Latest news with #KamalFarah
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
DesertBoard: A sustainable solution rooted in the Palm Groves of the Gulf
On the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, nestled within the Khalifa Economic Zones (KEZAD), sits a factory that may hold one of the Gulf's most intriguing sustainability secrets. Here, amidst the mechanical hum of pressed fibre, millions of discarded palm fronds — once destined for landfills or burn pits — are being transformed into high-performance construction boards. It is the home of DesertBoard, the world's first industrial-scale facility to manufacture engineered wood boards from pruned palm fronds. A product born of necessity and vision - DesertBoard's Palm Strand Board (PSB®) is a rare example of environmental innovation thriving in the arid Gulf landscape. At a time when global construction is under increasing pressure to decarbonise, this UAE-made material may offer something revolutionary: a building product that is carbon negative, zero formaldehyde, and circular by design. 'We are not just producing a board,' says Kamal Farah, one of the visionaries behind the project and part of the leadership team at DesertBoard. 'We're producing the most sustainable wooden board in the world — and doing it right here in the Emirates.' An idea rooted in the past DesertBoard's chairman Hatem Farah recalls speaking to a friend years ago about the volumes of palm raw material generated across the UAE — branches that are pruned annually by the government to maintain the health of the trees, yet had no productive end use. The thought struck him: could these fronds, layered and pressed, form something stronger? Initial trials were unsuccessful. Prototypes failed multiple times. 'The engineers told us to abandon the idea,' Hatem says. 'But I insisted on one final attempt. That was the breakthrough.' From that moment, DesertBoard invested heavily in R&D, engineering the first machinery of its kind to process palm raw material into building-grade wooden boards. The effort has resulted in an operational facility that spans 55,000 square metres — described by some visitors as 'a mini oil refinery', given its scale and automation. The result is a sustainable wooden board that has quietly started replacing traditional plywood, MDF, and gypsum-based products in construction and interior fit-outs, with applications ranging from fire-rated doors and wall partitions to wardrobes, cabinets, flooring and shuttering. Green credentials At a glance, DesertBoard looks like any other engineered wood board. But its environmental credentials are game-changing. Unlike conventional particle boards, which are notorious for their formaldehyde emissions and heavy reliance on virgin timber, DesertBoard's PSB® contains zero formaldehyde, emits no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and is manufactured entirely from agricultural byproduct . An independent life-cycle assessment by IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità), an Italian certification institute that verifies the safety, quality, and performance of building materials, found the board to be carbon negative — even after factoring in logistics, processing energy, and transport emissions. In climate accounting terms, it functions as a carbon sink: locking in the CO2 absorbed by palm trees through photosynthesis and preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere via decomposition or combustion. 'No other building board on the market can claim that,' Kamal says. 'We're taking something nature has grown, and turning it into a value-added, circular-economy material that contributes directly to the UAE's 2050 Sustainability Vision. Specifically, it supports Abu Dhabi's Industrial Diversification Strategy by decreasing reliance on imported materials. It also contributes to the UAE's 2030 Green Agenda, particularly through the 'Green Diversification Program,' which incentivises factories to support green manufacturing and minimise industrial waste. The global appetite for such products is growing. DesertBoard's PSB® is already being exported to Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom, with interest from Canada and Europe. In fact, Emaar, one of the UAE's largest developers, has approved the use of the board in wardrobes, kitchens, and