For a region plagued by population explosion and an environment ruled by the dusty sands of dismal deserts to a robust economy grounded in oil and its sale, urbanization and infrastructure, the Middle East stepped out of its age-old comfort zone and headed the way to cleaner air against nature?s odds, be it nationwide car-free days to scientific applications to curb pollution. In the past years, this noble pursuit grew bolder with one initiative after another. Some of them include

Monitoring the pollutant problem

As opposed to traditional norms and belifes, the Middle East witnessed one of the greatest investments made in the field of air-quality monitoring systems in the recent past. One such recent development is UAE and its $500 million Air Quality Strategy 2017 start-up with Dubai Municipality which targets the launch of an eco monitoring system as per the finest international standards over the next five years. The intriguing technology will include digital paraphernalia ranging up to 20 interconnected stations that will examine up to 100 air pollution components and composites. Saudi Arabia?s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also initiated a master plan to set-up advanced monitoring units in 7,000 industrial facilities distributed throughout Saudi Arabia, giving real-time maps showing pollution levels in different geographical locations.

Expanding renewable energy provision capacity

The strong investments in the renewable energy sector in the middle east has been the most noticeable change in its policy outlook on making air cleaner. Statistics pointing to such large-scale investments are as follows

• Dubai?s Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park is currently adding 800MW of PV solar energy capacity. It will be able to generate 5GW of power by 2030.[5]
• Saudi Arabia?s ACWA Power secured a world record low price for renewable energy at $0.023417 per kilowatt hour (kWh). The government is expected to issue tenders for a further 4GW of renewable energy in 2018.[6]
• Egypt aims to achieve 20% renewables in its energy mix by 2022.[7]
• The Middle East is now expected to more than triple its share of renewable energy, from 5.6% in 2016 to reach 20.6% in 2035.[8]

Cleantech investment is driving ME air quality improvements

As the Middle East persistently grows and expands, ascertaining that its population can depend on clean, safe and breathable air will be the most important task to make it a truly sustainable model of development and growth.