On the occasion of World Environment Day, Emirates is showcasing an environmentally friendly aircraft cleaning technique that has enabled the airline to save millions of liters of water every year. Emirates uses the “aircraft drywash” technique to clean its aircraft. As indicated by the name, little or no water is involved in cleaning the aircraft, which is in contrast to conventional methods of aircraft cleaning which typically use thousands of liters of water per wash.
During the course of every flight, an aircraft accumulates dust and grime on its external surface. In addition to making the aircraft look dirty and less appealing, the dirt also increases the fuel it consumes by making the aircraft heavier and less aerodynamic. Traditionally aircraft are cleaned by using highly pressurised water between four to five times every year. However, on an average this technique uses more than 11,300 liters of water to clean one Airbus A380 aircraft and more than 9,500 liters of water to clean a Boeing 777 aircraft every time.
Since early 2016, Emirates has been using an aircraft drywash technique to clean its fleet of over 250 aircraft. In this technique, a liquid cleaning product is first applied manually to the entire external surface of the aircraft. Clean microfiber fabric is then used to remove the cleaning product which has dried to a film, removing the dirt along with it and leaving the aircraft clean and polished. The aircraft is left with a fine protective film allowing the painted surface to retain a longer gloss and shine. It takes a crew of 15 staff about 12 hours to clean an A380 and about nine hours to clean a Boeing 777 aircraft.
There are multiple advantages to using the drywash technique. The first is that there is little use of water to clean the aircraft. When consolidated over its fleet of 260 aircraft, Emirates saves over 11 million liters of water every year. Additionally the waterless aircraft wash technique ensures that the aircraft remains cleaner for a longer period of time thereby reducing the number of times the aircraft has to be washed to about three times a year, and also reducing the aircraft’s fuel consumption because of less accumulation of dirt.
Emirates showcases eco-friendly aircraft cleaning technique
Emirates showcases eco-friendly aircraft cleaning technique
Schneider Electric to advance energy technology to power intelligence at Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, has announced that the second edition of the Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 28–29.
The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders as well as government officials to advance the regional shift toward energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national visions place unprecedented demands on energy systems.
Schneider Electric is advancing its energy technology ambitions with the integration of electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids to unlock the full value of energy, and ensure efficiency and sustainability for all.
This year’s summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the Middle East and Africa, as the region experiences exponential growth driven by national visions, giga-projects, and rapid expansion in AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia stands out within this landscape as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of investment in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy.
With global electricity demand projected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of 3.6% over the 2026–2030 period and global AI workloads projected to lead a 160% increase in data center power demand, the imperative for intelligent, sustainable energy solutions has never been more critical.
“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. With electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and on course to grow at an incremental 3-4% every year to register a whopping 50% by 2035 – driven by surging cooling, desalination, and urbanization demands, the region is at an inflection point,” said Walid Sheta, Zone president, Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric.
“Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa underscores our dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region. This edition will emphasize our emergence as the trusted energy technology partner guiding the region’s next phase of transformation. "
This year’s summit will highlight regional benchmarks from 80+ countries, from the 100% elimination of SF6 and Carbon footprint reduction for fruit producers in South Africa to the savings that EcoStruxure Power & Grid is enabling for the National Electricity Company, Senegal – ensuring recovery times of 3 minutes versus 3 hours earlier.
Blending high-impact programming and latest product launches that position Schneider Electric at the center of MEA's energy transition story, key agenda items include:
CEO Forum in partnership with Forbes Middle East: An exclusive C-suite initiative bringing together 100 business leaders to address strategic imperatives in energy intelligence.
Keynote and Thought Leadership sessions: Featuring executive speakers from industry-leading companies and insights from strategic partners, including Bain & Company.
Innovation Hub experience: Guided tours and live demonstrations, as well as tailored customer experiences of Schneider Electric’s most innovative and integrated energy technology solutions addressing critical challenges in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and digital infrastructure across a 3,000 square feet immersive space.
Stakeholder recognition: Schneider Electric’s dedicated partners will be honored with 20 Cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across four categories – Growth Award, Efficiency Award, Innovation Award, and Sustainability Award, on Day 2 of the Summit.
"Across the Gulf, energy intelligence is becoming the operational reality as public and private sector enterprises race to align with national visions for a decarbonized and sustainable future,” said Amel Chadli, president, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.
“As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric is empowering customers to move beyond electrification and implement AI‑driven, software‑defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resilience, and sustainability at a national scale. This summit offers a roadmap of what’s next as we continue to redefine the relationship between energy and digital capability.”
With AI, cloud, and high-performance computing becoming foundational to national competitiveness, energy technologies today must evolve and become resilient, sustainable and scalable to meet modern intelligence demands.
Schneider Electric's refreshed positioning as an energy technology partner reflects the company's approach to supporting the region's transformation.
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa highlights real-world applications across key sectors, including utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure — demonstrating how intelligent energy management enables operational excellence, resilience, and sustainability across the region's most vital projects.
