In The Spotlight
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) highlighted the emirate’s investment potential, expanding industrial capabilities and business growth opportunities at the 3rd Annual Ras Al Khaimah Investment and Business Summit (RAKIS) 2026.
Ras Al Khaimah’s investment readiness takes spotlight
Ras Al Khaimah is rapidly cementing its reputation as a dynamic destination for global capital, industrial expansion, and commercial innovation.
As the emirate continues to attract significant investment across sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, real estate, and services, the need for robust infrastructure and integrated business support has never been more vital. This compelling economic evolution was placed firmly in the spotlight at the 3rd Annual Ras Al Khaimah Investment and Business Summit (RAKIS) 2026. Taking centre stage as a Government Partner, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) showcased the emirate’s remarkable investment readiness and the wealth of opportunities awaiting both emerging enterprises and established multinationals.
The summit served as a crucial meeting point for government representatives, industry leaders, investors, and businesses eager to explore strategic partnerships and avenues for economic growth across the emirate.
Fostering dialogue and strategic partnerships
To transform ambitious economic goals into tangible realities, a collaborative ecosystem is essential. At RAKIS 2026, the focus was heavily placed on cultivating these necessary connections. The event provided a fertile ground for exploring the emirate's expanding industrial capabilities and diverse business growth opportunities.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad highlighted the significance of the event, stating: “RAKIS has become an important platform for bringing together the people and ideas driving Ras Al Khaimah’s economic future. We are pleased to support the summit as a Government Partner, as it creates valuable opportunities for dialogue, new partnerships and meaningful connections between investors and the wider business community. Events like these are essential to translating shared ambitions into tangible investment and business opportunities.”
Preparing the infrastructure for future investments
As the influx of capital accelerates, the availability of suitable commercial spaces and tailored infrastructure becomes the backbone of sustained success. Addressing this evolving demand, RAKEZ Chief Commercial Officer Anas Hijjawi delivered a keynote address titled ‘Ras Al Khaimah’s Readiness for Investment and Growth’. The presentation outlined how the emirate is preparing to accommodate fresh investments while concurrently supporting the expansion of existing ventures.
Central to this readiness are two major developmental projects designed to create an ecosystem that addresses industrial, commercial, and lifestyle requirements:
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Al Ghail Industrial Zone: A cornerstone project where RAKEZ is significantly expanding industrial capacity and bolstering supporting infrastructure.
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RAK Central Square: A modern development intended to offer state-of-the-art commercial spaces and premium amenities to meet the needs of growing businesses and their employees.
Emphasising the proactive approach required to support enterprises, Hijjawi commented: “Investment readiness is about anticipating what businesses need and creating the right environment for them to grow. Through developments such as Al Ghail and RAK Central Square, we are strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial and commercial capabilities, while ensuring investors have access to the infrastructure and support services needed for long-term success.”
Building local supply chains and national value
Beyond physical infrastructure, the summit placed a heavy emphasis on strengthening domestic manufacturing and generating greater economic value through local supply chains. During a dedicated panel discussion titled ‘Make in the Emirates: Building Local Supply Chains & National Value Creation’, RAKEZ Chief Strategy Officer Puneet Jain articulated the strategic priorities arising from Ras Al Khaimah’s growing construction and real estate sectors.
With approximately 1,000 manufacturing companies operating within RAKEZ, the organisation is focused on several key initiatives:
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Attracting complementary industries to diversify the local economic base.
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Encouraging deep collaboration between suppliers.
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Connecting local manufacturers with lucrative opportunities to serve domestic and regional markets.
These priorities operate in perfect alignment with the UAE’s wider industrial development agenda. Most notably, they support the Make it in the Emirates initiative and the National In-Country Value Programme, which strive to fortify domestic production capabilities, streamline supply chains, and maximise national economic value creation.
Practical pathways for global entrepreneurs Beyond high-level discussions, RAKIS 2026 offered a practical look at how investors can establish a foothold in the region. At a dedicated exhibition stand, RAKEZ experts provided visitors with a comprehensive overview of cost-effective business set-up solutions, industrial land, warehousing options, and ongoing business support services.
