Author: Mohamed Ali

Parkin Company PJSC (“Parkin” or the “Company”), Dubai’s leading provider of paid public parking facilities and services has entered into an agreement with charge&go, a subsidiary of Etisalat Services Holding (ESH), one of the core arms of e& delivering innovative services and solutions across multiple sectors.

This landmark 10-year partnership will supercharge Dubai’s electric vehicle future with the launch of 200 ultra-fast direct current (DC) charging stations, expanding EV charging infrastructure across the emirate.

Scheduled for launch in October 2025, the new charging network will cut EV charging times to under 30 minutes, through the installation of state-of-the-art charging infrastructure at key destinations across Dubai, from high-density residential communities to major retail and leisure hubs. This project represents a decisive step in expanding Dubai’s EV network, designed to meet the evolving needs of over 40,000 EV vehicles, supporting Dubai’s long-term sustainable development and green mobility goals, in alignment with Dubai’s 2040 urban master plan.

Phase one of the EV charging initiative will result in the installation of 20 charging stations in some of the city’s busiest locations. Over the subsequent twelve months, the programme will deliver 200 public and private charging points.

DC charger technology offers significantly faster charging capabilities compared to alternating current (AC) systems. As a result, customers will benefit from faster charging times, supported by high standards of customer service, enhancing the overall end user experience. The park and charge service will be available for reservation through Parkin’s intuitive mobile application, providing real-time charging status updates and secure in-app payment functionality.

Eng. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, commented: 
“This 10-year partnership with charge&go is a clear example of our commitment to providing cleaner, greener tech-driven mobility solutions to our customers. Working closely with our colleagues at e& allows us to tap into a global network of knowledge and expertise along with advanced services across diverse sectors. Both Parkin and e& share a commitment to leveraging technology to meet the needs of our digitally savvy clients, supporting Dubai’s ongoing transformation into a global, sustainable and future-ready city. This collaboration is essential to accelerate the adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and to expand the necessary infrastructure to meet Dubai’s growing ambitions for sustainable mobility.”

Muammar Al Rukhaimi, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Services Holding, commented:
“Dubai is rewriting the playbook on how big cities can embrace sustainability at scale, and this EV charging rollout marks a decisive step forward. At e&, we are fuelling a movement by deploying cutting-edge technology that delivers real-world impact while ensuring quicker charging turnarounds and a superior customer experience. This partnership with Parkin makes green mobility effortlessly accessible and shows how a city can grow boldly without costing the planet.”

Parkin, which operates approximately 212,000 paid parking spaces across Dubai, signed an MoU with charge&go in October 2024 at the annual GITEX exhibition, the world’s largest technology and startup event.

The new DC charging network will operate under a strict ‘park and charge’ protocol, 
permitting vehicles to occupy designated charging bays only while actively charging. This measure will help to reduce overstay and unauthorised use of dedicated parking bays.

Combining the latest technology with conveniently accessible parking and charging facilities, the new EV charging initiative enhances the commitment of Parkin and e& to delivering value-added mobility services to customers.

Schneider Electric, an energy management and automation company, has signed an agreement with ChargeGo by e& to drive the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UAE.

The collaboration aims to deliver on an increasing demand for sustainable transportation in the UAE and will cover the deployment of EV charging solutions.

Schneider Electric and e ‘s joint efforts will enable the development of a scalable charging network to promote widespread EV adoption in the country. The collaboration also includes installing EV charging solutions at Etisalat Academy by e&.

Muammar Al Rukhaimi, CEO of Etisalat Services Holding by e&, commented, “By uniting with Schneider Electric, we amplify our commitment to drive positive transformation in the UAE’s electric vehicle infrastructure. This collaboration is a testament to our joint efforts in delivering accessible and sustainable charging solutions that contribute to the evolving eMobility landscape.”

Ahmed Fateen, Commercial Vice President for UAE and Oman, Schneider Electric, said, “Our collaboration with e highlights our efforts toward advancing the landscape of sustainable transportation in the UAE. Additionally, the installation of our EV charging solution at the Etisalat Training Academy highlights our mutual dedication to creating a robust charging network, propelling the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the country.”

Demand for electric vehicles in the UAE market has steadily increased over the past few years and is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% until 2028, according to recent study issued by the International Trade Administration.

Nakheel Community Management (NCM), Nakheel’s integrated, customer-centric community management arm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Etisalat Services Holding, e& to install EV chargers across a range of Nakheel communities. 

The agreement was signed by Francis Giani, Chief Community Officer at Nakheel and Muammar Nasir Al Rukhaimi, CEO of Etisalat Services Holding, with senior personnel from both Nakheel and Etisalat Services Holding present. 

