Latest news with #Aletihad.
Al Etihad
07-07-2025
- Al Etihad
Horseback riding draws residents, tourists outdoors during Abu Dhabi's holiday season
8 July 2025 00:24 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)As summer takes hold in Abu Dhabi, horseback riding is offering residents and tourists a way to stay active while exploring the landscape and engaging with a deep-rooted part of Emirati UAE has long held horses in high regard, both as symbols of heritage and as part of everyday life. While modern infrastructure has replaced traditional modes of travel, horseback riding remains a popular activity for families and visitors looking for more than just indoor appeal is especially visible during the summer break, as stables across the emirate welcome children and teenagers for riding lessons and hands-on experience in caring for horses. In Al Bahia, a quiet residential area near the coast, Sanam Horse Riding centre is one of the places drawing attention among tourists and residents for its mix of beach and desert rides, as well as training for all Maryam, a local resident, brought her daughter for lessons and said the time spent at the stables has had lasting benefits.'Horse riding plays a vital role in our children's emotional and physical development. The children's section is a favourite for me, and I'm looking forward to making the most of our summer in Abu Dhabi,' she told have also been drawn to the experience, often combining their stay in Abu Dhabi with a chance to explore its landscapes on horseback.'It was magical riding a horse by the sea at sunset,' a tourist from the UK told Aletihad.'I'll definitely come back again.'Another visitor from Germany tried horseback riding for the first time during a desert ride in Abu Dhabi, describing it as unforgettable. 'I had never been on a horse before, but the instructors were patient and helpful. It's an experience I'll never forget.'
Al Etihad
10-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Workplace innovation in focus as UAE employees seek wellness-focused offices
11 June 2025 00:15 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)For many UAE employees, offices are no longer just 'business hubs' but a space that should spark creativity and support their wellbeing as they prefer spending majority of their time in the workplace, a new survey has and design firm Gensler's latest Global Workplace survey provides a glimpse into the emerging needs of employees, based on insights from over 16,800 full-time office workers from 15 countries, including the employees opt to spend 67% of their workweek in office, which is above the global average of 60%, the poll showed. The intent is not merely about marking one's attendance but being part of 'experiences that matter'. They wanted to participate in team meetings and confidential conversations, while also aiming to be visible to the senior 28%, however, believe their meeting spaces are equipped to support these activities effectively.'Our research shows that employees want to come to the office for what they can't get at home: team synergy, chance encounters, and real-time decision-making,' Edith Eddy, Senior Interior Designer for Workplace at Gensler Middle East, told Aletihad.'We have an opportunity to redesign the office around collaboration - with a mix of enclosed and open zones, advanced tech for hybrid work, acoustic control, and hospitality-grade amenities that encourage teams to gather, create, and solve together.'The poll found that the UAE is among the top five countries where employees seek 'imaginative' and 'wellness-focused' spaces for aligns with a global trend that shows a growing preference for 'creative labs' and 'nature retreats' that create flexible, tranquil, and purpose-driven environments that support innovation and wellbeing. Setting the BenchmarkWith the UAE's constant drive to innovate, offices in the country have the potential to serve as global models for future-ready workplace design, Eddy said. 'With ambitious national agendas like We the UAE 2031 and the National Strategy for Wellbeing, there's a powerful mandate to re-imagine offices as enablers of innovation, talent retention, and wellbeing,' she said.'By designing spaces that prioritise creativity, connection, and cultural resonance, the UAE can set a global benchmark for future-ready workplaces that align with both economic and human capital goals.'Multiple regional headquarters that Gensler had designed in the country, for example, 'have gone on to pioneer the design template for all other offices for international clients around the globe', Eddy said. Preferred Amenities The distinctive Emirati community spirit and hospitality culture are also being reflected in workplace design, Eddy said. Here, offices value on-site prayer rooms as well as informal dining areas and also prefer offices that are within walking distance to coffee shops, medical centres, green spaces, and places of worship, highlighting a need for holistic, community-focused work terms of on-site amenities, employees in the country prioritised cafés, coworking zones, quiet rooms, libraries, and innovation hubs. Compared to their peers around the world, they are also more likely to value flexible work areas and food halls.'Purposeful design can transform the office from a place of routine into a platform for creativity and impact,' Eddy said. 'By embedding wellness into the very DNA of workplace design, UAE organisations can unlock higher engagement, lower burnout, and more sustainable performance.'
