Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) have completed the acquisition of an 875-megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired power plant at the Talimarjan Power Complex in Uzbekistan, marking a significant step in the ongoing privatisation of the Central Asian country’s energy sector.

Each entity now holds a 40 per cent stake in the TPP1 gas-fired plant through a newly created project company, Talimarjan Power Plant 1.

Mubadala and TAQA also jointly own 40 per cent of Talimarjan Operations & Maintenance LLC, formed to operate the facility.

The remaining 20 per cent stake in both entities is held by Uzbekistan’s JSC “Talimarjan Issiqlik Elektr Stansiyasi” (TIES).

The transaction supports a broader strategic energy partnership between the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, aimed at introducing global expertise into Uzbekistan’s rapidly expanding power market.

The TPP1 plant, a critical component of Uzbekistan’s electricity infrastructure, has a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with JSC “Uzenergosotish” (UES), the successor to the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan.

The plant plays a key role in meeting energy demands in a country experiencing rapid economic and population growth.

Mubadala aims to play a key role in global decarbonisation efforts

“Mubadala is committed to supporting countries across the world to meet their energy needs while reducing carbon emissions. Efficient natural gas-fired powered plants such as TPP1 will play an important part in enabling the transition to cleaner sources of energy,” said Hammad Rahman, head of Asia Pacific infrastructure at Mubadala.

“Uzbekistan is recording a significant growth in demand for power, and Mubadala looks forward to working with TAQA and our local partner TIES to ensure communities and businesses across the country have access to reliable, affordable and secure power supply that supports progress and socioeconomic development,” Rahman added.

Frank Possmeier, chief investment officer, generation at TAQA, said: “TAQA is pleased to collaborate with Mubadala and TIES in acquiring this vital asset that plays a crucial role in Uzbekistan’s journey towards a privatised energy sector. As a low carbon power and water champion, TAQA will leverage its extensive experience and expertise to help Uzbekistan meet its growing energy needs.”

“Our stake in TPP1 demonstrates progress in delivering on our 2030 targets which aim to grow our power generation capacity to 150 GW and strengthens our operation and maintenance capabilities which is also a pivotal element of our strategy,” Possmeier said.

TAQA’s targets for 2030

TAQA’s generation business is targeting 150GW of gross power generation by 2030, with approximately 100 GW expected to come from renewable energy sources via its stake in Masdar.

The acquisition brings foreign direct investment into Uzbekistan’s energy sector and supports local initiatives aimed at social infrastructure development, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

Dubai is gearing up for the ninth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), set to run from November 1 to 30.

The initiative, launched in 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, aims to transform Dubai into one of the world’s most active cities by encouraging residents and visitors to engage in 30 minutes of daily physical activity for 30 days.

At a recent gathering, DFC introduced a refreshed brand identity, featuring vibrant colours and dynamic lines that reflect the city’s energetic and inclusive spirit.

The event also served to thank government entities, schools, corporate partners, fitness establishments, and local communities for their contributions to the challenge’s success.

“The success of the Dubai Fitness Challenge would not have been possible without the passion, energy, and commitment of our community,” said Khalfan Belhoul, vice chairman of the Dubai Sports Council and CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation. “Since its launch in 2017, DFC has grown into a citywide movement embraced by the people of Dubai — transforming the city into a world-class sporting hub.”

Motivating residents to prioritise their wellbeing

Over the past eight editions, more than 13 million people have participated in DFC, with a 200 per cent increase in participation since its inception. The 2025 edition, coinciding with the UAE’s Year of Community, aims to further unite individuals in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, highlighted DFC’s alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. “By fostering a healthier, more connected community, DFC advances the D33 Agenda’s goal of making our city the best place to visit, live, and work in,” he said.

Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025

The 2025 DFC will feature a comprehensive calendar of free and inclusive fitness events, including the new flagship event, Dubai Yoga, a sunset session on November 30 promoting holistic well-being.

Returning events include Dubai Ride on November 2, Dubai Stand-Up Paddle on November 8-9, and Dubai Run on November 23.