The agreement provides the services of Etisalat Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging stations across the Nakheel Communities. The Etisalat service holding company will charge end users based on the services  provided by EV charging stations during the six months Proof of Concept (POC). 

Francis Giani, Chief Community Officer at Nakheel, said: “We are proud to partner with Etisalat Services Holding, a company which is leveraging the latest world-class technologies. Through this partnership we are committed in enriching consumer value propositions and creating new consumer benefits across our communities.”

Muammar Nasir Al Rukhaimi , CEO of Etisalat Services Holding, said: “Partnering with Nakheel Community Management has been a natural choice for our EV solutions business ‘Charge&go’, as their diverse and expansive communities provide ideal locations for our world leading EV charging stations. We look forward to the roll out of the EV chargers and the positive impact they will bring to users.”

There are currently five electric vehicles overall, with specific vehicles assigned to Palm Jumeirah Community, JVC Community, Galleries, and District One Community. The cars assigned to NCM are also used for patrolling and community missions.  Additionally, the teams are using EV as a standard pool car for everyday site operations, emergency responses, and site visits. NCM has installed designated charging facilities for the fleet, which are located in District One and Palm Jumeirah (Nakheel Mall). 

After the six-month POC period, there is potential for further roll out of the EV charging stations across further Nakheel communities. The Nakheel communities that will benefit from the initial six-month period are Palm Tower, Palm West, Palm East, Masakin Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens. The vehicles will significantly lessen air pollution and enhance the quality of the air. The MoU also underlines Nakheel’s value of “We Serve”, by always providing the best service possible to their customers and driving innovation in their communities. 

The First Group has announced a partnership with charge&go, an E.V. solution by e&. Through the partnership, the Group will be installing Electric Vehicle (E.V.) charging stations at its six hotels, making it Dubai’s first hospitality company to embrace this forward-looking practice for the environment.

The E.V. charging stations will be located across six of the brand’s properties – The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle, The First Collection Business Bay, Tryp by Wyndham Dubai, Wyndham Dubai Marina, Citadines Metro Central Dubai, and Grand Heights.

The E.V. charging stations will feature cutting-edge rapid charging technology, ensuring that E.V. owners can recharge swiftly and return to the road without lengthy delays. Its universal compatibility will also be able to charge a wide range of electric vehicle makes and models. In addition, the company said that the “user-friendly interface” and payment options will make the charging experience a “convenient and easy process for all E.V. users.”

Muammar Nasir Al Rukhaimi, C.E.O., Etisalat Services Holding (ESH), a subsidiary of e& said: “This partnership demonstrates our dedication to ‘charge&go’ and our support for electric mobility in U.A.E. We are committed to leading the conversations on sustainability and exploring the limitless possibilities with technology. Today, innovation goes beyond ground-breaking products and solutions; it also involves making choices that benefit the environment and generations that will inherit this planet from us.”

“We take great pride in this significant milestone alongside our valued partner, charge&go as it exemplifies our commitment to sustainability within the dynamic realm of hospitality. As the U.A.E. steers towards a sustainable economy, we acknowledge our key role as a partner in shaping an environmentally conscious future. This initiative underscores our commitment to being catalysts of positive change and responsible stewards of our environment”, commented Rob Burns, C.E.O., The First Group.

“Offering E.V. charging stations makes our hotels a hassle-free option for electric vehicle owners and allows our guests and partners to support a cleaner and greener future with us,” says Karim Abdelhamid, V.P. – Hotel Operations, The First Group.

“Such robust sustainability strategies have helped us achieve a substantial reduction in The First Group’s carbon footprint, anchoring our corporate values with worldwide environmental priorities. As we continue to serve the discerning corporate traveller, we remain determined to continue pioneering new benchmarks in sustainable practices and operational excellence.

e& from Etisalat and the Cybersecurity Council in the United Arab Emirates announced the graduation of the first batch of the Cyber Sniper Program at the Etisalat from e& Academy, which is a comprehensive training program in the field of cybersecurity designed to develop the expertise and skills of UAE government employees in the constantly evolving field of cybersecurity.

The program covers a wide range of areas including hacking, ethical standards, incident response, and digital forensics for cybercrimes. It is a pioneering initiative aimed at graduating a highly efficient group of cybersecurity experts equipped with the latest capabilities to protect the country’s digital borders.

