Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone and Aramex collaborate to enhance business efficiency and expand services for global clients in Sharjah. (Image source: Aramex)

Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) and Aramex have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration and benefit their client bases

The MoU between SPC Free Zone and Aramex signifies a welcomed step towards fostering a more efficient and collaborative business environment in Sharjah. By leveraging each other’s strengths and resources, both entities are set to offer enhanced services and support to their customers.

Mutual benefits and services

Under this agreement, clients of SPC Free Zone will benefit from Aramex’s extensive logistics network, ensuring reliable and timely delivery of their products worldwide. Conversely, Aramex’s clients will gain access to the business-friendly environment and incentives offered by the SPC Free Zone, opening up new opportunities for expansion and growth.

The partnership highlights a shared commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By combining their expertise and resources, both organisations aim to create a synergistic ecosystem that supports the growth and success of businesses in Sharjah and beyond.

Innovating business ecosystems

SPC Free Zone, established in 2017, is a cutting-edge free zone dedicated to the print, publishing, and creative industries. It offers over 2,000 business activities and supports businesses with 24/7 assistance, instant licenses, office spaces, and banking services. Incentives like tax exemptions, 100% ownership, and streamlined registration processes make it an ideal hub for entrepreneurs and startups in the UAE.

Aramex, founded in 1982, is a global logistics leader with a strong presence in the Middle East and North Africa. The company provides a wide range of services, including express delivery, freight forwarding, and e-commerce solutions. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Aramex ensures reliable and efficient delivery worldwide.

By 2031 the worldwide market for biometrics is expected to reach US$136.18bn. (Image source: Canva)

HID, which provides identity and physical access control solutions, announced the 2024 state of physical access control report, identifying five key trends that are shaping the future of access control.

Produced by IFSEC Global in partnership with HID, the report surveyed over 1,200 security professionals across the globe to paint a picture of an industry that has been going through considerable transformation.

Key trends

Mobile access and digital ID set to become ubiquitous

While physical ID is still prevalent within the access control industry, there is no doubt that mobile access credentials and digital IDs are quickly gaining ground.

According to this report, nearly 2 in 5 organisations (39%) now actively use mobile identities with respondents naming touchless/contactless solutions (48%) and mobile access (44%) as the two largest trends shaping the wider access control industry.

Open standards driving smart buildings phenomenon

Open standards have become key drivers for more converged security solutions, where physical access control data is helping not just to decide who should be allowed into the building, but also how that building can best be used. As the report shows, almost half of organisations (48%) already have access control/badge scanning systems in place to monitor building usage throughout the day, at least to some extent. Additionally, 43% of respondents cited smart buildings and flexible workspaces being among the top three trends shaping the wider access control industry. Integration with other business functions was also listed by one in three respondents (32%) as another top trend.

Sustainability becoming a greater influence on business decisions

Sustainability is playing a significant role in access control with nearly two thirds (63%) of respondents citing that those with responsibility for sustainability have either some influence or are fully consulted when it comes to upgrading physical access control systems.

The rise of artificial intelligence for analytics use cases

The use of Artificial Intelligence capabilities in physical access control is becoming more common as AI technologies and expertise are developed. Asked if they are looking to incorporate AI/machine learning into their access control solutions, 38% stated they were (although the same percentage said they were unsure of the benefits). Only 23% said they didn’t have any plans to incorporate AI technologies.

Growing role of biometrics – especially contactless solutions

The biometrics market is growing at a rapid pace. By 2031 the worldwide market for biometrics is expected to reach US$136.18bn while the global facial recognition market alone is predicted to grow to US$16.74bn by 2030, up from US$3.83bn in 2020. That is a CAGR of 16% from 2021 to 2030.

AVATR’s sleek and aerodynamic vehicles are designed at the company’s global design center in Munich. (Image source: AVATR)

Smart Mobility International, a subsidiary of one of the UAE's leading automotive agencies with over 40 years of experience in distributing luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, BMW, and McLaren, has signed an agreement with AVATR Technology to become the exclusive distributor of AVATR's innovative vehicle range.