doors across its new projects. Other leading UAE-based developers, including Aldar Properties and Select Group, have also incorporated DesertBoard's PSB® into their projects — using it for doors, flooring, vanities, walls, cupboards, wardrobes, cabinets, rails, and other bespoke interior installations. Despite this international traction, Kamal remains firm: 'This is not an experiment—it's industrialised. We can produce enough boards in a single day to fill 16 20-feet shipping containers. And we're scaling up.' A sustainable product with Emirati roots Part of the PSB® wooden board's allure is its deep cultural connection to the UAE. Palm trees, especially date palms, have long been central to the country's identity — used for shade, food, building, and ritual. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, famously offered cash incentives in the 1970s to citizens who planted date palms and spearheaded cloning programmes in Al Ain to conserve the species. Hatem sees DesertBoard as an extension of that legacy. 'If Sheikh Zayed were alive today, I'm sure he would have been very proud of this factory. It's everything he stood for — preserving nature, giving back to the land, and creating something useful for society.' Currently, palm raw material in the UAE is either buried or burnt, both environmentally problematic. Buried fronds decompose slowly, releasing methane, while burning emits CO2 and creates fire hazards. 'We've found a productive solution for a long-ignored problem,' Kamal notes. With millions of date palms across the UAE, the raw material supply is abundant. Still, sourcing requires coordination with farms and municipal authorities. 'It's a challenge,' Kamal admits. 'But it's a necessary part of creating a circular supply chain.' Technical versatility meets regulatory demand DesertBoard's PSB® wooden board is more than a green alternative — it's also technically robust. The boards have passed rigorous strength, shear, and fire-resistance tests, meeting the UAE, Saudi Arabian, European and American standards for structural and interior use. Its lightweight, high-strength profile also makes it ideal for modular and prefabricated construction, especially in earthquake-prone regions. Crucially, the product aligns with Scope 3 emissions reduction — a coveted benchmark in corporate sustainability. Few construction products globally meet this bar, particularly in regions with limited access to sustainable forests or biomass. 'We're building as if we have forests — except we're not cutting any trees,' says Kamal. Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have acknowledged the board's environmental performance in their own certifications, particularly its zero-emission status — certified by Al Sa'fat (Dubai Green Building Evaluation System) — and its fire resistance of up to 90 minutes, which has been locally certified by the Ministry of Defence. Yet Hatem and Kamal are still hoping for more structured support. 'We'd love to see stronger recognition for local manufacturers,' Hatem says. 'This isn't just good for the climate; it's good for the 'Made in the Emirates' brand.' What's Next? The company is already in discussions to build a second production facility, either within the UAE or in neighboring Saudi Arabia. Plans are also afoot to develop prefabricated housing elements using DesertBoard's PSB®, in line with growing demand for fast, factory-built units. In 2022, Engineering Contracting Company LLC used the DesertBoard's PSB® to construct 25 refugee houses between the Jordan-Syria border in collaboration with the Red Crescent. It has since built live site mock-ups and is actively working with regulators to enable broader adoption in residential construction. Back in KEZAD, the factory's operations continue to scale. From raw fronds to finished wooden PSB® boards, the process is fully automated, enabling consistent quality and higher margins. Labour is sourced both locally and internationally, with upskilling programmes in place to train workers in this niche, first-of-its-kind technology. And yet, for all the technical prowess and export milestones, Hatem keeps returning to a simpler truth: 'In 50 years of construction, we've always believed that reputation matters more than profit. If we're going to build, let's build for the future. Let's build for the planet.'