In 2024, DFC recorded a record-breaking 2.7 million participants, with 18 per cent reporting improved physical fitness, 15 per cent noting enhanced psychological wellbeing, and 14 per cent experiencing greater self-esteem and reduced anxiety.

Gridora, the newly launched infrastructure platform backed by ADQ, IHC and Modon Holding, has signed its inaugural memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) to accelerate the planning and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects across the emirate.

The agreement establishes a framework for potential collaboration between Gridora and ADPIC, aimed at supporting the development, planning and implementation of strategic projects.

ADPIC has been mandated to implement transport infrastructure projects valued at a minimum of Dhs35bn.

Under the MoU, Gridora and ADPIC will form a joint working committee to explore opportunities, pilot initiatives, and identify priority projects for Gridora’s engagement.

“Gridora’s expertise and resources will deliver world-class infrastructure, empowering the nation’s ambitious economic and population growth goals,” said Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of Gridora. “Our MoU with ADPIC reflects our shared commitment to accelerate the implementation of critical transport infrastructure, combining innovation, scale and vision.”

The MoU marks a milestone for Gridora as it embarks on its mission to deliver high-impact infrastructure and strengthen public-private collaboration. Gridora’s business model spans ‘Infrastructure Projects’ and ‘Infrastructure Investments’, covering the entire infrastructure lifecycle.

The MoU is a milestone for Gridora

“This strategic partnership between ADPIC and Gridora underscores a shared focus on creating transport infrastructure that enhances Abu Dhabi’s continued growth as a global city,” said Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport. “By leveraging Gridora’s capabilities, this collaboration aims to accelerate project delivery, improve cost efficiency, and deliver long-term value for Abu Dhabi and its communities.”

Engineer Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, DG of ADPIC, added: “This MoU with Gridora advances our shared commitment to accelerate the delivery of high-impact projects that enhance connectivity and quality of life across the emirate.”

Bill O’Regan, group CEO of Modon Holding, said the agreement will enable Gridora to demonstrate its delivery capabilities and contribute to the growth of world-class infrastructure. “We look forward to seeing Gridora move forward with purpose, enabling world-class cities with cutting edge infrastructure,” he said.

Gridora was established under Modon Holding in partnership with state-owned holding company ADQ and International Holding Company (IHC) to serve as a strategic infrastructure delivery platform.

The MoU with ADPIC is the first in a series of planned partnerships aimed at enhancing Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure landscape through sustained public-private cooperation.

Finesse, a leading digital transformation and AI solutions provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Securiti, the pioneer of the Data+AI Command Center. The announcement was made during the GISEC event and aims to deliver cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to businesses across the region.

This partnership combines Finesse’s expertise in digital transformation with Securiti’s advanced technologies for managing sensitive data.

Together, they offer a robust suite of capabilities tailored to address the complex demands of today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Enhancing Cyberhub with AI-driven solutions

Finesse will integrate Securiti’s AI-powered data privacy and security tools into its Cyberhub platform. This integration equips organizations with advanced solutions for protecting sensitive data across both structured and unstructured environments.

Cyberhub already includes features such as a Cognitive Security Operations Center (CSOC), automated incident response, AI-driven Zero Trust architecture, and governance frameworks for generative AI. With the addition of Securiti’s platforms—Data Vault, Data Leakage Protection, and automated privacy compliance—Cyberhub’s offering becomes even more powerful, enabling proactive and scalable cybersecurity strategies.

Leadership perspectives on the partnership

“This partnership addresses critical challenges organizations face in securing sensitive data across distributed environments, especially in the cloud,” said Megha Shastri, Vice President – Enterprise Accounts at Finesse. “Our collaboration with Securiti will give customers continuous visibility and control over their data, reducing risks and ensuring compliance.”

Tahir Latif, Chief Privacy Officer (META) at Securiti, added, “Organisations must balance rapid innovation with strong data security. By automating the discovery, classification, and protection of sensitive data, we provide foundational intelligence that supports downstream security and AI governance.”

Advancing PrivacyOps and Ethical AI

As AI adoption accelerates, ensuring data privacy and ethical governance becomes a top priority. This partnership will enhance PrivacyOps by introducing greater automation and transparency. The integrated solution supports zero-trust frameworks and encourages responsible AI use across enterprise operations.

