Latest news with #Injaz
Observer
17-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
Students make toiletries, plastic alternatives out of 'menace' mesquite
IBRI: The student-led company "Greenova" from the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Ibri has achieved a breakthrough by extracting alternatives to plastic and advanced health products from the mesquite tree (Prosopis juliflora). This pioneering step merges green economy principles with biotechnology, embodying Omani innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. The company has emerged as a leader in transforming what was long considered a "harmful plant" into a hub of environmental and industrial innovation. Badr bin Said al Azizi, CEO of Greenova, stated: "With over two years of experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, the company has established a national and global reputation by developing a mesquite-based alternative to plastic. This material is stronger, cheaper, shatterproof and more heat-resistant." He noted that the material's high efficiency has been validated by a credible report from the Plant Therapy Research Laboratory in China, supervised by leading scientists, reinforcing the innovation's credibility and the product's robustness. He said: "By extracting compounds from mesquite leaves, the company has produced 100 per cent natural hair wash, body wash and soap derived from a local tree. This Omani-made product meets global standards, competes in international markets and offers a safe, healthy alternative to existing options." The CEO emphasised that Greenova has achieved remarkable milestones in a short time. Sales of its plastic alternative raw material have captured 40 per cent of the Omani market in a single transaction, with a net daily profit of 35 per cent, reflecting the project's economic viability and environmental sustainability. This success followed extensive efforts, including a strategic agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Al Dhahirah Governorate to utilise mesquite tree waste — which previously required millions of riyals in annual public tenders for disposal. Thus, an environmental burden has been turned into an economic opportunity, positioning Greenova as a model for circular economy practices. Elyas bin Abdullah al Hatmi from Greenova highlighted the company's participation in numerous entrepreneurial events, such as Start-up Weekend and national and international hackathons, where it secured first place in 2025. The company also competed in Qatar's 2024 championship and reached the finals of Oman's Injaz exhibition in 2025. Notably, Greenova won incubation support from Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Al Dhahirah under the "Dhakira Innovates" initiative, cementing its strong presence in sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship. — ONA
Al Etihad
29-06-2025
- Science
- Al Etihad
Cloning camels in UAE: How biotechnology safeguards heritage and strengthens food security
29 June 2025 23:48 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Camels, the ships of the desert, hold deep historical and cultural significance in the UAE — and preserving the finest of these animals for future generations has become a key mission for a leading biotechnology centre in the country. The Reproductive Biotechnology Centre in Dubai gained international acclaim in 2009, when it produced the world's first cloned camel, named "Injaz". Since then, numerous camels have been cloned, helping preserve the lineage of the most elite to Aletihad, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Wani, the centre's scientific director, explained the long-term impact of cloning these prized camels. 'By harvesting cells from an elite animal, even after death, we can preserve its genetics indefinitely. These cells are stored in our cell bank and can be used years later to recreate that exact animal,' he said. It's not just about replicating elite camels, Dr. Wani said, 'this technique could also support conservation efforts for endangered species, such as the Bactrian camel'.'We can use dromedaries as surrogate mothers to reproduce Bactrians or insert or delete genes to create genetically modified camels for specific traits,' he said. This technique could also help in the production of genetically modified camels either by insertion or by deletion of some genes in donor cells, Dr. Wani added. In a previous report, another expert highlighted the sentimental value that has been attached to cloning procedures. 'Owners often have a strong emotional bond with their camels, and cloning strengthens these bonds by keeping their beloved mounts close at hand,' Khalifa Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Advanced Scientific Group, said in a recent Aletihad report. The Perfect Desert CompanionsIn terms of genetics, camels are the most ideal desert companions, Dr. Wani said. 'Camels are unique animals that have adapted to survive in harsh agroclimatic conditions,' he said. 'They can thrive on food and water sources that other livestock cannot. Their phenotype — with specialised lips, long eyelashes, and padded feet — is perfectly suited to desert life.'Camels conserve water efficiently, produce concentrated urine, and have physiological traits that enable them to cope with extreme heat and dust storms, making them ideal livestock for arid climates like the conditions in the UAE, Dr. Wani said. 'Camels are fundamental to food security and sustainable agriculture in dry regions,' he emphasised. 'They provide milk, meat, wool, leather, and transport, especially in the UAE's desert ecosystem.'Dr. Wani also noted the growing economic impact of camel racing, milk production, and beauty contests, which have become multimillion-dollar industries. 'Camels are part of the UAE's cultural heritage, but they are also a reliable, climate-resilient resource for future food systems,' he added. Like any species, however, camels vary genetically. Some possess the DNA of champion racers, while others stand out in beauty contests. Certain camels produce higher volumes of milk, making them highly prized in the dairy industry. Cloning Techniques At the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre, advanced techniques such as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), commonly known as cloning, and Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) are employed to enhance camel production.'With MOET, we can obtain multiple offspring from elite females in one breeding season. Embryos are flushed from a donor and transferred to synchronised surrogate camels,' Dr. Wani explained. 'In SCNT, we use a donor camel's cells, often stored in our cell bank, to produce embryos in the lab. These embryos are then transferred to surrogate mothers. The resulting calves are exact genetic copies of the donor, whether it is a racing male, beauty queen, or high-producing dairy female.'The centre also offers in vitro embryo production, gene banking, natural selection breeding, and the continuous treatment of infertile camels using ultrasound-guided monitoring and hormone therapies. 'Even animals that cannot breed naturally due to injury or age can still produce offspring,' Dr. Wani said. Looking ahead, the expert sees camel science evolving and making more meaningful impact across sectors. 'Selective breeding and assisted reproductive technologies should focus on producing disease-resistant camels and multiplying genetically superior animals to improve the economics for farmers,' Dr. Wani said.
