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Industrial sustainability and resource resilience have taken centre stage in the Middle East, with environmental security rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of economic sovereignty.

In a decisive move to accelerate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's resource preservation, environmental services leader Veolia has signed three strategic memorandums of understanding with premier national industrial entities: Acwa, Ma’aden, and Khazeen.

Announced on 1 September 2026, these landmark agreements establish an enhanced cooperation framework across advanced water technologies and hazardous waste treatment. Closely aligned with the national objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and Veolia's strategic GreenUp programme, the tripartite partnerships tackle several of the Kingdom's most urgent priorities: energy efficiency, industrial decarbonisation, the preservation of scarce water reserves, and the long-term cultivation of local technical capabilities.

High-Impact Partnerships Across Vital Sectors

The collaborative pacts target three pillar industries within the Saudi economy—water desalination, mining, and energy storage:

• Acwa: Partnering with the world-leading private water desalination company, energy transition champion, and pioneer in commercial-scale green hydrogen to enhance desalination plant operations.

• Ma’aden: Teaming up with the mining giant to overhaul the sector’s water cycle and industrial waste systems to promote economic diversification.

• Khazeen: Collaborating with the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage specialist, a subsidiary of the National Gas and Industrialization Company (GASCO), to decarbonise nationwide infrastructure.

Reinforcing the critical nature of these initiatives, Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, highlighted the broader strategic imperative behind the agreements:

"Environmental security has become an essential condition for the sovereignty, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy of territories. In Saudi Arabia, this involves the ability to preserve every drop of water, decarbonize industrial development, and turn waste into resources. Through these agreements, and thanks to our cutting-edge technologies and solutions, we are taking action on a large scale to turn challenges into concrete and effective solutions, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Our innovations and expertise are only effective when they find concrete applications in response to a territory's challenges and in support of its essential infrastructures," says Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia.

Advancing Desalination Performance With Acwa

Water scarcity remains one of the region's defining challenges, making efficiency in desalination essential. Expanding on previous operational successes across regional facilities, Veolia’s memorandum of understanding with Acwa focuses on optimizing plant design and daily performance. The collaboration targets:

• Upgrading energy efficiency across desalination facilities;

• Optimising the application of chemical solutions and improving overall water quality;

• Deploying state-of-the-art technical, digital, and operational practices.

Acwa’s operations currently manage a daily capacity of 9.7 million cubic metres—equivalent to 3,900 Olympic swimming pools per day. Through this partnership, the projected emissions reduction could reach up to 500,000 tons of CO₂ annually, an environmental benefit equivalent to taking approximately 110,000 conventional cars off the road, whilst significantly cutting operating costs and safeguarding regional water security.

Circular Economy and Industrial Decarbonisation

Beyond water production, the agreements introduce circular economy solutions to the Kingdom’s extractive and energy logistics sectors.

In the mining industry, Veolia is collaborating with Ma’aden to rethink supply chain sustainability. By implementing advanced water technologies, the partnership aims to treat and reuse industrial process water. Additionally, the agreement focuses on the management of hazardous waste, exploring material recovery, source reduction, and valorisation to establish closed-loop industrial systems.

Concurrently, the agreement with Khazeen deploys environmental technologies across its nationwide LPG storage facilities. Veolia will implement industrial water treatment and hazardous waste management solutions, alongside developing an integrated Facility Management offering covering water, energy, and waste for Khazeen’s commercial clients.

Five Decades of Environmental Stewardship

These strategic agreements consolidate Veolia’s half-century presence in the Kingdom. Operating in Saudi Arabia since 1975, the group has long managed essential infrastructure, including treating industrial wastewater from major petrochemical facilities at Jubail, the world’s largest industrial complex. Through sustained investments in water reuse, energy efficiency, and hazardous waste treatment, Veolia continues to anchor Saudi Arabia's transition towards environmental security and sustainable industrial growth.

The Jordanian Cabinet, during a high-level session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Monday, officially approved a crucial financing agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD).

This strategic partnership is designed to help finance the ambitious National Water Carrier Project, featuring an initial financial contribution of US$97mn. This monetary injection comes as the government actively moves to complete the mega-project’s financial closure and begin implementation. According to a formal Prime Ministry statement, this approval marks another monumental step towards advancing the Kingdom’s largest water infrastructure project, which is expected to cost approximately US$5.8bn in total.

