Today's Edition
A.SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
For Anwar Zaki Nusseibeh, the journey into nanomaterials did not begin in a laboratory. It began in the world of finance.
After years in banking and nearly a decade at Mubadala, the young Emirati entrepreneur decided to move into an entirely different field — one that he believes could reshape industries ranging from construction and paints to batteries and polymers.
Today, Nusseibeh is leading The Nano Company (TNC), a UAE startup seeking to localise the production of graphene and other advanced nanomaterials, with the ambition of turning the UAE into a regional hub for nanotechnology.
“Nano materials are going to become part of everyday industrial manufacturing,” Nusseibeh told Aletihad in an interview at the Make it in the Emirates forum. “If these materials are going to be used everywhere, then production and technology ownership should also be local.”
Graphene — a one-atom-thick layer extracted from graphite — sits at the centre of his plans. Despite being incredibly thin, the material is regarded as exceptionally strong, conductive and lightweight. TNC believes even tiny quantities added to industrial products can significantly improve performance.
“Think of it like adding salt to soup,” Nusseibeh said, using a simple analogy to explain a highly technical material. “You add a very small amount, but it changes the whole thing.”
The company is targeting four sectors in particular: concrete, paints, polymers and batteries. In construction, Nusseibeh said graphene additives can reduce cement requirements in concrete by around 20%, potentially lowering carbon emissions while improving durability. Cement production is one of the world’s largest industrial sources of CO2 emissions, making the technology particularly attractive for developers looking to improve environmental ratings on projects.
“When we integrated graphene into concrete, we realised the material was delivering enormous benefits,” he said. “It reduces the cement requirement while helping construction companies improve their sustainability classifications.”
TNC is also working with paint manufacturers. According to Nusseibeh, graphene-based primers can help reduce building cooling costs by improving heat management.
“In the UK, our technology partner worked with a boutique paint company and saw energy costs reduced by up to 20%,” he said. “The coating helps keep heat out while improving cooling efficiency inside buildings.”
The company is additionally exploring industrial applications in the oil and gas sector, particularly in polymers used for pipes. Graphene can help dissipate heat more effectively, potentially improving pipe performance under high temperatures.
TNC has tied up with UK-based Graphene Star to bring large-scale graphene production to the UAE. Under the arrangement, TNC is both an investor in the technology and the exclusive distributor for the MENA region. The company says the planned UAE facility could eventually produce up to 96 tonnes of graphene annually using what it describes as a fully green production process.
Nusseibeh said localisation is central to the business model.
“The UAE does not just want to produce the material here,” he said. “The goal is also to own the technology that produces it.”
Unlike many graphene ventures globally, TNC spent much of the past two years working directly with UAE companies to adapt the material to local industrial conditions.
“The raw materials used here differ from those in the UK, India or the US,” Nusseibeh explained. “You have to be on the ground, working directly with local companies and understanding the problems specific to this market.”
That process, he said, has brought the startup close to commercial deployment. TNC is now in the final stages of commercialising graphene-enhanced precast concrete and paints in the UAE and is negotiating supply agreements with local manufacturers. Alongside graphene, the company is also working on other nanotechnology applications, including a Japanese-patented antimicrobial coating designed to eliminate mould in air-conditioning ducts.
Nusseibeh comes from a prominent Emirati family. He is the son of Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University. Educated at McGill University in Canada, Nusseibeh spent most of his early career in banking and investment before deciding to build his own ventures.
