Latest news with #sustainablecities
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
MIDAR announces fiscal year 2024 financial results with over 500% profit growth following successful partnerships with leading local and regional investors
Elkousey: MIDAR's Strong Financial Indicators Highlight Its Leadership in Applying the Concept of Master Developer for Sustainable Integrated Cities in Egypt MIDAR for Investment and Urban Development, the founder and master developer of the mega-cities "Mostakbal City" and "MADA" in New Cairo, has announced its financial and operational results for the fiscal year 2024. The results reflect a significant increase in revenue and net profit growth rates, driven by the company's successful partnerships with major real estate developers in Egypt to advance projects within MIDAR's cities. The company's financial statements for FY 2024 revealed a remarkable revenue growth rate of 584%, underscoring the substantial progress in its operations over the past year. In terms of net profit, MIDAR continued its strong performance in the Egyptian market, solidifying its position as the preferred investment partner for local, regional, and global entities seeking to develop world-class real estate and entertainment projects. The net operating profit for 2024 surged by over 500% compared to the profits achieved in 2023. Eng. Ayman Elkousey, CEO and Managing Director of MIDAR for Investment and Urban Development, emphasized that these positive results reflect MIDAR's established leadership, achieved through years of dedicated work in the Egyptian market. He noted that the company's robust financial indicators demonstrate the success of MIDAR's pioneering approach as the master developer of sustainable integrated cities in Egypt. This success further incentivizes major investment entities to partner with MIDAR in developing modern, integrated residential and entertainment cities. Elkousey also expressed his pride in MIDAR's recognition by the Ministry of Finance during the "Shokran" (Thank You) Conference, held in collaboration with the Egyptian Tax Authority. This acknowledgment highlights MIDAR's pivotal role in supporting the government's efforts to modernize the tax system. The honor reflects the state's appreciation for leading economic entities that uphold transparency, foster partnership, and strengthen trust between the government and taxpayers.
Zawya
06-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman participates in the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum 2025 in Vienna
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the 14th World Cities Summit Mayors Forum, hosted this year in Vienna, Austria, from 2 to 4 July 2025. Recognised as one of the leading global platforms for urban leadership, the Forum brought together mayors, governors, urban planners and policymakers from across the globe to exchange knowledge and explore creative, scalable solutions for sustainable urban development. Held under the theme, 'Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Local Solutions, Global Impact', this year's Forum focused on sharing experiences and best practices that enhance resilience, improve service delivery and advance inclusive growth in cities across the globe. The Omani delegation was led by His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Hamidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, who represented the Sultanate in a series of thematic sessions focused on topics such as affordable housing, municipal services, urban energy transition and water resilience; key priorities shaping city strategies worldwide. 'Participating in this global forum gave us the opportunity to witness how cities around the world are confronting shared urban challenges with practical, scalable solutions,' said H.E. Al Hamidi. 'For Oman, it is not only a chance to observe global trends in action, but to reflect on how we can translate these insights into policies and projects that serve the evolving needs of our cities. It also reaffirms our commitment to building an inclusive, sustainable and service-driven urban environment, one that aligns with the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and enhances the quality of life for all our citizens,' he added. The three-day programme featured thought-provoking discussions, city network exchanges and on-the-ground site visits to some of Vienna's most forward-thinking urban developments, including Karl-Marx-Hof, Seestadt Aspern, Nordbahnhof Quartier and Danube Island, which served as inspiring models of modern housing, integrated infrastructure and innovative mobility solutions. Oman's attendance marks its continued engagement with the international urban development community, building on previous participations in the World Cities Summit series. The Forum offered Oman a meaningful opportunity to engage with leading planning models and international urban frameworks, reinforcing its ambition to shape resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities. Hosted by the City of Vienna and co-organised by Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities and Urban Redevelopment Authority, in collaboration with Urban Innovation Vienna, the forum concluded with a renewed commitment among participating cities to deepen cooperation and accelerate collective efforts toward a more sustainable urban future.