With a thriving community of more than 50,000 companies from over 100 countries, RAKEZ continues to bridge the gap between Ras Al Khaimah’s investment ambitions and the vital infrastructure required to realise them. By facilitating new partnerships and championing industrial diversification, the economic zone remains a driving force in securing the emirate's long-term economic competitiveness on the global stage.
Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) has taken centre stage at the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, showcasing targeted logistics solutions designed to support businesses throughout the pilgrimage season.
Mastering seasonal logistics for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages
The annual Hajj and year-round Umrah pilgrimages present one of the most complex logistical challenges in the world.
With millions converging on Saudi Arabia, maintaining a seamless supply chain is vital. Addressing this colossal seasonal demand, Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) has taken centre stage at the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, showcasing targeted logistics solutions designed to support businesses throughout the pilgrimage season.
Understanding the scale of pilgrimage demand
The sheer volume of visitors travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia creates an immense, concentrated spike in demand for essential goods and services. According to the General Authority for Statistics, more than 1.7 million pilgrims undertook the Hajj journey in 2026 alone. When combined with the millions of worshippers who visit the country annually to perform Umrah, the economic and operational footprint is remarkably vast.
This influx generates significant seasonal pressure across multiple key sectors. Retailers, hospitality providers, healthcare facilities, and dedicated pilgrimage service operators all face the daunting task of scaling their operations rapidly. To meet the needs of these worshippers, timely access to goods and supplies is absolutely critical. Without a robust and highly responsive supply chain, the infrastructure supporting these millions of visitors could face severe disruptions. The ability to forecast, manage, and execute precise logistics operations is therefore a cornerstone of a successful pilgrimage season.
Targeted logistics solutions for seasonal peaks
To alleviate the immense pressure on local businesses, global logistics providers are continually refining their service offerings. Operating out of Booth N32 at the Jeddah exhibition until November 11, FedEx is currently highlighting a suite of specialised solutions tailored to the unique requirements of the Hajj and Umrah sectors. Through an expansive global network and refined local operations, these capabilities are designed to help businesses plan shipments meticulously, manage sudden shifts in demand, and maintain uninterrupted supply chain continuity.
The services highlighted at the exhibition focus on addressing the distinct needs of various commercial sectors:
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Time-sensitive shipments: Advanced international shipping and streamlined customs clearance capabilities are deployed to assist pilgrimage operators in managing urgent logistical requirements without delay.
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Retail and souvenir trade: Bespoke import and export solutions empower local retailers and souvenir suppliers to maintain optimal inventory levels during peak visitor periods.
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Hospitality and catering: Regional road freight services are heavily utilised to support the continuous movement of bulk hospitality supplies and fresh catering materials across the region.
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Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: Specialised healthcare logistics solutions are implemented for critical items. This includes temperature-controlled shipping and the deployment of FedEx Surround® Monitoring and Intervention, which provides enhanced visibility and rigorous control for highly sensitive medical shipments.
Strengthening supply chains in Saudi Arabia
As the world’s largest express transportation company, FedEx recognises the unique pressures faced by commercial operators in the region.
“Hajj and Umrah create significant demand for businesses serving millions of pilgrims, making reliable logistics and timely access to essential goods increasingly important,” said Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak, Managing Director Operations for FedEx Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa. “For these businesses, planning shipments in advance is critical to ensuring goods and supplies are available when and where they are needed. By combining our global network with our direct operations and customs clearance capabilities in Saudi Arabia, FedEx helps businesses manage time-sensitive shipments, respond to changing demand, and maintain reliable access to international markets.”
Aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030
These strategic logistics enhancements align directly with the broader objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which places a strong emphasis on continuously enhancing the pilgrim experience. A crucial part of this strategic alignment involved a structural shift in how international couriers operate within the country.
In 2025, FedEx successfully completed its transition to a direct-serve presence in Saudi Arabia. By directly managing pickup, delivery, and customs clearance operations within the Kingdom, the organisation has significantly expanded its local footprint. This direct operational control fundamentally strengthens the ability to support local businesses with comprehensive international shipping solutions, offering them greater authority and oversight regarding their critical shipments. By integrating global expertise with highly localised operational control, the logistics sector ensures that the monumental task of supplying the pilgrimages remains a seamless success.
Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has unveiled Palm Springs. Situated adjacent to Palm Jebel Ali, this sustainable community represents a monumental addition to southern Dubai.
Nakheel unveils Palm Springs in Dubai's southern corridor
Dubai's urban landscape is undergoing a profound transformation as development accelerates across its southern growth corridor.
Driven by strategic investments in Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo City Dubai, this area is rapidly establishing itself as the city’s next residential and economic frontier. As essential infrastructure expands, including connections to Sheikh Zayed Road, the district is drawing large-scale masterplans designed for long-term demographic growth.
Aligning with this pattern of expansion, Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has unveiled Palm Springs. Situated adjacent to Palm Jebel Ali, this sustainable community represents a monumental addition to southern Dubai. The development is poised to address the rising demand for comprehensive, self-sustaining neighbourhoods in one of the fastest-developing regions of the emirate, setting a new benchmark for mixed-use urban planning.
Introducing Palm Springs: A masterplan for generations
Spanning 3.8 million square metres, the Palm Springs masterplan is meticulously designed to accommodate almost 50,000 residents. The scale of the project highlights an urban planning shift towards creating fully integrated districts that function as independent ecosystems. The residential mix will offer a diverse variety of living options, comprising modern villas, townhouses, and apartments intelligently distributed across 15 distinct neighbourhoods.
A core philosophy driving Palm Springs is the simultaneous delivery of residential units alongside civic and social infrastructure. This proactive strategy ensures the district can function cohesively as soon as it welcomes its first inhabitants.
Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, emphasised the strategic vision behind the development: “Palm Springs reflects our long-term confidence in southern Dubai and its role in the city’s future. With Palm Jebel Ali nearby, our focus is on creating a community that brings homes and supporting infrastructure together from the outset. This is how we approach Dubai’s next phase of growth: planning for generations, with lasting value at the heart of the masterplan.”
A focus on comprehensive community living
To cultivate a thriving family environment, Palm Springs will integrate vital services directly into its residential fabric. The masterplan places education, healthcare, and essential services within easy reach of every home.
Key community facilities embedded within the development will include:
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Two schools carefully planned to serve the educational needs of a growing population.
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A fully equipped hospital providing healthcare services to the immediate area.
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Six mosques strategically located across the various neighbourhoods.
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A dedicated Country Club and a Sports Club, offering premium recreational, fitness, and play facilities.
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A curated selection of retail destinations and cultural venues, enlivened by ongoing cultural programming.
By embedding these facilities alongside residences, the developers are creating vibrant places for people to interact and spend quality time beyond their front doors.
Sustainable infrastructure and environmental certification
A defining characteristic of Palm Springs is its rigorous commitment to environmental performance. In a significant milestone for the organisation, the development has been awarded LEED for Communities Platinum Precertification. This marks the first time a Nakheel community has achieved this standard, underlining a firm dedication to creating sustainable destinations.
The masterplan incorporates the latest advancements in water, energy, and waste management solutions. These systems are integrated throughout the community to help lower carbon emissions and promote responsible resource consumption. Furthermore, the district features climate-sensitive infrastructure tailored to the local environment, maintaining a strong emphasis on optimising energy efficiency.
Green spaces and active living
Recognising the importance of public wellbeing, the masterplan dedicates approximately 593,000 square metres to planned open spaces. This allocation includes a prominent central park alongside beautifully landscaped areas that act as the green lungs of the community.
The outdoor infrastructure is deliberately designed to encourage active, healthy lifestyles:
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More than 35 kilometres of dedicated cycling, jogging, and walking routes will seamlessly link the 15 neighbourhoods with local parks, retail centres, and leisure destinations.
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Climate-responsive landscaping and shaded corridors are incorporated to make everyday outdoor movement comfortable throughout the year.
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Expansive green areas are specifically intended to support the mental and physical wellbeing of residents and visitors.
As southern Dubai takes on an increasingly prominent role in the city’s development narrative, Palm Springs stands as a prime example of future-proof urban planning. Positioned beside Palm Jebel Ali, it represents a forward-thinking approach to sustainable, community-centric living.
