's most ambitious infrastructure developments, driving unprecedented demand for high-grade construction materials.

Wet processing experts CDE have partnered with Stevin Rock to deliver two major sand and aggregates wash plants at the Al Ghail facility in the United Arab Emirates. Suppliers must embrace advanced technologies to increase output without compromising quality.

The World’s largest limestone operation

Stevin Rock is one of the world's leading suppliers of rock products for the construction, marine engineering, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. With reserves exceeding 3.5 billion tonnes, the organisation boasts a production capacity of over 100 million tonnes per annum.

Operating a private harbour connected to Saqr Port, it exports throughout the GCC and to the Asia-Pacific, including:

• India

• Bangladesh

• Madagascar

• Maldives

Advanced wet processing at Al Ghail

To maintain this colossal output, Stevin Rock has turned to CDE for a state-of-the-art technological intervention. The collaboration involves deploying two wash plants designed to process a highly challenging, clay-rich crushed limestone feed at the Ras Al Khaimah site.

A 250 tonnes per hour plant is already operational, successfully enhancing the site's processing capabilities. A flagship 1,000 tonnes per hour wash plant is scheduled to be commissioned in Q3 2027. Together, these installations will guarantee the production of consistent, in-spec aggregates essential for major regional infrastructure.

Brian Howard, Group Projects Director for Stevin Rock, emphasised the strategic importance of the upgrade: ‘This project represents a significant milestone for Stevin Rock as we grow our production capacity to over 100 million tons per annum and reflects our commitment to investing in world class technologies that deliver operational excellence while supporting our long-term sustainability ambitions. We are proud to partner with CDE to deliver this ambitious, global scale project, that will set a new benchmark in sand and gravel washing, demonstrating our shared commitment to resource efficiency, reduction of waste and sustainable supply of high-quality materials for years to come.’

Fuelling the infrastructure of tomorrow

Stevin Rock's materials have historically supported iconic developments, including:

• The Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

• Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

• The World Islands development

• Ras Laffan Port in Qatar, housing the largest Liquefied Natural Gas export facility on the planet

A current focus is supplying materials for Dubai's new Al Maktoum International Airport. When fully complete, it will be five times the size of Dubai International Airport, including over 400 terminal gates to handle over 260 million passengers per year.

Mr Bassem Idriss, CDE’s head of operations for the Middle East and Africa, commented: “Phase one of this mega project is currently on track to open by 2032 and Stevin Rock is one of the key suppliers that has been mobilised to help ensure these timelines are met. To sustain urgent demand for this project and others, Stevin Rock needs to produce 100 million tonnes of material over the next five years, which is no small feat.

“CDE has over 130 plants in operation in the Middle East today. Our technology has supported some of the most ambitious construction and infrastructure projects in the region and we’ve clearly demonstrated our capability to deliver at scale while maintaining quality and consistency.

“So, we’re extremely proud of the positive impact our technology has had across the UAE and how it has brought us to this moment where, in partnership with Stevin Rock, we will continue to build on that legacy by helping build the world's most technologically advanced airport.”

A commitment to regional growth

This large-scale industrial deployment also reflects broader economic and technological cooperation. Swathi Sri, Head of Territory for India, Middle East & Africa at Invest Northern Ireland, congratulated the company and said, “CDE's achievement demonstrates their technological expertise in wet processing solutions as well as the region’s appetite for new technology. The in-market team supported the company with various business development initiatives, including hosting an inward visit by Stevin Rock. We are proud of CDE Group’s ongoing success in the region and will continue to support their ambitious growth in these vibrant markets." 

Aramco and Ma’aden have officially signed a shareholders’ agreement to establish a joint venture aimed at unlocking significant new frontiers for mineral exploration and hard-rock mining across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

This strategic collaboration, which was first disclosed in January 2025, represents a landmark effort to integrate Aramco’s advanced technical capabilities with Ma’aden’s extensive mining expertise to bolster the global energy transition value chain.

The newly formed entity is expected to be owned 51% by Ma’aden and 49% by Aramco. Its primary mandate is to focus on exploration activities within ‘Zone-4’, an area frequently referred to as the Transition Zone. Situated along the Arabian Platform, this exploration region covers approximately 182,000 square kilometres—an area equivalent to nearly 10% of the total land mass of Saudi Arabia.

Pioneering Exploration through Advanced Technology

The joint venture intends to leverage a combination of historical geological data and cutting-edge computational tools. By utilising high-performance computing and proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms, the partnership aims to identify areas with high potential for copper and other critical transition minerals. This approach is designed to streamline the transition from initial regional screening to definitive target discovery.

