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The deal between ADNOC and Covestro is the biggest buy out of a European firm by a company from the Gulf.
German chemicals group Covestro said Tuesday it had accepted a takeover bid from UAE state energy company ADNOC, as one of the key sectors in Europe’s largest economy is gripped by crisis.
Elevated energy costs in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have weighed heavily on chemicals producers, which account for around five percent of Germany’s GDP.
The deal valued Covestro, a maker of plastics, at some 12 billion euros ($13.3 billion), the German group said in a statement.
Under the terms of the agreement, valid until the end of 2028, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will make an offer for all remaining Covestro stock at a price of 62 euros per share.
The state energy company of the United Arab Emirates will also inject around 1.2 billion euros into the chemicals firm through the issuance of new shares, once the deal is completed.
With ADNOC onboard, Covestro would have “an even stronger foundation for sustainable growth”, the German group’s CEO Markus Steilemann said in a statement.
ADNOC was a “financially strong and long-term oriented partner”, Steilemann said.
The takeover offer was subject to a minimum acceptance threshold of “50 percent plus one share”, as well as regulatory controls, Covestro said.
Chemicals crisis
ADNOC’s bid for Covestro comes while the challenges facing the Germany’s energy-intensive chemicals industry show no signs of abating.
The sector was “struggling in a difficult environment”, the German chemical industry association VCI said in a report last month.
Weak demand and high energy costs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine were weighing on producers and leading them to cut back on production in Germany.
BASF, the world’s largest chemicals group, said last month would cut costs and refocus on its “core businesses”, while some of its German plants lacked competitiveness.
For its part, Covestro said it was “making significant progress in its strategic transformation”.
The group, which makes chemicals used in everything from building insulation to electric vehicles, unveiled savings plan in June amid ongoing takeover talks with ADNOC.
Leverkusen-based Covestro, which was spun off from chemicals giant Bayer in 2015, said it would cut material and personal costs in the hopes of saving some 400 million euros annually.
With ADNOC’s support, Covestro could grow in “highly attractive sectors and can make an even greater contribution to the green transformation”, Steilemann said.
Covestro’s board said it would recommend shareholders accept ADNOC’s offer under the terms of the agreement.
Diversification move
The deal was a coup for ADNOC as it seeks to expand its operations beyond oil, and if completed, would mark the first takeover of a company in Germany’s blue-chip DAX index by a Gulf state-owned firm.
Covestro was a “natural fit” for ADNOC’s growth strategy, the energy giant’s CEO Sultan Al Jaber said in a statement.
Al Jaber, who served as president of last year’s COP28 climate talks in Dubai, said the acquisition represented a step towards “diversifying ADNOC’s portfolio”.
The deal aligned with ADNOC’s “future-proofing strategy and our vision to become a top five global chemicals company”, he said.
Under the terms of the deal, Covestro said ADNOC had committed to maintain the group’s “corporate governance and organisational business structure”.
ADNOC would also respect existing agreements with workers’ unions, while “there are no plans to sell, close or significantly reduce Covestro’s business activities”.
source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)
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ADNOC is seeking to expand its operations beyond oil [Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Technology makes industrial-scale lithium extraction possible, KAUST finds
Lithium essential for batteries in electric vehicles, computers, smartphones
Scientists at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have developed a new technology that could turn the Kingdom into a leading producer of lithium, the state institution has said.
In a news release posted on its website recently, KAUST said the “innovative technology,” which involves the direct extraction of lithium from brine in oilfields and seawater, is described in a study published in the latest issue of the journal Science.
Lithium is an essential metal for the production of batteries now widely used for electric vehicles, computers and smartphones. Global demand for lithium is expected to increase to more than 5 million tonnes in 2030 from about 750,000 tonnes in 2020, according to KAUST.
Lithium is said to be present in oilfields and seawater but at low concentrations and difficult to extract in useful quantities.
But the KAUST research team led by Prof. Zhiping Lai said the new technology makes extraction possible on an industrial scale.
“Accessing lithium in brine can expand the availability of lithium worldwide by several hundreds of billions of (tonnes) and may transition Saudi Arabia from a major importer to producer of this highly sought-after element,” Lai explained in the study.
The method also achieves extraction without introducing any pollutants or additives, he said.
Saudi Arabia is thought to have plenty of sources rich in lithium in its surrounding seas and oil fields, considering that brine and seawater are estimated to contain over 10,000 times more lithium than conventional lithium reserves.