TrendAI™ has expanded its collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate NVIDIA Nemotron™ open models into TrendAI Vision One for Sovereign and Private Cloud (SPC).
Sovereign cloud security and AI data residency
Artificial intelligence has moved firmly to the centre of national economic and technological agendas.
In regions like the United Arab Emirates, government entities and highly regulated industries are rapidly adopting AI across critical services to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and public sector transformation. However, as these advanced technologies embed themselves deeper into core operations, the need to protect sensitive information has never been greater. For many nations, this means establishing sovereign cloud environments where data remains strictly within national borders, subject to local laws and governance. Maintaining this digital sovereignty is critical, yet it presents a complex, ongoing challenge for organisations that must continually balance the transformative benefits of cloud-based AI with stringent, evolving data residency requirements.
The escalating cyber security landscape
As digital transformation accelerates, the attack surface widens proportionally. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, frequently targeting critical national infrastructure. Recent figures from the UAE Cyber Security Council illustrate this growing risk, revealing that nearly 750,000 cyberattack attempts targeting vital sectors, particularly energy and education—have been thwarted in recent months. To defend against these high-volume, increasingly complex attacks, security teams require the immense processing power and analytical speed of advanced AI.
However, utilising traditional cloud-based AI security tools often involves sending telemetry and security logs outside the sovereign boundary to external servers for analysis. This creates a significant compliance hurdle. According to a 2026 study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, 74% of surveyed UAE executives find meeting data residency and sovereignty requirements challenging.
Balancing advanced threat detection with data control
To solve this dilemma, the industry is shifting towards a model where the AI is brought directly to the data, rather than exporting the data to an external AI model. This approach allows highly regulated sectors to leverage machine-speed threat detection without compromising their sovereign boundaries. By running open models entirely inside customer-controlled infrastructure, organisations can process vital security signals, identify intricate attack paths, and automate defensive responses natively within their own secure environments, removing the need for external data transit.
Recognising this crucial market need, TrendAI™ has expanded its collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate NVIDIA Nemotron™ open models into TrendAI Vision One for Sovereign and Private Cloud (SPC).
Bringing open models to sovereign infrastructure
This integration allows enterprises to run AI-powered security operations on NVIDIA accelerated computing directly within their own data centres, sovereign clouds, or restricted-connectivity environments.
Salah Suleiman, Managing Director, South Gulf, TrendAI, highlights the importance of this localisation: "The UAE has made sovereign AI a national priority, and the organisations driving that ambition should not have to send their most sensitive security data outside their own boundary to benefit from AI".
He further notes the operational necessity of this approach: "As attack volumes climb, security teams need AI that can reason across signals at machine speed. Bringing NVIDIA Nemotron models into TrendAI Vision One™ for Sovereign and Private Cloud means government entities, banks, energy providers, and healthcare organisations in the UAE can run AI-driven detection and response entirely within infrastructure they control, in line with national data residency requirements".
Retaining operational transparency and oversight
A vital component of sovereign cloud security is maintaining absolute control over deployment and access. With these new integrations, customers retain the authority to decide where the model runs, which specific version is deployed, and who is granted access. Furthermore, there is zero dependency on external inference services, ensuring operations remain isolated and secure.
John Fanelli, Vice President, Enterprise Software at NVIDIA, emphasises this advantage: “Open models give organizations the transparency and control to run on their own terms, which is critical for sovereign environments”.
He adds: “TrendAI’s integration of NVIDIA Nemotron models enables enterprises to put their most sensitive data to work, without it ever leaving their control”.
Key capabilities for secure environments
By combining sovereign infrastructure with advanced open models, organisations gain several critical security capabilities:
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AI-assisted security operations: Empowers teams with guided investigation and advanced security reasoning directly within the local environment.
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Agentic SIEM: Automates the correlation of telemetry and helps prioritise response efforts without data leaving the network.
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Threat pattern identification: Reasons across security signals to uncover complex attack chains and AI-native attack paths.
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Policy-based response: Ensures that all protective actions adhere strictly to organisation-defined policies and security team controls.
