The UK-Saudi Sustainable Infrastructure Summit, to take place in London on 24 June, will showcase bilaterial partnership opportunities on sustainable city development and green technologies while discussing the growing green infrastructure financing market

The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) in partnership with the City of London Corporation (COLC) is hosting the summit at Plaisterers’ Hall in London on 24 June, which will bring together around 250 Saudi and UK industry and financial sector leaders with leading giga project representatives to discuss urbanisation and sustainable city development and financing, including the scaling up of green technologies and renewable energy solutions.

Attended by a high-level Saudi delegation led by the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the event builds on previous SBJBC and COLC events, and an already strong UK/Saudi public and private dialogue on clean energy development and decarbonisation. It also follows the UK’s recent successful Great Futures event in Riyadh and growing involvement by UK companies in Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives currently transforming economic sectors, and giga project development.

The event, supported by lead sponsors NEOM and SAB (Saudi Awwal Bank), will address the importance of UK-Saudi collaboration in sustainable infrastructure development and advancing the green transition through panels on bridging the investment gap; how smart urban planning can help to build resilient and liveable communities; and the scaling up of green technology and renewable energy initiatives.

The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli said, “I’m delighted to host this crucial summit. Sustainable infrastructure around the world is essential to tackling climate change, boosting economic development, and ensuring access to vital provisions such as transport, energy, and water. This summit offers an excellent platform to adopt and share knowledge gained from Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 sustainable development plans. Saudi Arabia is investing more in infrastructure than any other country in the Middle East region, including in 14 new giga-projects. This investment, combined with the City of London’s expertise and leadership in sustainable finance, can set a global template for sustainable development.”

Further details of the Forum are available here

Volvo CE's latest electric wheel loader. (Image source: Volvo CE)

Volvo Construction Equipment has recently completed successful trials of the L120 Electric wheel loader in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), partnering with dealer FAMCO and key customer ALAS Emirates Ready Mix.

This event marks Volvo CE's first foray into electric construction equipment testing in the UAE, indicating a significant move towards sustainable construction practices.

The L120 Electric wheel loader, a 20-tonne machine, is built on the same platform as its conventional counterpart, delivering equivalent performance but with the added benefits of zero emissions, near-silent operation, and enhanced operator comfort. The loader is equipped with 282 kWh batteries, allowing eight hours of operation in light to medium duty applications, including work in indoor and noise-sensitive environments. This electric model embodies a shift towards reducing the carbon footprint and noise pollution typically associated with diesel-powered construction equipment.

During the trials, conducted at an ALAS Emirates Ready Mix facility in Abu Dhabi, the L120 Electric demonstrated high performance and reliability, loading materials efficiently with minimal noise and vibration. This contributed to a more comfortable and productive work environment for operators, as noted by ALAS production manager Elie Touma. Touma emphasised the loader’s quick response times and the role of reduced emissions in aligning with corporate and environmental responsibilities.

^{The wheel loader is optimised for the region's climate.} 

Volvo CE evaluated the electric loader's performance under the UAE's unique climatic and operational conditions, confirming its suitability and meeting high customer expectations in the region.

Volvo CE's transition to electric equipment aligns with the broader goals of the Volvo Group, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2040—a decade ahead of targets set by the Science Based Targets initiative. This commitment reflects Volvo’s dedication to environmental care and its leadership in driving industry transformation towards sustainable practices.

Ilkay Fidan, Volvo CE's commercial manager for the Middle East, remarked on the strategic importance of testing in the UAE, a mature market with significant potential for electromobility. The positive outcomes from the trials strengthen Volvo’s confidence in rolling out electric models more broadly in the Middle East.

https://www.volvoce.com/middle-east/en-sa/ 

Schneider Electric honors Al Mulla Engineering with the Sustainability Impact Award for outstanding efforts in enhancing HVAC efficiency and achieving decarbonisation. (Image source: Al Mulla Engineering)

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has announced that Bader Al Mulla & Bros. Co. (Al Mulla Engineering), a member of Al Mulla Group and the largest contractor in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) construction services, has won the Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Award 

Al Mulla Engineering was honored with this award for its outstanding efforts in helping customers achieve their decarbonisation goals. The company implemented energy-efficient designs to enhance HVAC system efficiency while maintaining optimal building operations. During this award cycle, Al Mulla Engineering's team aligned with customer sustainability goals and delivered customised solutions to optimise building operations. These solutions led to a 7% reduction in cooling water consumption and a 9% reduction in energy consumption in 2022 compared to the 2019 baseline.