Lihytech, a KAUST startup founded by Lai and his colleague Prof. Kuo-Wei (Andy) Huang, who also contributed to the study, aims to bring the technology from laboratory to market, the university stated.
The startup has received an initial investment of $6 million from the Saudi mining company Ma’aden and the KAUST Innovation Fund.
Lihytech and Aramco announced last year a partnership in which the international conglomerate is providing brine from its oilfields to test the technology’s lithium-extraction capabilities.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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This combination image shows an aerial view of an Eramine lithium extraction area in Salta province, Argentina, (left) and a bottle containing a sample of lithium carbonate in a laboratory of the Eramine lithium extraction. Like Argentina, Saudi Arabia has vast sources rich in lithium. (AFP photos)
For centuries, Morocco’s Amazigh – the “free people” – celebrated Yennayer behind closed doors, their New Year a quiet act of defiance against systematic erasure of their identity.
Dozens of bonfires illuminate the rocky slopes above Tisselday in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains as night falls on January 13. The flames dance against the darkness, marking the eve of Yennayer 2975, the Amazigh New Year.
In villages and cities across North Africa, indigenous communities prepare for a celebration that predates recorded history, carrying forward traditions that have survived centuries of marginalization and cultural pressure.
From mountainside “douars” (small villages) to busy city quarters, the air fills with calls of “Aseggas Ambarki,” “Aseggas Amaynou,” “Aseggas Ighoudan,” “Aseggas Anammar,” and “Aseggas Ameggaz” – ancient wishes for a blessed, new, prosperous, and happy year. The greetings, passed down through generations, carry both the weight of history and hopes for the future.
A heritage written in time
The Amazigh calendar carries the weight of three millennia, marking time since 950 BCE when Sheshonq I, a Libyan-born pharaoh ascended to Egypt’s throne. As founder of Egypt’s 22nd dynasty, he unified Egypt and later invaded Palestine, where he captured the treasures of Jerusalem’s Temple of Solomon – an event significant enough to be recorded in the Bible.
Yennayer, derived from the words “yan” (one) and “ayyur” (month), literally means “first month” in the Amazigh language – Tamazight. An alternative etymology traces the word to the Latin “ianuarius,” from which January itself originates.
Known by various names across regions, including “id seggas” or “haguza” in Morocco’s indigenous communities, the celebration transcends mere historical commemoration, pulsing with living traditions, agricultural rhythms, and seasonal cycles that have governed life in these lands since before written records began.
The celebration marks the beginning of the agricultural calendar, rooted in the Julian system that dominated North Africa during Roman times. Local communities refer to this period as the beginning of the “Black Nights,” a 20-day stretch marking one of the year’s coldest periods, reflecting the deep connection between Amazigh cultural practices and the agricultural heritage of the region.
This year’s celebration marks a watershed moment in Morocco. As the second year of official recognition unfolds following King Mohammed VI’s historic May 2023 decree, schools and businesses will close their doors, transforming what was once a day of quiet cultural resistance into a nationally acknowledged celebration.
The shift represents a dramatic change from a challenging past when Amazigh children faced punishment for speaking their mother tongue in classrooms for decades.
The holiday’s institutionalization, following Algeria’s 2018 recognition, came after tireless advocacy by indigenous rights activists.
The royal recognition extends beyond a symbolic gesture. The government increased its 2023 budget supporting the Amazigh language by 50% to MAD 300 million ($30 million), pledging to hire hundreds of official clerks for public services.
This institutional support marks a decisive break from policies that once actively suppressed Amazigh identity, ushering in a new era of cultural recognition in Morocco.
Celebration across regions: More than a meal
The celebration known as “imensi n’Yennayer” typically begins as darkness falls on Yennayer eve. In Morocco’s diverse regions, families gather for rituals that blend agricultural traditions with cultural preservation. The evening starts with “id seggas” or “thabbourth aseggas” (the door of the year) as called by Kabylies in Algeria, marking the transition between seasons.
In High Atlas villages, the aroma of “ourkemen” fills homes – a rich mixture of seven varieties of dried legumes and grains simmering with sheep’s or cow’s foot. The dish combines lentils, split peas, chickpeas, white beans, broad beans, corn, wheat, and barley, symbolizing agricultural diversity and abundance. Traditional beliefs hold that eating well on Yennayer ensures prosperity throughout the year.
The Ouirgane Valley, an hour south of Marrakech, sees families preparing fine couscous garnished with peeled hard boiled eggs and dusted with cinnamon.
