In this Global Platform video, Rhana Kurdi, CEO, Skydrops, explores water security in Qatar and the wider GCC – examining the region’s heavy reliance on desalination and the structural vulnerabilities associated with centralised, energy-intensive systems. The discussion highlights how exposure to energy-price volatility, supply chain disruption and climate-related shocks is prompting a shift towards
As global industry seeks to reduce or eliminate its carbon footprint, a number of MENA countries are investing in green steel production to capture market share and help meet emissions targets. Industry generates 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, with the steel manufacturing segment accounting for the largest share, at 7%, due in part to a reliance on coal to heat smelting furnaces.…
International patent applications via the Patent Cooperation Treaty reached approximately 273,900 in 2024, representing a modest 0.5% increase following a slight decline recorded the previous year. Within this global context, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a remarkable growth trajectory, with the World Intellectual Property Organisation citing the Kingdom for its exceptional rises in filing activity.…
Kuwait’s industry sector occupies a key position in the country’s diversification agenda, balancing the challenges of global market volatility with domestic priorities for sustainable growth. The sector has been reshaped by regulatory modernisation, infrastructure investment and strategic initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on hydrocarbons. Although manufacturing remains a relatively modest…
Kuwait’s industry sector occupies a key position in the country’s diversification agenda, balancing the challenges of global market volatility with domestic priorities for sustainable growth. The sector has been reshaped by regulatory modernisation, infrastructure investment and strategic initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on hydrocarbons. Although manufacturing remains a relatively modest…
Kuwait is advancing a broad reform agenda under the New Kuwait 2035 development plan, aiming to strengthen economic resilience and diversify beyond hydrocarbons. Recent governance and fiscal reforms, including the passage of a new public debt law, are expected to expand financing options and support capital market development. At the same time, investment in infrastructure, logistics, digital tech
Interview: Khalid Al Amoudi, CEO, Saudi Red Bricks Company (SRBC), on advancing quality, efficiency and value across the supply chain Which performance standards shape purchasing decisions for contractors and developers? KHALID AL AMOUDI: A noticeable shift is happening in how materials are chosen and much of it comes down to durability, energy efficiency and the ability to withstand a changing climate.…
By the end of 2024 Saudi Arabia’s industrial trajectory had firmly transitioned into the second phase of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme (NIDLP), with non-oil activities contributing 55% to the Kingdom’s real GDP. As the industrial ecosystem solidifies its role as a primary engine for job creation, the mining sector has emerged as a critical third pillar in the country’s…
The horizon for the industrial and mining sectors is defined by a transition from rapid, volume-based expansion to strategic consolidation and resilience. While the fourth Future Minerals Forum held in January 2025 demonstrated momentum – yielding SR107bn ($28.5bn) in deals, the Kingdom is actively recalibrating its approach to address emerging global trends. The trajectory faces pressure from elevated…
Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term development roadmap, with greater emphasis on consolidating and maximising the impact of economic reforms introduced over the past decade. Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has pursued an ambitious agenda aimed at diversifying and moving away from hydrocarbons and expanding private sector activity. Sa