Gulf Business
24-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
BEEAH's Khaled Al Huraimel on its first major real estate project, Khalid Bin Sultan City
Images: Supplied As the UAE accelerates efforts to build smart, sustainable cities, In this interview, Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO and vice chairman, discusses the company's move into real estate, the foundational values behind the project, and how it aligns with national and regional urban transformation agendas. What prompted BEEAH's move into real estate development at this point in its growth journey? At BEEAH, we've always pursued a clear mission: to shape a sustainable future and enhance quality of life for all people. Our journey began in waste management, but our evolution has been shaped by a deeper understanding of what communities need to thrive – clean energy, smart technologies, healthcare infrastructure, and ultimately, environments that enhance quality of life. Real estate became the natural next step. It's not just an expansion of our business – it's a platform that allows us to bring together everything we've built across sectors. From circular waste systems and renewable energy to AI–driven infrastructure and people–first urban design, real estate is where our ecosystem can be applied in the most tangible way. That's what led us to launch Khalid Bin Sultan City: a landmark project that exemplifies our commitment to building people-first, cities of the future. What is Khalid Bin Sultan City, and what foundational values does BEEAH offer its residents? Khalid Bin Sultan City is a climate–smart, net–zero ready urban development – master planned by Zaha Hadid Architects and located in Sharjah's Rodhat Al Sidir district. Envisioned as a city of the future, it will be shaped by four foundational pillars: sustainability, technology, culture, and people. It will offer 1,500 freehold residential units – villas, townhouses, and apartments – surrounded by green corridors, cultural landmarks, wellness spaces, and smart infrastructure. Anchoring the city is a 1.5–kilometre green spine — a central landscape corridor that supports biodiversity, encourages active living, and connects neighbourhoods through nature. At its heart is a landmark cultural centre that will host exhibitions, performances, and thought leadership events — creating a cultural anchor for the community. It's a place where environmental harmony is standard, not aspirational; where daily life is enhanced by technology; and where human connection and wellbeing are built into the design of the built environment. How will it redefine the real estate market in the region? Khalid Bin Sultan City is not a traditional real estate development. It's a blueprint for future cities – regenerative, resilient, and restorative in every sense. We're introducing net–zero–ready infrastructure and integrating renewable energy at the neighbourhood scale. Our waste management system is zero–landfill by design, supported by smart segregation infrastructure and integration with BEEAH's regional waste recovery network. We're embedding digital twin systems to optimise resource use in real time. And we're reimagining mobility with EV–ready networks, smart parking, and ride–sharing platforms. What this means for the market is a new standard – where developments are not only smart or sustainable, but also truly systemic in their thinking. We believe this project will challenge the current model and inspire others to raise their ambitions for what urban development can achieve. How does BEEAH plan to differentiate its real estate offerings in a competitive regional market? In a booming real estate market, differentiation must go deeper than architecture or amenities. What sets us apart is the integration of systems – systems that span energy, waste, water, logistics, culture, and community engagement. We're drawing on more than a decade of experience in designing and managing high–performance infrastructure. Our HQ in Sharjah, also designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is already a benchmark for intelligent, low–emission buildings. The Sharjah Creative Quarter and the Jawaher Boston Medical District are further proof points of our ability to deliver visionary projects across different urban typologies. Khalid Bin Sultan City brings all of these learnings together. It's not just a city – it's a living, evolving model for how a city can function in service of its people and its environment. Sustainability, innovation, and quality of life are described as pillars of your projects. Can you elaborate on how these values will be embedded in upcoming developments? Sustainability is the foundation – from LEED–aligned construction to circular material flows. We're powering the city with a combination of solar and waste–to–energy solutions, and integrating on–site water recycling, stormwater management, and resilient drainage systems. Our aim is total landfill independence and a carbon–neutral trajectory. Innovation comes through our digital layer. Every building, transport node, and utility will feed into a central digital twin – enabling real–time optimisation of energy and resource use. For example, public lighting and cooling systems can adapt to weather, occupancy, and time of day. Residents will have decentralised digital identities, offering seamless access to homes, services, and mobility platforms. AI will enhance everything from logistics to public safety. Quality of life ties it all together. We're creating walkable