Veteran architect says next growth wave heading north to Simaisma
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Ibrahim Mohammed Jaidah. PICTURE: Thajudheen.
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Sustainability in Qatar has crossed from marketing language into law, with every government project now required to pass a sustainability assessment before it proceeds, according to one of the country’s best-known architects.
“In the past, the word sustainability was just a cliché and a marketing tool. But now in Qatar, I am so happy to see sustainability becomes a regulation. It is a practice and it is actually a legislation. Now, any government project has to have a sustainability assessment system,” said Ibrahim Mohammed Jaidah, Group CEO and founder of Arab Engineering Bureau, one of the country’s oldest and largest home-grown architectural firms.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Jaidah said the discipline now runs through the whole pipeline of national infrastructure. “Development projects in Qatar are well studied and based on the whole concept of sustainability and it is a key focus in Qatar’s projects,” he said.
Jaidah, who is well known as the architect of some of the iconic public and private buildings and projects in the country, including Al Thumama Stadium and Place Vendome among others, noted that sustainability should be the hallmark of an entire project.
“If your building is sustainable, you get to build more in such style. And that is why all the developers are very keen to get more stars in sustainability to gain more reputation. In my opinion, sustainability is not only needed for an individual building but for the entire project or the whole town. We should be developing a city that is very sustainable,” he continued.
He commended the GSAS programme developed by Gulf Organisation for Research and Development, an initiative to measure and assess the sustainability compatibility of a project, and cited the Lusail development as a perfect example of sustainability.
Jaidah underlined that the growth taking place in the country is not a random one. “What is happening is not just taking place like some random growth. It is all very well-studied projects and each and every aspect of it has been well taken care of and it gives a solid step towards the future,” he described.
Jaidah said development is a continuous process and that Doha has one of the best infrastructures any city could dream of.
He stated: “The country is still moving towards new development and the expansion. A bit of slowdown happened after the World Cup, which is natural as a lot of massive infrastructure development took place prior to the event.
“I think it is natural for any city to grow seamlessly. Now we hear about several projects that are happening in Simaisma. I think it is being expanded up there. So it is like the next stage of development. It will not be like a big city, yet it will be developed more for tourism, for apartments among others. I think the population is moving northwards and southwards and these are the areas that can be developed in the coming years,” he continued.
The veteran architect highlighted the life of people in the country before the introduction of electricity and modern amenities.
“Our ancestors lived here without electricity, without any of the modern facilities. But they managed to live well because they were doing their buildings that were responsive to the environment. Small openings, even about the wind, they would study how it moves. Buildings were close to each other, they created shades to each other. And this is the lesson learned and implemented in some of the modern constructions in the country,” he highlighted.
“However, with more greenery and with the landscaping and the use of proper and advanced materials, we are making the projects more environment-friendly and sustainable,” he added
Solar power, battery storage and digital energy technologies are converging into an integrated energy system that could deliver reliable renewable electricity around the clock, writes The smarter E Europe
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Suddenly, everything happened very quickly: while solar power expanded only gradually in the early years of its commercial deployment, it has since become the world’s leading source of electricity generation. The rise of renewable energies is linked to a broader systemic shift that is driving and accelerating the growth of other cleantech sectors, most notably battery storage, electromobility and heat pumps. Flexibility has also emerged as a key priority and can serve as a balancing factor for the variability of renewables. The electrification of all sectors is widely considered a fundamental prerequisite for an efficient, cost-effective and resilient energy system.
At the recent The smarter E Europe 2026, Europe’s largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry, 2,650 exhibitors offered around 105,000 visitors a glimpse into the components that can help make an integrated energy system successful. The Renewables 24/7 special exhibit, organised by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG, demonstrated how a round-the-clock renewable energy supply can work.
Delegates attend a presentation at the Renewables 24/7 special exhibit, exploring how flexibility, storage and smart energy management can support a fully renewable electricity system. Credit: Solar Promotion GmbH
Photovoltaics and battery storage: from niche to industry standard
According to Jaran Rystad, founder and CEO of the research and consulting firm Rystad Energy, speaking at The smarter E Europe, forecasts for photovoltaic expansion have consistently underestimated the pace of deployment, including those produced by his own company, although they were often regarded as overly optimistic when they were published. According to SolarPower Europe’s Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2026–2030, a record 664 gigawatts (GW) of new photovoltaic capacity were installed worldwide in 2025, bringing global installed solar capacity above the three terawatt (TW) mark for the first time. The milestone carries symbolic significance: In 2025, solar power produced more electricity worldwide than wind power for the first time, becoming the largest single driver of global growth in energy generation, ahead of natural gas, oil and coal.
