Latest news with #SheikhaShamma
The National
12 hours ago
- General
- The National
Sheikha Shamma opens collective to drive climate action through stories
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, founder of The Climate Tribe, opened the project's first physical home – The Climate Tribe Hub – this week. Tucked away in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the interactive space serves as a gathering point for climate storytelling, sustainable design, and hands-on workshops. Every detail, from tables made of date seeds to furniture woven from palm fibres, reflects the UAE's local materials and artisanal heritage. 'When we created the hub, we didn't want it to be a static space,' said Hind Al Ghseen, executive director of The Climate Tribe. 'We wanted the community to build it – to be part of it. We sought out local makers and brought them together.' A lifetime of work Sheikha Shamma is a passionate climate activist. 'It started for me when I was a student at Zayed University,' she told a room of climate advocates this week. 'My parents decided to go on a humanitarian trip to Mogadishu – I went with them. It was my first time witnessing the impact of a drought on a population.' That experience left a lasting mark. 'While studying business, I realised our economic models were missing something fundamental – the environmental cost. That moment changed everything for me.' Her other organisation, the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), focuses on policy and corporate alliances, but the Climate Tribe was designed to bring the conversation to a more personal, accessible level. 'It provides the human element,' she says. Global ambition with local heart Since its founding in 2023, The Climate Tribe has mobilised more than 2,200 people through grassroots initiatives, from tree-planting drives to recycling campaigns. In total, the group has helped plant 921 trees and divert more than 8,600kg of waste from landfill. Its blend of digital and physical tools – including workshops, tool kits and editorial storytelling – is designed to inspire both behavioural change and systemic action. According to Ms Al Ghseen, the launch of the hub represents a shift from online engagement to real-world collaboration. 'The Climate Tribe Hub is a true reflection of our values,' she said. 'From the materials chosen to the storytelling woven into every corner, it celebrates Emirati heritage and community craftsmanship.' Initially, the team looked beyond the UAE for climate stories. 'We were even planning to film in London,' Ms Al Ghseen said. 'But then we realised the UAE was full of untold stories – humble, impactful, and often overlooked. Sustainability here isn't always commercial. It's deeply personal.' The Climate Tribe's mission remains global – to bring international stories to local audiences and elevate UAE voices on the world stage. But at its heart, the aim is constant: to amplify hope, resilience, and solutions. When asked whether she believes the world is progressing quickly enough on climate, Sheikha Shamma didn't hesitate. 'No,' she said. 'There's still too much fragmentation. We live in a world of limited resources – we can't afford to be siloed. We need collaboration more than ever.'
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
The Climate Tribe launches Abu Dhabi's first sustainable collaboration hub, debuting with ‘The Climate Tribe Live!' event
Continuing its mission to inspire climate action, The Climate Tribe has officially launched a first-of-its-kind hub dedicated to impact storytelling, sustainable design, and community engagement Abu Dhabi, UAE: Established by Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan in 2023, The Climate Tribe is a UAE-based social enterprise dedicated to inspiring collective climate action. Serving as a platform for sharing creative ideas and mobilising the local community through workshops and activations around the UAE, The Climate Tribe has now opened the doors to its own collaborative hub in Abu Dhabi. It not only operates as a community-led mission; The Climate Tribe also functions as a fully-operating business that supports brands, organisations, and institutions in communicating their sustainability efforts through an impact production studio, white-labeled storytelling, and bespoke community engagement initiatives. Marking The Climate Tribe Hub's first event, The Climate Tribe Live!' started the conversation on June 23rd with an intimate gathering to showcase the organisation's impact and set the tone for what's to come. The inaugural event, set within the entirely sustainably designed hub, showcased the power of creativity, collaboration, and community as catalysts for transformation. Guests had the chance to learn more about The Climate Tribe's journey so far and the group's impact through a captivating short film. After, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President & CEO of The Climate Tribe, shared her inspiration for the organisation, perspectives on the current state of global climate action, and her aspirations for a more sustainable future in the UAE and beyond. 'The Climate Tribe began with a vision to inspire climate action through storytelling, creativity, and shared purpose,' said Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President & CEO of The Climate Tribe. 