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Enhanced agent visibility: Through collaboration on OpenShell, organisations gain greater control and visibility over AI agentic activity.
As the digital landscape evolves, the integration of open models into sovereign and private clouds represents a critical step forward, ensuring that security and innovation can progress hand in hand without compromising national data sovereignty.
Dubai Municipality has successfully achieved certification of conformity with ISO 14064-1, the international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Dubai Municipality secures global ISO 14064-1 certification
Establishing a clear baseline for environmental impact is no longer optional; it is a critical necessity.
In a significant milestone for regional climate initiatives, Dubai Municipality has successfully achieved certification of conformity with ISO 14064-1, the international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
This landmark announcement, confirmed on the 5th of November 2026, places the municipality at the forefront of sustainable urban governance. By adopting one of the world’s most rigorous carbon accounting frameworks, the organisation is demonstrating a tangible commitment to accurate environmental reporting, setting a powerful precedent for both the public and private sectors across the United Arab Emirates.
The importance of rigorous emissions tracking
Historically, estimating an organisation's carbon footprint often involved disparate methodologies and estimations, making it difficult to compare environmental performance accurately. The ISO 14064-1 standard fundamentally changes this paradigm. It provides a highly structured, universally recognised method for calculating greenhouse gas emissions across all areas of operation.
Rather than relying on approximations, the standard requires comprehensive data collection, meticulous inventory preparation, and stringent verification processes. For an entity as large and multifaceted as Dubai Municipality—which oversees a vast array of civic services, urban planning projects, and public facilities—implementing this framework is a monumental operational achievement. It ensures that every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent is accounted for, providing a clear and trusted picture of the municipality's environmental footprint.
Core benefits of the ISO 14064-1 framework
The adoption of the ISO 14064-1 standard offers numerous operational and strategic advantages that extend far beyond regulatory compliance. By achieving this certification, Dubai Municipality can leverage several key benefits:
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Accurate data collection: The standard mandates precise measurement of all greenhouse gas sources, ensuring that the organisation's environmental reports are based on empirical evidence rather than estimates.
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Targeted reduction strategies: With a detailed inventory of emissions, decision-makers can identify specific operational areas that contribute most heavily to the carbon footprint, allowing for highly targeted and effective reduction initiatives.
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Enhanced risk management: Understanding emission patterns helps the organisation anticipate and mitigate climate-related risks, ensuring long-term operational resilience.
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Elevated public trust: Third-party verification of environmental data builds credibility with residents, investors, and international partners, proving that the municipality is genuinely committed to its climate responsibilities.
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Benchmarking and continual improvement: The certification provides a solid baseline from which to measure future progress, encouraging a culture of continual environmental improvement across all municipal departments.
Aligning with the UAE’s sustainability vision
Dubai Municipality’s recent certification does not exist in a vacuum; it is deeply intertwined with the broader sustainability ambitions of the United Arab Emirates. As the nation continues to transition towards a greener economy, initiatives that promote carbon accountability are vital. The UAE has launched numerous programmes aimed at reducing national carbon emissions, increasing the share of clean energy, and fostering sustainable urban development.
By securing the ISO 14064-1 accreditation, the municipality directly supports these national objectives. It ensures that Dubai's urban management and civic operations are fully aligned with federal climate goals. Furthermore, this achievement acts as a catalyst for the local business community. When a leading government body adopts such stringent environmental standards, it encourages private enterprises across Dubai and the wider region to follow suit, creating a ripple effect that amplifies the nation's overall sustainability efforts.
A framework for future climate action
Measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions is the foundational step in any meaningful climate strategy. You cannot manage what you do not measure. With the ISO 14064-1 certification securely in place, Dubai Municipality is now uniquely positioned to implement advanced, data-backed carbon reduction programmes.
As urban populations grow and the challenges of climate change become more pronounced, the need for sustainable city management has never been more urgent. This certification is not merely an administrative accolade; it represents a comprehensive commitment to safeguarding the environment for future generations. By embracing international best practices for emissions tracking, Dubai Municipality is not just planning for a sustainable future—it is actively building the framework to achieve it.
