The buoyant outlook for the Arabian Gulf polymer industry, which is projected to grow 6 per cent annually over the next five years, is attracting innovative products to the region, such as a resealable plastic can for fizzy drinks.
The region’s polymer industry is set to produce 33.8 million tonnes per year by 2019 after it reached 25.5 million tonnes last year, according to the Dubai-based non-profit Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association.
Output from the plastic processing industry has grown 8 per cent since 2008, and last year reached US$9.9 billion. This growth has been spurred by low-cost production, logistics and proximity to export markets.
The Gulf region, with a young and expanding population, is attractive to the plastics industry, according to the Manchester-based consultancy Prea, which has been marketing a “revolutionary” plastic can for soft drinks at the Arabplast event in Dubai.
“Imagine a Coca-Cola can – you open it, you drink it. You are committed to drink that straight away. With this new revolutionary plastic can, where it slides open you can see what you are drinking and, after you had a drink, you can close it again,” said Pravin Mistry, the chief executive of Prea.
“The advantage is it’s fully recyclable. It is cheaper to make than the current can in terms of [the] processing side.”
Prea is trying to attract private investors and manufacturers to help produce this product on a large scale for the first time. The firm has manufactured prototypes that have been tested and is ready to provide technology, machinery and patents to potential investors.
“We are aiming at the Gulf because plastics raw materials are in abundant supply, and one of them is Pet [polyethylene terephthalate],” said Mr Mistry.
Borouge, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Austria's Borealis, has been producing polyethylene since 2001, and the firm was set to reach an annual production capacity of 4.5 million tonnes next year.
Prea said it was also in discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Chemical – a $19.3bn joint venture between the state-run energy firm Saudi Aramco and the US firm Dow Chemicals – that will produce products new to the region.
Prea is discussing opportunities to bring technology and investors to Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to develop a downstream industry through projects such as Sadara.
The Sadara project, which will produce 3 million tonnes of petrochemicals a year, is the world’s largest facility of its kind to be built in a single phase, and will focus on creating downstream industries in Saudi Arabia aimed at creating jobs and diversifying income away from oil.
In 2012, the Middle East and Africa accounted for 7.2 per cent of the 288 million tonnes of global production, plasticseurope data show.
dalsaadi@thenational.ae
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Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Fatherland
Kele Okereke
(BMG)
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)