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Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai to get 200 ultra-fast EV charging stations by 2025 under Parkin–e& deal
Parkin has signed a 10-year agreement with charge&go to supercharge Dubai's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with 200 ultra-fast direct current (DC) charging stations. The project, scheduled to launch in October 2025, will cut charging times to under 30 minutes through advanced DC technology. The network will be rolled out at key destinations across Dubai, including high-density residential communities, major retail centres and leisure hubs, aligning with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and supporting the needs of more than 40,000 EVs currently on the road. EV charging in Dubai Phase one of the initiative will see the installation of 20 charging stations in some of the city's busiest areas, followed by a full rollout of 200 public and private charging points over the next 12 months. Unlike conventional alternating current (AC) systems, DC charger technology enables significantly faster charging. Customers will also benefit from real-time status updates, booking options and secure in-app payments through Parkin's mobile application. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, said: 'This 10-year partnership with charge&go is a clear example of our commitment to providing cleaner, greener tech-driven mobility solutions to our customers. 'Working closely with our colleagues at e& allows us to tap into a global network of knowledge and expertise along with advanced services across diverse sectors. 'Both Parkin and e& share a commitment to leveraging technology to meet the needs of our digitally savvy clients, supporting Dubai's ongoing transformation into a global, sustainable and future-ready city. 'This collaboration is essential to accelerate the adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and to expand the necessary infrastructure to meet Dubai's growing ambitions for sustainable mobility.' Muammar Al Rukhaimi, CEO of Etisalat Services Holding, said: 'Dubai is rewriting the playbook on how big cities can embrace sustainability at scale, and this EV charging rollout marks a decisive step forward. 'At e&, we are fuelling a movement by deploying cutting-edge technology that delivers real-world impact while ensuring quicker charging turnarounds and a superior customer experience. 'This partnership with Parkin makes green mobility effortlessly accessible and shows how a city can grow boldly without costing the planet.' Parkin, which operates approximately 212,000 paid parking spaces across Dubai, first signed an MoU with charge&go in October 2024 during the GITEX exhibition. The new DC charging network will operate under a strict 'park and charge' protocol, ensuring designated bays are only occupied during active charging to prevent overstays and unauthorised use.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Microsoft workers protest at company HQ against Israeli ties
Microsoft employees rallied at the company's Redmond, Washington, headquarters to try to increase pressure on the company to stop doing business with Israel over its war in Gaza. Protesters started gathering on Tuesday afternoon at a plaza at the centre of a recently redeveloped part of the company's main base, which covers about 200 hectares in the suburban town. They set up tents and declared the space a 'liberated zone". Addressing 'friends and colleagues' through a microphone, former Microsoft employee and protest leader Hossam Nasr said: 'We are here because over 22 months of genocide, Israel — powered by Microsoft — has been killing, maiming Palestinian children every hour.' About an hour after the activists arrived, a Redmond police officer used his SUV speaker to warn they were trespassing and subject to arrest if they stayed. Soon after, the about three dozen demonstrators packed up their tents, rolled up their banners and departed the plaza. They reassembled on a slice of sidewalk that organisers said was public property. For more than a year, the Microsoft employee group No Azure for Apartheid, has been pushing Microsoft to end its relationship with Israel, saying use of the company's products is contributing to civilian deaths in Gaza. Azure, the company's cloud-computing division, sells on-demand software and data storage to businesses and governments, including Israeli government and military agencies. A handful of No Azure for Apartheid organisers have been fired for holding what Microsoft said was an unauthorised event on campus and disrupting speeches by executives. 'Microsoft is the most complicit digital arms manufacturer in Israel's genocide of Gaza,' Nisreen Jaradat, a Microsoft employee, said in a statement on Tuesday. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a blog post published in May, the company said it had 'found no evidence to date that Microsoft's Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza". But Microsoft said this month that it had enlisted the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct a further review after a report that Israel's military surveillance agency intercepted millions of mobile phone calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and stored them on Azure servers. That trove helped the military choose bombing targets in Gaza, according to reporting by The Guardian newspaper and other outlets. The activists took their inspiration from protests staged on at least 100 US university campuses since the war in Gaza began. Students at schools such as Columbia University pitched tents and called for their colleges to divest financial holdings tied to Israel and US weapons makers, in many cases sparking disciplinary action from administrators.
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE dominates M&A activity in MENA region in H1 2025
19 Aug 2025 23:48 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)The UAE has attracted nearly half of the MENA's total M&A value of $58.7 billion in the first half of 2025, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights UAE captured investments worth $25.4 billion, mainly in chemicals, technology, industrials, and real estate. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) received investments worth $2.5b in the first half of this the MENA region recorded 425 M&A deals between January and June 2025, marking a 31% increase in volume and a 19% rise in value compared to the same period last year. 'This performance builds on the steady flow of transactions seen in 2024, with strong momentum in early 2025 supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and an improving macroeconomic outlook,' the EY report stated. Although deal-making slowed slightly in the second quarter amid global trade policies and regional conflicts, market sentiment remained positive with investors increasingly targeting sectors offering diversification and high-potential growth opportunities.'We are witnessing record-breaking cross-border activity as investors look beyond short-term volatility, actively pursuing scale, innovation, and new market opportunities,' Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon Leader, said.'The UAE, in particular, remains a magnet for global capital, supported by a stable regulatory framework and a focus on economic diversification, while regional partnerships with Europe, Asia, and North America are opening doors to fresh growth channels.'The UAE was the clear leader in inbound M&A, capturing 50% of all inbound deals and an overwhelming 98% of inbound deal value across the region. The UAE also witnessed strong domestic activity, with 192 transactions worth $12.8 billion in H1 2025. Group 42's $2.2 billion acquisition of a 40% stake in Khazna Data Center was the largest local deals across the MENA region hit their highest level in five years, with 233 transactions worth $45.9 billion, accounting for 78% of total deal value. Chemicals and technology sectors dominated, making up 67% of cross-border deal Menon, MENA EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, noted that the MENA's strong dealmaking in 2025 reflects investor confidence in the region's long-term fundamentals. 'Stable oil prices, ongoing infrastructure development, and a strategic focus on technology, chemicals, and industrials are creating solid foundations for sustained activity,' he explained. 'As the year progresses, we expect intensifying competition for high-quality assets, particularly those that align with national transformation agendas and offer strategic value beyond financial returns.'Outbound activity reached 126 deals valued at $24.4b in H1 2025, up 30% in volume from the same period in 2024, according to EY. 'The UAE and KSA together accounted for 87% of outbound value, supported by government-related entities playing a major role.'Notable UAE-led moves included ADNOC and OMV AG's acquisition of Canada's Nova Chemicals. Sovereign wealth funds and government-backed entities such as ADIA and Mubadala played a central role, driving $21 billion in deal value across chemicals, technology, and industrials.