Neurovia AI actively participated in discussions centring on the advancement of sovereign AI, the optimisation of national data infrastructure, and the vital transition from AI adoption to widespread, operational deployment within government and enterprise settings.
Neurovia AI showcases NeuroStream at the 3rd Government AI Summit 2026
Neurovia AI, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence infrastructure company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Robo.ai Inc., underscored the crucial role of scalable, secure, and resource-efficient AI infrastructure at the 3rd Government AI Summit 2026.
The event, held in Abu Dhabi on the 3rd of November, served as a platform for the organisation to highlight its strategic focus on measurable infrastructure efficiency, intelligent visual data optimisation, and secure AI deployment.
As the Official Government AI Partner for the summit, Neurovia AI actively participated in discussions centring on the advancement of sovereign AI, the optimisation of national data infrastructure, and the vital transition from AI adoption to widespread, operational deployment within government and enterprise settings.
The increasing integration of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and intelligent automation into critical operations presents a significant challenge for organisations. They must manage the escalating volumes of visual data required for these applications without constantly expanding storage capacity, network bandwidth, computing resources, and energy consumption.
Enabling the next generation of AI-ready infrastructure
During the summit, Mansoor Ali Khan, Chief Technology Officer of Neurovia AI, delivered a technology presentation titled "Efficient Visual Data Infrastructure for Government AI: Reducing Storage, Bandwidth, Compute and Energy Without Compromising Visual Quality." This session explored how intelligent visual data optimisation can mitigate infrastructure bottlenecks, enhance data processing efficiency, and support applications that are becoming increasingly data-intensive.
Khan also lent his expertise to the executive panel, "National Data Infrastructure: Building an AI-Ready Government." This discussion delved into the significance of interoperability, secure AI architectures, data sovereignty, cloud computing, and edge AI in establishing intelligent and connected public services.
NeuroStream: Intelligent visual data optimisation
Central to Neurovia AI's technological offerings is NeuroStream™, an intelligent visual data optimisation platform. It is engineered to diminish the volume of data transmitted, processed, and stored, all while preserving the essential information required by downstream applications.
By optimising data closer to its point of origin, NeuroStream™ assists organisations in navigating infrastructure constraints, utilising existing resources more effectively, and facilitating scalable AI deployment.
A technical demonstration previously conducted at ISNR 2026 showcased NeuroStream™'s capabilities, where it successfully compressed a 12.15 GB, 4K, 60 frames per second video file to just 421 MB. This represents a 96.37% reduction in file size, achieving visually lossless quality during the demonstration.
This result highlights the platform's capacity to resolve a major infrastructure challenge. For organisations managing extensive visual data environments, such optimisation could lead to decreased storage and transmission needs, enhanced infrastructure utilisation, and the potential for a lower total cost of ownership. The actual benefits will, however, rely on specific deployment conditions and independent validation of use cases.
Building commercially relevant AI infrastructure
Neurovia AI's technological strategy is firmly rooted in aligning technical performance with practical operational needs across government, smart infrastructure, and enterprise sectors. The organisation adopts a use-case-driven approach to AI infrastructure, placing strong emphasis on technical validation, seamless integration with existing technological environments, and the rigorous evaluation of potential operational efficiencies.
These priorities are particularly salient as organisations evaluate the infrastructure demands of computer vision, Physical AI, smart cities, and the growing prevalence of autonomous systems.
Ahmed Alhashmi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Neurovia AI, stated:
"Scaling artificial intelligence is not simply about deploying more powerful models. It requires infrastructure that can manage growing data volumes securely, efficiently and economically. At Neurovia AI, we see data optimization as a fundamental enabler of AI adoption at scale. Our focus is on delivering measurable technology performance that can translate into operational value, improved infrastructure efficiency and more sustainable growth for government and enterprise customers. Through NeuroStream™, we are addressing one of the practical challenges facing the AI industry: how to scale intelligent applications without allowing infrastructure costs and resource demands to grow at the same pace."
