Search Results for: (

Islamic and Sustainability: Perspectives

By | | , ,
2 Comments

The 21st century is characterized by a number of global environmental challenges that shaped and defined the discourse and agenda of the West with respect to the developing world, specifically the Islamic world. Islam provides new sustainability perspectives for discovering and explaining the root causes for the current environmental, economic and social crises as manifested in climate change, HIV, poverty and human security. For example, the Islamic perspective on climate change is that the root cause of this global issue is the absence or lack of human stewardship and is an indication of market failures. Pitfalls of the Western Model … Continue reading →

The First Competitive Advantage in Real Estate is Property Research

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Why Property Research Comes Before Speed, Capital, or Negotiation In addition, most investors aim to maintain their advantage in real estate either on speed, capital or negotiation skills. Although such factors do matter, they are rarely what distinguishes consistent winners from the rest. The real benefit shows itself much earlier in the process. The first competitive advantage in real estate is property research, defining where investors deploy capital (and how they assess commercial opportunities), and whether to act decisively or with trepidation. Many investors take the first steps to build this foundation by learning data sources and insights through resources … Continue reading →

The Significance of Water in the Islamic Culture

By | | , , ,
13 Comments

The great cultural bloom that took place during the al-Andalus period was made possible from a material and social viewpoint thanks, among other factors, to the judicious water management at those times. Countryside, cities, public bathhouses and fountains, qanats, mosques and gardens honoured the element of water. However, this water culture emerged from a distinctively Islamic conception which is briefly summarized in the following paragraphs. Water in the Holy Quran In Islam, life and knowledge originated from water, a divine gift that symbolises profound wisdom, the drink that quenches the soul’s thirst. But it is also science. Thus, the word al-ma’a – … Continue reading →

Women Entrepreneurship in MENA: An Analysis

By | | ,
9 Comments

Women entrepreneurship is an important unexploited source of economic growth in almost all parts of the world. Unfortunately women in MENA have the lowest rates of Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) at merely 4% of the population. The highest rates, globally, are in sub-Saharan Africa, at 27%. Latin American and Caribbean economies also show high levels (15 percent). In just seven economies (Panama, Thailand, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria, Mexico, and Uganda), women had equal or slightly higher levels of entrepreneurship than men. For the rest, women represented a smaller share of the entrepreneur population. Current Situation The recent interest in women entrepreneurship in the Middle … Continue reading →

كاربونيفا: إعادة صياغة العمل المناخي من خلال الكربون، والطاقة والتكيف

By | | ,
Leave a comment

بالغالب عندما نقوم بمناقشة التغير المناخي، نقوم بمناقشة مجزأة، حيث نصوّر الطاقة كأداة للتخفيف من آثار هذا التغير وننظر للتكيف على أنه وسيلة للسيطرة على الأضرار الحاصلة، ونقوم باختزال الكربون لمقياس وحيد للانبعاثات. وبالرغم من ان هذه المقاربات ساهمت في تنظيم العمل المناخي عالمياً، إلا أنها تقف عاجزة أمام التسارع الذي يواجه العالم بآثار تغير المناخ ومخاطره وتحديات الموارد المرتبطة به. لا تنقصنا التكنولوجيا أو الطموح، بل التكامل. فالتغير المناخي ليس مجرد مشكلة طاقة، ولا انبعاثات فقط، بل هو تحدٍ لكيفية إدارة الكربون ويمتد هذا التحدي عبر أنظمة الطاقة والنظم البيئية وموارد المياه، والامن الغذائي، والمرونة الاجتماعية، وكذلك الاقتصادية. ولتتم … Continue reading →

Solid Waste Management in Saudi Arabia

By | |
28 Comments

Saudi Arabia has been witnessing rapid industrialization, high population growth rate and fast urbanization which have resulted in increased levels of pollution and waste. Solid waste management is becoming a big challenge for the government and local bodies with each passing day. With population of around 29 million, Saudi Arabia generates more than 15 million tons of solid waste per year. The per capita waste generation is estimated at 1.5 to 1.8 kg per person per day. More than 75 percent of the population is concentrated in urban areas which make it necessary for the government to initiate measures to … Continue reading →

How Environmental Engineering Has Improved Environmental Condition

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

It is common knowledge that the environment is not at its best now nor has it ever been for the past decades. Unfortunately, people have been deliberately negligent of their environmental responsibilities. With many abusive and irresponsible acts against the environment, resources are seriously depleted. Without conscious awareness about the adverse effects of environmental abuse, the planet may be uninhabitable in the years to come. As experts see the need for reform and to counteract the abuses done by many, various corrective actions are put in place. Tactical strategies and methodologies are created to correct what needs to be corrected … Continue reading →

Bats as Nature’s Pest Controllers: Reducing Pesticide Use in MENA Agriculture Through Bat-Friendly Ecosystems

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Farmers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are facing the challenge of protecting crops from pests while reducing the environmental and economic costs of chemical pesticides. Luckily, a quieter and more sustainable option already exists in the night sky. Insect-eating bats are a practical and effective way to control pests naturally. The Growing Challenge of Pests in a Changing Climate Climate change is reshaping agriculture worldwide, including in MENA. Warmer winters allow more insects to survive year-round, while hotter summers speed up breeding cycles. These changes result in expanded geographical distribution and increased survival, putting pressure on crops. … Continue reading →

Desalination at the Heart of Algeria’s Green Hydrogen Future: Water Security as a Strategic Energy Lever

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Algeria stands today at the crossroads of two defining transitions: the global shift toward low-carbon energy systems and the intensifying pressure on water resources across arid and semi-arid regions. In this dual transformation, green hydrogen has emerged not only as an industrial opportunity but as a strategic lever capable of reshaping the country’s energy model, export structure, and environmental trajectory. Yet, at the heart of this hydrogen ambition lies a critical enabler that is too often underestimated: desalination. Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of global decarbonization strategies [1,2]. Unlike … Continue reading →

Future Water Scenarios in the GCC Countries: Perspectives

By | | , ,
3 Comments

Water is an important vector in the socio-economic development and for supporting the ecosystem. In the arid to extremely arid Arabian Peninsula, home of the GCC countries, the importance and value of water is even more pronounced. The GCC countries of United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, are facing the most severe water shortages in the world.  Rainfall scarcity and variability coupled with high evaporation rates have characterized this part of the world with a limited availability of renewable water. However, the scarcity of renewable water resources is not the only distinctive characteristic of the region, … Continue reading →

Renewable Energy in Palestine

By | | ,
2 Comments

High population growth, increasing living standards and rapid industrial growth has led to tremendous energy demand in the Palestinian Territories in recent years. The energy situation in Palestine is highly different compared to other countries in the Middle East due to non-availability of natural resource, financial crunch and unstable political condition. Palestine is heavily dependent on Israel for meeting its energy requirements. Almost all petroleum products are imported through Israeli companies.  Israel controls energy imports into Palestine and thus prevents open trade in electricity and petroleum products between Palestine and other countries. Current Scenario Energy is increasingly becoming unaffordable for … Continue reading →

Desert Locusts: A Major Threat to Food Security in Africa and Africa

By | | , , ,
1 Comment

The latest outbreak of locusts over eastern Africa has been ongoing since the beginning of this year. It is considered by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the UN as the worst outbreak of locusts in 70 years. The threat of the desert locust is extreme urgent as it’s a major threat to the food security in the region. Bearing in mind, that this region is extremely vulnerable to the predominant subsistence lifestyle. It also appears that new breeding may have occurred in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia which will intensify the infestation. The question that are foremost in minds … Continue reading →