UN Adopts May 10th as International Day of Argania : March 2021

The Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN announced today that the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming May 10th of each year as the International Day of Argania.

Argan trees cover more than 71% of the Souss valley in south-western Morocco.

Morocco’s rich resources position Morocco as the largest international exporter of argan-based products.

Argan is a popular ingredient in beauty cosmetics, including for hair and skin care.

Argan product sales for medicine, cosmetics, and consumption makeup over 90% of the Souss-Massa region’s economy.

Over  17,500 cooperatives are active in the argan industry. Most of the rural businesses employ local women, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

source: moroccoworldnews.com

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Morocco submitted a draft resolution, citing the important role of the argan tree in promoting job creation in rural areas across the country / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

World’s First Shipment of Blue Ammonia, Saudi Arabia to Japan : Sep. 27, 2020

The world’s first shipment of blue ammonia was dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan on Sep. 27, 2020 for use in a power station for the production of zero-carbon power generation, paving the way for the further use of hydrogen in the energy system.

The Saudi-Japanese collaboration is part of a pilot project, conducted by the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) and oil company Saudi Aramco in partnership with Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC).

“The shipment is considered the first around the world, and it represents a crucial opportunity for Aramco to introduce hydrocarbons as a reliable and affordable source of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia,” said Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, chief technology officer, Saudi Aramco, according to Saudi media.

source: arabnews.com

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A blue ammonia carrier at Jubail terminal in Saudi Arabia. The renewable fuel is being touted as a new opportunity to meet climate change targets and power the future. (Aramco) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Radwa Rostom – Founder and CEO of ‘Hand Over’, a Non-Profit Sustainable Green Enterprise , Egypt

Radwa Rostom. Engineer. Social Entrepreneur. Changemaker.

Founder and CEO of ‘Hand Over’.

A non-profit dedicated to develop models to reduce the cost of construction by 50 percent or more. Ensuring construction models to bringing sustainable buildings to Egypt’s masses.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Civil) – Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Awards/ Honours:

  • An Ashoka Fellow
  • Ranked by Arabian Business Magazine as No.30 of the 100 most powerful Arabs Under 40 2015)
  • Awarded a grant from the World Bank for the ‘Women for Resilient Cities’ competition (2015)
  • Winner ‘Tamayouz Excellence Award’ for Women in Architecture (2021)

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Echoing Green Finalist Portrait / pix: fellows.echoinggreen.org

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EGYPT

ADFD-funded Solar Project Lights Up and Powers Berbera City in Somaliland

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) funded solar energy project at Berbera City in Somaliland has been connected to the local electricity grid. It will meet the increasing demand of the entire city of approximately 50,000 people.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the sidelines of the event, which was witnessed by ADFD that had transferred the plant’s ownership to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals on behalf of the Government of Somaliland and appointed a consulting company, Coretec, to provide necessary support to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in developing an overall operational structure for the project.

The deal agreed in principle on a public-private partnership (PPP) to operate and maintain the solar plant, the first of its kind in the country. “This could well serve as a reference model for the rest of the country,” said Jama Mohamoud Egal, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Republic of Somaliland.

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pix: wam.ae

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E) / SOMALILAND

Halima Benbouzza – Biotechnology and Plant Geneticist. Scientist.

Dr. Halim Benbouzza . Scientist. Academic. Researcher – Genetic Diversity, Plant Breeding, Bioethics, Biosecurity.