The first batch of program graduates consists of 26 government employees from various agencies. They were graduated during a special ceremony held on the sidelines of the GITEX Global 2023 exhibition. The graduation certificates were presented in the presence of Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council, and Masood M. Sherif Mahmood, CEO of e& Telecommunications.

e&, previously known as Etisalat Group, has announced the soft launch of electric vehicle (EV) charging network ‘Charge&Go’. The network will see stations “strategically” placed across the UAE that will offer users a “dependable, affordable, and easily accessible charging solution”, Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, e&, said in an interview. “With Charge&Go, e& isn’t just part of the conversation; we’re leading it,” he said ahead of technology exhibition Gitex Global. “It’s a commitment to a greener future and part of our commitments to reach net zero in our UAE operations by 2030.”

The company is aiming to establish one of the largest electric vehicle charging ecosystems by collaborating with government and private sector entities. Dowidar said the network will provide a “reliable, user-focused charging journey”.

It is working “collaboratively” to realise the UAE’s vision of setting up the most expansive EV charging network. “Through Charge&Go, we’re promoting electric mobility and building a holistic, end-to-end EV charging solution that’s both reliable and accessible.”

Earlier this year, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said the country currently has 500 EV charging stations, with plans to nearly double them in the near future.

e& expects annual EV demand to grow by 30 per cent from 2022 to 2028. “The momentum behind EVs is expected to grow exponentially, with global sales soaring, and the UAE is making significant strides. Industry statistics reveal that more than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022 and this is expected to grow by another 35 per cent to reach 14 million,” said Dowidar.

The UAE aims to increase the share of electric vehicles to 50 per cent by 2050. The country also has ambitious goals to reduce energy consumption by 40 per cent and carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes in the transport sector by 2050.

Major General Saif Al-Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, received a delegation from the Etisalat Services Holding (ESH) and its subsidiaries, headed by Muammar Al-Rukhaimi, CEO of “Etisalat”.

The visit aims to acquaint Sharjah Police with the best practices and applications in the field of optimal investment in information and communication technology solutions and enablers and digital technologies, and to introduce the importance of the role of the communications and information technology industry, which enhances the readiness of security work, in order to ensure the achievement of the strategic goals of the Ministry of Interior 2023-2026.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, Al Shamsi praised the leading position enjoyed by ESH in the field of technological infrastructure services by adopting and developing highly efficient and quality systems that contribute to developing and improving performance and productivity, and enhancing the quality of services provided.

The meeting stressed the importance of building bridges of communication with the various private sectors and institutions, in a way that contributes to the exchange of ideas and visions that support the government’s directions in enhancing the quality of life.
At the end of the visit, Major General Al Shamsi presented a commemorative shield to the CEO of ESH, looking forward to strengthening this communication between the two sides.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking police officers.

Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) has discussed with Etisalat Services Holding (ESH) ways to enhance cooperation aimed at developing the exhibitions and conferences Industry, in addition to exchanging views and experiences and developing joint work to enhance ECS’s efforts towards achieving the optimum investment of information and communication technology (ICT) and digital solutions with a view to providing the best services to exhibitors and visitors.

The news came out of a coordination meeting held at ECS that brought together Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of ECS, Muammar Al-Rukhaimi, CEO of ESH, and a number of officials on both sides. They discussed working to enhance ICT in supporting the exhibitions sector, in addition to reviewing the upcoming events and exhibitions that ECS intends to organize.

In the presence of CEO/Etisalat Services Holding, Mr. Muammar Al Rukhaimi, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Mr. Sherif Mousa, acting Chief Administrator and Finance Officer at Zayed University and Dr. Ali Al Qayedi Etisalat Academy General Manager.

The MOU will be a collaboration between Etisalat Academy and Zayed University in the cybersecurity and emerging technologies training.

Furthermore, Etisalat Academy will provide different cybersecurity and latest technologies training to both employees and students of Zayed University, which will support instructors, provide mentoring programs and industry focused sessions/workshops. Etisalat Academy will guide students/employees of Zayed University on getting access to Learning Portal/Program/Certifications and Support Student Internship and Recruitment.

Commenting on the partnership Zayed University’s Mr. Sherif Mousa said: “We are delighted that the Etisalat Academy will join Zayed University’s Partner Challenge program and mentor students. This initiative is helping Zayed University develop the future leaders, thinkers, and doers of the UAE. These challenges give students a chance to gain an in-depth understanding of the workplace, encourage them to think for themselves and open their eyes to the opportunities available to them when they graduate. Students will benefit a great deal from the expertise and mentorship of the Etisalat Academy.”

The partnership will create a robust, technologically equipped generation, that will help shape UAE’s vision in being the leading technology and innovation driven nation.