Insights

The End of "Voluntary" Sustainability For the past decade, sustainability and R&D in the GCC have largely operated in a "voluntary" space. Success was measured by the ambition of the vision and the visibility of the pilot. However, as the UAE and Saudi Arabia formalize their ESG and R&D reporting standards, the era of the "unverified claim" is closing. For a senior leader, this means your greatest risk is no longer the failure of a project, but the failure to prove its impact

Authors: Franz Lahnsteiner , Beate Berger , Nabil Mansour , Florian Kunz. Long‑term liquid nitrogen storage preserves salmonid semen quality comparably to 3‑day storage. Abstract: The quality of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), charr ( Salvelinus umbla ), and brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) semen cryopreserved for 25 years was compared with semen cryopreserved for <3d. Investigated quality parameters were the sperm motility rate and swimming velocity, the percentage o

December 2025 at Fujairah Research Center: A Month That Meant Something December 2025 was busy at Fujairah Research Center. Not busy in a noisy way — busy in a meaningful  way. The kind of month where work is demanding, days are long, and you feel the weight of responsibility, but also the reason you do this in the first place. Letting Young People Lead Marine Innovation One of the highlights was the Marine Innovation Exhibition at Higher Colleges of Technology in Fujairah .

The Trap of the "Successful" Pilot In the innovation landscape, the "successful pilot" is often celebrated as the ultimate milestone. However, for a senior decision-maker, a pilot that works in a controlled environment but cannot survive the transition to a regulated, high-stakes operational reality is not a success—it is a stranded asset. The history of R&D is littered with technically brilliant solutions that lacked the structural integrity to scale. Technical viability is

Ambition vs. Operational Reality in the GCC National visions like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 have set a global standard for ambition. These frameworks provide the "North Star" for innovation, but for those responsible for delivery, they also create a unique form of "Delivery Risk." The pressure to align with these visions can lead to the approval of projects that look excellent in a press release but lack the operational depth to succeed. Alignment

The Fragility of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) In the GCC, we see a recurring and expensive pattern: mangrove restoration, coral rehabilitation, or aquaculture pilots succeed brilliantly in year one, only to vanish by year three. These projects are high-visibility and carry immense environmental promise, but they are often managed as "one-off" events rather than long-term R&D challenges. Without a governance model that manages biological data, they become "Sustainability Theat

Authors:   Sabhah Alhmoudi, Nabil Mansour, Ahmed G. Ismail. Macroplastic fragment in the intestine of a gilthead seabream Sparus aurata (AI, MI, PI, S, P), evidencing plastic ingestion. Abstract: In this report, a farmed seabream, Sparus aurata, weighing 209 grams and measuring 300 mm in total length was found to have ingested a transparent plastic fragment > 150 mm long, lodged within its intestine. Both the affected and unaffected regions of the intestinal wall exhibited ph

Authors: Alla Eddine Mahamedi , Milan Spetik , Muhammed Namseed Padinhar Ismail , Fouad Lamghari , Ales Eichmeier & Akila Berraf-Tebbal . Acremonium quercivorum sp. nov. morphological characteristics. (a, b) Colonies on PDA (front: a and reverse: b), (c) phialides arising from ropes of hyphae, (d-f) conidiophores, phialides, and conidia, (g) conidial aggregates, (h, i) solitary conidia. Scale bars = 10 µm. Abstract: A cremonium is a cosmopolitan and diverse genus of filamen

Authors: Heba W Alhamdi ,  Fatma Alzahraa Mokhtar ,  Fouad Lamghari Ridouane ,  Ali A Shati ,  Serag Eldin I Elbehairi ,  Lamiaa I Fahmy ,  Mohammad Y Alfaifi ,  Nada K Sedky ,  Heba A Fahm y. Major classes of detected compounds in Lens culinaris L. Abstract: Lens culinaris L. , has been widely recognized for its medical applications. LC-ESI-TOF-MS identified 22 secondary metabolites including phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanidin glycosides among its total extract (LCTE)

