MEEZA, Qatar’s prominent end-to-end Managed IT Services and Solutions Provider, has signed an operational contract with Msheireb Properties for the Smart City ICT package at Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), the most pioneering smart city in the world.
The signing ceremony, which took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 2017 QITCOM Exhibition and Conference, appoints MEEZA as the Master System Integrator for the ICT Operations at the MDD.
This agreement, initially inked in 2014, has concluded phase one, which included the design and implementation stages, with the agreement is gearing in to its second phase for operations. Msheireb Properties will leverage MEEZA’s Smart Technologies and years-long expertise in building Smart Cities, toward developing the technological infrastructure for designing, managing and monitoring processes at MDD.
Commenting on the agreement, Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb, said: “At Msheireb Properties our allegiance to preserving traditional architectural languages while leveraging advancement systems inspired us to revolutionize the urban experience.”
He added: “This revitalized community in the heart of Doha will be equipped with state-of-the-art smart city technology that integrates multiple information and communications systems that drive intelligent network connectivity and robust processing solutions in retail, commercial, leisure and residential spaces.”
Ahmad Al-Kuwari, CEO of MEEZA, said: “We are pleased to shake hands with Msheireb Properties for operating the Smart City ICT package at MDD, through a momentous agreement that is set to redefine the standards of ‘Smart Living’ in Qatar.”
“Backed by years of experience in the field and a plethora of certifications that reflect our high standards, we will spare no effort to help make MDD the exemplary Smart City in Qatar and the entire region, as part of our solid commitment to the realization of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the digital transformation of the country and its knowledge-based society,” he noted.
MDD, the 30-hectare sustainable urban development will witness the launch of 40 smart services that are designed to help power the operations at the Smart City’s 100 major buildings covering several divisions for retail, transportation, and heritage, residential and commercial zones.
The one-of-a-kind ‘environmentally friendly’ project is LEED platinum and gold accredited, and will provide Qatar’s citizens, residents and tourists with a mixed use development where they can live, work, shop, dine, and get entertained.
MDD’s facilities include 10,000 parking spaces, a 2 kilometer tramway, and an interchange station for the Qatar Rail project. Popular destinations in the City are set to include the National Archive, Galleria Mall, msheireb museums, cinemas and Baharat Msheireb outdoor venue for entertainment and dining.
MEEZA signs 2nd phase contract with Msheireb Properties in Doha
MEEZA signs 2nd phase contract with Msheireb Properties in Doha
More crop per drop: NADEC and EF Polymer deploy breakthrough technology to cut agricultural water use by 40%
Following a strategic technology-scouting framework led by Universal Materials Incubator, the National Agricultural Development Company has entered into a partnership to launch large-scale field trials of EF Polymer, marking a significant step in deploying deep-technology solutions to strengthen the Kingdom’s food and water security.
The collaboration initiates field trials of EF Polymer’s proprietary solution — a 100 percent organic, biodegradable powder that performs like a “soil battery” upcycled from food waste. Engineered to address water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, the material can absorb up to 50 times its own weight in water and gradually release moisture directly to plant roots. This mechanism has the potential to reduce irrigation water use by up to 40 percent, while enhancing crop yield and long-term agricultural productivity.
Beyond water efficiency, EF Polymer improves nutrient retention by minimizing fertilizer leaching, thereby reducing overall fertilizer requirements. After approximately one year in the soil, the material fully biodegrades into organic carbon, organic matter, and trace nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen — contributing directly to improved soil health and long-term fertility.
The solution is affordable, easy to apply, and suitable for a wide range of crops, making it viable both for individual farmers and for industrial-scale agricultural operations such as NADEC’s.
EF Polymer has already achieved significant commercial adoption across multiple global markets, including Japan, the US, India and Turkiye, where it is actively used by farmers and agribusiness operators to improve water efficiency, soil health, and crop resilience under varying climatic conditions.
Its organic credentials are certified by OMRI and Ecocert, reinforcing its alignment with sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
The stakes for this alliance are high. By 2030, global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40 percent. In Saudi Arabia, the challenge is localized but intense: the agricultural sector alone consumes approximately 11.4 billion cubic meters of water annually. This partnership underscores NADEC’s commitment to adopting innovative, scalable technologies that conserve natural resources while supporting resilient food systems across the Kingdom.
Mohamed Al-Rajhi, VP of supply chain sector at NADEC, said: “Strategic agriculture today requires a long-term commitment to soil health and resource circularity. NADEC is leading the shift toward regenerative practices that restore our natural capital rather than merely consuming it. By diversifying our crop portfolio and investing in closed-loop nutrient management, we are insulating our operations against global price volatility and environmental shifts.”
“We are aggressively deploying AI-driven irrigation systems and satellite-based crop monitoring to optimize every drop of water and every hectare of land. This strategic pivot toward agri-digitization allows us to mitigate climate risks in real-time while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is our greatest competitive advantage, ensuring that NADEC remains the cornerstone of the Middle East’s agri-food sector for decades to come. These trials focus on strategic scalable crops like wheat and olive trees to ensure the future of the Kingdom’s food security is both sustainable and locally rooted,” he added.
Strategic trial milestones:
- Wheat: Trials have commenced to demonstrate water retention in this water-intensive crop.
- Olive and blueberry: Specialized testing is scheduled for March to evaluate yield improvements and nutrient efficiency.
This collaboration supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals of reducing non-renewable groundwater use by 90 percent.
