Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Climate challenges are creating new opportunities for innovation in Abu Dhabi, where Emirati-led startups are developing technology-driven solutions to improve emission reporting and optimise scarce water resources.
Such ventures are among 17 startups selected for the inaugural cohort of the MZN Hub71 programme, a joint initiative between the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Hub71.
The three-month programme, hosted at the MZN Hub in Al Ain, supports Emirati entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into minimum viable products.
Emissions Reporting Made Simple
For many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), measuring carbon emissions and accessing sustainability markets remains costly and complex.
Abu Dhabi-based startup RECtify aims to simplify the process by offering a platform tailored to the UAE's regulatory environment and business landscape.
"The market is largely designed for companies that can afford consultants, specialist teams, and lengthy reporting processes," founder Khaled Alsamri told Aletihad. "We saw an opportunity to build a homegrown solution for this gap."
The platform enables businesses to submit operational data, including electricity consumption, fuel use, transport and waste, which is converted into emissions reports using recognised methodologies and UAE-specific emissions factors.
The goal, Alsamri said, is to deliver a report in "around one tenth of the time and at one tenth of the traditional cost" of conventional approaches.
The business case runs both ways, he argued. Emissions data doubles as a financial diagnostic, showing where a company is losing money through inefficient energy use or transport, while also helping SMEs meet reporting requirements and qualify for tenders.
The platform is currently being tested with three early users; Alsamri is targeting 500 active SMEs within 12 months, with an eye on eventually expanding across the wider GCC.
Measuring What Farmers Can't See
Al Ain-based startup AIN is using artificial intelligence, connected sensors, and Internet of Things technology to improve water management in agriculture, an area considered critical for the UAE's food security ambitions.
Founder Mohammed Almehrzi said the company was established to digitise the country's water chain, from groundwater monitoring and distribution networks to irrigation systems, soil conditions, and crop health.
"Our mission is to help farmers and organisations produce more while using less water," he told Aletihad.
The Automated Intelligent Network platform collects data on groundwater levels, water flow, pressure, leaks, weather conditions, soil moisture and plant health before using analytics and AI to generate recommendations for farmers and farm managers.
According to Almehrzi, deployments have delivered water savings of between 20% and 50%, while pilot projects have reduced irrigation water consumption by about 30% and increased crop productivity by more than 20%.
He said the platform presents technical engineering data for researchers while translating complex measurements into simplified dashboards and alerts for farmers without specialist expertise.
The Emirati founder sees AIN's technology supporting the UAE's long-term vision of building a more resilient, technology-driven agricultural sector.
"Improving food security starts with improving how we manage water," he said. "Beyond irrigation optimisation, the platform provides the insights needed for better farm management, healthier crops, more efficient infrastructure, and long-term sustainability."
Both founders said participating in the MZN Hub71 programme has accelerated their development by providing mentorship, business guidance, and access to investors and strategic partners. "It removed much of the uncertainty that comes with building an early-stage company," Alsamri said.
He credits the programme with helping RECtify "understand when to stay the course and when to pivot based on real indicators rather than assumptions".
