Expo City Dubai and UICCA team up to drive climate action
DUBAI – Expo City Dubai and UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) have signed a cooperation agreement that combines the expertise of both entities to identify, test and scale innovative sustainable urban development solutions, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting the growth of the UAE's climate tech sector.
Under the agreement, UICCA will identify potential mature or near-market-ready innovations from its pool of initiatives, with selected projects gaining access to Expo City's Urban Lab – an advanced city-wide testbed where innovators can integrate their technologies into the city's existing infrastructure to observe how they interact with the real challenges and dynamics of urban life.
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, said: 'Nurturing new technology and forging closer partnerships between the public and private sectors is vital to the UAE's goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Through UICCA's Launchpad, we are accelerating the growth of green startups and SMEs by providing them with tailored mentorship, regulatory guidance and direct access to investors, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale their solutions in the UAE. By combining innovative ventures from the Launchpad with Expo City's state-of-the-art Urban Lab testbed and supportive business ecosystem, we will strengthen our ability to grow the green economy and support our nation's bold climate targets.'
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, said: 'Collaborating and innovating for a better future is at the heart of Expo City Dubai's purpose and supports the UAE's vision for sustainable social and economic growth. Our agreement with UICCA not only helps us find solutions that address real-world climate and urban development challenges, but also ensures they are supported, thoroughly evaluated and implemented, demonstrating how a human-centric approach to technological development can lead to meaningful, long-lasting change.'
Dedicated to piloting new solutions that enhance the urban environment, improve quality of life and promote sustainability, Expo City's Urban Lab provides a safe, secure and regulatory-compliant sandbox environment for innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses. This environment can be customised to enable live testing of physical and digital solutions, using the city's 200,000 live data points from sensors, cameras, IoT and other sources to validate testing results, while innovators also have access to Expo City's existing datasets, which can be used to highlight challenges and facilitate commercialisation.
Expo City will also support UICCA's Launchpad, organising virtual workshops, providing mentorship and helping participants bring their projects to the testing phase. The Launchpad connects climate-focused startups with major stakeholders and leaders across the private and public sectors, offering a dedicated pathway for their development.
Strategically located next to Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) and Al Maktoum International Airport, Expo City's master plan cements its position as the centre of Dubai's future, providing a home for key sectors driving Dubai's Economic Agenda (D33) and – as one of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan – offering a blueprint for sustainable urban development.
The city already welcomes a diverse range of local and global organisations to its sustainability- and innovation-focused free zone, with a range of programmes and initiatives boosting its appeal as a hub for innovators. This includes the recent launch of the Changemakers Academy – an innovation and entrepreneurship incubator for young innovators that will incentivise creative problem-solving and unearth bold solutions to social and environmental challenges relevant to the UAE.
About Expo City Dubai
Expo City Dubai, the legacy city of Expo 2020 Dubai, is an innovation-driven, people-centric community rooted in the belief that collaboration can propel sustainable progress. Its prime location and world-class connectivity place it at the centre of Dubai's future – the lynchpin between Dubai Exhibition Centre, Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port and a key driver of Dubai's Economic Agenda (D33)
A world-class free zone, it is home to a thriving business community that supports cross-sector collaboration and provides a springboard for businesses of all sizes to scale and grow, enhancing Dubai's position as a global centre of trade and reinforcing the UAE's development and diversification ambitions
Its residential communities redefine urban living, exemplifying best practice in innovative, environment-friendly design with a focus on wellbeing and happiness
An incubator for innovation, it is a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas that benefit both people and the planet
Packed with educational, cultural and entertainment offerings, with more than 30 indoor and outdoor venues attracting globally significant events, it celebrates human creativity and ingenuity and inspires future generations
Designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban living and one of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, its roadmap to achieving net zero by 2050 and its broader decarbonisation targets raise the bar on responsible urban development
About UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA)
UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) is a pioneering organisation dedicated to accelerating climate action by growing the green economy. Through its unique convening power, UICCA connects people, insights, and technologies to transform complex sustainability challenges into actionable solutions. As a team of climate experts, UICCA delivers impact through three core pillars: Advisory, Accelerators, and Alliances.
