Latest news with #globaldevelopment
Al Bawaba
29-05-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
ADU Hosts Second International Conference on Global Sustainable Development Uniting
Abu Dhabi University (ADU) successfully hosted the second edition of the International Conference on Global Sustainable Development (ICGSD 2025) on May 23–24 at its Dubai campus. Marking the conference's first edition in the region, the event convened leading academic scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from ten countries to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions to today's most pressing sustainability in collaboration with Digambarrao Bindu College and Acadivate, the premier interdisciplinary conference brought together more than 130 global experts for high-impact discussions and cross-sector collaboration spanning health, business, environment, technology, and social sciences. Through a dynamic agenda of plenary sessions, panel debates, and over 100 research presentations, ICGSD 2025 explored critical themes including climate change, renewable energy, social justice, AI in education, and sustainable development practices. The two-day event reinforced the importance of international cooperation and actionable strategies aligned with the UAE's national agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, said: 'We recognize that meaningful progress toward sustainability requires collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and borders. At ADU, we are committed to fostering this kind of innovation-led dialogue through initiatives like ICGSD 2025. The conference served as a powerful platform for engaging thought leaders and changemakers committed to co-creating solutions that serve both people and the planet. As the UAE accelerates its sustainability agenda, ADU remains at the forefront of driving dialogue research, and innovation that advance long-term impact locally and globally.'Maryam Rashd Bunfour, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineer at the General Headquarters of Dubai Police, said: 'Police entities play a critical role in advancing sustainability by integrating comprehensive environmental frameworks into their core operations. This allows us to align efforts in maintaining society's safety and security with long-term environmental goals, ultimately contributing to shaping the UAE's future policies and building a resilient and sustainable society.'Karim Houni, Head of Digital Innovation at Emirates Global Aluminum, said: 'ICGSD 2025 provided an exceptional platform to explore forward-thinking solutions and engage with leading researchers and students from around the world. My session on 'Digital EcoDesign in a Sust-AI-nable World' sparked meaningful dialogue and opened doors for potential collaborations. I look forward to contributing to future editions of this impactful conference.'Professor Fauzia Jabeen, Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Futures at Abu Dhabi University added: 'We're proud to host such conferences that offer a powerful platform to highlight cutting-edge innovations like 'Metaverse Adoption as a Pillar of Sustainable Healthcare in Industry 5.0.' This keynote showcased the transformative potential of metaverse technologies to advance sustainability in the UAE's healthcare sector.' Following its successful inaugural edition in Thailand, the second ICGSD marked a major step forward in expanding global participation and impact. ADU continues to host high-caliber platforms that empower students, faculty, and global partners to contribute to sustainable solutions aligned with both national priorities and global development goals. The university also integrates climate action across education, research, operations, and community engagement. Through its Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Research Centre, ADU fosters innovation in areas such as renewable energy, pollution monitoring, and environmental management, reinforcing its leadership in advancing the UAE's sustainability agenda.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
ADU hosts second international conference on Global Sustainable Development Uniting
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi University (ADU) successfully hosted the second edition of the International Conference on Global Sustainable Development (ICGSD 2025) on May 23–24 at its Dubai campus. Marking the conference's first edition in the region, the event convened leading academic scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from ten countries to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions to today's most pressing sustainability challenges. Hosted in collaboration with Digambarrao Bindu College and Acadivate, the premier interdisciplinary conference brought together more than 130 global experts for high-impact discussions and cross-sector collaboration spanning health, business, environment, technology, and social sciences. Through a dynamic agenda of plenary sessions, panel debates, and over 100 research presentations, ICGSD 2025 explored critical themes including climate change, renewable energy, social justice, AI in education, and sustainable development practices. The two-day event reinforced the importance of international cooperation and actionable strategies aligned with the UAE's national agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, said: 'We recognize that meaningful progress toward sustainability requires collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and borders. At ADU, we are committed to fostering this kind of innovation-led dialogue through initiatives like ICGSD 2025. The conference served as a powerful platform for engaging thought leaders and changemakers committed to co-creating solutions that serve both people and the planet. As the UAE accelerates its sustainability agenda, ADU remains at the forefront of driving dialogue research, and innovation that advance long-term impact locally and globally.' Maryam Rashd