This recognition is part of Schneider Electric’s initiative to support partners, customers, and suppliers dedicated to achieving sustainability goals. It also highlights Al Mulla Engineering’s strong commitment to ensuring that its strategic growth initiatives adhere to the highest global standards, maintaining sustainability practices across its diverse engineering operations.

Amel Chadli, Gulf countries president, commented, “I congratulate Al Mulla Engineering for its outstanding efforts to empower its customers to reach their sustainability goals. Businesses need to look beyond their own operations and consider who they are indirectly responsible for across their value chain and, crucially, who they can assist along the way. Reaching net zero is a collective goal, and we need to work together to share the best sustainable practices and support customers to decarbonise.”

Anfal N. Al Mulla, managing director of Al Mulla Engineering, added, “We are delighted to have been recognised for the work we have done to minimise the environmental impact on the planet and supporting to improve the performance of the building by providing the technologies to address the environmental social goals of our customers. We are acutely aware that expectations on businesses like ours to demonstrate how we are decarbonising our own operations and those of our customers, are only going to intensify as we draw closer to 2050. We wanted to get ahead and play our part in the journey to net zero and are proud to be recognized for this by receiving this award.”

Schneider Electric facilitates sustainable practices with solutions that are simplified, open and utilise digital transformation as a key driver for positive change. One way the company achieves this is by enabling partners to assess their own carbon footprint and build a trackable and traceable plan of action, as well as certifying partners’ ability to assess the sustainability of their supplier and customer ecosystems.

Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Awards were launched in 2022 to celebrate and recognize the pivotal role that Schneider’s extensive network of partners play in delivering a more resilient and sustainable electric world. Participants continue to be carefully assessed on how they are leveraging energy and digital and automation solutions in operations, reducing energy usage, increasing operational efficiency, and embracing circularity across the value chain.

The Link, set to be finalised in 2025, includes five buildings designated for both commercial and residential use, covering a total floor area of 30,000 sq m. (Image source: Masdar City)

Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s premier hub for sustainability and innovation, has attained the prestigious WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Gold certifications for its upcoming Masdar City Square and The Link projects, respectively

The WiredScore certification serves as the international standard for evaluating digital integration in urban projects. Analogous to the LEED certification for eco-friendly buildings, WiredScore’s goal is to establish the international benchmark for technological advancements in the built environment, thereby fostering buildings that are smarter and more interconnected, promoting a future that is more cooperative, innovative, and dynamic.

Encompassing seven commercial structures, Masdar City Square spans a total floor area of 50,000 sq m and offers cutting-edge office spaces equipped with superior digital connectivity and intelligent features. The Link, set to be finalised in 2025, includes five buildings designated for both commercial and residential use, covering a total floor area of 30,000 sq m. This development is poised to forge a vibrant, multi-functional space that fluidly combines residential and professional areas with a sophisticated technological framework.

Benjamin Rumsey, senior manager of sustainable development and investments at Masdar City, added, “These first-of-their-kind certifications in Masdar City demonstrate our commitment to delivering best-in-class real estate solutions to our partners and tenants. We initiated the certification process for both developments during the construction period and were able to achieve Platinum and Gold certification without any design modifications. This further validates that our assets are planned to the highest international standards in terms of digital connectivity and smart functionality, in addition to sustainability and wellness. We will continue to push the boundaries in all our future projects as we believe that Masdar City is the destination for people to live, work and play.”

John Hilliard, head of Middle East at WiredScore, remarked, “I am thrilled that we could help Masdar City position its newest office developments at the forefront of a rapidly growing Grade A pipeline in the UAE. By achieving WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Gold, Masdar City Square and The Link have demonstrated that they provide exceptional connectivity, resilience, smart functionality, and readiness to incorporate future technologies as tenant requirements evolve. Congratulations to the Masdar City team for this fantastic achievement.”