Sharjah's Beeah unveils new high-tech headquarters shaped like sand dunes


Alkesh Sharma
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Beeah Group, the environmental management company based in Sharjah, officially opened the doors to its new headquarters on Wednesday.

Driven by latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the new campus will set new benchmarks for future workplaces as the “office of the future”, Beeah said.

The new office will include contactless pathways with facial recognition check-in, a virtual concierge, smart meeting rooms and a companion app to automate day-to-day tasks for employees.

The new compound was inaugurated by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

Powered by solar energy and integrating the latest technologies aimed at achieving net-zero emission, the campus is one of the last landmarks designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

“The building is a landmark to the future-forward vision … reaffirming the emirate as sustainability capital of the Middle East, a goal that we are driven to achieve as an organisation,” said Salim bin Mohammed Al Owais, chairman of the board of directors at Beeah.

The new building is equipped to operate at LEED Platinum standards, the highest standards for energy efficiency in the world, and realise net-zero emissions.

The curvilinear features of the headquarters mimic the intersection of sand dunes, symbolic of its location in the desert landscape of Al Sajaa in Sharjah.

“The building is a manifestation of our twin-pillared strategy of sustainability and digitalisation,” said Khaled Al Huraimel, Beeah’s group chief executive.

“This strategy has led to diversification and growth of the group’s businesses, not only across industries but also across geographies. The new headquarters will be our base of operations as we continue to pursue ways our businesses can make global impact.”

Earlier this year, Beeah said it was transforming into a holding group and would have a new visual identity.

Its portfolio consists of several key businesses, including Beeah Tandeef for waste collection and city cleaning, Beeah Recycling for waste processing and material recovery, Beeah Energy for clean and renewable power, Beeah Environment Services for consulting, research and innovation, Beeah Digital for future technologies and digital ventures, and Beeah Transport for green mobility and autonomous transportation.

The company says its new headquarters will set new benchmarks for future workplaces as the office of the future. Photo: Beeah
The company says its new headquarters will set new benchmarks for future workplaces as the office of the future. Photo: Beeah

The new headquarters will serve as a centre for management and administration for all the group’s businesses, the company said.

“The building is not only sustainable and digitally enabled, but it also achieves an unparalleled environment for employee comfort and productivity.

“It demonstrates that by adopting future-ready systems, we can achieve environmental targets and improve quality of life at the same time,” said Mr Al Huraimel.

The new office has contactless pathways with facial recognition check-in, a virtual concierge, smart meeting rooms and a companion app to automate day-to-day tasks for its employees. Photo: Beeah
The new office has contactless pathways with facial recognition check-in, a virtual concierge, smart meeting rooms and a companion app to automate day-to-day tasks for its employees. Photo: Beeah
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

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Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

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France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

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Profile of Foodics

Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani

Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

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Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

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Updated: May 30, 2023, 12:00 PM