The foundational groundwork for this colossal undertaking was solidified earlier in the year. The government signed the project’s final technical and legal agreement in April, successfully paving the way for the completion of financing arrangements and the start of construction works. The National Water Carrier Project is considered the very first project of its immense scale in Jordan’s history. It operates as a structured Public-Private Partnership, driven by a special purpose vehicle known as the National Carrier Project Company. This consortium is spearheaded by major international stakeholders, with Meridiam holding a 90 per cent stake and Suez holding the remaining 10 per cent.

Engineering the Future of Water Supply

From an engineering perspective, the sheer scale of the operation is absolutely unprecedented for the nation. The core infrastructure will involve the large-scale desalination of 300 million cubic metres of seawater annually, drawn directly from the Red Sea near Aqaba. Transporting this vital volume of water requires a remarkable feat of engineering. The comprehensive plans detail the construction of robust pumping systems capable of transporting water to staggering elevations of up to 1,100 metres above sea level. This is supported by a pipeline network extending approximately 450 kilometres to deliver potable water directly to Amman and surrounding areas.

Crucially, the project will rely heavily on renewable energy and advanced environmentally friendly technologies to actively offset the immense power demands typically associated with desalination. Upon its completion, the network is expected to reliably meet around 40 per cent of Jordan’s total drinking water needs. This represents a major, transformational boost to the country’s long-term water security efforts, helping to alleviate extreme stress on over-extracted groundwater resources in one of the world’s most highly water-scarce regions.

Modernising the Natural Resources Sector

Beyond the focus on national water security, the Cabinet session also yielded significant legislative developments. The Cabinet approved the validating reasons for the 2026 amendments to the Natural Resources Law, which will now be referred to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for rigorous review and the completion of legal procedures. The proposed amendments are part of intensive efforts to modernise domestic investment legislation and create a significantly more attractive environment for investors within the natural resources sector, the Prime Ministry statement detailed.

These strategic legal updates are perfectly aligned with Jordan’s overarching Economic Modernisation Vision, an ambitious national blueprint which explicitly identifies mining as a key driver of “high-value industries.” The statement confirmed that the newly drafted legislation was developed following extensive consultations with public and private sector partners, aiming to bring Jordan’s regulatory framework perfectly in line with the best international practices. Under the draft law, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources would continue to seamlessly oversee policy development for the sector.

To further stimulate economic growth, the amendments are carefully designed to encourage robust investment in petroleum, natural gas, oil shale, and critical minerals. This will be achieved by allowing investors the flexibility to enter into production-sharing agreements or mining agreements immediately once the economic feasibility of their projects has been established, according to the statement. The proposed changes would also expand investment incentives, including specific exemptions aimed at encouraging exploration activities, while drastically simplifying procedures for allocating land for natural resource projects. Finally, the legislation proposes the establishment of an exploration and community development support fund. This initiative would powerfully support mineral exploration projects across Jordan, help update essential geological and petroleum data maintained by the ministry, and directly contribute to local communities graciously hosting mining, petroleum, and oil shale operations.

Dubai’s mid-market residential sector continues to experience remarkable momentum, driven by high rental yields, sustained urban expansion, and an increasing appetite for technology-enabled living spaces.

Capitalising on this sustained growth, property developer Object1 has officially launched SkyLife 1 (also known as SkyLevel 1), a versatile 35-storey residential tower situated in District 11 of the Jumeirah Village Circle area. Scheduled for handover in the second quarter of 2029, the development brings a sophisticated blend of contemporary architecture, forward-looking amenities, and intelligent living solutions to one of the emirate's most active residential districts.

Architectural Profile and Key Project Features

SkyLevel 1 draws direct architectural inspiration from the concepts of modern urban living and elevated sky-centric designs. The high-rise project introduces a distinct visual identity to Object 1’s expanding development portfolio within Jumeirah Village Circle. Across its 35 levels, the scheme is engineered to balance functional residential spaces with commercial and recreational infrastructure.

Key details of the development include:

• Residential Inventory: 420 contemporary single-bedroom apartments engineered for modern urban living.

• Structural Scale: A 35-storey tower featuring residential units, commercial office space, retail units, and dedicated parking facilities.

• Rooftop Facilities: An expansive upper rooftop platform housing leisure amenities and panoramic observation spaces.

• Target Delivery: Full project completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2029.

Connectivity and Jumeirah Village Circle Growth

Positioned in District 11, SkyLevel 1 benefits from rapid connectivity to Dubai’s premier commercial, educational, and leisure hubs. The project sits just two minutes from Circle Mall, with straightforward access to major destinations such as Dubai Hills Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Palm Jumeirah.

