UAE Builds First Green Hydrogen Plant

UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei and Israeli Energy Minister Karine el-Harrar signed the MoU (WAM)
UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei and Israeli Energy Minister Karine el-Harrar signed the MoU (WAM)
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UAE Builds First Green Hydrogen Plant

UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei and Israeli Energy Minister Karine el-Harrar signed the MoU (WAM)
UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei and Israeli Energy Minister Karine el-Harrar signed the MoU (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates has started building the "first green hydrogen plant in the Middle East," and testing is underway, announced Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei.

UAE aims to capture 25 percent of the global hydrogen fuel market by 2030. It is implementing more than seven ambitious hydrogen projects, targeting key export markets, including Japan, South Korea, Germany, and India.

Meanwhile, the UAE and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen relations related to the energy sector and to launch a bilateral partnership that supports their goals regarding the future of clean energy.

"The UAE and Israel have both achieved several ambitious goals in all areas, most notably in energy, since the signing of the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement between the two sides over a year ago," Mazrouei said.

During his meeting with Israeli Energy Minister Karine el-Harrar at the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020, Mazrouei stressed that the accord has helped create promising opportunities for both countries and the region.

"These partnerships will help achieve the transition to renewable energy, as well as draft projects and initiatives that support the Paris Agreement for climate change, which the UAE was among the first to ratify," he said.

The MoU, signed in the presence of many officials from both sides, stipulates the exchange of knowledge and expertise. It also calls for hosting high-level meetings to discuss issues related to energy storage, most notably clean energy, as well as infrastructure cybersecurity, fossil fuels, electricity grids, smart networks, problems of hydrogen and water, and ways of supporting the UAE and Israel's energy strategies.

It promotes investment and trade in energy, energy-related services and equipment, and highlights the strategic importance of developing common global approaches to promoting market access opportunities and the sustainable development of energy resources.

The MoU also affirms the commitment of both parties to sustainable development in implementing energy, science, and technology policies while considering ever-changing economic, social, and environmental considerations, such as climate change.



Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.