Middle East

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 14 April, 2025
• Year: 2025

e& UAE has launched a new initiative to modernise telecom tower inspections using autonomous drones enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI).

The rollout marks a significant step in transforming infrastructure maintenance, offering improved safety, faster operations, and reduced environmental impact.

The system integrates real-time data analytics, autonomous flight, and AI to streamline the monitoring and upkeep of telecom towers throughout the country. Flights are operated remotely via the company’s Drones Operations Centre, where teams monitor each mission in real time, enforce safety protocols, and verify the accuracy of inspections.

Unlike manual inspections that often involve significant risks and downtime, these drones can autonomously navigate complex sites, helping to protect workers while increasing the speed and efficiency of assessments. The drones are also designed to assist in emergency response scenarios, where they can support the delivery of aid and ensure network continuity in hard-to-reach or hazardous locations.

Using advanced AI-powered analytics, the drones can identify structural faults or irregularities on the spot, allowing maintenance teams to act before problems escalate. This proactive maintenance approach reduces potential service disruptions and extends the lifespan of infrastructure.

Beyond structural inspections, the drones can also support oversight of safety procedures and detect unauthorised activity around telecom assets, contributing to a more secure and resilient network.

All data collected during inspections is fed into e& UAE’s digital infrastructure management platform. This enables predictive maintenance planning, more efficient asset use, and a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional methods of tower inspection.

Marwan bin Shakar, acting chief technology & information officer, e& UAE, said, “The integration of autonomous drones into our operations reflects our commitment to reimagining network operations through cutting-edge innovation that improves reliability, safety and sustainability. Through AI-powered insights and real-time control, we are enhancing the safety and accuracy of telecom tower inspections while enabling faster, data-driven decisions that future-proof our infrastructure. And with the support of the Drones Operations Centre, we’re demonstrating how technology can elevate operational resilience while supporting the UAE’s broader ambitions for smart, sustainable cities.”

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 10 April, 2025
• Year: 2025

Abu Dhabi-headquartered EMSTEEL, one of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, has been recognised as a 2025 Steel Sustainability Champion by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) for the second consecutive year

The recognition was presented during the worldsteel Special General Meeting held in Sydney, Australia. Now in its eighth year, the Steel Sustainability Champion accolade—part of The Steelie Awards—honours companies demonstrating exceptional commitment to sustainable development in the global steel industry. They have to fulfil stringent criteria, including signing the worldsteel Sustainability Charter, meeting 20 sustainability criteria, providing Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data, and participating in worldsteel’s initiatives such as the Steelie Awards or the Safety and Health Recognition Programme.

The recognition is a direct result of the significant progress EMSTEEL made throughout 2024 in enhancing sustainability. For example, the company has partnered with Masdar to launch the MENA region’s first green hydrogen demonstration project for the steel industry, positioning EMSTEEL as a leader in the UAE’s hydrogen economy and a driving force for providing sustainable solutions for the construction and manufacturing sectors.

EMSTEEL is also active on the global stage. As a co-chair of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonisation, an initiative led by the International Renewable Energy Agency, EMSTEEL is working alongside 84 partners to set joint decarbonisation targets, including tripling renewable energy production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 54% by 2030.

As part of its ambitious decarbonisation roadmap, EMSTEEL aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in its Steel Business Unit and 30% in its Cement Business by 2030, with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The company has already made substantial progress, having reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity by 23%.

Engineer Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, said, “Being named a worldsteel Sustainability Champion is a true honour and a reflection of the dedication and hard work of everyone at EMSTEEL. It reinforces our commitment to driving the transition towards a low-carbon future, not just for the steel industry, but for the entire global industrial landscape. With a continued focus on innovation, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, we will build a cleaner, more sustainable tomorrow.

“As the first steelmaker in the world to capture part of its CO₂ emissions, we have been able to operate with 45% less carbon intensity than the global average and are excited to continue playing a cataclysmic role in decarbonising this hard-to-abate sector and the downstream supply chain.”

