Hosting large displaced populations places an immense, long-term strain on municipal grids and public budgets, prompting local authorities to look towards renewable energy as a permanent solution.

In the Republic of Turkey, a new Solar Power Plant Project has officially been inaugurated in Kahramanmaraş Province, bringing 6 megawatts of clean generation capacity online to power refugee camps and temporary accommodation facilities. Built with the participation of the Kuwait Fund for Development through a US$4mn allocation, the facility directly addresses the energy demands of humanitarian shelters while easing the wider economic and environmental pressures faced by the local municipality.

Rather than relying on short-term emergency relief, regional response strategies to the Syrian crisis are increasingly anchoring their efforts in permanent, sustainable infrastructure. When municipalities absorb thousands of displaced residents, the basic costs of heating and cooling temporary shelters can quickly drain civic resources. By generating electricity directly from renewable sources in the Pazarcık district, the Kahramanmaraş facility lowers everyday municipal energy consumption and cuts carbon emissions. More importantly, it establishes a self-sustaining model that strengthens the resilience of host communities as they navigate ongoing social and economic challenges.

Key Specifications and Grant Allocation

Delivered through a partnership between the Kuwait Fund for Development and the Republic of Turkey—represented locally by the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality—the initiative forms part of a broader financial package designed to upgrade both physical utilities and community infrastructure. The key operational and financial details include:

• Project Location: Pazarcık district, Kahramanmaraş Province, Republic of Turkey.

• Generation Capacity: A maximum output of 6 megawatts derived from renewable solar energy.

• Solar Plant Funding: US$4mn allocated specifically for the construction of the solar power plant.

• Total Grant Value: US$10mn extended by the Kuwait Fund to support the Turkey refugee and resilience plan in response to the Syrian crisis.

• Core Energy Objectives: Meeting the heating and cooling requirements of camps and temporary accommodation facilities, lowering overall energy consumption, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable energy adoption.

• Complementary Social Projects: Alongside the solar facility, the USD 10 million grant finances three community-focused developments: the Children’s Library and Arts Centre, the Guidance, Counselling and Career Planning Centre, and the Youth and Sports Centre.

Balancing Clean Utilities with Social Infrastructure

What makes the Kahramanmaraş programme particularly noteworthy for regional urban planning is how it pairs utility-scale renewable generation with civic amenities. While the 6-megawatt solar array tackles the immediate physical demand for climate control inside temporary accommodation facilities, the remaining US$6mn of the grant targets human development.

Investing in a Children’s Library and Arts Centre, a dedicated Guidance, Counselling and Career Planning Centre, and a Youth and Sports Centre ensures that the host municipality receives lasting educational and recreational assets. By improving the quality of public services available to residents, these combined initiatives work to raise living conditions and foster long-term stability across the affected areas.

Municipal Leadership and Diplomatic Backing

The official inauguration ceremony highlighted the role of international cooperation in delivering municipal infrastructure. Held under the patronage and in the presence of Mr. Fırat Gorgel, Mayor of Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality, the event was attended by a visiting delegation from the Kuwait Fund for Development alongside H.E. Ambassador Mohammed Marzouq Al-Shabou, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Turkey.

Addressing attendees during the ceremony, Mr. Fırat Gorgel emphasised that the Kahramanmaraş Solar Power Plant represents a substantial addition to the city’s sustainable development efforts. The Mayor expressed his appreciation for the financial support provided by the Kuwait Fund for Development, noting that the funding was instrumental in bringing the vital project to fruition. He further observed that the initiative reflects the depth of friendship between the Republic of Turkey and the State of Kuwait, demonstrating the value of international partnerships in backing development projects that leave a lasting local impact.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Al-Shabou stated that the facility embodies the commitment of the State of Kuwait, acting through the Kuwait Fund for Development, to supporting sustainable development projects that bolster the resilience of host communities in addressing local challenges and contribute to improving the overall quality of services provided to them.