Authors:   Robert K. Browne, Qinghua Luo, Pei Wang, Nabil Mansour, Svetlana A. Kaurova, Edith N. Gakhova, Natalia V. Shishova, Victor K. Uteshev, Ludmila I. Kramarova, Govindappa Venu, Mikhail F. Bagaturov, Somaye Vaissi, Pouria Heshmatzad, Peter Janzen, Aleona Swegen, Julie Strand and Dale McGinnity ‏ The most common color morph of the green and golden bell frog, Ranoidea (Litoria) aurea, showing characteristic green and gold patterning, a target species for conservation bre

The Structural Reality of Innovation Failure In the current landscape of innovation across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, there is a visible disconnect between technical ambition and operational reality. Many organizations are currently managing R&D portfolios that look impressive on paper but feel increasingly fragile during execution. This "scaling gap" occurs when a project succeeds in a controlled pilot environment but lacks the structural integrity to survive real-world regul

Industry-focused events play an important role in shaping the future of manufacturing and innovation. Each year, national industry forums in the UAE bring together policymakers, business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to support sustainable development and economic diversification. The event highlights advanced technologies and modern industrial solutions that reflect the future of manufacturing. From automation and smart systems to advanced materials and environmenta

Communities around the world are increasingly facing challenges related to climate change, food security, and environmental protection. Sustainable innovation plays a crucial role in addressing these issues and supporting long-term resilience. One important area of progress is the development of solar energy solutions designed for hot and arid environments. By adapting solar technologies to withstand extreme temperatures, dust, and harsh weather conditions, desert regions can

Selenium is a trace mineral that plays an important role in maintaining human health. It supports the body’s antioxidant system, helps regulate thyroid hormones, and strengthens immune function. Because both too little and too much selenium can cause health problems, measuring its level in food is essential for public health and food safety.Analyzing selenium content in food helps ensure people receive adequate amounts through their diet while avoiding toxicity. It supports a

Cetaceans are highly mobile marine species that pose substantial research challenges due to their wide home ranges, migratory behavior, and low detectability across vast and remote oceanic regions. These realities, combined with the high costs of systematic surveys, have created significant gaps in understanding their spatial distribution, habitat use, and vulnerability to human-induced threats, which are critical for effective conservation management. This study presents the

Authors:   R Al-Khateeb, N Mansour , SB Mirza , F Lamghari ‏ Detection of four farmed dromedary camels in a single frame using deep learning, identifying three standing and one sitting as part of daily activity pattern analysis. Abstract: Introduction:  This study addresses the need for automated monitoring solutions to evaluate the daily activity patterns of camels, which is critical for improving animal welfare and farm management practices. By leveraging advanced deep le

Authors: Youssef Djellid , Alla Eddine Mahamedi , Milan Spetik , Eliska Hakalová , Ales Eichmeier , Micael Ferreira Mota Gonçalves , Fouad Lamghari , Maryam Ali Saeed Mohamed Al Hmoudi , Akila Berraf-Tebbal . Date palm tree with decline symptoms (a), rachis (b–f) and leaflets (g, h) spots. Abstract: Date palm ( Phoenixdactylifera L.) is one of the oldest fruit crops grown in the semi-arid and arid regions, playing significant ecological, environmental and socio-economic rol

Authors:   Reem Yaqoub Yousif Ahmed Abdalla , Aseela Al Moalla , Mohamed Ateeg , Muhammed Sirajul Huda Kalathingal , shaher Bano , Fouad Lamghari Ridouane Urban monitoring site showing the location of Point 1 air quality monitoring station (AQMS) and eNose sensor on Google Earth Pro for non‑methane hydrocarbon fingerprint characterization and windspeed–concentration correlation analysis. Abstract: Multiple sources influence air quality and regional climate in complicated atmo

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is an advanced breeding technique that allows animals with superior genetic traits to be cloned. This technology has recently been applied to camels for purposes like racing, beauty competitions, and milk production. Camel milk is highly valued for its health benefits, but camels naturally produce less milk than cattle, averaging about 6 kg per day. Factors such as delayed puberty and long intervals between calving further limit production

In today’s world, the need for innovative solutions to environmental challenges has never been greater. From climate change to resource depletion, finding sustainable ways to live and work is more urgent than ever. Entrepreneurs and creative thinkers are leading the way. They spot opportunities to develop solutions that address environmental problems, whether through renewable energy technologies, sustainable food systems, or eco-friendly products. By challenging traditional