Zawya
03-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
DesertBoard UAE triumphs at Global iF Design Awards 2025
DesertBoard wins Best Sustainable Building Material, Sustainable Building Panel, Sustainable Door Core and Fire-Rated Sustainable Door DesertBoard Becomes First GCC Winner of Four iF Awards in Building Technology & Construction Materials Abu Dhabi, UAE – DesertBoard UAE, the regional pioneer in sustainability, has emerged as a standout winner at the esteemed Global iF Design Awards in Hamburg. Recognised for its innovation and commitment to eco-friendly solutions, DesertBoard secured four prestigious titles: Best Sustainable Building Material, Best Sustainable Building Panel, Best Sustainable Door Core, and Best Fire-Rated Sustainable Door. The Global iF Design Awards, backed by the non-profit iF Design Foundation, celebrate groundbreaking designs that influence industries worldwide. This year, a jury of 131 design experts from 23 countries evaluated over 11,000 entries from 66 nations, selecting DesertBoard for its revolutionary approach to sustainability in construction materials. DesertBoard's award-winning innovation, Palm Strand Board (PSB®), is redefining the building industry by offering the region's most sustainable alternative to traditional engineered wood-based panels. Developed using repurposed palm fronds, PSB® sets a new benchmark for environmentally responsible construction materials. 'Winning four awards at the Global iF Design Awards is a testament to the impact of our sustainable innovation,' said Kareem Farah, Director, DesertBoard UAE. 'PSB® is not just a substitute for conventional engineered wood panels—it's a game-changer in sustainable construction. These accolades reinforce our commitment to environmental responsibility while delivering high-performance materials to the industry.' DesertBoard UAE is leading the charge in transforming 500,000 [1] tonnes of annual palm bio-ecological residue mass into high-quality, durable building materials. By diverting bio-ecological residual mass, DesertBoard actively reduces methane emissions—a major contributor to climate change—while promoting a circular economy. 'We're proud to be the first company from the GCC region in the history of the iF Awards to have won four awards in Building Technology & Construction Material categories.' added, Kamal Farah, Director, DesertBoard Key Benefits of PSB®: Sustainable & Renewable – Utilizes naturally occurring palm fronds, reducing reliance on traditional timber sources. PSB® is not reliant on deforestation and only uses naturally occurring bio-ecological residual mass. Mass deforestation has been a significant factor in accelerating climate change leading to soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for local communities. Fire-Rated Door Cores – Designed for enhanced fire safety, PSB Fire-Rated Door Cores are engineered to meet stringent fire resistance requirements. It holds accredited certifications for fire-rated performance by the Ministry of Interior Civil Defence (G.H.Q) as well as British, European and American standards. High Durability & Strength – Engineered for structural integrity and longevity, ideal for engineering & construction, interior design, landscape, and events and exhibitions. Resistant to Moisture & Pests – Outperforms engineered wood panels in humid and termite-prone environments. Eco-Friendly Manufacturing – Designed for sustainability, DesertBoard minimises its carbon footprint through an industry-leading value-added product, responsible sourcing process and innovative production approach. The factory sources 30% of its energy from renewable resources and DesertBoard factory's waste management system is able to recycle and reuse 3,800 kg of hazardous waste, annually. Formaldehyde Free - PSB® contains zero Formaldehyde. This chemical is a colorless, strong-smelling, carcinogenic, flammable binding resin, commonly found in wood-based products. DesertBoard's PSB® boards are manufactured with zero Formaldehyde glue as per the Al Sa'fat certificate of product conformity. The UAE's green building sector is experiencing rapid expansion, with the GCC sustainable construction market projected to grow from USD 39.72 [2] billion in 2025 to USD 66.82 billion by 2030. DesertBoard's commitment to innovation aligns seamlessly with the region's environmental goals, offering developers, architects, and contractors a high-performance, sustainable alternative to conventional materials. With its multiple award wins, DesertBoard UAE continues to lead the industry in sustainable innovation, proving that environmental responsibility and superior performance can go hand in hand. -Ends- For more information about Palm Strand Board and its applications, visit: About DesertBoard UAE DesertBoard UAE is dedicated to pioneering sustainable building materials that meet modern construction demands while minimising environmental impact. By leveraging renewable resources and innovative engineering, the company provides high-quality, eco-friendly building material alternatives that redefine the future of sustainable cities. About the iF DESIGN AWARD Since 1954, the iF DESIGN AWARD has been a globally recognized trademark when it comes to design excellence. The iF Design brand is internationally established as a symbol of outstanding design achievements. The iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honors design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior design as well as professional concept, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). All award-winning entries are presented on iF Design Awards 2025 Website: Link to DesertBoard Awards DesertBoard Press Office Baha Hamadi / Chuma Goodwin chuma@