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 7 April, 2025
• Year: 2025

2,864 workers attended a construction safety lesson at Diriyah's Wafi Safar development, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest construction safety lesson

The 30-minute lesson covered the 'Top Five Critical Safety Hazards in the Construction Industry'.

A dedicated outdoor venue was constructed specifically with the world record in mind.

Diriyah Company's group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo, ceelebrated the record. "This new world record, in which Diriyah’s project staff gathered in Wadi Safar, one of Diriyah Company’s masterplans covering an area of over 62 sq km demonstrates our unwavering commitment to safety and our goal of ensuring everyone returns home safely to their families.

"Our Health & Safety management system goes above and beyond to ensure and protect the welfare of employees, contractors and on-site teams working across the Diriyah project."

Diriyah is one of several giga-projects backed by the Public Investment Fund, and aims to provide homes for around 100,000 residents upon completion.

• Date: 31 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, has signed an MoU with Aramco to collaborate on advancing fire and life safety to meet Aramco’s requirements and support public safety in Saudi Arabia, as well as testing and personnel training on UL standards and workplace safety

The MoU includes collaboration to support Aramco’s IKTVA programme goals, which support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation plan, including developing the local energy sector, creating new jobs, improving supply chain efficiency and promoting Saudi Arabia as an export hub.

“With our mission of working for a safer world, we are ready to support the goals of Aramco and Saudi Arabia for a safer and more sustainable future,” said Jomy Joseph, regional director of the Middle East and Africa at UL Solutions. “This MoU fosters a better understanding of stakeholder requirements and how we can help enable innovation for a safer and more successful future in Saudi Arabia with our longstanding expertise in fire and life safety science.”

“Our potential collaboration with UL Solutions through this MoU marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing fire safety standards and enhancing emergency response capabilities,” said Abdullah M. Ghamdi, vice president of Fire Protection at Aramco. “Together, we look forward to combining our strengths toward achieving Vision 2030 by creating safer environments, enhancing our respective capabilities and promoting a culture of continuous improvement in fire safety practices.”

Saudi Arabia’s fire and life safety standards are being upgraded as part of the Vision 2030 plan, in alignment with the Kingdom’s rapid growth, with the expansion of mega and giga projects significantly increasing the demand for specialised Fire & Life Safety expertise. International consultancy AESG recently announced it is strengthening its fire and life safety business in Saudi Arabia, and the US-based NFPA is stepping up its collaboration with Saudi Arabia to advance fire and life safety standards in line with the country’s rapid development, to support the Kingdom’s mega projects. Local and regional demand for fire prevention and safety implementation systems is anticipated to continue to grow strongly.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 31 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Houston-based SureWerx, a prominent global supplier of safety gear, tools, and equipment, has completed its acquisition of Reliance Fall Protection, LLC, a company specialising in fall safety solutions.

The financial details of the deal were not made public.

Reliance Fall Protection, with operations in Houston, Texas, and Arvada, Colorado, has been a key player in the industry since its founding in 2000.

The company initially gained recognition for developing horizontal lifeline systems that minimise fall height requirements while maintaining structural integrity at the endpoints.

Over the years, it has expanded its portfolio to include a broad range of safety products tailored for construction and height-related work.

These offerings encompass self-retracting lifelines—such as the Enviroshield Sealed-Block, Skyloc II, and MicroLoc—along with harnesses, lanyards, an Aluminum Rail Fall Arrest System, and various anchors, including adjustable davits.

The acquisition enhances SureWerx’s position in the fall protection market, adding Reliance’s expertise to its existing lineup.

“Adding Reliance Fall Protection to our growing, world-class portfolio of fall protection products and SureWerx brands moves us ever further toward our goal of becoming the global leader in safety and productivity,” said SureWerx CEO Chris Baby.

