Insights

Authors:   Wesayef Saeed Obaid Fares Al Dahmani, Shaher Bano Mirza*, Muhammed Sirajul Huda Kalathingal, Fouad Lamghari Ridouane. The tree of acacia ehrenbergiana. Abstract: Background:   Acacia ehrenbergiana is native plant of the Emirates of Fujairah, UAE. It’s qualities of being salt tolerant and coping up with harsh condition makes it prime focus and one of the priority plants for the Higher authorities in Fujairah. Methods: The following study has assessed the nutrition

I am one of the top experts in ecosystems conservation pilots, but unfortunately Environmental pilots almost always succeed with no guarantee on the scaling. That’s not reassuring.That’s dangerous. Pilots operate under ideal conditions: Limited scope Controlled variables Simplified governance They are designed to work. Scale is not. What pilots systematically hide Ecological variability Real ecosystems are noisy, dynamic, and unforgiving. Pilots don’t expose that. Scaling doe

Some of the most “successful” sustainability programs I’ve reviewed produced excellent reports. They also produced almost no measurable environmental improvement. The organizations weren’t lying.They were measuring the wrong thing. The structural flaw at the heart of sustainability programs Most sustainability programs are not designed to protect ecosystems. They are designed to: Demonstrate compliance Satisfy ESG reporting Align with frameworks Environmental outcomes become

From small companies to big organizations, I sat in too many steering committees where everyone agreed the environmental program was “progressing well.” Budgets approved. Milestones ticked. KPIs green. Then I went to the field. What I saw there didn’t match the dashboards — not even close. When I asked who had the authority to stop the program, redesign it, or escalate risk if assumptions failed, the answer was always the same: “It’s shared.” Shared responsibility is not gove

Authors: Rami Al-Ruzouq , Mohamed Barakat A. Gibril, Abdallah Shanableh , Jan Bolcek, Fouad Lamghari, Nezar Atalla Hammour, Ali El-Keblawy , Ratiranjan Jena. Spectral-spatial transformer segmentation of date palm trees from high-res satellite imagery Abstract: Date palm plantations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are under threat from soil salinity, drought, and date palm weevils. Accordingly, monitoring and conserving date palms are crucial to preserving a vital component

Authors: Khaled Almiani, Shaher Bano Mirza, Camille Zufferey, Khawla M. Alyammahi, Fouad Lamghari. The proposed framework conceptual workflow. Abstract: Honey is globally recognized for its substantial nutritional impact and therapeutic properties. In addition to its health benefits, honey is commonly used as a natural sweetener in daily life. However, because of its high market value, honey is susceptible to manipulation and counterfeiting. For instance, honey may be mixed w

When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a kind of research “superman.” After 25 years of research across 10 different countries, I’ve learned something simple: supermen don’t exist. The real superpower is surviving one year after another without losing faith or courage. No matter the conditions, I make the jump to the next year with even more energy. My wife often tells me, “Your foolish side will get you into trouble.” From a data perspective, her analysis holds in ~30% of o

Authors: Mohamed G. Shehata , Saad H.D. Masry, Nourhan M. Abd El-Aziz, Fouad L. Ridouane, Shaher B. Mirza, Sobhy A. El-Sohaimy . Adhesion of selected honeybee-derived lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to Caco-2 intestinal cells after 2 h at 37 °C, showing microscopic evidence of probiotic potential compared with untreated control cells. Abstract: Probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have garnered substantial attention for their potential health benefits, particularly in su

Authors: John A. Burt , Juan Pablo Torres-Florez , Mattie Rodrigue , Cassidy Nelson and Mika Chance. Bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus observed at 483 m depth off Fujairah, UAE, alongside the OceanX submersible Nadir, documenting the first national record of this species. Abstract: The first record of bramble sharks ( Echinorhinus brucus ) in the United Arab Emirates is presented. In situ observations of multiple bramble sharks were made at depths between 460 and 720 m from

Authors: François Mitterand Tsombou , Maryam Ali Saeed Mohamed Alhmoudi , Ahmed Mohamed Saeed Ali Alhmoudi , Fouad Lamghari Ridouane & Amani Jumah Ahmed Meleih Aldhanhani .  Tested plant organs: Leaves ( a ), stem ( b ), yellow cultivar tuber ( c ), white cultivar tuber ( d ), slices of the yellow and white tubers ( e ), and ( f ) of Ipomea batatas. Abstract: Sweet potato is considered one of the crops enriched with valuable nutritional components, and this plant might posse