The surrounding area has witnessed significant accessibility enhancements following the completion of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) major road development corridor between Sheikh Zayed Road and surrounding arterial highways. This infrastructure upgrade has effectively doubled bidirectional road capacity and slashed transit times to approximately four minutes.

According to the Dubai Rental Market Report 2025 by Homes, Jumeirah Village Circle remains among the most stable and sought-after locations for medium-cost apartments, having recorded an annual average rental price increase of 8.59% compared to 2024. This consistent performance continues to draw robust interest from both institutional investors and end-users seeking family-friendly community infrastructure and reliable capital growth.

Strong Market Dynamics and Leadership Insights

The official introduction of SkyLevel 1 aligns with an unprecedented surge across Dubai’s wider property sector. During the first quarter of 2026, the emirate recorded AED 252 billion in real estate transactions, marking an impressive 31% expansion compared to the same period in 2025.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the launch, Tatiana Tono, CEO of Object 1, stated:

“The SkyLevel 1 project marks our first new launch in 2026, and we continue to work on it with the same disciplined approach we have taken to deliveries and completion this year. In the first half of the year, two of our projects received certificates of completion of construction, while several others are preparing for delivery. These achievements reinforce our confidence in further expanding into the circular village of Jumeirah, an area where accessibility, strong rental demand and long-term value support end users continues."

Next-Generation Digital Amenities and Wellness

Setting a modern benchmark for residential technology, SkyLevel 1 incorporates artificial intelligence and smart living solutions throughout its communal and private spaces. The rooftop platform features the Sky Infinity Pool, sun-lounging areas, and a dedicated Sky observation platform equipped with digital telescopes for real-time observation of stars, planets, and satellites.

Residents will also have access to an AI-supported smart wellness zone featuring interactive smart mirrors that provide real-time movement analysis, posture correction, and tailored workout guidance. For families, the development includes interactive spaces such as a digital colouring wall that transforms children's drawings into dynamic digital experiences, alongside comprehensive smart access systems designed for modern security and convenience.

With handover slated for 2029, SkyLevel 1 underpins Object 1’s strategy of addressing future urban living demands through technologically sophisticated, investor-friendly residential developments in high-performing Dubai submarkets.

The Sultanate of Oman is taking a decisive step towards bolstering its domestic construction industry and diversifying its economy.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has launched a public investment opportunity encompassing two highly anticipated limestone mining sites in Salalah. This strategic move invites qualified Omani companies to bid for the extraction projects, representing a core component of efforts to support the robust development of the nation's mining sector whilst strengthening local production of essential construction materials.

According to a recent ministry announcement, the application window for these locations remains open for three months, commencing on the 19th of July and concluding on the 18th of October 2026. Interested enterprises must submit proposals through the government’s Taqa digital platform. The opportunity explicitly covers two designated limestone mining sites situated within the Public Mining Area in Salalah, a region renowned for rich geological reserves.

Empowering Local Enterprises

A notable characteristic of this public tender is its strict exclusivity. The ministry has stated categorically that the bidding process is open solely to Omani companies and institutions. Furthermore, these entities must possess demonstrable, proven experience in managing mining projects and related operational activities.

This crucial requirement underscores the government's strategic focus on increasing local participation within the lucrative mining sector. By mandating a baseline of technical capability among successful bidders, the ministry ensures the nation’s natural resources are managed by competent domestic operators committed to long-term sustainable extraction.

Securing Domestic Supply Chains

Perhaps the most defining parameter of this new investment opportunity is the strict regulation regarding the destination of extracted minerals. Under the published terms, all limestone production from these two Salalah sites will be entirely restricted to domestic use, with exports strictly not permitted.

This condition is deliberately aimed at supporting the local building materials industry by guaranteeing a stable supply of raw materials for the domestic market. Limestone stands as one of Oman's most abundant mineral resources, serving as an indispensable raw material for cement, construction aggregates, and other building products. Driven by ongoing infrastructure projects, industrial developments, and rapid urban expansion across the Sultanate of Oman, domestic demand for high-quality construction materials is expected to remain exceptionally strong.

Fostering Fair Competition

To ensure equitable resource distribution, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals has implemented stringent regulatory measures regarding site allocation. While companies are encouraged to submit competitive bids for both mining locations, the ministry has firmly mandated that no single company will be awarded more than one site.