“Reliance Fall Protection complements our FALL SAFE and PeakWorks fall protection brands and brings us closer to building a robust and innovative fall protection portfolio as part of the SureWerx platform. Reliance Fall Protection excels in the most technical and demanding portion of the fall protection market, setting them apart from their competition. We are thrilled to be adding this highly respected brand to our market-leading portfolio of best-in-class safety products.”

Reliance Fall Protection has built its brand on advancing safety standards through accessible, high-quality equipment.

“Reliance Fall Protection has always been dedicated to raising the standards of personal fall protection equipment by providing readily accessible products both regionally and nationally. Reliance Fall Protection prides itself on exceeding customers’ expectations by meeting regulatory safety standards in ANSI Z359 and ISO 17025 internally,” said Reliance Fall Protection founder, Joe Shaw.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with SureWerx, a company that holds the same values and commitment to worker safety as Reliance Fall Protection. Their reach into the global industrial markets across multiple channels will undoubtedly accelerate growth of all Reliance Fall Protection’s well-respected brands. We are in good hands—the future for Reliance Fall Protection is destined for accelerated growth and the shared continued commitment to keeping workers safe!”

The move aligns with SureWerx’s strategy to expand its influence in the safety and productivity sector, particularly in construction and industrial markets worldwide, including the GCC region where it has a growing presence.

Industry observers see this acquisition as a step toward consolidating advanced fall protection solutions under one umbrella, potentially benefiting workers in high-risk environments.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 28 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

The UAE Ministry of Community Empowerment has issued a ministerial resolution announcing the official establishment of the Safety and Emergency Security Association, designed to promoting a culture of safety and enhancing community readiness in the face of emergencies

The association, which will be headquartered in the Emirate of Sharjah, is the initiative of  a group of distinguished national experts with extensive experience in safety and emergency security and  stems from a belief in the importance of collective action and cross-sector collaboration to promote prevention, safety, and empowerment across various fields.

The association is set to play an important role in raising public awareness of safety concepts and preventive measures. This will be achieved through awareness campaigns and activities aimed at various segments of society across all age groups. It will also target non-Arabic and non-English speakers who might struggle to access safety information due to language barriers, with dedicated training in their languages, and multi-lingual information.

In addition, it will offer specialised training programmes to develop skills in safety and emergency preparedness, a key initiative being to train fresh graduates interested in this area. It will strengthen collaboration with government, academic, and private entities to expand strategic partnerships—ultimately enhancing the community’s readiness to respond to emergencies.

The launch of the association coincides with the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, designating 2025 as the “Year of Community” under the theme “Hand in Hand.” This national initiative aims to strengthen social bonds and community cohesion, instill values of cooperation and belonging, preserve cultural heritage, and encourage active participation through community service, volunteering, and impactful initiatives—all of which reinforce a culture of shared responsibility and drive collective progress.

The association will emphasise the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility across sectors to enhance prevention, promote safety, and empower communities.

"Safety and security are not limited to environmental disasters. A disaster can take many forms, environmental or health-related," said Haitham Mohammed Al Raeesi, the association's Chairman and Manager, Emergency, Crisis & Business Continuity at Dubai Municipality.

"Our role is to raise awareness among individuals on how to act in emergencies, whether it's a fire or a personal crisis. As a non-profit organisation, our goal is to build an informed community."

• Date: 25 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Saudi Arabia has made notable strides in Numbeo's recently-published Safety Index, climbing from 26^th place in 2024 to 14^th in 2025. This remarkable improvement places Saudi Arabia among the top 15 safest countries in the world, surpassing notable nations such as Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, and China.

Saudi Arabia’s jump in the rankings saw it overtake several European nations known for their high safety standards, including Switzerland (17^th in 2024 to 23^rd in 2025), Finland (23^rd to 24^th), and the Netherlands (21^st to 26^th).

Overall, as a region, the Middle East reported varying performances in the safety index. The UAE (2^nd place) and Qatar (3^rd place) continue to earn their status as some of the safest countries worldwide. Oman (5^th) also remains a regional leader in safety. Bahrain, though still ranked highly, dropped slightly from 13^th to 16^th.