neighbourhoods, shaded green paths, wellness zones, vibrant parks, and cultural venues. No home will be more than a five–minute walk from key services. The entire environment — from greenery to infrastructure — is designed to support physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. BEEAH has had success across sectors such as environment and healthcare. How will learnings from those industries inform your real estate strategy? Our expertise across sectors gives us a 360–degree view of how cities operate. In environment, our zero–waste systems — which have helped Sharjah achieve over 90 per cent landfill diversion — are embedded in the city's infrastructure, including smart bins, digital collection tracking, and decentralised composting hubs. In energy, we're applying waste–to–energy and solar innovation at the neighbourhood level, ensuring clean, reliable power with built–in resilience. From healthcare, particularly the Jawaher Boston Medical District, we've adopted a design philosophy that centres wellbeing, health access, and biophilic planning. In technology, ventures like EVOTEQ and have enabled us to build platforms for supply chain management, logistics, recycling, and EV infrastructure — all of which are being adapted to serve residents directly. With Sharjah as your base, will future projects be concentrated in the UAE or will we see BEEAH real estate ventures regionally and globally? Our roots are in Sharjah, and we're proud to contribute to its growth. But the vision we are developing — for net–zero, smart, and human–centric cities — is one that has global relevance. We see strong opportunities for regional expansion, especially in markets that are prioritising sustainability, infrastructure development, and climate adaptation. Our experience in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, through environmental partnerships, has shown us how our models can be adapted to different geographies. Real estate is a natural extension of this. That said, we remain focused on execution — ensuring that our first developments deliver both impact and insight. Once that foundation is solid, we will absolutely explore opportunities beyond the UAE. How do these efforts align with UAE and regional visions for smart and sustainable cities? Khalid Bin Sultan City is deeply aligned with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 strategy and Sharjah's broader urban and More importantly, it offers a live demonstration of how those goals can be achieved through integrated, people–first design. Our hope is that this city, and BEEAH's wider real estate platform, will serve as a model — not just for building sustainably, but for building meaningfully, with long–term impact and resilience.
Malay Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia makes history as first Asean nation to lead UN-Habitat Assembly
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Malaysia created history by being officially elected as the president of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the 2025 to 2029 term. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, in a Facebook post last night, said that Malaysia received unanimous support from all 193 member states in the election. 'The official announcement was made during the Bureau Officers Election session at the UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, today,' he said. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the UN-Habitat Assembly was established in 1975 and elevated to a full programme at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2001. It is the highest global decision-making body on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements, convening every four years and playing a crucial role in shaping global policies for cities and communities. As president, Malaysia will work closely with the UN-Habitat Executive Board and global partners to strengthen multilateral cooperation, promoting inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable cities worldwide. Meanwhile, in his speech at the assembly, Nga urged member states to redouble efforts to implement the New Urban Agenda. He said this is to ensure the strengthening of multilateralism and the Habitat Agenda. 'We hope that you will continue to support the call for a High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda especially as 2026 marks ten years after its adoption at Habitat III in Quito. He also emphasised the need to cooperate in line with the principle of People-Public-Private-Partnership (4Ps). 'We are stronger together when we continue sharing knowledge, foster partnerships, and ensure that no one and no place is left behind in our urbanising world. 'During my term as President of the Assembly, let us strengthen UN-Habitat as a platform for thinking and doing. Let us ensure that the voices of local governments, women, youth, civil society, and vulnerable communities are taken into consideration when we develop policies and design action plans,' he said. Nga said a Joint Bureau meeting will be held in Penang, Malaysia on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Conference of Ministers of Housing & Urban Development this October. 'This will provide an opportunity for joint bureaus to assess the impact of the Assembly and align their support with the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029,' he said. Apart from that, he added that Malaysia will also play an active role at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan in May next year. — Bernama