Bunfour, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineer at the General Headquarters of Dubai Police, said: 'Police entities play a critical role in advancing sustainability by integrating comprehensive environmental frameworks into their core operations. This allows us to align efforts in maintaining society's safety and security with long-term environmental goals, ultimately contributing to shaping the UAE's future policies and building a resilient and sustainable society.' Karim Houni, Head of Digital Innovation at Emirates Global Aluminum, said: 'ICGSD 2025 provided an exceptional platform to explore forward-thinking solutions and engage with leading researchers and students from around the world. My session on 'Digital EcoDesign in a Sust-AI-nable World' sparked meaningful dialogue and opened doors for potential collaborations. I look forward to contributing to future editions of this impactful conference.' Professor Fauzia Jabeen, Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Futures at Abu Dhabi University added: 'We're proud to host such conferences that offer a powerful platform to highlight cutting-edge innovations like 'Metaverse Adoption as a Pillar of Sustainable Healthcare in Industry 5.0.' This keynote showcased the transformative potential of metaverse technologies to advance sustainability in the UAE's healthcare sector.' Following its successful inaugural edition in Thailand, the second ICGSD marked a major step forward in expanding global participation and impact. ADU continues to host high-caliber platforms that empower students, faculty, and global partners to contribute to sustainable solutions aligned with both national priorities and global development goals. The university also integrates climate action across education, research, operations, and community engagement. Through its Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Research Centre, ADU fosters innovation in areas such as renewable energy, pollution monitoring, and environmental management, reinforcing its leadership in advancing the UAE's sustainability agenda. About Abu Dhabi University: Abu Dhabi University (ADU) is one of the region's leading academic institutions, translating the UAE Government's National Agenda to deliver internationally accredited academic programs and world-class research. Established in 2003, with campuses across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai, the University serves around 8,700 students from over 100 nationalities. The University is home to five colleges across different disciplines including arts and sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and law, while offering a diverse range of over 50 undergraduate and graduate programs. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, ADU ranks 191 globally. Additionally, it ranks fourth in the UAE and 172nd globally for its research quality, and it is among the top three universities in the UAE, while holding the number one position in the teaching pillar. Additionally, THE Rankings has recognized the University's Business and Economics subject area as number one in the UAE and the Arab region. The University has made an impressive performance in THE Young University Rankings 2024, ranking in the 60th position globally among the world's best universities that are 50 years or younger. Furthermore, the University jumped to the 70th place in the prestigious THE Asia University Rankings 2025 and was ranked first in the UAE for graduate employability as per the Global University Employability Ranking 2023-24. Parallelly, ADU ranks in 501 globally, according to the 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings, advancing 79 places. ADU continues to empower faculty and students with state-of-the-art resources, facilities, and learning opportunities that foster innovation and support research-based problem-solving. The University maintains strong international collaborations with leading academic institutions and public and private sector organizations, with institutional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges' Senior College and University Commission (WASC).
The National
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
The sudden disappearance of aid leaves the most vulnerable in a mess
She received the order and left immediately. There was no handover. No briefing for the local team. No final meeting with the communities she had worked with for years. Just an email, a locked door and an abrupt exit. And if she stayed beyond her official departure time of 30 minutes – to offer any sense of closure – she was penalised, billed per hour. This is how thousands of development programmes are being dismantled in 2025. Not through reform. Not in conversation with those on the ground. But through abrupt withdrawal – shaped by shifting priorities, and felt most by those with the least power. Over the past two decades, donor countries have played a vital role in supporting global development. In 2021, global official development assistance reached a record high of $179 billion, driven by pandemic-related support. But according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, global aid fell by 7.1 per cent in 2024 – the first decrease in five years. In 2025, as global needs continue to rise, deeper cuts, programme cancellations, and funding freezes have pushed many vulnerable communities past the tipping point. Governments have every right to reevaluate spending priorities. The aid system itself has long been in need of reform, to become more sustainable, more equitable and less reliant on models that entrench dependency. Governments in the global south must lead on their own terms – not as subcontractors to donor priorities, but as architects of systems built to withstand volatility. This shift is long overdue. And the question is no longer whether aid can be cut. It is how to ensure that its withdrawal does not dismantle progress because how donor nations exit matters. It wasn't the decision to leave. It was the speed, the disruption, and the absence