Forward-thinking companies are embracing sustainable solutions to help the UAE go green – including turning plastic bottles into clothing and crafting biodegradable abayas.
Businesses across the Emirates are answering the call to protect the planet on the road to the crucial Cop28 climate conference, being held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.
The UAE has called for collective action – from individuals and organisations alike – to help address pressing environmental challenges facing the world.
In May, 28 companies in the country's industrial sector signed up to a “climate-responsible companies pledge” at the 10th National Climate Ambition Dialogue, overseen by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
In line with the country's long-term eco-friendly vision, a number of establishments are already taking significant strides towards a better future.
The National spoke to three businesses leading the charge.
Sustainable abayas
A drive to make the traditional abaya – a robe worn by millions of women across the Arab world – more sustainable is being led by a young Palestinian entrepreneur.
Zein Altawil, 24, a computer science graduate at Khalifa University and founder of Yello, wants to make production of the garment more ethical and better for the environment.
She said the making of a single abaya could generate 12kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
“I quickly realised there was a gap in the market for sustainable abayas,” said Ms Altawil.
“So, I decided, why not fill that gap myself? My hope is that when you wear a Yello abaya, you don't just feel the softness on your skin, but [you] also know you're making your carbon footprint lighter.”
Ms Altawil said her plan was initially met with some scepticism, but she has since won over the doubters.
“People not only grasped the idea but began to appreciate the profound impact of merging sustainability with tradition.”
She said the company uses “natural, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, heat-resistant, durable” fabrics, allowing for the abayas to last for longer and reduce waste sent to landfill.
The young entrepreneur wants sustainability to be at heart of everything she does.
With the abayas, she gives a reusable tote bag and a biodegradable thank you note that can be planted.
“My dream is for Yello to be synonymous with sustainable shopping … we’re not just shaping fashion; we’re crafting a legacy for future generations,” said Ms Altawil.
Regular abayas made from silk often cost Dh20 per meter, however for a sustainable one the cost is closer to Dh100, not including taxes and delivery.
Ms Altawil says she imports all her fabric from Spain because there isn’t an industry for sustainable silk here.
Turning plastic bottles into clothing
A company in Dubai is helping to improve recycling rates by turning millions of plastic bottles discarded each month into clothes.
The team at DGrade said the more items they make, the less plastic waste that ends up in landfill.
From T-shirts to jackets and caps to face masks, the high-quality yarn made from recycled plastic bottles replaces traditional polyester yarn.
“To make recycled polyester uses 50 per cent less energy, 20 per cent less water and produces 55 per cent fewer carbon emissions compared to conventional polyester manufacturing,” Emma Barber, director of DGrade, told The National in a previous interview.
Bottles are washed, shredded into flakes, melted at high pressure and extruded, before being spun into a polyester yarn. Some of the flakes are also melted into pellets and sold off to companies to make recycled bottles.
The business has worked with Expo 2020, Yas Marina Circuit and Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel, and regularly teams up with schools to boost the environment cause.
The water bottles are collected through the Simply Bottles Initiative that educates and engages schools, communities and businesses in the collection process.
“We work with over 250 schools in the UAE, plus businesses and events, to collect and recycle their plastic bottles,” said Rebecca Rich, head of marketing at Dgrade.
“They are processed into flake and then supplied to local packaging manufacturers.
“We are supplying as many companies as we can that are already buying, so we don’t promote buying more. What we do is we work with companies that are already producing uniforms or making clothing, and we provide them with a sustainable alternative.”
Dgrade’s factory has the capacity to recycle a billion bottles a year. They recycled more than 250 million bottles in 2022.
A company which started out with two employees in 2010 now employs 50, as it aims to be a driving force for good.
Boosting water security
Manhat, an Emirati start-up set up in 2019, is harnessing the power of the sun to bolster water security.
The innovative company has embraced cutting edge technology to generate fresh water from the ocean without electricity. The process involves speeding up the evaporation of ocean water and capturing it on the surface.
Dr Saeed Al Hassan, co-founder of Manhat, said it is crucial to find ways to produce clean water while mitigating the impact on the environment.
Manhat uses the sun's heat and the process of evaporation, instead of classic distillation techniques.
“Traditional desalination techniques have a larger carbon footprint. Operational desalination plants emit around 76 million tonnes of CO2 annually,” said Dr Al Hassan.
“Emissions will increase to about 218 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2040.”
Dr Al Hassan wants to use the fresh water collected for irrigation at floating farms.
Water scarcity remains a pressing concern around the globe.
The UN said 2.2 billion people still lacked safely managed drinking water in 2022, with 703 million without a basic water service.
The invention was tested in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports where a prototype was unveiled.
“During this collaboration, we deployed our initial prototypes at Abu Dhabi Ports' facilities and successfully validated our technology,” said Vishnu Vijayan Pillai, co-founder of Manhat.
“We demonstrated the capability to produce freshwater from seawater without electricity.”
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The five pillars of Islam
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets