LOGISTICS-

AD Ports to develop logistics park in Alexandria, Egypt: AD Ports Group inked an MoU with Egypt’s Industry and Transport Ministry to explore joint development and operations of a 1.1 sq km integrated logistics park in Egypt’s Alexandria Port, according to a statement. The logistics park will be one of the largest hubs on the Mediterranean, with Alexandria Port handling approximately 60% of Egypt’s foreign trade.

TECH-

Dubai’s Green Data Center gets a second phase: Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the second phase of the Green Data Center at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. The project is being implemented in 10 phases, with the first phase launched in 2023.

About the center: The 100k sqm data center, which is operated by Digital Dewa subsidiary Moro Hub, integrates renewable energy with digital solutions, offering advanced solutions in digital transformation, cloud computing, smart cities, IoT, and cybersecurity, while operating on 100% solar energy with a total capacity exceeding 100 MW. The center is the largest single-site solar park globally, and the world’s largest solar-powered data facility.

E& plans to roll out an end-to-end, multi-model AI and generative AI governance platform using IBM’s watsonx.governance toolkit, according to a press release. The new platform aims to boost oversight and risk management and enforce ethical practices across e&’s AI systems.

REAL ESTATE-

ADX-listed Rak Properties is gearing up to launch 12 new projects in Ras Al Khaimah in 2025, valued at AED 5 bn, the developer’s CEO Sameh Muhtadi told The National. The company targets to build a total of 2.5k to 3k units during the year and eyes to double last year’s sales to AED 3 bn, he said.

The details: The projects will include luxury villas and branded apartments, most of which will be developed within the Mina development, Muhtadi said. While the projects will be primarily self-funded, opting for a AED 2 bn facility the company had lined up with the Commercial Bank of Dubai last year is also in the cards. The first project for the year will be Mirasol, which will feature studio apartments and duplexes and is slated for delivery in 1H 2028.

Sharjah-based developer Alef Group launched Al Mamsha Hamsa, a new residential project in Sharjah’s newly-developed community Al Mamsha, according to a press release. The project will feature three buildings housing 420 units and will be located near Sharjah International Airport and the University City of Sharjah. The value of the project was not disclosed.

FINTECH-

Paymob secures CBUAE license to expand services: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) granted Egyptian payment facilitator Paymob the Retail Payment Services License (RPS), the company said in a press release. The RPS license enables the company to provide services like merchant acquiring, payment aggregation, and domestic fund transfer within the UAE.

ENERGY-

Dana Gas plans to deploy a Levidian–patented technology that converts methane into graphene and hydrogen across its field operations this year, it said in a press release (pdf). This comes under a partnership between Dana Gas and the UK-based decarbonization firm that started in September which saw the pair work on designing a Loop pilot unit.

How will that scale up? The pilot unit will have a capacity to produce up to 1.5 tons of graphene and hydrogen per year, enabling Dana to expand its exploration of potential commercial applications for graphene and attract new customers. Dana and Levidian will mull the installation of industrial scale Loop units that are capable of producing over 15 tons of graphene annually if they find sufficient demand for the product.

ICYMI- Adnoc Gas, Baker Hughes, and Levidian deployed the Loop technology at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant earlier this month.

REMEMBER- The UAE is collaborating with international partners on legislation to support sustainable hydrogen production. These policies, developed with the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), will be adopted by IPHE member nations.

CUSTOMS-

FedEx launched a new customs clearance facility at Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez), according to a press release. The facility will handle packages shipped to and from Rakez through several FedEx express air and ground services in a bid to facilitate local companies’ access to logistics services.

AGRICULTURE-

Gov’t rolls out new platform to boost the use of unconventional water resources in irrigation: The government launched a new water management platform which aims to scale back the reliance on groundwater for irrigation, Wam reports. The Geospatial Data Platform for Agriculture and Water Resources targets to cut groundwater usage in agriculture by 2% and increase the reliance on unconventional water resources by 8-13% by 2027.

How does it work? The platform — launched by the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry in partnership with the Climate Change and Environment Ministry and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi — uses geospatial maps to allow farmers and government entities to analyze agricultural and water-related data and make informed decisions.

CRYPTO-

ADX-listed crypto miner Phoenix Grouplanded an 80 MW power purchase agreement for a new site in Ethiopia, according to a disclosure to the ADX (pdf). The site is scheduled to go live in 2Q 2025, in partnership with cybersecurity firm Data7. The move comes as the company eyes scaling up its operations globally, with plans to secure more sites in Ethiopia and tap into South America later this year.

ICYMI-Phoenix Group launched a 20-MW mining facility in Canada’s St. Leon back in October, which is expected to generate 700 PH. This was followed by the launch of a 50-MW facility in the US state of North Dakota earlier this month, set to contribute 2.7 EH to the company’s global hash rate once fully operational.

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