AVATR Technology, a prominent manufacturer of luxury New Energy Vehicles, is a joint venture between Chang’an Automobile and CATL, a global leader in smart energy technology, with a strategic partnership with Huawei. This collaboration equips AVATR with cutting-edge vehicle R&D, smart energy technology, and an intelligent ecosystem.

Led by Chief Designer Nader Faghihzade, formerly of BMW, AVATR’s sleek and aerodynamic vehicles are designed at the company’s global design center in Munich.

The agreement was signed on June 20th, attended by His Excellency Sheikh Saif Bin Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed, His Excellency Mr. Zhang Yiming, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UAE, and several distinguished guests from the global automotive industry. Mr. Wu, head of AVATR global business development, delivered the opening remarks, with the agreement signed by Mr. Moutaz Louis, CEO of Smart Mobility International, and Mr. Wang, Vice President of AVATR Technology.

Redefining technology

AVATR will be introduced to UAE customers through a major launch campaign in Q4 2024. This campaign will generate anticipation and excitement for the brand through physical and digital channels, along with exclusive launch events for VIPs and potential customers.

The first AVATR showroom will open in a prime location on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. The showroom will embody AVATR’s innovative spirit, offering a premium customer experience with state-of-the-art facilities and personalized services.

The flagship models, AVATR 11 and AVATR 12, will be the first to launch, with additional Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) models planned for release in 2025.

Mr. Wang of AVATR Technology commented, “The UAE is one of the leading consumers of high-end luxury vehicles, and the UAE will soon experience our class-defining range of Smart Electric Vehicles (SEVs). This is our first export market outside of China, and we are delighted to partner with Smart Mobility International to bring AVATR to the UAE.”

Moutaz Louis, CEO of Smart Mobility International, remarked, “AVATR is set to revolutionise the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market with a range of products that define a new class of luxury and performance. We are excited to see the reaction of our UAE customers.”

By 2034, global carbon capture capacity is forecast to reach 440 Mtpa. (Image source: Wood Mackenzie)

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) will ramp up strongly over the next decade, but development in the Middle East and some other regions is hampered by a lack of policy, regulatory frameworks and funding, according to a recent report from Wood Mackenzie

By 2034, global carbon capture capacity will reach 440 Mtpa and storage capacity will reach 664 Mtpa, requiring US$196bn in total investment, according to the report “CCUS: 10-year market forecast”, with around 70% of the investment forecast to be in North America and Europe. The USA leads in funding, followed by the UK and Canada.

 “This is a huge ramp-up from where the industry is today. Government funding plays a critical role in driving the first wave of CCUS investments,” said Hetal Gandhi, APAC CCUS lead with Wood Mackenzie. “We see governments offering capex grants, opex subsidies, tax incentives and contracts for differences for CCUS. While no single mechanism has been used predominantly and each country devises novel methods to incentivise investments, nearly US$80bn is directly committed to CCUS across five key countries.”

Shortfall in supply forecast

Despite the forecasted increase in projects, Wood Mackenzie forecasts a shortfall in supply. Industries will need up to 640 Mtpa of carbon capture capacity by 2034 as they look to decarbonise, but the projects expected to come into operation fall around 200 Mtpa short of that.

“Of the projects already announced and expected to go ahead in the development pipeline, 71% are in North America and in Europe,” said Gandhi. “Government incentives such as the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), UK business models, Canada’s Investment Tax Credit and the Netherlands SDE++ scheme are moving projects towards final investment decision (FID). We also expect a further boost to European projects due to the recently announced EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy.

 “The lack of CCUS announcements in APAC’s largest emitting countries – China and India – is causing the region to have substantially lower capacity than needed under Wood Mackenzie’s base case. Key sectors like power and chemicals will see a large gap between demand potential and actual supply until 2034. We expect APAC’s capture pipeline will mature through additional announcements later in the decade.”

In APAC, while regulatory momentum is strong in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, government incentives are needed to accelerate CCUS development. In contrast, development in China, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa is limited by a lack of firm policy, regulatory frameworks and funding support.

Cross-border transport of CO2 and liability risk remain key areas to watch out in the medium term, says Wood Mackenzie.