Category Archives: Middle East

الحد من تأثيرات العواصف الرملية والترابية

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العواصف الرملية والترابية تسبب الكثير من التأثيرات السلبية الكبيرة على المجتمع والاقتصاد والبيئة وعلى النطاق المحلي والإقليمي والعالمي. هناك ثلاثة عوامل رئيسية مسؤولة عن توليد العواصف الرملية والترابية – الرياح القوية، وانعدام الغطاء النباتي وعدم سقوط الأمطار.  المخاطر البيئية والصحية لمثل هذه العواصف لا يمكن تخفيضها بشكل دائم، ولكن تأثيرها يمكن أن يخفض من خلال اتخاذ التدابير المناسبة. عندما ترتفع سحابة الغبار، فإنها تقلل من مدى الرؤية الأفقية خاصة التي يمكن أن تؤثر على حياة الإنسان في نواح كثيرة.  و تحتوي الجسيمات الدقيقة العالقة أيضا على الملوثات والبكتيريا وحبوب اللقاح، والتي تتسبب في  العديد من الآثار السلبية على الصحة : مثل … Continue reading →

The Rationale for Renewable Energy Adoption in Middle East

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The Middle East energy sector has played and will continue to play an important role in the regional as well as global economy. The oil and gas sector is the largest economic sector in the region. In addition to satisfying energy needs for economic and social development, it is the source of oil and gas export revenues contributing to economic development. Regional countries are heavily dependent on fossil fuels to meet their domestic energy demand. Oil contributes more than half of the total energy demand in the Middle East while the rest is contributed by natural gas. Widespread use of … Continue reading →

Sustainable Waste Management in Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

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Abstract Large-scale infrastructure development is central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, but construction activity also generates significant waste. This article presents the waste management approach at DG-II, Infra Package-1, where approximately 130 tonnes of waste are generated monthly, equivalent to about 1,560 tonnes annually if the rate remains constant. The system covers general and construction waste generated across work fronts, offices and site facilities. Waste is segregated and temporarily stored, then collected and transported by Delta Solution, the designated waste management service provider, with final disposal at AKAM. The case study highlights how structured waste control, traceability, source segregation and … Continue reading →

Waste Management Awareness in Oman: A Survey

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The four Rs (reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle) of waste management have not yet entered the everyday discourse of Oman, but does this mean that they are not part of everyday life in Oman? We think the people of Oman can help us to answer this question. To get a first-hand understanding of the degree of waste management awareness in Oman, a pilot study was designed, a questionnaire was prepared, and in a series of interviews with individual Omanis we recorded their responses. Insights into Waste Awareness Survey The questionnaire covered household consumption habits, food waste and other household waste, and awareness … Continue reading →

Waste Management in the GCC: Things to Know

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Fast industrialisation, urbanisation, enhanced consumerism and rise in standards of living is causing generation of large quantities of waste which needs to be stored, transported, treated and disposed. Globally, municipal and urban governments are spending huge financial and human resources on waste management but the service coverage is barely coinciding with the generated waste quantities as overflowing communal containers and waste heaps are amply witnessed in all major urban centres. The worldwide quantities of municipal solid waste are rapidly increasing. According to a UNEP study, around 2.1 billion tonnes of MSW was generated worldwide in 2023, which is expected to … Continue reading →

Sustainable Development in Jordan: Perspectives

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During the last few decades, sustainable development emerged as a hot topic in many reform agendas and strategic management plans in Jordan. The picture is not always optimistic where poverty, climate change and wars to name but a few of the continuous burdens, yet, some results have been successfully reaped. In this article, I will provide a reflection on the sustainable development journey in Jordan. Firstly, what the country achieved from the year 2000 to 2015 and secondly, what challenges the country has to counter from the year 2015 to 2030. Millennium Development Goals – Year 2000 to 2015 Jordan … Continue reading →