Al Etihad
29-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE's young farmers, green heritage shine at Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition
30 May 2025 00:07 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)While the inaugural Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition aims to shape the future of farming, the diverse participation — from seasoned farmers and young innovators to sustainability-focused entrepreneurs — reflects a nation rooted in a rich agricultural heritage, evolving with the farmer Musleh Alaryani, for example, started his journey in agriculture when he just three years old. It all began on his grandmother's land, he told Aletihad.'I used to go to my grandmother's farm to see how she was planting. I learnt from her,' he said during the event held from May 28 to 31 at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain. Encouraged by his father, who gave him a piece of land to cultivate, Musleh grew over 15 kinds of vegetables, watermelon, roses, and Indian dates. He eventually learnt how to produce cotton and even make artificial flowers, inspired by exhibitions and the teachings of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 'Give me agriculture, and I will give you civilisation,' Musleh said, reciting the words of Sheikh Zayed by heart. Theyab Alketbi, a student at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine of the UAE University, is also taking part in the exhibition with his passion for aquaponics. This system integrates fish farming with agriculture. 'We use the fertilisers from the fish to nourish the plants without chemicals. It's a complete cycle,' Alketbi told Aletihad. 'The water is reused, saving both cost and resources.'Sustainable farming is a key focus of the exhibition, which has provided a collaborative space for knowledge exchange. Eco-friendly agricultural technologies are showcased, too, as the event reinforced the role of the community in driving agricultural Al Balushi, who represented Mustadama Farms, shared insights on how their company embraced sustainable farming. 'We grow and sell our products simultaneously. We've built net houses and greenhouses,' Al Balushi said. The company currently produces tomatoes, cucumbers, and other crops. 'Despite challenges, we succeeded in delivering a range of organic products in less than a year. We are in the middle of the season, and the results are promising.' The conference focused on strengthening public-private partnerships, encouraging agricultural investment, and boosting local production from national farms. It highlighted how innovation, collaboration, and sustainability can come together to secure a brighter future for farming. With voices from every corner of the industry—young and old, academic and practical—the event offered a hopeful glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture.
Al Etihad
29-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE healthcare sector tackles rising childhood myopia as screen use soars
30 May 2025 00:03 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)As young people spend more time glued to screens and confined indoors, doctors are warning of a growing, yet often overlooked, health risk. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is no longer just a minor inconvenience requiring glasses — it's becoming a long-term eye condition that, if left unmanaged, can lead to complications later in week's World Myopia Awareness Week served as a timely reminder of the critical need to prioritise eye health, especially in children. In the UAE, the issue is gaining more attention, an Abu Dhabi-based specialist told Aletihad.'We're seeing a noticeable increase in the number of children affected by myopia,' said Dr. Arif O. Khan, Staff Physician in Ophthalmology at the Integrated Surgical Institute of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.'It's likely linked to lifestyle shifts and greater screen time.'Dr. Khan said post-pandemic changes in routine — especially online learning and increased recreational screen use — meant children were spending more time than ever in front of devices and less time outdoors. This behavioural trend, he noted, is a key contributor to the rise in early-onset myopia across the UAE. 'Children's developing eyes are especially sensitive to environmental influences,' he said. 'Extended periods of close-up screen use, especially in dim lighting, can contribute significantly to the onset of myopia.'This is more than just an inconvenience or a temporary condition. According to Dr. Khan, the risks of myopia go far beyond needing corrective lenses. Early-onset myopia, if unmanaged, can lead to pathological myopia, a severe form that increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and even irreversible vision loss in adulthood.'Another significant concern in the UAE is keratoconus — a condition involving changes in the shape of the cornea — which appears to be more prevalent here than in many other parts of the world,' he said. A 2022 study published by Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology highlighted the prevalence of myopia among adults in Dubai: 27.4% among Emiratis and 19.5% in non-Emiratis. The research stressed that these figures highlight not only the widespread nature of the condition but also the urgent need for interventions focused on prevention and early treatment. Proactive Measures Recognising the urgency of the situation, the UAE's healthcare sector is proactively addressing the issue, with Dr. Khan expressing confidence that the country will successfully preserve the vision of future generations.'Vision care in the UAE has made remarkable strides,' he said. 