Saleh M. Al Saleh, Aramco Vice President of Transition Minerals, highlighted the extensive data foundation underpinning the project: “Over 90 years, Aramco has accumulated and analysed the largest amount of geological and geophysical data ever acquired in a single basin for the Kingdom. This partnership intends to leverage this legacy information to find minerals in the JV area within the basin. Maaden's expertise, our people, high-performance computing, and AI are expected to play a pivotal role in accelerating the discovery of key transition minerals at low cost.”

Strengthening the Global Energy Transition

The global demand for copper is experiencing rapid growth, largely driven by the increasing shift toward electric vehicles, advanced power networks, energy storage solutions, and renewable energy infrastructure. Currently, copper represents over 20% of the $1.2 trillion mined metals market. With the market valuation projected to climb from approximately $250 billion today to over $400 billion by 2035, the strategic importance of this joint venture cannot be understated.

In addition to copper, the exploration efforts will target other essential minerals, including zinc, lead, and various rare earth elements that are anticipated to be fundamental to the industries of the future.

Darryl Clark, Ma’aden Executive Vice President for Exploration, emphasised the scale of the ambition: “Maaden has been advancing one of the world's largest single jurisdiction exploration programs across the Arabian Shield to help unlock the Kingdom's mineral potential. This joint venture would take that ambition into a new area. By combining Maaden's exploration and development expertise with Aramco's extraordinary knowledge of the Arabian Platform, we would have an opportunity to move faster, explore smarter, and create new opportunities to discover the minerals that will power the energy transition.”

Regulatory Path Ahead

While the agreement marks a significant milestone, the incorporation of the joint venture remains subject to several conditions. The effectiveness of the shareholders’ agreement is contingent upon the successful fulfillment of various conditions precedent, including obtaining all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, as well as securing standard antitrust clearances.

By combining the operational strengths of two of the Kingdom’s most prominent organisations, the JV aims to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a key player in the global minerals sector, ensuring a more resilient supply chain for the energy systems of tomorrow.

Industrial automation and mobile electrification require components that can withstand increasingly demanding operational environments.

Across sectors such as railway transit, agriculture, and oil and gas, modern machinery relies on robust pneumatic control systems to ensure consistent, uninterrupted performance. Addressing these complex engineering challenges head-on, Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 250 global leader specialising in motion and control technologies, has announced the launch of its new Viking Xtreme ISO valve series. This compact, ISO-standard subbase valve platform is specifically engineered to handle the rigours of general, mobile-related, and harsh industrial applications.

To maximise installation flexibility and operational performance, engineers can deploy these valves in varied configurations to suit their specific infrastructure. Key installation and operational features include:

• The ability to install the valve on a single subbase or integrate it into a stackable manifold.

• Stackable manifold installations that effectively support pressure zoning within centralised applications.

• Internal or external pilot configurations that can be conveniently adjusted in the field to meet precise application requirements.

Advanced Core Technology for Extreme Conditions

At the core of this newly launched platform is Parker’s advanced over-moulded spool technology. This specific engineering choice supports a long service life, broad operating capabilities, and a reliable, high-performance output even under continuous strain. The bi-directional, over-moulded spool is designed to function seamlessly in extreme temperatures, operating efficiently from -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F). In addition to its impressive temperature resilience, the system accommodates an operating pressure range that spans from a vacuum up to 10 bar. For pneumatic remote pilot variants, this pressure threshold extends even further to 16 bar. The platform also boasts exceptional flow performance, delivering flow rates ranging from 540 Nl/min (0.55 Cv) up to a substantial 5900 Nl/min (6.01 Cv).

Mobile-related applications and harsh environmental conditions present unique threats to machinery, notably through constant vibration, sudden impacts, and corrosive external elements. To combat these recurring issues, the Viking Xtreme ISO valve series offers various solenoid voltages paired with either standard or mobile-rated coils, alongside remote pilot valve options. The mobile versions of this valve have successfully passed rigorous shock and vibration testing, comprehensively meeting the stringent IEC 6173:1999, category 1, class B standards.

To further protect against corrosion in highly challenging and exposed settings, the valves incorporate durable materials throughout their entire construction. Essential durability features include:

• The strategic utilisation of stainless steel for end fasteners, internal springs, and solenoid armatures.

• An impressive salt spray qualification that exceeds 1000 hours of continuous testing.

• A robust construction that fully supports operation in demanding salt spray applications.

Strategic Consolidation for Machinery Design

These modern advancements allow plant managers and machinery designers to rethink their pneumatic infrastructure entirely. The new series is explicitly designed to help operators consolidate their existing ISO non-plug-in valve inventories. Depending on the specific application, the versatile platform may enable a one-size reduction. This potential downsizing can significantly help to lower overall operational costs, reduce footprint dimensions, and decrease equipment weight, all without sacrificing the required system performance.