of co-ordination or continuity that turned strategic adjustments into widespread instability for those already living at the margins. The consequences were swift, measurable, and in many cases, entirely predictable. Local NGOs were left mid-programme, mid-contract, mid-promise and suddenly unable to deliver on years of trust In Sudan, the closure of 30 health centres in Central Darfur left thousands without access to medical care. In Bangladesh, over a million Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar are surviving on half-rations. In Jordan, funding shortfalls threaten the basic livelihoods of 60,000 Syrian refugee families. In Colombia, suspended support forced the closure of youth programmes that once helped stabilise communities recovering from conflict. Local NGOs were left mid-programme, mid-contract, mid-promise and suddenly unable to deliver on years of trust. For communities already living through long-term crises, there was no transition plan, no explanation, only the disappearance of something they had never intended to rely on but had come to depend upon out of necessity. These are not abstract losses. They are the human cost of decisions made from a distance, without the direct involvement of those most affected. We've seen this pattern before. In Haiti, after the cameras moved on. In Uganda, when abrupt health funding cuts triggered a spike in child mortality. In South Sudan, when displacement surged as support dried up. As one 18-year-old student told me: 'It's hard to say you didn't see it coming. The same mistakes keep happening – and we're left managing the consequences of systems we had little role in shaping.' This is not simply a funding issue. Because this wasn't just a reduction in aid. It was the removal of commitment. And while the right to exit exists, how that exit is handled reveals more than a shift in budget. It reflects the values and responsibilities underpinning global co-operation. Exiting without sufficient warning, planning or safeguards risks undermining hard-won progress and shifting the burden onto those least equipped to bear it. Even transition requires intention. Transformation demands coherence, responsibility and foresight. If the future of international co-operation is to remain credible, it cannot be measured only in dollars spent or programmes launched, but in how leaders respond when past commitments no longer align with present realities. The real question is this: when support is withdrawn, who takes responsibility for what is left behind? Until that question is answered, credibility will remain out of reach, replaced by shifting budgets and responsibilities quietly transferred to communities already facing overwhelming challenges. Because in the end, the rights to health, education, safety and dignity are not defined by declarations or ink on paper. They are revealed in the decisions we make, and the consequences we are willing to let others live with.
Gulf Business
19-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Ziad El Chaar on Trump Towers, tokenisation, and Dar Global's vision for real estate
Image: Supplied From the recent launch of the Trump Tower Dubai in partnership with the Trump Organization to exploring tokenised real estate and branded luxury developments from Muscat to Madrid, CEO Ziad El Chaar explains to Gulf Business editor, Neesha Salian, how Dar Global — the international arm of Dar Al Arkan — is redefining the global real estate landscape. With a focus on investor-first focus, ESG principles, and brand-driven development, the conversation offers insight into the company's global footprint and the leadership mindset shaping its operations and future. This is an exciting time, especially with the project involving the Trump Organization. What has driven the strategy behind this partnership and your broader regional expansion? We started When we went public in 2023 on the London Stock Exchange, we committed to becoming one of the world's top 50 global real estate developers. That goal requires pushing our annual revenue close to $3bn. So, we built the team, launched branches, and initiated developments across key cities. Now it's time to amplify results. We've been partnering with globally respected brands to maximise returns for our shareholders and real estate investors. The Trump brand, in particular, has strong global recognition and premium appeal. I helped introduce the Trump brand to Dubai 10 years ago with a golf community that became one of the city's best. We launched in Muscat with Trump-branded residences, attracting investors from over 50 nationalities. In Jeddah, we created a 47-storey premium tower with a Trump members-only club — another project that has drawn global attention, especially with Saudi Arabia's new foreign investment laws that only came into effect last year. The brand brings luxury, exclusivity, hospitality, and international reach. Read: Dubai's real estate market is famously competitive. How do you see the Trump Tower project standing out among other iconic developments? In real estate, the key element is always location. We chose a prime spot on Sheikh Zayed Road, right at the entrance of Downtown Dubai. This gives residents access to all the amenities of Downtown — without the traffic. The views are stunning — Burj Khalifa on one side, and the sea, Jumeirah Bay, and La Mer on the other. Beyond location, we're adding value through hospitality. We've been investing heavily to bring the Trump Hotel brand to Dubai. We're also introducing the Trump Members Club, and residences that come with access to what will be the world's highest outdoor swimming pool. When you combine all of that with Dar Al Arkan's 31-year track record, you have a truly compelling offer. Our promise is to consistently outperform the market — not with hype, but with delivery and design that attract strong returns. Let's talk about technology and sustainability. Where does Dar Global stand on tokenisation and ESG? Tokenisation is very close to my heart. I tried to