'With 2025 being the Year of Community in the UAE, we are proud to align with our national vision as we now mark this new chapter in our journey.' 'Building on the impact we have created through dynamic storytelling, community engagement and bold partnerships over the last two years, the opening of our Hub paves the way for deeper conversations and tangible solutions in our collective mission towards climate action. I look forward to seeing the ideas and collaborations that will flourish within this space to shape a more sustainable future,' Her Highness continued. 'The Climate Tribe Live!' also took attendees through the journey of transforming an online movement into a physical home by highlighting The Climate Tribe Hub's innovative and community-centered sustainable design. Developed hand in hand with local artisans, makers, and designers, the Hub is a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and Emirati heritage. Contributors included Alchemy, Alghadeer Emirati Crafts, Date Form by ARDH Collective, Byblos, Datecrete, Desert Board, PlyPalm, Tashkeel and Tibrah who all played a vital role in shaping the space through thoughtful design choices and low-impact, locally sourced materials. Built not just as a co-working venue, but more importantly as a co-creation space, the Hub brings together creativity and cause under one roof, offering a place for the community to connect, ideate, and drive climate action. Following a mini-documentary on the Hub's development, members of The Climate Tribe's leadership team – including Executive Director, Hind Al Ghseen; Editor-in-Chief, Manal Shaikh; and Director of Community Impact, Aysha Hareb Al Dhaheri – shared their reflections on the design process and how it aligns with the group's mission. Spotlighting the community behind The Climate Tribe, the session concluded with a panel discussion from workshop participants, filmmakers, editors, and project partners who shared what being part of the movement has meant to them. In a relaxed yet engaging discussion, they highlighted the real people and stories behind every project and the ripple effect on the environment, reinforcing The Climate Tribe Hub as a space for collaboration and driving positive change. Reflecting on the launch of The Climate Tribe Hub and the success of its inaugural gathering, Hind Al Ghseen, Executive Director at The Climate Tribe, stated, 'The Climate Tribe Hub is a true reflection of our values – built in collaboration with local artisans, designers, and sustainability experts who brought the space to life using thoughtful, low-impact practices. From the materials chosen to the storytelling woven into every corner, the Hub celebrates Emirati heritage and community craftsmanship. It stands as a symbol of what can be achieved when creativity, culture, and purpose come together.' Since its founding in 2023, The Climate Tribe has united over 2,200 community members through meaningful, hands-on action. Beyond its digital platform of creative climate resources, the group has facilitated over 70 community initiatives, contributing to the planting of 921 trees and the collecting and recycling of 8,656 kilograms of waste. The launch of The Climate Tribe Hub marks an exciting new chapter for the movement, transforming its digital roots into a physical space for collaboration, creativity, and action. As a home for storytellers, changemakers, and community members alike, the hub will serve as a launchpad for deeper engagement and sustainable solutions. With its inaugural event setting the tone, The Climate Tribe is poised to grow its impact even further, continuing to inspire local action and shape a more sustainable future for the UAE.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
New Energy Investor Summit Middle East 2025 unites global leaders to accelerate green investments
This landmark event aims to bridge the gap between capital and renewable energy projects, spotlighting the UAE's pivotal role in the global energy transition and positioning Abu Dhabi as the Capital of Green Capital. Abu Dhabi, The New Energy Investor Summit Middle East 2025 convened at ADGM bringing together global policymakers, project developers, investors, and sustainability pioneers to catalyse investment in green energy and decarbonisation initiatives across the Middle East and beyond. This landmark event aims to bridge the gap between capital and concrete climate action, spotlighting the UAE's pivotal role in the global energy transition. The summit provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in high-level discussions, fostering partnerships and exploring investment opportunities in renewable energy, hydrogen, and sustainable infrastructure. The event attracted regional and global leaders in climate finance and energy transition at ADGM, positioning Abu Dhabi as the Capital of Green Capital. The summit, themed 'Bridging the Gap Between Capital and Projects', opened with a keynoteaddress by Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President & CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA). During the inaugural keynote, Her Highness stated: 'A substantial gap exists between the amount of finance needed to achieve our ambitious net zero goals, and where we stand