In 2016 Dubai’s government leaders announced an ambition plan: by 2030, one-fourth of all trips in Dubai would be driverless. At the time, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, told a media outlet that he wanted Dubai to become “the world’s biggest laboratory for technology, research, and development.” In the ensuing… Continue Reading
UNICEF appeals to the international community for almost $4 billion to help children in crisis around the world. Continue Reading
As Middle Eastern countries seek solutions to traffic congestion and pollution, some hope that more residents will commute by bicycle. Continue Reading
The western region of Afghanistan is facing its worst drought in a decade, following several years of extremely low rain and snowfall. Some blame the lack of snow on the La Nina weather cycle in the Pacific Ocean, which resulted in rainfall totals that were 70 percent lower than usual. Wells have run dry, and… Continue Reading
Farming in the dry, arid Middle East is often a fight against nature. As populations have increased, resulting in more demand for food and higher water usage, innovative farmers and researchers are experimenting with alternative farming methods, including greenhouses and vertical farms. Permaculture, which is attracting interest across the Middle East, takes a similar tack.… Continue Reading
Long considered an epicenter of fossil fuel production, the Middle East is now leading the way in renewable energy initiatives. Whether it’s a college student club in Saudi Arabia focusing on sustainability or a petroleum company building a wind farm, representatives from sectors across the region are saying that the future is in renewable energy,… Continue Reading
Israel is running out of land for development, and Israeli officials are floating an idea for expansion that other small countries have successfully employed: building artificial islands. One of Israel’s biggest needs is a new airport, as the Middle Eastern country currently has only one major international airport, Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The facility… Continue Reading
Greenhouses have long been used to grow produce when the outside conditions aren’t conducive to farming. Middle Eastern countries face increasingly challenging conditions for agriculture, including productive land turning into desert, a lack of water, and harsh weather conditions. As a result, some entrepreneurs are trying an ambitious new type of greenhouse that could help… Continue Reading
While the Middle East is rich in oil, the region is increasingly struggling with the lack of a more important natural resource: water. Changing climates, population growth, and desertification—the process by which fertile land becomes desert—have made water scarce. Experts acknowledge that there is no one solution and that multiple ideas and approaches will be… Continue Reading
Pakistan’s farming sector is in the midst of a severe water shortage that could devastate the country’s summer crops and impact the winter growing season. Government officials hope that projects such as a large dam and a new national water policy will help end the crisis that could affect Pakistan for many years to come… Continue Reading