Posts:

  • Director – National Biotechnology Research Centre
  • Chair of Joint-Committee between Health and Biology sector – appointed by Algeria Government (2011)
  • Chair of the Guidance Committee of the Pharmacy and Biotechnology Project- Algeria. Appointed by the Prime Minister (2013)
  • Professor (Agronomic Science), University of Batna 1, Batna

Awards and Honours:

  • ‘Women in Science’ – Hall of Fame Program, honoured by U.S. State Department (2014)
  • ‘Next Einstein Forum’ – one of the 6 best female researchers contributing to advancing science in africa (2010)

Education :

  • Ph.D – Agro Biotech Gembloux, Belgium
  • Masters in Biotechnology – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Belgium
  • Graduate – University of Batna’s Faculty of Engineering, Algeria

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pix: twitter.com

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ALGERIA

Abu Dhabi Mina Plaza Demolishing Enters Guinness World Records. Gone in 10 secs : December 2020

MODON Properties, Abu Dhabi based integrated master-developer claimed a Guinness World Record title for controlled demolition of a 165.032m tall building, making it the ‘Tallest building demolished using explosives 13,227 pounds (6,000 kg) , all safely carried out.

A total of 144-floors, the 4-high rise towers were demolished in approximately 10-seconds through a controlled imploding using non-primary explosives placed in 18,000 drill holes within the structure.

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The Mina Plaza Towers / Openvibes by Safeer/YouTube / pix: interestingengineering.com

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Abu Dhabi , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

World’s Largest Wooden Dhow ‘Obaid’. Built in Dubai (U.A.E) – October 2020

‘Obaid’ built in Dubai, is named after the Emirati shipbuilder Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al-Falasi. It has been certified by Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘World’s largest wooden Arabic Dhow’.

For the record the late Emirati shipbuilder Obaid Juma started his apprenticeship in the1940’s at the age of nine (9).

The dhow measured 91 meters long and more than 20 meters wide. The vessel is 11.22 meters high and weighs 2,500 tonnes. The ‘Obaid’ is powered by two 1,850 horsepower engines and built for speed of 14 knots . Built from approximately 1,700 tonnes of wood and 800 tonnes of steel and is scheduled to carry cargo.

This record breaking marvel is a handmade boat, built in a country with no forests. A modern adaptation is adding steel to the wooden structure.

The ship builder is Majid Obaid Al-Falasi the Managing Director of Majid Obaid Bin Majid Al Falasi & Sons, UAE.

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pix: arabnews.com

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

World’s Largest Fountain – The Palm Fountain, Dubai (UAE) – October 23rd, 2020

The Palm Fountain at The Pointe, the Palm Jumeirah broke the record for the World’s largest fountain.

The Palm Fountain measures 7,327 sq. metres and spreads 14,000 sq. feet of sea water equipped with shooters capable of blasting water 105 metres into the air and features 3,000 LED lights in multiple colours.

Certified by Guinness World Records.

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pix: mediaoffice.ae

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

World’s Largest Oasis ‘Al Ahsa Oasis’ : Saudi Arabia : October 2020

Al Ahsa Oasis in now certified by Guinness World Records as the Planet’s largest self-contained Oasis.

Al Ahsa Oasis has also the largest date-palm oasis surrounded by sand in the world.

It has also a UNESCO designated status as a World Heritage site. Over 6,000 years old. It has many National Heritage Sites, as well as Human Settlements dating back to thousands of years.

Al Ahsa Oasis stretches across 85.4 sq.km . Irrigated by more than 280 springs of hot, warm and cold water.

Annual Al Ahsa Date Festival conducted here. Well known for its ‘Khalsah Dates‘.

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It includes over 2.5 million date palms watered by a network of over 280 artesian springs / pix: gulfbusiness.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Fahad Badar – First Arab Male to Double Summit in a Single Expedition : Qatar 2019

Fahad Badar. Business Leader. Adventurer. High Altitude Climber. Mountaineer.

Business Leader : Executive General Manager, Chief – International Banking – Commercial Bank of Qatar-

Some Records:

  • 2019 -Fahad Badar made history by becoming the first Arab male to double summit both Mount Everest and Lhotse in a single expedition.
  • 2020 – Climbed the highest mountain in the Antartic, Mount Vinson at 4,892m, reaching the summit on January 02nd, 2020. The expedition included 2 guides and 9 team members.

Education:

-MBA : Durham University, U.K.

www.fahadbadar.com

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pix: thepeninsulaqatar.com

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QATAR