When it comes to environmentally friendly products, the UAE is better known as a consumer rather than producer. However, a young Abu Dhabi company is hoping to change this.
Falcon For Solar Sun is a local start-up about to begin production of solar water heaters from its custom-built premises in the Mafraq Industrial Area. The company was set up by two brothers, Mohammed and Waleed Al Shamsi, with the support of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.
Solar water heaters rely on the power of the sun, rather than conventional electricity, to warm up water. The technology has been around for decades and makes both environmental and commercial sense for the UAE. Authorities in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have mandated the use of solar water heaters in new developments.
The Al Shamsi brothers hope that their product could satisfy a good chunk of this demand with a high-quality, local product.
“This is a German technology, made fully in the UAE with high quality and full warranty,” said Waleed Al Shamsi.
The German link is Sven Steinbach, a German engineer, who is the designer of the solar hot water system.
“This country really wants to go green and we are part of this,” said Mr Steinbach, who is also the company’s general manager.
Mr Steinbach met Waleed Al Shamsi in 2015. The same year, the Al Shamsi brothers approached the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development for assistance. The project was approved and Falcon For Solar Sun received a loan of almost Dh2 million. Besides the loan, extended at very favourable terms, the company also received consultancy advice from the fund.
“The budget was very high, without the Government support we could not have done it,” said Mr Al Shamsi.
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As the project promoted sustainability and energy conservation, the decision to support Falcon For Solar Sun “came easy”, said a fund representative.
“We are optimistic about the company’s future and the potential of its solar water heater product, given the existing robust market demand, fuelled in part by the government’s sustainability and green policies,” said the representative.
In Abu Dhabi, the Estidama building programme has requirements for solar hot water systems, while in Dubai, such systems are mentioned in the emirate’s Green Building Code, the representative said.
“These building codes are mandating property developers to set a provision in their newly-built villas and accommodations that will allow the inclusion of solar water heaters,” the representative said. “They also promote the use of solar power and other renewable resources in structures.”
“Studies have shown that around 750,000 solar water heaters will be required in the UAE alone in the next five years to help meet its sustainable development targets.”
Already, there are many solar water heating systems available on the market. Mr Al Shamsi believes that what makes his company’s product special is the high quality. The heater has very high solar fraction, (the amount of solar energy versus conventional energy used to heat water) – 75 per cent. In addition, it is the only product on the UAE market, manufactured with stainless steel. This decision was made to ensure the product withstands the UAE’s harsh weather conditions and the fact that the country relies on desalinated water, which has a high amount of dissolved minerals.
The product will retail for about Dh4,500 and is more expensive than some on the market. However, the company offers a 10-year warranty, as opposed to only two, which is the norm for lower-quality heaters. Finally, as this is a local product the company offers the opportunity to provide maintenance, which could be a draw for developers who need to install hundreds of the devices.
The company’s next step is to convince consultants and large-scale developers to consider the product, said Mr Al Shamsi.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:
- Former first lady Hillary Clinton
- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
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Price: On request
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