Dubai developer uproots ancient Italian olive trees, $270,000 USD each for “eco” project

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Flying centuries-old trees across continents via specialized cargo burns enormous fossil fuels. Replanting them in a desert climate—no matter how advanced the irrigation or “heritage preservation techniques”—places immense stress on organisms that evolved for Mediterranean seasons, soils, and rainfall patterns. And we've seen that the UAE is not capable of taking care of trees so survival rates are uncertain.

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Dubai bank sends staff to co-working spaces

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Emirates NBD has partnered with Dubai-founded workspace platform Letswork—co-created in 2019 by Omar Al Mheiri and Hamza Khan—to give employees flexible, sustainable access to book coworking hubs, meeting rooms, and private offices across more than 100 locations in Dubai, over 25 sites in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, and international venues, reducing commute time, streamlining workshop planning, and supporting the bank’s wider sustainability and innovation commitments.

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UAE Green Finance Report 2025

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Masdar is the the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company. Compare it to Neom in Saudi Arabia. Masdar has become one of the world’s most active clean energy investors, with projects in more than 40 countries across six continents. Established in 2006 and jointly owned by ADNOC, Mubadala, and TAQA, Masdar operates and develops solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects with a current portfolio exceeding 50 gigawatts of capacity. Masdar also buys companies, and paid $50 million for this US business Terra-Gen last year. 

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Medical cannabis Syqe lays off 30% of its workforce

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This backing gave Syqe financial muscle and strategic reach—but also raises reputational and strategic risks, given tobacco’s fraught public perception in the health space. Imagine if McDonald’s bought into a regenerative kale farm. The cash infusion could scale production, but people would always wonder if the lettuce was being served with a side of fries. 

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The Flash Flood Wave Redefining Policy in the MENA Region

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If you’ve ever imagined the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as forever sun-drenched and dry, recent flash floods may challenge that mental image. In just the past year, cities across MENA—from Dubai to Amman—have found themselves underwater after sudden, massive storms. These deluges aren’t freak weather—they’re a warning. And they’re finally forcing governments […]

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Emirates Turns Retired Aircraft into Luxury Bags

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Emirates, the UAE airline, is giving aviation waste a second life—and a stylish one at that. Following the rapid sellout of its 2023 launch, the Dubai-based airline has unveiled a second limited-edition collection of handmade bags crafted from retired aircraft interiors. The Aircrafted by Emirates 2025 Collection includes 167 collector pieces now available for purchase […]

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