UICCA provides data-driven research, policy guidance, and capacity building to facilitate informed climate action decisions. Through its accelerator programmes, UICCA creates dedicated pathways for promising climate tech startups to scale in the UAE. The organisation drives collective action by forming subject-specific coalitions, including the UAE Carbon Alliance and SME Sustainability Alliance. UICCA focuses on priority themes including carbon solutions, circular economy, and climate adaptation. Its subsidiary, The Climate Tribe, amplifies environmental change through sustainable storytelling and community engagement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital plans to step up Middle East investments
HONG KONG - Gaw Capital plans to bolster investments in the Middle East, its top executive said, as the Hong Kong-based multi-asset investment manager looks to tap into the post-COVID boom in the region's real estate and other industrial sectors. Christina Gaw, Gaw's managing principal and global head of capital markets, said the firm is looking at real estate and other businesses in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as their population has a large demand for real assets. Gaw acquired a residential building in Abu Dhabi in May for more than $150 million, and signed a pact in November with Expo City Dubai and Lingang Group to explore creating the Expo Life Science Park in Dubai. The firm, which had $34.4 billion of assets under management as of the end of 2024, expects to close another deal in the region in the second half of the year, said Gaw, whose two elder brothers founded the company in 2005. Gaw's interest in the Middle East comes against the backdrop of a post-pandemic property boom there, fuelled by business demand and foreign investment. "(The Middle East) is very wealthy, what can you bring to them? It's the expertise ... they want to attract talents and different businesses," Gaw said in a May 29 interview. "And we have tenants and business who want to expand there, so we act as a bridge ... to provide them funding and local connections." The firm plans to set up a separate vehicle to build an investment track record in the Middle East first before using its main funds in the future. Gaw, whose main focus has been Greater China and in recent years in Japan and Australia, is also raising a $2 billion fund for private equity and private credit opportunities in Asia Pacific. The fund is receiving interest from Middle Eastern and Asian investors, as well as in North America, who are looking to diversify amid changing geopolitics. "Currently the U.S. has many uncertainties. Investors who have been overweighting the U.S. and have done well for many years now may say, 'I need a little level play'," Gaw said. "Asia, on the other hand, has underperformed in the past five years, creating relative value, and people feel they need a repositioning and add some positions in Asia." Besides the Middle East, Gaw this year also made investments including more than $1 billion in the Tokyu Plaza Ginza mall in Tokyo with a joint venture partner, and a 45% stake in Agility Asset Advisers, a real estate manager in Japan. In its home market, Gaw said that the firm was focusing on a private credit business linked to upper-middle class residential projects, and was in talks with developers with liquidity needs as well as banks that are selling their non-performing loans. (Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Web Release
31-05-2025
- Web Release
Ministry of Sports organises ‘UX Lab' event for Sports Sabbatical services as part of Zero Government Bureaucracy Program
The Ministry of Sports hosted the 'User Experience Lab' (UX Lab) at its headquarters in Dubai to enhance sports sabbatical services. The event presented an in-depth simulation of the digital customer journey, allowing participants to evaluate the sports sabbatical services offered by the Ministry. Attendees included representatives from various sports federations, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and specialists from the Ministry's digital transformation and customer happiness departments. The event highlighted the Ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of government services and simplify the processes for obtaining sports sabbatical services as part of the UAE's Government Services 2.0 framework and the Zero Government Bureaucracy program. In this context, His Excellency Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, stated that hosting the UX Lab is a testament to the Ministry's unwavering commitment to providing smart and integrated sports services that streamline transaction procedures for sports entities. In addition, he said: 'Enhancing customer experiences is one of the factors that drive our efforts to design services and simplify procedures. Through this initiative, we look forward to directly involving representatives of sports federations in the process of assessing the services and proposing solutions, further emphasising our belief that remarkable improvements in services begin with customers.' H.E. Al Hajeri added: 'We consider the UX Lab as a meaningful step towards our efforts to offer government services without any administrative complications, using optimisation tools and collaborative designs with customers. Through its results, we aim to make significant enhancements in sports sabbatical services and attain the goals of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Program.' The UX Lab will evaluate the current customers' experience with sports sabbatical services. In line with this, six representatives from sports entities who participated in the event were allocated one hour each to conduct a session assessing their digital journey and exploring opportunities for improvement. The event further aligns with the Ministry's efforts to provide seamless and effective government services focused on customer requirements. The Ministry of Sports continues its efforts to implement quality initiatives that enhance customer experiences and improve access to its services, guided by a customer-centric vision. By employing best practices in government service design, the Ministry aims to streamline processes and boost operational efficiency. This approach ensures smoother and more adaptable service experiences that align with the expectations of sports entities and support the country's digital transformation.