Speaking on the strategic launch of this robust new platform, Patrick Berdal, European Product Manager for Controls within the Electric Motion & Pneumatic Division at Parker Hannifin, highlighted the industry's constantly evolving needs.

“Customers are looking for compact, reliable pneumatic valve solutions that help simplify machine design while performing in demanding operating conditions,” said Berdal. “The Viking Xtreme ISO valve series reflects Parker’s commitment to engineering solutions that improve productivity, uptime, and operational efficiency for customers across key industrial and mobile markets.”.

As a fundamental part of the broader Motion Systems Group, Parker's Electric Motion and Pneumatic Division continues to design and manufacture components that actively improve system safety, efficiency, and performance across both heavy industrial applications and modern mobile electrification.

As global trade faces mounting pressures, the United Arab Emirates is aggressively reshaping its industrial and logistics landscape to cement its status as a premier global distribution hub.

Driven by a pressing need for supply chain diversification and a widespread push for manufacturing localisation, the broader market is demonstrating remarkable resilience while attracting substantial capital. This structural transformation is detailed in the latest UAE Industrial and Logistics Review, published by the commercial real estate firm CBRE Middle East. Released on 28 September 2026, the extensive report highlights strong occupier demand, major government infrastructure investments, and the rising prominence of alternative trade routes.

Navigating supply chain shifts

Recent disruptions to traditional maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, have catalysed swift and strategic adaptation. Rather than retreating, the nation is actively transitioning towards a more flexible and highly diversified logistics network. This strategic pivot relies heavily on an increased dependence on east coast gateways, specifically the vital ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan.

Furthermore, the rapid expansion of both rail and road freight infrastructure has notably bolstered the country's long-term logistics capabilities, systematically reducing its reliance on conventional maritime shipping lanes. By prioritising these overland logistics corridors, the UAE ensures that critical trade flows remain largely uninterrupted.

Government action and record capital

The industrial sector's continued strength is not merely an organic market reaction; it is fundamentally supported by targeted, government-led initiatives. These proactive measures help maintain operational efficiency across complex supply chains. Notable interventions driving this growth include:

• Comprehensive customs relief programmes aimed at easing the financial burden on regional traders.

• Dedicated support packages tailored specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Attractive domestic manufacturing incentives designed to stimulate local production.

• Strategic investments directed into overarching, long-term logistics infrastructure projects.

Investor confidence remains resolutely strong throughout the year, underscored by a series of high-profile transactions. A prime example of this robust appetite is the AED 48.5 billion in industrial investments unveiled during the "Make it in the Emirates 2026" forum. This massive capital injection sits alongside major new warehousing and logistics developments across key industrial zones, including KEZAD, Jafza, and the National Industries Park.

Surging demand across key emirates

The market's structural fundamentals—fuelled by a prevailing shortage of high-quality warehousing stock available for lease—have triggered significant rental growth. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have experienced a notable surge in pricing power for asset owners.

In Abu Dhabi, the industrial property market registered a 6.0% year-on-year increase in average rental rates during the third quarter of 2026. This upward trajectory is underpinned by sustained occupier demand colliding with tightly constrained supply. Leasing activity was especially fervent within KEZAD and ICAD, where businesses competed heavily to secure limited quality stock. The capital continues to reap the rewards from expanding foreign direct investment and ongoing industrial expansion programmes.

Dubai demonstrated an even stronger performance, with average industrial rental rates rising by a remarkable 12.3% year-on-year. Occupiers seeking strategically positioned distribution and warehousing facilities drove exceptional rental growth in sought-after areas. The districts witnessing notable activity include Dubai Investments Park, Dubai Industrial City, the National Industries Park, and Dubai South.

The limited availability of premium Grade A space across the emirate's core hubs continues to anchor strong pricing strategies for landlords.

A long-term vision

Matthew Green, Head of Research at CBRE MENA, outlines the impact of these developments: “The past year has underscored the strategic importance of the UAE's industrial and logistics sector. While regional disruptions have created operational challenges for many businesses, they have also accelerated investments, effectively reshaping the country's logistics landscape. From expanded port and rail infrastructure to new manufacturing capacity and logistics developments, we are seeing long-term structural shifts that continue to strengthen the UAE's position as a leading trade, distribution and industrial hub.”

Looking ahead, the market outlook is focused entirely on sustained expansion. Green adds: “Many of the investments we are seeing today extend well beyond the current geopolitical environment and reflect the long-term confidence in the UAE. As infrastructure capacity expands and supply chains continue to evolve, the market remains well positioned to benefit from the next phase of economic growth and diversification.”