Innovating to Preserve the Future: Fujairah Research Centre White Paper — October 2025

Authored by Dr. Fouad Lamghari, Director, Fujairah Research Centre

Executive Summary

This white paper presents the Fujairah Research Centre’s (FRC) recent milestones in sustainability, applied research, and innovation.From smart apiculture and regenerative aquaculture to marine monitoring, agrivoltaics, and digital transformation, the initiatives led by FRC in 2025 reflect the UAE’s growing leadership in science, technology, and environmental stewardship.

Through international participation at Apimondia 2025, GITEX Global 2025, and the Water Quality and Agriculture Forums, FRC showcased tangible innovations connecting IoT, blockchain, and AI with real-world applications.These efforts align with the UAE’s vision of a knowledge-driven economy built on sustainability and resilience.

1. Apimondia 2025 — A Global Legacy for Bees and Sustainability

At the 49th Apimondia Congress in Denmark, FRC represented the UAE with pioneering research on Smart Hive technologies integrating IoT, blockchain, and AI.This system enhances honey traceability and supports sustainable apiculture practices across the region.

A milestone announcement was made during the event: Dubai will host the 50th Apimondia Congress in 2027, marking the UAE’s first time leading the global beekeeping community.Preparations are already underway for the Honey & Honeybee Symposium 2026, which will bridge international collaboration and local innovation in bee sciences.

2. Digital Transformation and Smart Governance — GITEX Global 2025

During GITEX Global 2025, Fujairah reaffirmed its position as a digital innovation hub.Key highlights included two landmark agreements:

• MoU between the Fujairah Environment Authority and Fujairah Municipality, signed by H.E. Ms. Aseela Al Mualla and H.E. Eng. Mohammed Saif Al Afkham, establishing a unified digital services framework.

• Cooperation Agreement between Fujairah Municipality and ALJAZEN Limited, signed by Dr. Carlos Gustavo Parrilla, enabling joint R&D in smart-city and digital-transformation solutions.

These initiatives integrate digital infrastructure with environmental sustainability, reinforcing Fujairah’s strategy toward smart, connected, and eco-efficient governance.

3. Marine and Environmental Innovation — Water Quality Forum 2025

Invited by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and M42, Dr. Fouad Lamghari presented Fujairah’s advancements in real-time marine monitoring and AI-based water-quality analytics.The presentation emphasized sensor networks, predictive modeling, and data-driven decision systems that enable early detection of environmental changes and support evidence-based coastal management.

These systems are central to Fujairah’s leadership in marine science and environmental stewardship.

4. Sustainable Aquaculture — Middle East Agriculture Forum

At AgraME 2025, Dr. Fouad Lamghari highlighted how technology is redefining aquaculture in arid environments through AI-based monitoring, regenerative practices, and circular water management.By linking innovation with ecology, FRC is developing aquaculture systems that enhance productivity while restoring environmental balance — a model for the next generation of food security in the GCC.

5. Camel Biotechnology and AI Health Monitoring — Saudi Veterinary Congress 2025

Represented by Dr. Nabil Mansor, FRC showcased cutting-edge work in camel reproductive biotechnology and digital veterinary science:

• Presentations on Embryo Transfer and AI-Based Camel Health Assessment.

• Official confirmation of a UAE patent for the Camel Semen Collection Kit and Applicator, developed at FRC.

• Acceptance of two papers for ICICT 2026 on AI applications in animal health.

These achievements strengthen the UAE’s position in sustainable livestock innovation and ethical animal-welfare research.

6. Renewable Energy and Agrivoltaics — Global Meet & Expo 2025

In Frankfurt and at the Global Meet & Expo on Renewable and Sustainable Energy, FRC presented findings from its Agrivoltaics Program, showing how integrating solar PV systems with agriculture improves plant resilience to abiotic stress and boosts energy-water-food efficiency.

This pioneering study, conducted with Berlin University, demonstrates the viability of co-producing food and energy in arid climates — a crucial step toward UAE’s sustainable land-use strategy.

7. Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Preservation

FRC hosted Ms. Adiba Romero Sanchez, Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Expert, to explore synergies between traditional herbal medicine, native plants, and desert greening.The collaboration bridges cultural heritage with environmental science, promoting the conservation of local flora such as Tephrosia apollinea and reinforcing Emirati traditional knowledge as part of sustainable development.

8. Published Research and Global Recognition

Marine Science

• “Preliminary Findings on the Movement and Habitat Preferences of Moza, a Rescued Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)” — published in ALS Journal.Pioneering work on satellite-tracked turtle rehabilitation in Fujairah.

Medicinal Plants

• “Prioritizing Citrullus colocynthis Accessions with Antibacterial Activity” — F1000Research.

• “Overstory Plant Canopy and Organ-Age Enhance Tephrosia apollinea Survival” — Scientific Reports.

AI and Blockchain

• “Blockchain-Integrated Oracle for Beehive Monitoring” — IEEE AICCSA 2025.Combines Isolation Forest anomaly detection with Ethereum smart contracts.

• “Explainable AI on Camel Type Dataset” and “Camel Breed Classification Using YOLO Models” — ICICT 2026.

Together, these publications position FRC among the UAE’s top multidisciplinary R&D centers, integrating AI, blockchain, and environmental science into globally indexed research.

9. Youth and Research Capacity Building

FRC celebrates its emerging researchers, notably Mona Alwakaa, featured on national television for her contributions to bee-and-honey technology R&D.Her success reflects the Centre’s ongoing mission to empower the next generation of Emirati scientists and innovators.

10. Acknowledgments

Gratitude is extended to the entire FRC team for their dedication and collaborative spirit across marine, agriculture, and digital research.Special recognition goes to Mr. Sibin Balakrishnan for achieving his Certified Financial Planner certification, and to colleagues Dr. François, Simone, Shazad, and Ajit for their contributions to FRC’s success.

Conclusion

FRC’s progress during 2025 demonstrates how innovation, collaboration, and sustainability can work hand in hand to protect ecosystems and empower communities.From blockchain-driven apiculture to AI-powered marine and agricultural systems, Fujairah continues to stand at the crossroads of science and impact — leading the UAE’s vision for a smarter, greener, and more sustainable future.