Kuwait and Israel, both in the top 40, have also maintained relatively strong positions, though not recording a major upward shift like Saudi Arabia.

Numeo also recently released its Quality of Life index of 62 Asian cities, where the Middle East earned all top three slots. Explore full coverage of those rankings here.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 24 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

In a Q&A with Health, Safety and Environment Review, Ali Abdulla Al Ali, UAE country chair at Petrofac, talks about workplace safety in the UAE and the importance of instilling safety principles from the get-go. Read on:

Can you tell us more about your approach to promoting employee safety and wellbeing and how it has evolved over time?

Safety has been at the heart of my career since the late 1980s, thanks to some incredible mentors like John McFarth. Back in 1980, when I was at Amoco, John drilled three key principles into me: thorough risk assessment, careful planning, and strong supervision. These became my foundation in health and safety, and more recently employee wellbeing.

I’ve built on these values by focusing on the power of training and engagement. Throughout my career at Petrofac in particular, workshopping - for both our teams and clients – has helped make sure safety isn’t a mere checklist, but rather a mindset that is lived every day. I’m also a firm believer in taking time to recognise and reward good safety behaviours. Even small things, like handing out certificates for internal training, can make a big difference.

Over the years I’ve expanded my approach beyond traditional safety measures to include overall wellbeing. One such initiative that I’m involved with is our ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, where thousands of our people have taken advantage of free screenings to monitor key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI. I am also a certified mental health first aid provider and have led multiple awareness sessions to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Beyond that, we ensure colleagues are physically prepared for their roles through our ‘Fitness to Work’ programme, which includes health assessments, surveillance for high-risk roles, and return-to-work support for employees recovering from illness or injury.

How do you see your role as an Emirati leader who connects with the subcontinent workforce? What value does this connection bring to your projects and teams?

One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the diversity of our workforce. We employ more than 70 nationalities in total. But a great number of our people come from the Indian subcontinent, and when they realise I can speak Hindi or Urdu, it immediately breaks down barriers, builds trust, makes conversations easier.

When people feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to speak up, whether it’s about a concern or an idea for improvement. That kind of openness is crucial in our industry. And on a bigger scale, as an Emirati leader, I see it as my responsibility to foster inclusion and lead by example.

What do you consider to be the biggest health and safety risks in your industry, and what proactive steps are you taking to mitigate them?

Our role is to design and build big energy infrastructure plants. Its inherently dangerous work, but to give you a specific example, one of the biggest risks we face is during the commissioning and startup phase, especially when introducing hydrocarbons into a facility. This is a critical moment, if something goes wrong, it can have serious consequences.

That’s why we take a comprehensive approach to safety, from detailed start up reviews, regular drills to awareness workshops. Everyone on site needs to know the protocols inside out. We also place a huge emphasis on supervision and attention to detail.

Learning from the past is just as important. We record every incident, no matter how small, because that data helps us improve. We have an app where our people can log HSEQ observations and we look for trends in observations and make interventions before incidents occur. We also survey our staff to give us feedback on our processes, and we hold lots of open forums like town halls to keep communication regular, open and two-way.

What advice would you give to other HSE leaders looking to implement a more inclusive and multilingual approach to health and safety?

Instead of translating HSE materials as an afterthought, we design them from the start with different audiences in mind. That means using clear visuals, straightforward translatable language, and real-world examples that make sense to the people reading them. When safety feels relatable, people engage with it more.

It’s also important to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their background or language, feels empowered to contribute to the overall culture of safety in an organisation.

How do you measure the success and effectiveness of your safety initiatives at Petrofac?

We believe in keeping things simple. Going back to basics is key to safe and reliable operations so we track our progress through hard data and real feedback.