A Long-Standing Mandate for Development Finance

The completion of the Pazarcık solar array aligns with a six-decade history of international development financing in the region. Established in 1961, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development was the first institution in the Middle East to take an active role in international development efforts. Operating through concessionary loans and targeted grants, the organisation finances essential infrastructure across developing countries, continuing its ongoing efforts to support stability and sustainable recovery in areas affected by the Syrian refugee crisis.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly shifting from boardroom experimentation to full-scale operational deployment across the Middle East.

Standing at the forefront of this commercial shift is the United Arab Emirates, where a sharp rise in digital transformation is drawing international expertise straight to its commercial hubs. Responding directly to this momentum, UK-founded AI transformation firm Nextgen has officially relocated its global headquarters to the UAE, positioning the business at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for enterprise AI adoption.

The decision to move its central base to Dubai reflects a wider structural evolution within the regional economy. Organisations are no longer simply testing the waters with pilot programmes; the focus has turned firmly towards achieving enterprise scale and generating measurable returns from emerging technologies.

The surge in UAE business AI adoption

The timing of Nextgen’s arrival coincides with a notable upward trajectory in corporate technology uptake across the Emirates. According to new research conducted by Strand Partners, which was developed in collaboration with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Amazon Web Services (AWS), commercial AI integration has expanded substantially over the past twelve months.

Key findings from the research highlight the pace of this transition:

• Widespread Corporate Uptake: Exactly 72% of businesses operating in the UAE have now adopted AI, jumping from 53% a year earlier.
• Rapid Annual Expansion: That jump represents an increase of around 36% in year-on-year growth.
• Accelerated Transformation: Amongst the organisations already utilising AI, 85% reported that the technology has directly accelerated their wider business transformation.
• Room for Advanced Scaling: Roughly 31% of AI-adopting businesses are currently deploying the technology’s most advanced applications, pointing to a major growth opportunity for deeper engineering and enterprise scaling.

Moving enterprise AI from experimentation to production

While initial adoption rates are high, the critical challenge for modern enterprises lies in bridging the gap between basic tools and sophisticated, production-ready systems.

The firm works closely with both government bodies and large-scale enterprises operating across complex, highly regulated sectors. Rather than pushing a single proprietary platform, Nextgen operates across a broad ecosystem of global AI models and enterprise platforms. This model-agnostic methodology allows its specialist teams to select and tailor technology based strictly on an individual organisation's specific requirements, specific use case, and existing infrastructure environment. By uniting strategic planning with technical engineering, the company helps enterprises move past experimental phases to become genuinely AI-native.

“Under the clear vision of its leadership, the UAE has built one of the world’s most compelling environments for AI, with a focus that sets it apart: putting AI to work, not just developing it,” the company said in a statement. “That is exactly where we work. We help organisations move AI into production and make sure their people have the skills to use it and benefit from it. Making the UAE our home places us at the heart of that ambition and gives us a base to build AI capability for the region and beyond.”

Nextgen’s Global Footprint at a Glance

Bringing over a decade of cross-market delivery to the Gulf, the firm enters the local market with an established operational track record:

• Founded: 2012 in the United Kingdom.

• Workforce: Over 75 dedicated specialists working across five international offices.

• Client Base: Supporting more than 50 enterprise and government clients.

• Proven Delivery: 200 distinct AI use cases already live in production.

• Geographic Reach: Previous expansion from the UK into India and China, building deep delivery experience across both European and Asian markets.

A Strategic Bridge for Global Capability

Relocating its global headquarters to the Emirates allows Nextgen to capitalise on the nation's long-standing strategic position as a commercial crossroads between East and West, as well as between North and South. Having already established operations across the UK, India, and China, the company is now channelling its cross-market expertise into the Gulf. From its new UAE base, Nextgen aims to equip regional and international enterprises with both the technical architecture and the workforce skills required to turn ambitious AI strategies into lasting, real-world impact.

Dubai Municipality has officially issued the Planning and Building Requirements Guide for Shared Housing and Permitted Areas.