Crucially, this restriction also extends to companies owned by the same shareholders. If cross-ownership exceeds the threshold of 30 per cent in relation to the same site, the entities will be subject to the one-site limitation. This measure is intended to promote significantly wider participation, foster healthy competition within the local industry, and prevent the consolidation of essential resource rights into the hands of a few operators.

Advancing Oman Vision 2040

This mineral offering forms an integral part of Oman's broader macroeconomic strategy to develop its mining sector. Mining is identified as a priority industry under the Oman Vision 2040 framework, which seeks to rapidly diversify the national economy beyond hydrocarbons. To actualise this vision, Oman has steadily expanded investment opportunities across various mineral resources. This expansion is heavily supported by geological surveys, regulatory reforms, and efficient digital licensing services designed to attract private-sector investment.

The ministry has increasingly utilised competitive public tenders and digital platforms to allocate mining concessions. This approach achieves greater transparency and operational efficiency whilst encouraging responsible resource development. These proactive measures guarantee that Oman's natural wealth is harvested efficiently and managed in a way that provides maximum benefit to the national economy over the long term.

Interested organisations must act promptly, as applications are required to be submitted electronically via the Taqa e-mining platform before the application period expires. Successful bidders will be legally expected to develop the Salalah sites in strict accordance with technical and regulatory requirements, fulfilling their mandate of supplying limestone exclusively to the domestic market.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the engineering, construction, infrastructure, mining, marine, offshore, and industrial sectors.

Organisations are investing heavily in AI assistants, large language models, analytics platforms, and intelligent search technologies to unlock insights hidden within their data. Yet despite these investments, one question remains largely unanswered: how does AI know what is true?

Every project-driven organisation generates enormous amounts of information every day. ERP systems, Primavera P6 schedules, building information modelling applications, procurement platforms, spreadsheets, IoT devices, and countless third-party applications all contribute valuable information. The challenge is not a lack of data. The challenge is that every source tells only part of the story.

Without an authoritative business reference, AI simply becomes exceptionally good at recognising statistical patterns across disconnected information. It may summarise documents, identify similarities, and answer questions, but it cannot reliably determine which information reflects the operational reality of the business. That distinction separates informative AI from enterprise-grade decision intelligence.

The Enterprise Knowledge Problem

Digital transformation has produced an unexpected side effect. Organisations have accumulated decades of valuable business knowledge that now resides across hundreds of disconnected systems. Consider a typical contractor or EPC organisation. Critical information exists simultaneously across ProjectVIEW ERP, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Excel workbooks, procurement portals, finance systems, legacy applications, document management systems, engineering calculations, equipment telemetry, and supplier correspondence.

While every repository contains useful information, none independently describes the complete business reality. The traditional response has been to spend months—or even years—trying to sanitise, standardise, migrate, and consolidate every dataset into a single repository before AI initiatives can begin. Unfortunately, by the time that effort is complete, the business has already changed.

The Missing Piece in Enterprise AI

Most AI platforms treat every data source equally. ProjectVIEW AI does not. At the heart of the platform lies ProjectVIEW ERP, which serves as the deterministic operational model of the enterprise. It defines the verified relationships between bills of quantities, work breakdown structures, cost codes, resources, procurement, contracts, variations, progress, payroll, cash flow, and project controls.

These relationships are not inferred by AI; they are established through the organisation’s operational processes and business rules. ProjectVIEW ERP therefore becomes far more than a standard software system. It becomes the organisation’s Enterprise Knowledge Foundation.

Deterministic AI: From Prediction to Understanding

Most AI solutions begin by asking: “What does the data probably mean?”

ProjectVIEW AI asks a fundamentally different question: “How does this information relate to the verified operational model of the organization?”

That difference changes everything. Instead of relying solely on probabilities, ProjectVIEW AI evaluates every new piece of information against an established framework of enterprise knowledge. It understands business context before generating conclusions. The deterministic layer does not replace AI; it gives AI something reliable to reason with.

Nothing Is Wasted

One of the greatest strengths of ProjectVIEW AI is that it does not require external data to be perfectly sanitised before becoming valuable. ProjectVIEW AI follows a different philosophy: nothing is wasted. Because the ERP provides a deterministic knowledge reference, the AI can interpret imperfect, incomplete, or externally generated information within the proper operational context.

A spreadsheet containing quantities immediately becomes associated with relevant items. A supplier email becomes evidence supporting procurement status, delivery risks, or potential claims. Publicly available information is evaluated against active projects to identify opportunities and risks. Instead of discarding unsanitised information, ProjectVIEW AI contextualises it, building a continuously expanding organisational memory.