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Zawya
Norway's DNV chooses Expo City Dubai for new Dubai office
DUBAI – Norwegian assurance giant DNV has opened new premises at Expo City Dubai, unveiling a state-of-the-art, people-first office focused on employee wellbeing, reinforcing the city's rise as a hub for innovative, sustainability-minded enterprises. Designed for 200-plus employees with wellness and community at its core, DNV's new space in Expo City Dubai spans approximately 24,000 sqft and features recharge rooms, walking pads and a zen garden. With parks and green spaces spread throughout the pedestrian-friendly city, the location is tailored for connection, creativity and collaboration. The global leader in business assurance, risk management and advisory services, DNV sets industry benchmarks through testing, certification and cutting-edge digital solutions – including cybersecurity and data platforms. Its new Dubai office, strategically located between Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport, with easy access to Dubai International Airport, strengthens its expanding regional maritime and energy operations. Bror Berge, Country Chair, DNV, said: 'At DNV, we prioritise people and the environment, which is why Expo City Dubai, with its future-focused infrastructure, sustainability ethos and like-minded business community, is a natural fit. Our new office blends smart design, movement-friendly features and energy-efficient systems to inspire fresh thinking and boost positivity, creativity and connection – all while meeting the highest standards in green buildings and occupant health.' Manal AlBayat, Chief Engagement Officer, Expo City Dubai, said: 'DNV's decision to relocate to Expo City Dubai reflects our shared commitment to employee wellbeing, innovation and meaningful impact – and we're proud to welcome them to our expanding international community. With 41 buildings certified under the WELL Health-Safety Rating, Expo City Dubai is committed to putting employee health and happiness at the core of its operations.' Expo City Dubai has quickly become one of the region's most sought-after business destinations, with the number of commercial tenants doubling in the past year alone. Around 75 per cent of businesses now operating at Expo City come from outside the UAE – underscoring its growing reputation as a global hub for forward-thinking enterprises. The city is built for the industries of tomorrow, with a world-class free zone offering more than 2,000 licensing activities, 100 per cent foreign ownership and tax benefits as well as Grade A, LEED-certified buildings. Pre-certified under the WELL Community Standard, it is already home to global brands such as DP World, Siemens and Emirates' Ebdaa innovation hub, with Nestlé, the world's largest food and beverage company, opening its Middle East and North Africa head office in the coming months. A destination for globally significant events, Expo City was home to the COP28 climate conference and is also hosting the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum in October 2025. The inauguration of the DNV premises was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by His Excellency Olav Myklebust, Ambassador of Norway to the UAE; Kjetil Ebbesberg, DNV Group CFO; Andreas Fischer, Global Director of Real Estate Management and Procurement; and senior representatives from Expo City Dubai, including Manal AlBayat and Najeeb Al Ali, Executive Director, Expo City Dubai Authority. About Expo City Dubai Expo City Dubai, the legacy city of Expo 2020 Dubai, is an innovation-driven, people-centric community rooted in the belief that collaboration can propel sustainable progress. Its prime location and world-class connectivity place it at the centre of Dubai's future – the lynchpin between Dubai Exhibition Centre, Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port and a key driver of Dubai's Economic Agenda (D33) A world-class free zone, it is home to a thriving business community that supports cross-sector collaboration and provides a springboard for businesses of all sizes to scale and grow, enhancing Dubai's position as a global centre of trade and reinforcing the UAE's development and diversification ambitions Its residential communities redefine urban living, exemplifying best practice in innovative, environment-friendly design with a focus on wellbeing and happiness An incubator for innovation, it is a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas that benefit both people and the planet Packed with educational, cultural and entertainment offerings, with more than 30 indoor and outdoor venues attracting globally significant events, it celebrates human creativity and ingenuity and inspires future generations Designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban living and one of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, its roadmap to achieving net zero by 2050 and its broader decarbonisation targets raise the bar on responsible urban development For media enquiries, please contact