Some of the key factors we look at include lost time injuries (LTIs), safety observations, audits, permits issued, kilometres travelled, and total man-hours worked. Beyond the numbers, we listen to our people. If employees feel safer, more engaged, and more empowered to take ownership of safety, that’s when we know we’re making an impact.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 20 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Omrania, part of the Egis Group, has announced the successful completion of the KAFD Fire Station, a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) that sets a new standard for fire station design as well as promoting firefighter wellbeing

The fire station is an essential emergency response facility and a model of innovation, integrating sustainability, functionality and health-conscious elements. The first LEED Platinum v4-certified fire station in the world, it sets new standards in emergency response infrastructure and energy efficiency. Designed with advanced safety systems, cutting-edge technologies, and a louvered glass façade illuminated by matrix LED lights, the facility is optimised for climate-conscious operations while enhancing firefighting capacity and public safety within the district.

As well as its striking architectural design with dynamic façade screen, the two-level structure has been meticulously designed with operational efficiency in mind. As a fire station within a high-rise district, particular attention has been given to the roof design. The green roof and photovoltaic panels enhance sustainability and reduce the visual impact of mechanical equipment, creating a clean, organised appearance that aligns with the overall aesthetic of the district.

Inside, the facility has been designed with a focus on occupant well-being. A minimalist yet robust interior aesthetic complements the operational needs of firefighters while ensuring long-term durability. In recognition of the intensive nature of firefighting, the station includes dedicated wellness and relaxation spaces, such as a gym, lounges and a central courtyard.

Marwan Bsaibes, managing principal at Omrania, said, "The completion of the KAFD Fire Station marks a milestone in sustainable and functional design. This project is a testament to Omrania’s commitment to delivering innovative and high-quality architecture that enhances the built environment while prioritising the well-being of its users."

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 19 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Doha, Qatar, has earned an impressive third-place ranking among 62 Asian cities in the 2025 Numbeo Quality of Life Index. This achievement highlights Doha’s evolution into a modern, globally competitive city that prioritises resident well-being.

The Numbeo index assesses cities based on factors such as purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, traffic, pollution, and climate.

Doha’s overall Quality of Life Index score reached 178.7, with a high purchasing power index of 151.8 and a strong safety score of 84.1. The city’s healthcare index stood at 73.4, while the cost of living remained relatively low at 47.8.

Other notable scores included a 6.2 Property Price to Income Ratio, 29.1 for Traffic Commute Time, 59.9 for Pollution, and 36.0 for Climate.

Doha follows only Abu Dhabi and Muscat in the rankings, a testament to Qatar’s strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and sustainability. The city’s safety, healthcare facilities, and metro system contribute were evaluated to have contributed significantly to its high livability.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 17 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

In its announcement of a 4.1% revenue increase over the last year, Arabian Drilling listed HSE amongst its four top strategic priorities for 2025.

The addition of 13 unconventional land rigs in 2024 brings the operator's total fleet to 59. That increase represents a 20.4% growth against 2023.

Ghassan Mirdad, Arabian Drilling's CEO, described last year's performance as "strong and resilient."

CFO Hubert Lafeuille added, "Our strong balance sheet enables us to pursue geographical expansion, enhancing our ability to swiftly reposition ourselves to capture targeted growth opportunities that require our expertise."

Part of that repositioning includes the realignment of Arabian Drilling's strategic priorities for 2025, centring its approach around four pillars: increasing fleet utilisation, supporting the Kingdom's energy transition, expanding globally, and enhancing HSE activities.

The operator anticipates that Q1 2025 will maintain Q4 2024 performance and momentum.

• Region: Middle East
• Date: 14 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Figure 1.

Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, reviews the lessons of the ‘complacency continuum’

As we revisit the Paradigm Shifts series, we are now approaching its final stretch with article #9 out of 12: Critical Decisions – Part 1: Normal Risk vs. Making an Exception.

Before diving in, let’s briefly recall the key insights from the previous article, where we explored the complacency continuum and the importance of 'when' vs. 'what' in decision-making (Please see Figure 1).