today. Platforms like the New Energy Investor Summit are vital to unlocking capital, driving innovation, and strengthening collaboration. Similarly, initiatives like the UICCA's UAE Carbon Alliance, Policy Hack series, and its Launchpad programme, are all part of a broader effort to build a robust, inclusive climate ecosystem. By aligning public and private efforts, we can accelerate investment in clean technologies and advance carbon markets to support climate action – while growing the green economy.' Session 1: High-Level Dialogue on Global Policy, Regulation and Investment The first session explored national and regional frameworks that support decarbonisation and investment. The topics included the alignment of energy policies with international climate agreements and regulatory incentives to accelerate renewable energy adoption. Participants examined the role of financial regulators, as well as how national infrastructure planning can align with long-term decarbonization goals and efforts towards energy transition. Keynotes were delivered by H.E. Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority, and Horst H. Mahmoudi, Executive Chairman of Smartenergy, with expert insights from Dipak Sakaria (UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure), Petra Schwager (UNIDO), Cornelius Matthes (Dii Desert Energy), Wael Almazeedi (Avance), and Hector Perea (XRG). H.E. Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority, said: 'The New Energy Investor Summit reinforces ADGM's position as a global leader in climate innovation and further solidifies Abu Dhabi's role as the home of Green Capital. As the world faces an urgent demand for climate action, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment where the need to connect investment with innovation, has never been more critical. Today, we are building the bridges that will link capital with climate solutions, align ambition with tangible action, and unite policymakers, investors, and innovators'. Horst H. Mahmoudi, Executive Chairman of Smartenergy, said: 'Our venture into the UAE is a strategic decision to place Smartenergy at the nexus of the world's emerging new energy hubs. Under its visionary leadership, the UAE is spearheading the worldwide push towards clean and renewable energy. We are committed to supporting these initiatives by catalysing green molecule markets. The New Energy Investor Summit is helping us to create a bridge between continents to capitalise on the emerging opportunities offered by the current renewable energy market.' Session 2: Transcontinental Synergies MEA-Europe This session explored strategic cooperation between the Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Europe in building integrated green value chains and achieving shared climate targets. Topics include transcontinental hydrogen corridors, harmonizing certification standards for green molecules, and the role of intergovernmental agreements in unlocking cross-border trade and investment. Speakers addressed joint R&D initiatives, infrastructure co-development, and the importance of political and international alignment to create predictable, long-term frameworks for decarbonization. Keynotes were presented by H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Arthur Mattli, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE and Bahrain; and Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe. Panelists included Capt. Saif Al Mheiri (AD Ports Group), David Smith (Marubeni), and Dimitrios Dimitriou (EMSTEEL Group), Siddharth Malik, CEO (Jindal Renewables) and Anas Aljuaidi, (Mannesmann Energy) who discussed cross-border collaboration and investment in clean hydrogen, infrastructure, and climate technology. Session 3: Supply and Demand – Scaling up Green Molecule Production The third session addressed the industrial-scale production of green molecules such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). As green hydrogen emerges as a pivotal solution in the global race to decarbonize, and given the increased demand for energy, this session explored the financial, technological, and geopolitical dimensions of scaling up hydrogen ecosystems. Keynotes were presented by Andreas Michael Feil, First Secretary, German Embassy UAE, Dr. Alejandro Rios Galvan (SAF Consultant), Andrès Isaza (Smartenergy). The panel featured Dr. Sami Kamel (Dutco Cleantech), Raghu Viswanathan (Smartenergy), Alexandros Kosmas, (Airbus), Pedro Amaral Jorge, (APREN) and Alexis Rostand (Eiffel Investment Group). Session 4: Bridging the Gap – Financing Mega-scale Green Molecule Projects This session delved into the critical financial frameworks and instruments needed to bring mega-scale hydrogen and green molecule projects from vision to reality. Speakers addressed the bankability of large-scale infrastructure investments, evolving risk-sharing mechanisms, and innovative financing models including blended finance, sovereign guarantees, and green bonds. The discussion highlighted how multilateral institutions, export credit agencies, and private capital can align to unlock billions in green infrastructure. With global demand for low-carbon fuels accelerating, the session explored how transparent regulatory environments and long-term offtake agreements can de-risk investments and catalyze global capital