Authors: François Mitterand Tsombou , Ahmed Mohamed Saeed Ali Alhmoudi , Aishah Saeed Sulaiman Jemei Al Dhanhani , Maryam Ali Saeed Mohamed Alhmoudi , Shaher Bano Mirza , Melwin James Engracial & Fouad Lamghari Ridouane .  Dates palm tree (Phoenix dactylefera) ( a ), and the dates palm bunches ( b ). Abstract: Arid regions are mainly characterized by extreme environmental conditions, which strongly affect crop production and therefore, could not allow to satisfy the high foo

Authors: François Mitterand Tsombou , Maryam Ali Saeed Mohamed Alhmoudi , Ahmed Mohamed Saeed Ali Alhmoudi , Fouad Lamghari Ridouane , Aishah Saeed Sulaiman Al Dhanhani & Subraelu Pakam .  Plant of Tephrosia apollinea ( A ) and the flowers ( B ) growing in the Emirate of Fujairah. Abstract: Arid environments are characterized by extreme weather conditions which strongly affect plant physiology. Overstory plants layer can increase stress resilience of the understory plants th

Authors: François Mitterand Tsombou , Aishah Saeed Sulaiman Al Dhanhani , Ahmed Mohamed Saeed Ali Alhmoudi , Maryam Ali Saeed Mohamed Al Hmoudi , Fouad Lamghari Ridouane , Maitha Fahad Ahmed Alabdouli , Hessa Jassim Alhammadi , Mozah Ebraheim Abdulla Ali Alsamahi & Shaher Bano Mirza . Moringa peregrina plant (A) , flowers (B) , and the fruits (C) growing in some area in the Emirate of Fujairah. Abstract: Extreme environments significantly impact the metabolic profiles of pl

Authors:   Leandro Aranha , Juan Pablo Torres-Florez. Fluke hanging from fishing year after amputation. Abstract: Whale interactions with fishing gear pose a major anthropogenic threat, yet entanglements in South Atlantic trawl fisheries remain underreported, with no published records. This lack of data extends to reports of whales found stranded with amputated tails , despite documented cases of survival even without a fluke. This study presents a novel case: a video recorde

The Shift from Ambition to Performance As Saudi Arabia enters the next phase of Vision 2030, the criteria for success in R&D and Sustainability are evolving. The initial era of large-scale project announcements is being replaced by a rigorous focus on technical maturity and operational delivery. For senior leaders in the Kingdom, the challenge is no longer just aligning with the "North Star" of the Vision, but proving that every Riyal invested is producing defensible, high-qu

The Rise of the Algorithmic Mandate In 2026, Artificial Intelligence is no longer a peripheral tool for R&D; it is the engine of sustainability reporting. From predicting carbon sequestration rates to optimizing renewable grids, AI is making decisions that directly impact institutional value. However, with the enforcement of the UAE Charter for AI and the Saudi AI Hub Law, the "Black Box" approach is no longer legally defensible. Senior leaders are now responsible for the tra

Authors: Soumya Koippully Manikandan , Attiat Elnaggar , Islam M. Ahmady , François Mitterand Tsombou , Khaled A. El-Tarabily , Mohamed S. Sheteiwy & Ali El-Keblawy . Proposed mechanisms of lead detoxification and growth enhancement in Calotropis procera inoculated with Pantoea agglomerans. Abstract: Heavy metal contamination with lead poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability due to its toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulative n

Authors: Attiat Elnaggar , François Mitterand Tsombou , M. Iftikhar Hussain , Ahmed M. Almehdi , Zainul Abideen , Jean Wan Hong Yong , Ali El-Keblawy . Phenotypic variations in Citrullus colocynthis plants exposed to different temperatures (15/25, 25/35, and 35/45 °C). Abstract: Sub-optimal temperatures posed significant challenges to leaf photosynthesis and plant growth. This study examined the eco-physiological adaptations of a desert vine ( Citrullus colocynthis ) to unfa

Authors: Rania Hamdy , Attiat Elnaggar , Najma Nur Islam , Sarah Sabri , François Mitterand Tsombou , Sameh S M Soliman , Ahmed M Almehdi , Fouad Lamgharie , Kareem A Mosa , Ali El-Keblawy . Metabolic profile analysis. (a) Heatmap analysis of the metabolic profiles in R. minima and S. italica in both seasons (winter and summer). Red color indicates highly expressed, and blue color indicates low expression. (b) Principal component analysis of R. minima and S. italica metabolit

The End of Voluntary Reporting The UAE has officially moved from a voluntary sustainability approach to a legally required one. A landmark federal law is now in effect, requiring all public and private entities—including those in free zones—to measure, report, and actively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. For senior leaders, this moves sustainability out of the "Marketing" budget and directly into the "Compliance" and "Legal Risk" registers. The Path to Compliance The E