An energy management platform on display at The smarter E Europe 2026, illustrating how digital systems are being used to integrate solar power, battery storage and flexible electricity demand. Credit: Solar Promotion GmbH
China remained the world’s largest solar market, adding 382 GW of new capacity, equivalent to 57 per cent of global installations, although policy changes are expected to result in a temporary slowdown in 2026. Europe continued to be on course for growth: In 2025, the EU-27 once again installed more solar capacity than in the previous year, reaching approximately 67 GW. Solar power has become firmly established as a cornerstone of Europe’s electricity supply. In June 2025, photovoltaics temporarily covered more than 22 per cent of total electricity demand across the EU.
Europe’s battery storage market is expanding just as rapidly. SolarPower Europe’s European Battery Market Outlook 2026–2030 reports that 36 gigawatt hours (GWh) of new storage capacity were installed in 2025, a 48 per cent increase over the previous year, bringing Europe’s total installed storage capacity above 100 GWh for the first time. Utility-scale storage accounted for more than half of all new installations, also a first. This growth has been driven in no small part by the sharp decline in battery costs: Production costs for lithium-ion battery cells have fallen by around 85 per cent since 2010. By 2030, annual installations are expected to reach 138 GWh, almost four times the 2025 level. “We are entering the battery age,” said Markus Elsässer, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, at The smarter E Europe.
Together, these trends – driven by rapidly expanding solar output and growing storage capacity – are laying the foundation for a round-the-clock renewable energy supply. This vision was at the heart of the Renewables 24/7 special exhibit at the recent The smarter E Europe.
Economically viable, technically feasible: 24/7 renewable energy
Too expensive. Too unreliable. Technically impossible. These are among the most common misconceptions surrounding a fully renewable energy supply. The Renewables 24/7 special exhibit at The smarter E Europe 2026 addressed these misconceptions. The exhibit was based on the study Cost-Optimal Transformation of the German Energy System by 2045, prepared by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Both the study and the special exhibit demonstrate how an industrialised country such as Germany can achieve a completely climate-neutral energy system powered entirely by renewable energy in a way that is technically feasible, economically viable and socially manageable.
Visitors pass an exhibition highlighting the combination of solar generation and battery storage, technologies increasingly seen as central to round-the-clock renewable electricity. Credit: Solar Promotion GmbH
Through exhibits, expert presentations and practical examples, the special exhibit presented evidence challenging the assumption that extended periods of low wind and limited sunshine, often referred to as ‘dark doldrums’, represent an obstacle to a renewable energy system. Dr. Charlotte Senkspiel, one of the study’s lead authors at Fraunhofer ISE, explained: “The ‘dark doldrums’ account for only about one per cent of the year. Yes, we still need 100 gigawatts of dispatchable power generation for these periods, and seasonal hydrogen storage is the key to operating it.” The models used in the study and their visualisation at the special exhibit were based on the considerable expansion of storage capacity and increasing utilisation of flexibility. Examples include peak shaving in industry and commerce, demand-side flexibility across all consumption sectors and bidirectional charging of electric vehicles.
At Renewables 24/7, visitors saw to great effect how the individual technologies and applications underpinning the energy transition can efficiently work together as an integrated system. “Solar power, energy storage, e-mobility, power grids and digitalisation are not developing independently. They are converging into an integrated energy system,” said Markus Elsässer at the opening of the special exhibit.
A strong alliance of associations and industry backing the special exhibit
A broad coalition of leading industry associations supported the initiative. Supporters included the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE), the German Association of Energy Market Innovators (bne), the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar), the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the German Hydrogen Association (DWV), the Biogas Trade Association, VDMA (German Engineering Federation) Photovoltaics Equipment and VDMA Power Systems. It was also internationally backed by E-Mobility Europe, Energy Storage Europe (ESE), Smart Energy Europe (smartEn) and SolarPower Europe.
A utility-scale battery storage system exhibited at The smarter E Europe 2026, reflecting the rapid expansion of energy storage alongside solar power. Credit: Solar Promotion GmbH
Leading technology solution partners contributed to the special exhibit, presenting technical and commercial solutions. These included CATL, Energy3000, Fenecon, FoxESS, GE Vernova, Maxsolar, Octopus Energy and Siemens AG. Together, they showcased the technologies and solutions that can enable a fully renewable, round-the-clock energy supply.