flows into the MENA region. A keynote was presented by Nabil Ayoun, Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA). The panel featured Mohamed Hesham, (2PointZero), Gido Van Graas, (FAB), Maheur Mourali (the Arab Energy Fund), Karim Mourad, (ADIA) and Sami Neffati (Investcorp). A Platform for Action The summit underscored the UAE's leadership in advancing sustainable finance and innovation. It provided a vital forum for aligning policy, capital, and technology to accelerate the region's energy transition. With participation from global investors, government officials, and climate experts, the event fostered actionable dialogue on green project development, financing mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and public-private partnerships. Panel discussions explored investment opportunities in green hydrogen, cross-border collaboration between the Middle East and Europe, and the role of private investment, technological progress and public-private partnerships in accelerating the energy transition. About the New Energy Investor Summit Middle East Organized by leading industry bodies and supported by regional authorities, the summit serves as a catalyst for sustainable investment in the Middle East. By bringing together key players in the energy sector, the event aims to facilitate the deployment of clean technologies and promote economic diversification and energy transition, aligned with environmental goals. Hosted by ADGM and Smartenergy, the New Energy Investor Summit Middle East serves as a premier platform for connecting capital with climate-positive projects. It aims to mobilise investment in renewable energy, clean technology, and decarbonisation strategies, supporting the UAE's vision for a sustainable, net-zero economy. The New Energy Investor Summit Middle East will be held annually. Next year's edition is scheduled for 15 April 2026. Smartenergy Founded in 2011 and located in Wollerau, Switzerland, Smartenergy focuses on investments in renewable energy and related ventures. We identify, develop and deliver green energy assets. We are a driving force in the ongoing transition of industry towards green energy, focused on the deployment of solar, wind, green hydrogen and Power-to-Liquid projects. We are committed to the potential of hydrogen and its derivatives such as eSAF for decarbonization where electrification is not possible. Beyond our headquarters team in Wollerau, we rely on our own local subsidiaries in all our focus markets. Local knowledge and proximity to industry stakeholders allow us to identify and secure opportunities at an early stage.
Gulf Business
02-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
GCC board gender diversity rises to 6.8% in 2025, UAE leads with 14.8%
Image: Getty Images The share of women on corporate boards across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rose to 6.8 per cent in early 2025, up from 5.2 per cent a year earlier, with the UAE leading regional progress at 14.8 per cent, according to the latest GCC Board Gender Index Report released by Heriot-Watt University and Aurora50. The report, now in its second edition, is the only cross-GCC study tracking female representation on the boards of publicly listed companies. It recorded double-digit growth in every country in the region since 2024, based on data from 729 listed companies and 5,535 board seats as of January 2025. How these GCC nations fared in the Board Gender Index Report The UAE registered the strongest performance with 14.8 per cent of board seats (185 of 1,248) held by women, up from 10.8 per cent a year earlier—a 37 per cent increase. Bahrain followed at 8.5 per cent, overtaking Oman, which stood at 6.6 per cent. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar recorded 5.5 per cent, 2.9 per cent, and 2.8 per cent respectively. 'When Aurora50 launched in 2020 with its vision of gender parity on corporate boards, only 3.5 per cent of UAE board seats were held by women,' said Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, director of Aurora50. 'As we mark our fifth anniversary, it is promising to see that figure rise over fourfold and to almost 7 per cent across the region.' The findings reflect growing momentum for gender inclusion in GCC boardrooms, supported by government strategies and public-private collaborations. 'Tracking this progress – as the GCC Board Gender Index does – is key to creating, and bolstering, a strong pipeline of female talent at every level,' Sheikha Shamma added. The report also underscores the role of data transparency and collaboration in fostering long-term gender parity. Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Aurora50 have committed to updating and publishing the index annually until at least 2027, with plans underway for a fully searchable database and additional diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) research initiatives. Professor Dame Heather McGregor, provost and vice principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, noted: 'The progress we are seeing is promising; year-on-year increase in women's board representation signals real momentum. 'Although there is a lot of work to be done, the UAE has shown significant progress, which is a key step towards gender parity on The full report is available on