'We now offer a range of treatments — from optical and pharmacological solutions to advanced surgical interventions for adults.'One of the most promising areas in myopia control is early intervention, particularly through newly developed optical and pharmaceutical technologies, Dr. Khan said, adding that these methods are particularly impactful on children. 'One of the most exciting developments in eye care today is the progress being made in preventing and managing childhood myopia,' he said. 'We now have pharmacological treatments available that can slow the progression of myopia in children, along with innovative optical solutions, such as specially designed peripheral defocus spectacle lenses and contact lenses.'Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has launched a dedicated Myopia Clinic, which is part of a growing trend worldwide to treat myopia not just as a condition but as a chronic disease that requires ongoing the promising technology, Dr. Khan is quick to emphasise that prevention is better than cure. 'It's equally important to emphasise the role of behavioural changes as the first line of defence,' he said. 'Reducing screen time, increasing outdoor activity, avoiding prolonged close-up work, and ensuring well-lit environments are all essential strategies for preventing myopia in children.'
Al Etihad
28-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
TAQA races to future-proof Abu Dhabi's power grid amid climate risks, booming demand
28 May 2025 23:53 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)As climate change drives an increase in extreme weather events across the globe, Abu Dhabi is working swiftly to future-proof its power infrastructure with smarter, more resilient systems. Enhanced automation and decentralisation are emerging as key strategies that could help build a more adaptive and robust power at the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Scott Ryan, Chief Power Operations Officer at TAQA Distribution, laid out a bold roadmap to enhance grid reliability through both automation and local energy generation."A little over a year ago, we had record floods, and that really stressed the grid," Ryan told Aletihad."It created a lot of issues for our customers, so we're looking for [a way] to make our network reliable and resilient for future impacts."This mission has driven the development of an ambitious initiative known as FLISR - Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration. Long in the making, the project gained momentum amid increasing climate risks, positioning the emirate alongside advanced economies in building a highly adaptable grid capable of withstanding future shocks."Think of a neighbourhood that loses supply, and then two minutes later, power is restored," Ryan said."Customers haven't had to call up; we haven't had to roll out a truck; and the majority of customers get their power back."FLISR combines field hardware with centralised control room software to rapidly detect faults, isolate problem areas, and restore power where possible - all in near recently completed a successful trial of the system and has now launched a five-year plan to roll it out across its network. The goal is to boost grid reliability by 30% within that is only part of the puzzle. Ryan says TAQA Distribution is also investing heavily in infrastructure to meet booming demand driven by electrification and mega-projects such as the recently announced 5GW data centre."We're seeing spikes in demand and future load growth," Ryan said."We stay very close to the growth we're expecting, and we start to plan ahead, preparing our grid, preparing our generation."A key component of that preparation involves exploring decentralised generation options like microgrids, which can operate independently of the main grid in emergencies. He said TAQA Distribution was working to explore all possible options to ensure that Abu Dhabi's growth is not hindered by the grid. "A microgrid is where you have local generation, typically renewable - solar panels, solar rooftops, maybe even a wind farm - close to the customer," Ryan explained."Automation like we've described with FLISR can ring around a particular area that could be islanded in the event of a fault."According to Ryan, this kind of setup would allow parts of the grid to continue functioning even when upstream problems - like flooding or heatwaves - take other parts who previously led the construction of a microgrid in Australia, said TAQA is considering similar deployments in Abu Dhabi."Abu Dhabi is booming. It always has been, but we're heading into a new era," he said."We need to make sure that our network can actually support all of that."Ryan said smart metres would also likely play a foundational role in building a responsive and efficient grid. These devices provide real-time data about household energy use, allowing TAQA to detect outages immediately and even predict consumption trends. "It can send what we call the 'last gasp'- the very last thing the metre does is say, 'I've lost power', and we can know before the customer even calls us," Ryan said.
