Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The ambition to build a greener, smarter and healthier world with more secure food and water systems comes with requirements that are not always immediately visible. These shifts are already driving a growing need for specialised materials and sustainable utilities, experts told Aletihad.
Aware of the evolving landscape, petrochemicals company Borouge is developing materials that meet “real needs”, aligned with how the future is envisioned, according to its CEO, Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi.
Al Suwaidi cited as examples Borouge’s XLPE for power cables, greenhouse films for agriculture, efficient food and water packaging, and medical-grade polyolefins for healthcare. The company is also supporting UAE food and agriculture resilience through partnerships, he added.
Demand for specialised materials will continue to grow as countries invest in power grids, data centres, water networks, healthcare, food security, mobility, and sustainable agriculture, Al Suwaidi pointed out.
And the UAE possesses “the right foundations to lead in this space”, he added, referring to the country’s robust industrial infrastructure, logistics capabilities, energy resources, talent, and strong public-private partnerships.
For Borouge, the emphasis is on supplying UAE-made materials to support priority sectors like energy, healthcare, infrastructure, mobility, food security, as well as advanced packaging.
"Our focus is simple: build local capability, deliver practical innovation and create long-term value for the UAE and our shareholders," Al Suwaidi said.
In the wider shift toward more climate-conscious urban infrastructure, district cooling company Tabreed highlighted the growing role of sustainable utilities in shaping future communities.
At MIITE, the firm showcased a 3D model demonstrating how its cooling networks serve some of the UAE’s most iconic developments. These cover hotels, malls, universities, hospitals, tourist destinations, and residential communities across the country.
Adel Salem Al Wahedi, Chief Financial Officer of Tabreed, said that “by centralising cooling, our industry has revolutionised the business sector”, replacing multiple standalone air-conditioning systems with centralised plants that improve efficiency, reliability, and architectural flexibility.
As sustainability becomes increasingly important in urban development and expanding communities across the UAE, district cooling will remain essential infrastructure, Al Wahedi said.