“Responsible AI governance begins with responsible data governance,” Latif emphasised. “Without deep visibility into data flows, deploying AI becomes risky.”

Paving the way for the future of cybersecurity

The Finesse-Securiti alliance comes at a pivotal moment as businesses face increasing cyber threats and evolving regulatory requirements. Together, these companies aim to create a secure foundation for growth—offering seamless integration of data security, AI governance, and privacy management to organisations in the UAE and beyond.

In a city defined by ambition, scale, and relentless innovation, Dubai’s urban mobility landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution—one that’s rooted not in disruption for disruption’s sake, but in deep, human-centered design. At the heart of this shift is Zed, a locally born ride-hailing platform by Al Ghurair Mobility, rewriting the rules of commuting by blending cutting-edge technology with cultural intuition.

Read-SME Story: ZED, the e-hailing ride service, is focused on personalisation

While global mobility giants dominate much of the international narrative, Zed is building something different: a transportation experience that feels unmistakably Dubai—efficient, personalised, empathetic, and future-ready.

“We’re not just moving people,” says Badr Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Mobility. “We’re helping move Dubai toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.”

Rethinking mobility: Platform built around the rider

Zed’s innovation lies not just in what it offers, but in how it thinks. Designed as a next-generation ride-hailing platform, Zed combines a wide variety of transport options—licensed taxis, premium limousines, multi-stop journeys—with a layer of personalization previously missing in urban commuting. Every ride can be tailored to the rider’s preferences: cabin temperature, preferred music, interaction level with the driver, and even scheduling recurring rides through its flagship feature, Rhythm.

“Zed isn’t a replica of global solutions. We’ve built this platform from the ground up based on local insight and community feedback,” says Abhinav Patwa, Executive Vice President and Head of Zed.

This approach allows Zed to offer what few others can: a ride that doesn’t just take you somewhere—it fits your mood, your schedule, and your daily rhythm.

Personal touch: Mobility that reflects individual lives

The heart of Zed’s differentiation lies in its belief that mobility should not be transactional—it should be personal. That philosophy is woven into the platform’s DNA. The ability to fine-tune the ride experience gives commuters the autonomy they crave, without sacrificing comfort or safety.

Features like choosing your preferred chauffeur interaction level address a very real need in the region. Many commuters, especially women, report discomfort with unsolicited conversations. Zed meets this need with respectful, subtle functionality that puts control in the rider’s hands.

“These aren’t just ‘nice-to-have’ options,” says Al Ghurair. “They’re born from the actual lived experiences of people in Dubai.”

Cultural fluency as a competitive advantage

Zed’s legacy in mobility goes back over two decades through Kabi, its parent company’s earlier transportation business. This deep operational and cultural understanding has shaped Zed’s hyper-local approach—allowing the company to anticipate and address needs that outsiders often overlook.

Case in point: Rhythm, a first-to-market feature that allows users to schedule recurring rides for daily commutes, school runs, and weekly routines. This innovation directly responds to Dubai’s highly structured, time-sensitive lifestyle and has been one of the platform’s biggest early successes.

This focus on local relevance is not limited to features. Zed’s interface, driver onboarding, communication style, and promotional campaigns are all deeply grounded in the values of Dubai’s multicultural and fast-paced population.

Zeddies: Drivers at the heart of the experience

Zed doesn’t just care for its riders—it deeply values its drivers, whom it affectionately calls Zeddies. These drivers are integral to the user experience and are treated as brand ambassadors and key stakeholders.

Zed offers them performance-based incentives, recognition programs, and real-time support. Drivers also benefit from rider feedback, which helps refine both training and matching algorithms. This symbiotic relationship has helped build a culture of respect, reliability, and pride.

“When drivers feel respected, that energy translates to the rider. That’s the kind of ecosystem we’re building,” says Patwa.

Technology with a human heart: AI, data, and design

Underpinning Zed’s sleek interface is a robust AI-driven backend that powers everything from predictive fleet dispatch to real-time heatmaps and route optimisation. But Zed doesn’t stop at efficiency. It’s also built to listen.