Gulf Business
04-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Dubai makes rental registration easy, as Injaz and DLD launch WhatsApp Ejari service
Injaz Real Estate Registration Trustee, in partnership with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), has launched a new WhatsApp-based feature enabling remote Ejari registration through its The update allows users to complete Ejari registration fully online without the need for physical visits, offering increased efficiency and convenience to tenants and landlords in Dubai. This move aligns with the emirate's push for smart government services and digital-first solutions. , including title deed updates, property valuations, ownership registration, and more. The integration of the Ejari registration service marks a major step forward in the platform's capabilities, supporting DLD's goals of safety, transparency, and innovation in real estate transactions. Read: Ejari registration through WhatsApp All AQARI transactions are conducted through secure, government-linked channels to ensure data protection and service reliability for users both locally and internationally. 'The Dubai Land Department firmly believes that partnerships and cooperation with the private sector are crucial for realising our ambitious objectives,' said Khalifa Alsalfa, then Director of the Real Estate Services Pioneering Department at DLD. 'This new platform underscores the significance of such collaborations, aligning with the vision of our leadership.' Ahmed Al Suwaidi, DG of Injaz Real Estate Registration Trustee noted that the new service reflects Injaz's commitment to customer convenience and digital transformation. 'With this milestone, clients can now complete essential steps such as Ejari registration entirely online, no matter where they are in the world,' added Majid Almazrouei, general manager of Injaz. The partnership is expected to streamline real estate transactions, reinforce Dubai's global reputation as a leading property investment hub, and provide stakeholders with more efficient and accessible services. Customers can access the service via WhatsApp at 6005AQARI.
Khaleej Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Students 'great ideas' to boost UAE-US ties, says top official
Students in the UAE — the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs — are set to play a pivotal role in strengthening the strategic partnership between UAE and the United States, said Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE, during a recent event in Dubai. Her remarks pointed at the importance of youth engagement and cross-border innovation as critical elements in advancing UAE-US bilateral cooperation across future-focused sectors. Speaking at a ceremony that honoured students for their entrepreneurial achievements, Strong highlighted the enduring and evolving partnership between the two nations. 'We are at the core very entrepreneurial, very pioneering as nations, as people, as companies, as private sectors and I think that aligns us so well as partners in so many different fields,' she said. According to Wam, the UAE is already home to more than 1,800 American companies, and this number is expected to grow due to the positive impact of the visit. The Injaz event, which celebrated youth-led innovation, came just weeks after US President Donald Trump concluded his historic visit to the UAE, the final leg of his Gulf tour following stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Speaking at the event, Strong said: 'As many of you know, we had a big visit just a couple of weeks ago here. President Trump came to Abu Dhabi. It was a historic visit…an amazing visit. I hope that those of you who watched it on TV got a sense of the excitement and energy that this visit generated, but it was also very substantive.' Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi on May 15 and was officially welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The ceremony also included members of the community, such as outstanding students from space camps, astronauts, and space mission engineers. During his meeting with Sheikh Mohamed, Trump underscored the strong and enduring partnership between the US and the UAE. The visiting President later toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Notably, the visit marked the first by a US president to the UAE since 2008. Students to propel partnership Strong noted that the discussions between the two leaders focused on long-term mutual gains. 'It should not surprise you that the two presidents, US President Trump and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, focused on our shared prosperity as kind of a key pillar of our bilateral partnership going forward,' she said. UAE announced a $1.4 trillion investment in artificial intelligence in the US and expressed the country's desire to collaborate with the US in promoting global peace and stability. 'They talked about all of the major fields in which we are working together, from artificial intelligence and frontier technology to energy, space exploration, health, life sciences. It's a very, long list,' Strong added. 'But suffice it to say that the two presidents charted a very ambitious path forward … and as I thought about who is going to get all this work done, I think I know it's going to be all of you (students) and your great work, your great ideas, innovation, creativity that will propel our partnership forward in the years ahead.' Reaffirming the US mission's commitment to supporting youth innovation, Strong added, 'The US mission is truly proud to support entrepreneurship among our young generations because it advances our shared objective, and that objective is prosperity for today and for years and decades to come. This is generated through economic growth, through innovation, cooperation and partnerships and really taking advantage of the opportunities.'
Shafaq News
19-02-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's national bonds: Addressing deficits, boosting markets
Shafaq News/ Iraq has launched a new government bond issuance aimed at addressing cash shortfalls, a financial expert revealed on Wednesday. Mahmoud Dagher, former director of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), told Shafaq News that bonds serve as a debt instrument for the government and can be used to cover temporary deficits. 'They also play a key role in developing financial markets by providing investment opportunities,' he added. 'Issuing bonds is not necessarily tied to a financial deficit; they can stimulate the country's financial market by offering financial instruments,' Dagher noted. On February 5, the Federal Ministry of Finance announced the launch of the first issuance of national bonds for public subscription, valued at 2 trillion Iraqi dinars ($1.53 billion), The subscription period runs from February 10 to March 10, 2025. The latest issuance follows a similar bond offer last year, branded 'Injaz,' which included a 500,000-dinar note with a two-year maturity and a 6.5% annual interest rate, and a 1 million-dinar bond with a four-year term offering 8.5%. Interest payments on both are made semi-annually.