From System Integration to Cognitive Integration

For years, enterprise software focused on system integration, moving information between applications. ProjectVIEW AI focuses on cognitive integration, explaining what that information means to the business. Imagine asking:

• “Which delayed purchase orders will impact next month’s critical path?”

• “Which subcontractors present the highest contractual risk?”

• “Which projects are likely to experience margin erosion?”

• “Which variations have sufficient technical, contractual, and financial evidence to support a claim?”

• “How will current procurement delays affect forecast cash flow?”

These are not document searches. They are business reasoning exercises. Large language models understand language but not the operational logic of an EPC organisation. ProjectVIEW AI builds upon the organisation's established knowledge anchor. The best AI doesn’t just generate answers; it understands your business before it answers.

Saudi Arabia continues to cement its reputation as a resilient and pivotal node in international supply chains. Driven by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030, the nation actively safeguards critical trade routes and ensures the smooth flow of goods. This strategic integration with regional markets sets the stage for a significant industry gathering.

Reflecting this evolution, the third Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo returns to the capital. The event will take place from 8–10 September 2026 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. Held under the patronage of His Excellency Minister of Transport & Logistic Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, the three-day exhibition will unite government entities, leading suppliers, and key decision-makers to explore partnerships and technologies that support the expanding supply chain ecosystem.

Navigating Unprecedented E-commerce Expansion

The rapid surge in digital commerce is fundamentally transforming supply chain requirements across the Kingdom. As consumer behaviour shifts, there is a mounting demand for faster, more efficient order fulfilment and sophisticated last-mile delivery solutions. Market projections suggest that Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce logistics sector is on track to double in size by 2027, underscoring the industry's phenomenal momentum.

To accommodate this growth, the nation is building a robust infrastructure. Currently, 25 logistics hubs are operational, forming a significant portion of a planned nationwide network of 42 hubs developed in partnership with the private sector.

Reflecting on this transformation, Muhammed Kazi, Senior Vice President at dmg events, the event organiser, stated: “Saudi Arabia's logistics sector is continuously evolving as investment, digitalization and changing customer expectations refine supply chain demands across the Kingdom. Businesses are looking for practical solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and support long-term growth.”

He elaborated on the exhibition's role, noting: “Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo has become an established meeting place for the industry, bringing together the organizations, technologies and expertise supporting the next phase of the Kingdom's logistics development.”

Showcasing Innovations Across the Supply Chain

To equip businesses for future challenges, the exhibition floor will serve as a comprehensive showcase of modern logistics capabilities. Visitors will have the distinct opportunity to connect with industry peers, source new products, and observe cutting-edge solutions designed to optimise operational performance.

Key areas of focus at the event will include:

• Advanced cargo handling and sophisticated cold chain management systems

• Streamlined cross-docking and transloading operations

• Comprehensive freight forwarding and multimodal transport options

• Optimised ports, terminal services, and third-party logistics

• Innovative order fulfilment and expedited last-mile delivery mechanisms

An impressive line-up of leading industry players will be exhibiting their latest offerings. Attendees can expect to see major brands such as SAL Logistics, MS Logistics, Al Dress, Swisslog, SSI Schafer, JAL, Ajlan, Kardex, and Sadr Logistics demonstrating their expertise on the showroom floor.

Strategic Summit and Commercial Fleet Solutions

Running alongside the main exhibition, the Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Summit will offer an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. Designed for policymakers, supply chain professionals, and industry leaders, the summit aims to address critical priorities influencing the sector and bolster the Kingdom’s performance in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI). Key agenda topics encompass artificial intelligence, advanced automation, supply chain resilience, cross-sector collaboration, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Furthermore, a dedicated Commercial Vehicles Zone will highlight transport and fleet solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s lucrative $6.7 billion commercial vehicle market. This specialised area will gather prominent automotive and heavy machinery brands such as GCC Olyan, F4S Shacman, Almajdouie, Hala Auto, and Alkhorayef Sany.

Looking ahead to the upcoming event, Kazi commented: “As the sector continues to expand, Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo offers an opportunity for businesses to build new partnerships, exchange knowledge and connect with the decision-makers driving the logistics industry in Saudi Arabia forward. We look forward to welcoming the industry back to Riyadh this September.”

The exhibition is open exclusively to trade professionals over the age of 18, with complimentary visitor registration currently available through the official event website.