initiate a real estate tokenisation project in Dubai back in 2018 and even published a white paper on the topic. Dubai, with its investor diversity, is ideal for tokenisation. But it's not just about creating tokens —you also need liquidity. If there's no exchange to trade tokens, the system is half-cooked. We need a Dubai Security Tokens Exchange, like the Dubai Financial Market, where real estate tokens can be traded. On sustainability, we take ESG seriously. Being listed in London means we comply with strict FCA guidelines. We try to go beyond local market standards and lead in ESG delivery. In addition to the Trump brand, you've partnered with several others. What drives your strategy in branded residences? We currently have 14 branded residence partnerships. Our strategy is investor-focused. We develop only in international cities with demand from multiple nationalities. Branded residences offer high desirability and limited supply, making them stable, high-yield products. These global names help us offer something unique in each city. When you add a respected brand to a luxury location, you create a product that's both exclusive and consistently in demand. How are your international markets progressing, particularly Spain, Oman, the US, among others? Our strategy is to develop in cities with broad, international demand. Many of our investors buy in multiple global locations — so in a way, we're helping them complete their collections. We're already active in Doha, Moscow, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah, Central London, southern Spain, and soon, Athens. We're also exploring collaborations in parts of the US. that are internationally active. For now, we're focusing on deepening our presence in these existing cities. Opening a new development setup is costly, so our priority is to grow where we've already established a footprint. What leadership principles have guided you and your company to this level of success? It's all about focus. We don't do everything. We chose a path — luxury real estate in international cities — and we've stayed true to it. Every project we pursue is evaluated through one lens: is this good for our investors and shareholders? Can our team deliver it without being stretched? We don't build because we like an idea; we build only if it serves all our stakeholders. What advice would you give to other real estate leaders navigating today's volatile global market? Focus on scarcity. In real estate, it's all about supply and demand. Don't be the 700th tower in the suburbs with generic views. Those products perform only when the market is booming. Instead, offer something unique: a one-of-a-kind product, a top-tier location, or cost leadership — though the latter is the hardest because you can't control material costs. If you're not unique or cost-efficient, don't enter this business. You are a busy CEO. How do you find a work-life balance? I was taught by my late parents that you give everything to your work and livelihood — and whatever time is left, you live your life. This idea of working six hours a day and prioritising weekends doesn't hold in our world. If a client wants to meet on a Saturday, you show up in a suit. That's what I teach my daughter too. Hard work, loyalty, and contribution to your institution's success should the core values driving you. Any parting thoughts? My first interaction with Dubai's real estate scene was at Cityscape 2012 in the World Trade Center. It's amazing to see how far we've all come in just 20 years.
Malay Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Xi Jinping warns against ‘trade war bullying' as China hosts Latin American leaders
BEIJING, May 13 — Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to deepen ties with Latin America and condemned 'bullying' in a thinly veiled swipe at the United States, as he addressed regional leaders in Beijing. Leaders and officials from Latin America and the Caribbean have descended on the Chinese capital for the China-Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum. Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald Trump's recent maelstrom of tariffs. Addressing leaders on Tuesday, Xi hailed China's burgeoning ties with the region. 'Although China lies far from the Latin American and Caribbean region, the two sides have a time-honoured history of friendly exchanges,' Xi said at the opening ceremony, likening the summit to a 'great, sturdy tree'. 'Only through unity and cooperation can countries safeguard global peace and stability and promote worldwide development and prosperity,' Xi said, pledging US$9.2 billion (RM39.8 billion) in credit towards 'development' for the region. He also warned of 'bloc confrontation'. Xi's remarks come a day after the United States and China announced a deal to drastically reduce tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, an outcome Trump dubbed a 'total reset'. Under that agreement, the United States agreed to lower its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent while China will reduce its own to 10 per cent. The deal marked a major de-escalation of a gruelling trade war between the world's two largest economies which threw global markets into turmoil. Xi told delegates Tuesday: 'There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars.' 'Bullying and hegemony will only lead to self-isolation,' the Chinese leader warned. 'The world today is undergoing accelerated transformations unseen in a century, with multiple risks intertwined and overlapping,' Xi said. Among notable attendees at the forum is Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day state visit. Also present is Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who last week said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative during his visit. Two-thirds of Latin American countries have joined Beijing's trillion-dollar BRI infrastructure programme, and China has surpassed the US as the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Peru and Chile, among others. — AFP
