The summer months provided a good opportunity to contribute to the global climate discussion through insightful thought leadership articles, enable multi-sector dialogue on key climate issues, and bring together valuable female community voices alongside experts in a new initiative to explore solutions that are shaping the nation’s future.
A path towards better air quality
In July, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairperson of Frontier25 and The Climate Tribe, convened a high-level policy dialogue in partnership with the Global Methane Hub to review the findings of a year-long project to understand the urgent challenge of rising methane emissions.
Attendees included representatives from government, regulatory bodies, industry and research, who considered how the reported evidence can support clearer action on methane reduction, public health, and air quality.
In September, Frontier25 published the UAE Methane Policy Review 2026, providing its full and in-depth view of methane emissions in the UAE and beyond and setting out six policy recommendations, spanning public health and air quality, measurement and reporting, methane detection and mitigation, market incentives, national and sectoral targets, and regional cooperation.
Sharing climate insights
In an article for the Fiker Institute, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan explored how emissions and the ecological impacts arising from geopolitical discord remain largely excluded from global climate reports and negotiations. You can read the article here: Climate in conflict: Resilience, security and global cooperation.
Contributing to the global climate conversation and raising awareness of key climate issues is a foundational pillar of our work. We are proud of our expanding network of climate experts, whose regular insights help expand the conversation around climate action to a broader audience and bring emerging and critical issues to the fore.
In July, we welcomed Sara Al Mahri, PhD candidate in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and Founder of Mina AI, to Frontier25’s non-resident fellowship for climate thought leadership. In her first article, she looked at why the critical minerals economy cannot become circular without visibility, and explores how minerals such as lithium, cobalt, neodymium and copper move through complex supply chains before becoming part of the products we use every day. You can read the full article here: The critical minerals economy cannot be circular without visibility
Also in July, we published a fascinating article by Frontier25’s non-resident fellow Douglas Crawford-Brown about why climate resilience needs to be understood through the whole economy. You can read the full article here: Resilient green economies need a macro viewpoint
Celebrating startup success
We were delighted to see Circa Biotech receive the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, one of the UAE’s highest recognitions for excellence. Having built the GCC’s first industrial Black Soldier Fly facility in Al Ain, turning organic waste into insect protein, fertiliser, and sustainable fuel feedstocks, Circa Biotech presents a real model for the circular economy.
As part of Frontier25’s Launchpad programme, it has been a privilege to support part of Circa Biotech’s growth journey. We will be watching keenly to see the next exciting steps for this visionary company.
Recognition for award-winning edtech
With education and capacity-building crucial to building a sustainable future, AI-powered learning platforms are becoming increasingly valuable tools.
In August, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan received a delegation from the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE), to recognise the achievements of the Tomouh team after the education platform earned WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) Champion status in the e-learning category, placing it among the world’s top five. The WSIS awards honour entities worldwide for their excellence in using digital technology to support the Sustainable Development Goals and global digital transformation.
Commenting on DGE and Tomouh’s success, Her Highness said: “The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, put education at the centre of his nation-building. Today, we continue that journey by using artificial intelligence to advance human development and create new opportunities for learning and growth. Technology reaches its greatest value when it strengthens human potential. By investing in people, we build a more capable, competitive, and future-ready nation.”
Championing young entrepreneurs
Future hope rests on young, entrepreneurial minds developing innovative ideas and solutions that incorporate sustainable values from very start. In August, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan met a group of young Emirati entrepreneurs to hear their plans for more sustainable businesses.
All under the age of 16 and already running their own businesses, they discussed changes they could make in their day-to-day operations, including reducing waste, improving their packaging and making more environmentally responsible decisions. Her Highness said: “Giving young founders the opportunity to think about sustainability now can make a real difference in the years ahead.”
Gathering women from across the nation
Towards the end of August, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan hosted the first Al Yalsa majlis, a monthly gathering for women across the UAE to exchange ideas and explore solutions that are shaping the nation’s future.
Launched in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, the inaugural majlis brought together an inspirational group of women who have played a role in building the nation. Future gatherings will bring together members of the community alongside sector experts, offering women an open, collaborative, and secure space in which to share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives.
Commenting on the new majlis series, Her Highness said: “Nation-building is a shared endeavour, and one that only truly succeeds when women have a clear voice in the process. Women in the UAE have long held leading roles across government, business, and academia, and there is a powerful synergy when this expertise is combined with the experience held by our community leaders.”
The Climate Tribe
Summer was packed with events and workshops that brought people together at The Climate Tribe Hub to meet, work, learn, and have fun.
Events included children’s workshops, including a session that combined recycled art and mangrove awareness, as well as one focused on the role of the Ghaf tree in the local environment and culture, and a planting workshop, where children could discover plants found in the UAE and explore simple ways to care for the nature around them. Other workshops included a youth networking event, an educational session on recycling and re-using, and a book reading event that explained the importance of reducing food waste.
The Hub also continued its monthly film club with a screening of ‘Ousha: A Falconry Legacy’, a film that explored a young Emirati girl’s passion for one of the UAE’s most enduring traditions.
September marked a year since The Climate Tribe’s Hub opened its doors to the public, providing a beautiful and inspiring home for climate culture, creativity, learning, and connection. You can see our film celebrating The Hub’s first, action-packed year here.
We are excited for all that lies ahead, as we strengthen our engagement with the community and bring together even more people to connect with and promote sustainable values in their schools, businesses, and daily lives.
Engage with us
We are always keen to work with partners who share our climate and sustainability goals. If you would like to find out more about how we can collaborate, email us at info@frontier25.com.
You can also come and meet us at one of our monthly ‘Coffee and Connect’ events at The Climate Tribe Hub, designed for people to meet, share ideas, and start meaningful conversations. Everyone is welcome. Follow us on Instagram and find out more at www.theclimatetribe.com.
