When it comes to environmentally friendly products, the UAE is better known as a consumer rather than producer. However, a young Abu Dhabi company is hoping to change this.
Falcon For Solar Sun is a local start-up about to begin production of solar water heaters from its custom-built premises in the Mafraq Industrial Area. The company was set up by two brothers, Mohammed and Waleed Al Shamsi, with the support of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.
Solar water heaters rely on the power of the sun, rather than conventional electricity, to warm up water. The technology has been around for decades and makes both environmental and commercial sense for the UAE. Authorities in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have mandated the use of solar water heaters in new developments.
The Al Shamsi brothers hope that their product could satisfy a good chunk of this demand with a high-quality, local product.
“This is a German technology, made fully in the UAE with high quality and full warranty,” said Waleed Al Shamsi.
The German link is Sven Steinbach, a German engineer, who is the designer of the solar hot water system.
“This country really wants to go green and we are part of this,” said Mr Steinbach, who is also the company’s general manager.
Mr Steinbach met Waleed Al Shamsi in 2015. The same year, the Al Shamsi brothers approached the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development for assistance. The project was approved and Falcon For Solar Sun received a loan of almost Dh2 million. Besides the loan, extended at very favourable terms, the company also received consultancy advice from the fund.
“The budget was very high, without the Government support we could not have done it,” said Mr Al Shamsi.
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As the project promoted sustainability and energy conservation, the decision to support Falcon For Solar Sun “came easy”, said a fund representative.
“We are optimistic about the company’s future and the potential of its solar water heater product, given the existing robust market demand, fuelled in part by the government’s sustainability and green policies,” said the representative.
In Abu Dhabi, the Estidama building programme has requirements for solar hot water systems, while in Dubai, such systems are mentioned in the emirate’s Green Building Code, the representative said.
“These building codes are mandating property developers to set a provision in their newly-built villas and accommodations that will allow the inclusion of solar water heaters,” the representative said. “They also promote the use of solar power and other renewable resources in structures.”
“Studies have shown that around 750,000 solar water heaters will be required in the UAE alone in the next five years to help meet its sustainable development targets.”
Already, there are many solar water heating systems available on the market. Mr Al Shamsi believes that what makes his company’s product special is the high quality. The heater has very high solar fraction, (the amount of solar energy versus conventional energy used to heat water) – 75 per cent. In addition, it is the only product on the UAE market, manufactured with stainless steel. This decision was made to ensure the product withstands the UAE’s harsh weather conditions and the fact that the country relies on desalinated water, which has a high amount of dissolved minerals.
The product will retail for about Dh4,500 and is more expensive than some on the market. However, the company offers a 10-year warranty, as opposed to only two, which is the norm for lower-quality heaters. Finally, as this is a local product the company offers the opportunity to provide maintenance, which could be a draw for developers who need to install hundreds of the devices.
The company’s next step is to convince consultants and large-scale developers to consider the product, said Mr Al Shamsi.
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
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GOODBYE%20JULIA
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
South Africa squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Kanye%20West
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Contracted list
Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
Company%20Profile
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Read more about the coronavirus
The%20Roundup
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