CSR Perspectives for the Middle East

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Corporate Social Responsibility has moved beyond philanthropy, and is rapidly undergoing integration into the company’s core business strategy. However, in the Middle East, we can find companies that are still perceiving CSR as philanthropy and yet to view it as a “core business strategy “. Is it because of the culture and religion that we should give to the poor (Zakat or charity) so they consider it as their CSR? Should it be obligatory so companies will start thinking about CSR more strategically? Over the past few years, the interest has literally exploded in regional media and business community with … Continue reading →

Dake Rechsand’s ‘Magic Sand’ Aims to End UAE’s Food and Water Deficit Within 5 Years

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Addressing the UAE and larger MENA regions’ sustainability challenges of water conservation, green cover and food security, Dake Rechsands’ breakthrough sand technology can harvest and store rainwater to create a new water source for the region as well as transform deserts into lush tropical forests and organic farms. Dake Rechsand, a collaboration between South Africa’s Dake Group and the Rechsand Technology Group from Beijing, today announced the launch of their revolutionary ‘magic sand’ technology and its affiliated sand-made product range in the Middle East region. The joint venture is the result of their mission to take these innovative technologies to … Continue reading →

Recycling Prospects in Saudi Arabia

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Recycling conserves resources, reduces landfill use, and saves energy. It diminishes pollution, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and fosters economic growth by creating jobs in the recycling sector. Technological advances in recycling methods are encouraged, promoting environmental stewardship and awareness. It’s a critical component of sustainable waste management and helps protect natural ecosystems. The concept of waste recycling has been getting increasing attention in Saudi Arabia in recent years. The country produces around 15 million tons of municipal solid waste each year with an average daily rate of 1.4 kg per person. This rate is projected to double (30 million tons … Continue reading →

Green Building Rating Systems in the MENA Countries

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Green buildings not only contribute towards a sustainable construction and environment but also bring lots of benefits and advantages to building owners and users. Lower development costs, lower operating costs, increased comforts, healthier indoor environment quality, and enhanced durability and less maintenance costs are hallmarks of a typical green building. A wide range of green building rating and assessment systems are used around the world, including LEED and BREEAM. Sustainability is now a top priority in MENA region and countries like Qatar and UAE have come up with their own green building rating system to incorporate socio-economic, environmental and cultural … Continue reading →

التنمية الحضرية منخفضة الكربون: قرارات مجدية لمدن الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا

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تمثل المدن أرقى أشكال الحضارة الإنسانية التي طورت لتحقيق غاية أساسية هي تطوير الكفاءة الاقتصادية، إلا أنه وفي خِضَم التنافس الاقتصادي الشرس، خسرت المدن الكثير من العدالة وأضاعت بصمتها البيئية. بحلول عام 2050، من المتوقع أن يعيش 70% من سكان العالم في المدن التي ستكون وحدها مسؤولة عن ثلاثة أرباع إجمالي انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة في العالم، مما يعني أن بذل الجهود الواعية لتبني تدابير فعالة من شأنها أن تساعدنا في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة قد أصبح ضرورة ملحة نحتاجها ليس فقط من الحكومات و لكن أيضا من قبل مؤسسات القطاع الخاص والمنظمات غير الربحية والمجتمعات المحلية. مستقبل المدن على الصعيد … Continue reading →

التغير المناخي بين السماء و الأرض

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إن الدول و الحكومات و أصحاب السلطة جد مقصرون في تشجيع مواطنيهم على تبني ممارسات الحفاظ على البيئة و الطاقة و الماء, و لا يمكن أن يقتصر التشجيع على التحسيس و التشجيع فقط بل يجب أن يتعداه إلى إجراءات ملموسة إما ماديا أو تشريعيا. رسميا و إعلاميا تتخذ الدول توجهات صداحة و براقة على المستوى الدولي لكن يبقى هذا ضعيفا و محدودا على مستوى التعامل اليومي و المجتمعي الداخلي أو ما يسمى باللامركزية و كأن الأمر يهم الدول و هي في معزل عن الأفراد و الأشخاص الذين يكونوهم. أو أن هؤلاء الأشخاص غير معنيون بالتلوث و التغير المناخي. و هنا … Continue reading →