Next steps: the solutions are here; policy must follow
The smarter E Europe 2026 and its Renewables 24/7 special exhibit demonstrated that the industry is already providing many of the technologies and products needed for a resilient, climate-neutral and cost-effective energy system. What is needed now is appropriate incentives from policymakers and institutions, as well as a consistent commitment to change. This is essential to address bottlenecks such as insufficient grid capacity and regulations that do not yet adequately support an integrated energy system.
Population growth, urbanisation, gigaprojects and industrial demand are driving record investment in generation, transmission and smart grids. MEED
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The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) power sector stands at a historic crossroads in 2026. Navigating a landscape of complex regional geopolitical tensions and shifting global dynamics, the region’s energy ecosystem is demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Far from slowing down, Mena nations are accelerating their energy transitions, proving that secure, sustainable infrastructure is the ultimate foundation for long-term economic stability.
Driven by visionary national strategies, the region is successfully transforming these macroeconomic headwinds into unprecedented commercial opportunities. Mena continues to break global records in low-cost utility-scale solar and wind deployment, while pioneering cross-border grid interconnections that fortify regional energy security.
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Contract awards
Power project contracts worth $315.7bn have been awarded in the Mena region (across 14 countries) between 2016 and April 2026, with an annual average of $28.7bn.
Saudi Arabia holds the largest share in awarded value with just more than $135.2bn, followed by the UAE with $49.7bn.
Total contract values increased from approximately $12.8bn in 2016 to a peak of over $80bn in 2024, before moderating to around $66.9bn in 2025 and a projected $10.4bn in 2026. After an initial rise in 2017, awards declined in 2018-19, followed by a steady recovery from 2020 onwards, accelerating significantly in 2023 and reaching a historic high in 2024.
Sector-wise, generation projects consistently accounted for the majority share of investments ($215.2bn), while transmission projects with $100.5bn contributed a smaller but stable portion, with noticeable growth during peak investment years.
Power infrastructure now sits at the centre of economic transformation across the region
Installed capacity in the region continued to grow in 2026, driven by increasing power demand from the population and industrial growth. In absolute terms, Saudi Arabia was the leader in the Mena region, with an installed capacity of nearly 121.4GW in 2024, followed by Egypt, with nearly 63.5GW, and the UAE, with 45.5GW.
Although Saudi Arabia led in terms of total installed capacity, Morocco witnessed the largest increase in installed capacity between 2023 and 2024. With a 7.4% growth in electricity installed capacity, Morocco is driven by the National Energy Strategy that mandates 52% of total installed power capacity come from clean energy by 2030.
.A new study by Robert Walters found that 79 per cent of UAE professionals say their job responsibilities have expanded over the past year, with many reporting longer working hours and increased use of AI to manage growing workloads. Picture used for illustrative purposes.Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
The findings suggest that many employees are coping by working longer hours. Almost half (49 per cent) said they are spending more time at work, while a quarter (25 per cent) said they delegate tasks wherever possible.
Despite the growing workload, only 17 per cent of professionals said they had spoken to their managers about the increase in responsibilities.
Andrew Powell, Chief Commercial Officer at Robert Walters, said many businesses are operating under financial pressure and are trying to achieve more with existing teams.
“Many organisations are navigating a tough operating environment right now, facing ongoing cost pressures and the need to deliver more with fewer resources,” he said.
He added that while it is natural for roles to evolve, problems arise when extra work is not formally recognised.
“When that shift happens without clear visibility or formal recognition, it can create ‘shadow workloads’ – where additional responsibilities build up informally over time.”
Oli Sanford-Scutt, Senior Director at Robert Walters Middle East, said professionals across the UAE are increasingly reporting that their roles have quietly expanded as businesses adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
“The UAE’s business environment moves fast, and organisations have had to adapt quickly, but that pace of change means additional responsibilities can accumulate before anyone has had a chance to address them,” he said.
He warned that if left unchecked, the added pressure could become normalised, increasing the risk of burnout and lower productivity.
The report found that artificial intelligence is becoming a key tool for employees trying to keep up with growing workloads.
Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of UAE professionals said they now use AI tools to complete tasks they would not normally have been able to do.