When did you get hurt vs. what were you doing? And if you really think about it or if you really think about what has actually happened to you, you’ll realise that you have most likely experienced accidental pain – even if it wasn’t serious – in almost any activity you’ve ever done, whether it’s walking, running, cleaning, carrying something and dropping it on your foot, cutting, hammering, driving, cooking, sewing (you name it), chances are you’ve said, “Ouch” or something worse, more than once. So, if you can accept that the “what” isn’t really where the pattern is, because, we’ve all been hurt, a little or a lot, doing pretty much everything (as long as you were moving and/or things around you were moving). So, the pattern, especially in terms of our serious injuries, has been when we made both of the first two critical errors at the same time: we didn’t have our eyes on task and we weren’t thinking about what we were doing (mind not on task). And as a result, we didn’t get a reflex – which might have enabled us to hit the brake, jerk the steering wheel, catch our balance or break our fall, move our head quickly, etc.

So, we looked at the problem of figuring out “when” in the last article. When would we or when would they be most likely to have those “defenseless moments”? The conclusion was that they (at least the majority of them) would happen after the first stage of complacency, and – although the person wouldn’t likely know it – be happening more frequently as they passed into stage 2. Which helped to answer the question of why older, well-trained workers, with lots of experience were experiencing so many serious injuries and fatalities. Note: before the first stage of complacency, untrained workers or workers without enough experience do get hurt frequently. But they are usually more mindful in terms of paying attention. They just don’t have the skills or reflexes yet. So, that’s easy to understand and it’s easy enough to fix, if you’re willing to take the time to train them properly.

However, there’s more to it than just that. As mentioned, albeit briefly, in the last article, as time goes on people tend to get more complacent, not less. The increased level of complacency can also start to affect someone’s decision making. Not only do they have more “defenseless moments”, but if nothing bad has actually happened (vs. just another close call) then the person’s willingness to change will be very low, and certainly their belief that their behaviour “really needs to change” will be virtually non-existent. Hence the: “Oh yeah, well I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and I’ve never been hurt yet!” So, for them, “normal” behaviour is “at-risk”. In other words, they normally don’t wear the face shield at the grinding wheel or they normally don’t wear a seat belt on the fork truck. And if someone has been using the grinding wheel without a face shield for 20 years, we can assume – with a fair bit of confidence – that complacency has gotten the better of them.

Then on the other side (see Figure 1), there are people whose normal behaviour is safe: they normally do wear the face shield. Just like people normally drive the speed limit or maybe a little above the posted speed limit. In other words, you know what you mean when you say, “I was driving at normal speed or at a normal speed for me, given the conditions”. Let’s just call it, “our own speed limit” which, as mentioned, might be slightly higher than the posted speed limit. But here’s the thing or the main point: we have all exceeded our own speed limit when we were in a “big rush”. So, if we are in enough of a rush, we will make an exception, and not only break government laws or company rules, we will even break our own rules. And the same thing can be true for frustration and fatigue. Normal people can and will make exceptions or can have their decisions compromised by rushing, frustration and fatigue.

I can remember when this paradigm shift hit me. I was in Houston doing a three-day workshop. Our video crew lives in the greater Houston area, so we got together after day one to look at some of the “Tool Box” videos for a series they started working on. Although the manager of the crew was very familiar with the concepts and critical error reduction techniques, the crew really only knew about rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency. What I didn’t know (long story) was that the manager was not going with the crew to these shoots, so they were just asking for stories – true stories – that were about workplace injuries caused by rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency.

Click here to read the full article and gain insights into enhancing safety through improved decision-making.

Stay tuned for Critical Decisions – Part 2: Deliberate Risk and Error, where we dive deeper into how intentional risk-taking interacts with human error and what we can do to mitigate it!
https://uk.safestart.com/paradigm-shifts/9-critical-decisions-part-1-normal-risk-vs-making-an-exception/