Mansoor Ali Khan, Chief Technology Officer of Neurovia AI, further explained:
"AI-ready infrastructure begins with intelligent data management. Optimizing visual data closer to its source can reduce unnecessary data movement and pressure on storage, networks and computing systems, while preserving information required for AI-driven applications. For government and critical infrastructure environments, the ability to combine data efficiency with interoperability, security and operational control is essential. Our technology development is focused on making those capabilities practical and measurable."
Shell Lubricants showcased a highly specialised proof-of-concept vehicle at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
Rethinking EV efficiency with advanced thermal management
The automotive industry faces critical hurdles surrounding energy efficiency, vehicle weight, and charging infrastructure, as the global transition toward electric mobility accelerates.
Historically, manufacturers addressed range anxiety by integrating increasingly larger battery packs. However, this approach inherently adds substantial weight, compromising overall driving efficiency. Today, the focus is shifting toward an alternative solution: advanced thermal management. By regulating heat generation more effectively, engineers can extract greater performance and faster charging capabilities from smaller, more compact battery systems.
Demonstrating the viability of this approach, Shell Lubricants showcased a highly specialised proof-of-concept vehicle at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The showcase highlighted how next-generation fluid technologies can fundamentally alter the physics of electric vehicle (EV) charging, negating the need for oversized battery architectures.
Overcoming the charging bottleneck
Presented as the Triple 10 Challenge car, the concept vehicle serves as a working exploration into the future of electric mobility. Rather than equipping the vehicle with a cumbersome battery pack, engineering teams combined a compact energy storage system with pioneering thermal fluid technology. This architecture is designed specifically to manage heat distribution across the vehicle during high-stress operations.
The project was anchored around three defining ambitions:
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Achieving a charging cycle from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes.
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Reaching a driving efficiency metric of 10 kilometres per kilowatt-hour (km/kWh).
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Targeting a total lifecycle carbon footprint of approximately 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).
During testing, the vehicle charged from 10% to 80% in just 9 minutes and 54 seconds. Notably, this was achieved using a standard 175 kW public charger, adding 24 kilometres of driving range for every minute plugged in. The design targets 10 km/kWh driving efficiency, representing an improvement of more than 30% compared with many current-generation electric vehicles.
Next-generation thermal fluid technology
At the core of this engineering breakthrough is the Shell Recharge Thermal Fluid. This specialised dielectric fluid facilitates a dual-cooling approach that manages thermal loads dynamically. It enables direct immersion cooling for battery cells, ensuring uniform temperature regulation, while providing indirect cooling for powertrain components, including the electric motor and power electronics. This supports a simplified cooling architecture, reducing the thermal stress typically caused by fast charging.
Addressing this development, Haytham Yehia, General Manager, Shell Lubricants Middle East, Egypt and Central Asia, stated: "The Shell Triple 10 Challenge concept car is a powerful example of how we're taking our expertise in advanced fluids beyond traditional lubrication. We're increasingly looking at how our technology can help customers address challenges around efficiency, performance and thermal management. For the Middle East, where we see growing opportunities across mobility, digital infrastructure and industrial applications, innovations like these demonstrate the value of combining Shell's global technology capabilities with strong regional partnerships."
Expanding cooling solutions across industries
The implications of sophisticated thermal management extend beyond the automotive sector. Alongside the concept car, the showcase featured comprehensive portfolios of coolants and immersion cooling solutions tailored for broader industrial demands. As global reliance on artificial intelligence and cloud computing intensifies, data centres and battery energy storage systems face unprecedented cooling requirements. Specialised fluids are becoming essential to maintain operational reliability.
Aysun Akik, Shell Lubricants’ Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, highlighted this potential: "It's exciting to bring the Triple 10 Challenge concept car to ADIPEC and give visitors the opportunity to see the technology up close. What makes this concept so interesting is how much difference effective thermal management can make to EV performance. We've also had some great conversations with customers and partners about how advanced cooling technologies can support their own operations, and we're looking forward to building on those discussions beyond ADIPEC."
The exhibition coincided with the company marking 20 consecutive years as the world's number one finished lubricants supplier, according to Kline & Company's 2026, 24th Edition Global Lubricants Market Analysis and Assessment. Through ongoing technical innovation, advanced fluid capabilities continue to address changing requirements across mobility, energy, and digital infrastructure.