The report also referred to a recent Harvard Business Review study, which found that AI adoption among employees at a US technology company expanded the scope of work, increased the pace of work and led to longer working hours, contributing to what it described as “workload creep”.
Powell said AI has clear productivity benefits but warned it must be introduced carefully.
“AI is already proving to be a powerful tool for boosting productivity and helping employees step into new areas more quickly.”
However, he added: “The challenge is ensuring it’s implemented in a way that genuinely reduces pressure rather than simply raising expectations.”
Sanford-Scutt said the UAE’s rapid adoption of AI gives businesses a competitive advantage, but it can also raise expectations of employees without formally changing their roles.
“When AI enables people to take on tasks beyond their usual remit, expectations can shift without anyone explicitly saying so.”
The research also found that many professionals are experiencing what it calls a “competence hangover” — a feeling of mental exhaustion, brain fog and emotional fatigue which comes after long periods of ‘high performance.’
More than two in five respondents (43 per cent) said they experience this regularly, while another 31 per cent said it happens from time to time.
Powell said taking on new responsibilities can benefit both employees and employers, but only if the extra effort is properly recognised and managed.
“If that effort isn’t recognised or managed effectively, it can lead to fatigue and diminishing returns, impacting everything from decision-making to overall productivity.”
He said organisations need to identify where workloads are increasing and respond by redistributing work, investing in better tools or bringing in temporary support where necessary.
“Ultimately, organisations that strike the right balance between efficiency and sustainable workloads will be better positioned to maintain long term performance.”
Dhanusha is a Chief Reporter at Gulf News in Dubai, with her finger firmly on the pulse of UAE, regional, and global aviation. She dives deep into how airlines and airports operate, expand, and embrace the latest tech.
“Unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires massive investment in inclusive quality education and training. Closing the skills gap can help create decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods at scale.” – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
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“Unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires massive investment in inclusive quality education and training. Closing the skills gap can help create decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods at scale.” – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
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Every year, World Youth Skills Day reminds us that investing in young people is one of the most powerful investments societies can make. As the world navigates rapid technological change, climate challenges and evolving labour markets, equipping young people with the right skills has never been more important.
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted in his message for this year’s observance, unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires sustained investment in quality education and training. Closing the skills gap is not only essential for creating decent jobs, but also for building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.
At UNDP Saudi Arabia, this vision is translated into action through a range of initiatives that empower young people with the knowledge, practical experience and opportunities they need to contribute to the Kingdom’s sustainable development journey under Vision 2030.
For the past three years, the UNDP Summer Academy Programme has opened the doors of the UNDP Country Office to aspiring young professionals, offering them a unique opportunity to work alongside UNDP teams and gain first-hand experience of the United Nations development system. Through mentorship, collaborative assignments and exposure to research, innovation and project development, participants strengthen both their technical and professional skills while deepening their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Young people also play an important role through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme, where national and international Youth UN Volunteers contribute to UNDP’s programme and operational work while developing valuable professional experience in an international development environment. The programme reflects UNDP’s commitment to creating meaningful pathways for youth engagement while strengthening national capacities.
Building technical expertise is equally central to UNDP’s partnerships. Through its collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), UNDP supports the Young Talent Programme, which combines technical training, mentorship and capacity development to prepare a new generation of highly qualified professionals in Saudi Arabia’s water sector. By investing in young talent today, the programme contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of one of the Kingdom’s most critical sectors.
UNDP also continues to promote scientific literacy as an essential skill for the future through its partnership with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Through the SDG Collection, developed with Frontiers for Young Minds, complex scientific research is transformed into accessible articles reviewed by young readers themselves. This innovative approach encourages curiosity, critical thinking and scientific communication while helping young people engage with global challenges such as land restoration, biodiversity and climate change.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared belief that the skills of the future extend far beyond technical expertise. They include critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, scientific literacy and the confidence to turn knowledge into action. Whether through research, volunteering, mentorship or hands-on learning, UNDP is committed to creating opportunities that enable young people to grow as leaders, innovators and active contributors to sustainable development.
This commitment reflects UNDP’s broader mission to ensure that no one is left behind. By investing in young people from diverse backgrounds and equipping them with the skills to thrive in a changing world, UNDP is helping build stronger institutions, more resilient communities and a more inclusive future for all.
This World Youth Skills Day, we celebrate the energy, creativity and determination of young people across Saudi Arabia. They are not only preparing for the future. They are already helping to shape it.
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