Through ongoing analysis of customer sentiment, driver feedback, and in-app support trends, Zed evolves rapidly. Every update, every tweak is grounded in user insight, not assumption.

“We treat feedback not as a checkbox, but as our compass,” says Patwa. “We learn just as much from what people don’t say as from what they do.”

Zed’s tech stack enables it to make decisions quickly, iterate at speed, and adapt in real time—while keeping empathy at the center of every experience.

Strategic role in Dubai’s Smart City 2025 vision

Zed’s trajectory is tightly aligned with Dubai’s Smart City 2025 vision, which champions sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusive access to services. As an app-only platform, Zed eliminates the friction of legacy systems, enabling seamless integration across transportation, finance, and city services.

The platform also actively contributes to environmental goals. With increasing adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles in its fleet, and intelligent route planning that reduces emissions, Zed is helping reduce the city’s carbon footprint one ride at a time.

“We don’t treat sustainability as an add-on—it’s embedded in our operating model,” says Al Ghurair.

Zed also supports the RTA’s e-hailing adoption target of 80 per cent by increasing accessibility and engagement, particularly among younger and tech-savvy commuters.

Turning local challenges into strength

Being a homegrown startup in a market dominated by global players comes with its set of challenges—from brand awareness to user trust.

But Zed has turned these headwinds into tailwinds.

Its agile structure allows for rapid iteration and community-first engagement. Where global apps might require months to implement changes, Zed can roll out updates in days based on local needs.

Moreover, its early reliance on grassroots awareness campaigns and rider loyalty programs has yielded strong brand resonance and user stickiness.

“We didn’t just want to get people’s attention—we wanted to earn their trust,” says Patwa.

Experience-driven, not transactional

For Zed, user experience isn’t just about app design or driver punctuality. It’s about building emotional loyalty. From recognising frequent riders and high-rated drivers to launching culturally relevant promotions, Zed wants its users to feel seen and valued.

Transparent pricing models, seamless in-app payment flows, and consistently reliable support are all part of this ethos.

“In Dubai, where excellence is expected, we knew our service had to feel effortless—not just work well,” Al Ghurair noted.

Vision 2027: A lifestyle layer, not just a platform

Zed’s roadmap for the next 2–3 years includes several major expansions—both in terms of services and geography. Plans include integrating digital wallets, loyalty programs, in-app rewards, and exclusive brand partnerships that add everyday value beyond just transport.

The platform’s modular architecture also ensures that it can scale internationally while retaining the ability to localize meaningfully—be it in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, or even emerging markets across Southeast Asia.

“We’re not just expanding—we’re evolving. We want to be the lifestyle layer that enhances every part of your day,” says Patwa.

Looking to the skies: Air mobility in Zed’s future plans

While Zed’s current focus is on optimizing road mobility, its leadership is keeping an eye on the future of aerial transport. As Dubai pioneers initiatives in air taxis and vertical mobility infrastructure, Zed sees a potential opportunity to integrate this into its multi-modal strategy.

“We’re watching this space carefully,” Patwa confirms. “When the time is right, Zed will be ready—with a clear strategy to help bring the future of urban commuting to life.”

Co-creating the future with users

Central to Zed’s success is its belief in co-creation. Users are not just riders; they are partners in shaping the platform. Feedback is integrated into product design cycles, and both riders and drivers are seen as essential to building a better mobility ecosystem.

From beta-testing new features to community surveys and driver town halls, Zed ensures every voice counts.

“The most powerful design tool is dialogue,” Patwa says. “That’s how we stay relevant. That’s how we stay human.”

More than a ride: Zed’s role in Dubai’s mobility renaissance

Zed represents more than just a well-designed app. It stands for a new approach to movement in a city that’s constantly in motion. It’s a quiet revolution—one that prioritizes people, honors local culture, and builds for the long-term.

By creating a ride-hailing experience that reflects Dubai’s identity—its pace, its people, and its potential—Zed is proving that the future of mobility isn’t just about going faster or farther. It’s about going smarter, kinder, and more meaningfully.

“Mobility is not just about getting from A to B,” says Al Ghurair. “It’s about how you feel along the way.”