Released to implement Law No. (4) of 2026 Regulating the Occupancy and Management of Shared Housing in the Emirate of Dubai, this comprehensive reference establishes strict architectural, health, and safety standards for landlords, leasing companies, and tenants across the emirate.

The newly enacted framework is designed to elevate living standards, protect the rights and privacy of both property owners and residents, and support broader community stability. Rather than relying solely on enforcement, the rollout begins with awareness and guidance. This approach allows property owners and management firms to evaluate their buildings, understand their legal responsibilities, and carry out necessary upgrades to curb congestion and safeguard the residential environment.

Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Building Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: “Dubai Municipality has developed a comprehensive guide for the regulation, occupancy and management of shared housing, providing a clear reference for property owners and property management and leasing companies. It sets out planning, building, technical, health and public safety requirements, as well as the areas where buildings may be allocated for shared housing. This will contribute to providing a safe, healthy and well-regulated residential environment for different segments of the community, while translating the provisions of the Shared Housing Law related to protecting rights and enhancing public health and safety.”

Permitted Zones and Space Standards

To preserve the emirate’s urban planning structure, shared accommodation is restricted to designated neighbourhoods. To date, authorities have approved more than 44 specific zones where buildings and villas can be allocated for shared living. Key permitted neighbourhoods include Al Souq Al Kabeer, Al Ras, Al Warqa 1, Al Barsha 1, Al Muraqqabat, and Al Rigga, with further districts to be announced once approved.

Whether constructing new properties or modifying existing structures within these approved zones, landlords must adhere to strict spatial and technical criteria aligned with the Dubai Building Code:

• Single-Category Allocation: Every existing building must be dedicated exclusively to one category of shared living—either individual accommodation or family accommodation.

• Individual Space Limits: Properties designated for individuals must provide a minimum bedroom floor area of 5 square metres per person.

• Family Privacy Rules: In family-designated buildings, each family must be allocated a separate bedroom complete with an en-suite bathroom to ensure comfort and privacy.

• Communal Amenities: Buildings must feature adequate shared kitchens, sanitary facilities, and designated spaces for dining, recreation, laundry, and clothes drying, scaled to the total number of occupants.

• Labour Accommodation Exclusion: Real estate units built for collective labour accommodation are excluded from this law, as they remain governed by separate legislation.

The One-Year Regularisation Window

Recognising the operational adjustments required by the real estate sector, the legislation grants property owners, management firms, and leasing agencies a full one-year period to regularise the status of existing shared housing buildings. This transition window began on the law’s effective date of 8 September 2026.

However, the grace period is not a blanket exemption. Dubai Municipality clarified that the regularisation timeline does not cover building violations, unauthorised changes of use, or any structural conditions that pose direct risks to public safety. Such hazards require immediate corrective action in line with applicable legislation.

Discussing the broader vision behind the framework, Al Muhairi noted: “Through the Shared Housing Regulation Guide, we aim to raise awareness, enable compliance, strengthen oversight and promote proactive compliance, while preserving Dubai’s urban and aesthetic character.”

Al Muhairi added: “Our objective in regulating shared housing is to raise awareness, strengthen oversight and promote compliance, while enabling the relevant parties to meet the requirements and regularise the status of their buildings in accordance with the approved frameworks, in a way that preserves the emirate’s urban and aesthetic character.”

Digital Integration and Permit Approvals

To streamline the approval and leasing process, the shared housing ecosystem relies on direct electronic connectivity across multiple government bodies. Integration with the Dubai Land Department and other licensing authorities ensures that tenancy contracts for shared buildings and villas are registered efficiently using verified permit data.

Before any property can be legally designated for shared occupancy, owners must secure a permit via the Build in Dubai digital platform, which handles both new applications and renewals. Prior to permit issuance, properties undergo strict multi-agency verification. This includes meeting Dubai Civil Defence standards for fire alarms and firefighting systems, alongside fulfilling Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) mandates for CCTV surveillance systems, ensuring a thoroughly regulated and secure living environment across the city.