In the Souss region, particularly around Tiznit, “tagoula” takes center stage on family’s tables. This ancient dish demands hours of patient preparation, cooked slowly over wood fires until the corn or barley semolina transforms into a thick, nourishing porridge. Served with olive or argan oil, honey, and traditional smen (fermented butter), each component carries symbolic weight in the celebration.
The ritual of “amnaz” – hiding a date pit in the “tagoula” – adds an element of festive anticipation. While traditionally believed to bring good fortune to its finder, some families have adapted the practice, using almonds instead of date pits to prevent dental mishaps while maintaining the tradition’s spirit.
Rituals of renewal
The celebration encompasses more than just communal meals. Families undertake thorough house cleaning, symbolically purifying their spaces for the new year. Women burn aromatic herbs and branches, filling homes with cleansing smoke.
Traditional beliefs discourage certain activities: sweeping (to avoid chasing away good fortune), removing fire from the house, or speaking words associated with hardship or misfortune.
Children receive handfuls of sweets and dried fruits – a tradition known as “trèze” in some Algerian regions, containing precisely thirteen different varieties for luck. Women maintain the ancient practice of sharing food with nature, setting aside crumbs for birds and insects, embodying beliefs in universal abundance.
From marginalization to ‘recognition’
The path to official recognition winds through decades of systematic marginalization.
Following independence, Morocco’s drive to assert itself as an Arabo-Muslim nation led to aggressive Arabization policies that actively suppressed Amazigh identity. Schools became primary tools of cultural assimilation, where children were punished for speaking their mother tongue.
Traditional systems of land management were dismantled, while Amazigh customary laws guaranteeing rights to land – never reinstated after the colonial period – left communities vulnerable to displacement.
The state’s Arabization strategy extended beyond language policy. Public institutions, media, and administrative services operated exclusively in Arabic, effectively excluding Amazigh speakers from participating fully in civic life.
This institutional marginalization pushed Amazigh cultural practices to the periphery, treating them as folkloric remnants rather than living traditions of Morocco’s indigenous population.
The impact of these policies rippled through generations. Amazigh communities faced systemic barriers to education, employment, and political representation. The abolition of traditional land rights led to widespread displacement, forcing many to abandon ancestral territories.
This erosion of land access not only threatened economic stability but struck at the heart of Amazigh cultural identity, where connection to ancestral lands forms the foundation of community life.
The devastating earthquake of September 2023, which claimed over 2,800 lives, exposed the ongoing consequences of this historical marginalization. Often lacking basic infrastructure and emergency services, Amazigh villages suffered disproportionate damage.
Remote communities found themselves isolated from aid, with crumbling infrastructure and inadequate emergency response systems revealing the stark disparities in development and public investment. The disaster laid bare how decades of exclusion from national development planning left Amazigh regions particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.
The earthquake’s aftermath magnified the persistent gap between symbolic recognition and substantive equality, demonstrating how historical marginalization continues to shape present-day vulnerabilities in Amazigh communities.
Language rights and education
These structural inequalities persist despite recent cultural recognition. While Tamazight gained official language status in 2011, the implementation of this policy remains limited in practice.
Government services, healthcare information, and emergency communications still primarily operate in Arabic and French, creating persistent barriers for Amazigh communities.
The struggle for meaningful linguistic inclusion continues, with the current 31% rate of Tamazight instruction in primary schools reflecting both progress and persistent challenges, though government initiatives aim to reach 50% by 2025-26.
The Ministry of Education’s ambitious roadmap envisions expanding this initiative from the current 1,803 primary schools to 12,000 institutions by 2030, potentially benefiting four million students.
The 2019 law formalizing Tamazight’s use in governmental administration, local authorities, and public services marked another milestone. Yet, practical implementation often falls short of legal promises, with usage largely limited to official signage rather than substantive integration into administrative functions.
Even the 2024 census sparked controversy, with the Moroccan Association for Research and Cultural Exchange criticizing the High Commission for Planning for “systematic exclusion of Tamazight” in the process.
The census claimed only 25% of Moroccans speak Amazigh, a figure strongly contested by activists who assert the real number could be as high as 85% of the population.
The journey toward recognition has seen significant milestones. King Mohammed VI’s historic 2001 Ajdir speech affirmed Amazigh identity as fundamental to Moroccan culture, leading to the establishment of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. In 2003, Morocco officially adopted the Tifinagh script, culminating in the 2011 constitutional recognition.
Yet, activists note a concerning trend. Moroccan human rights activist Ahmed Assid points out that “Amazigh language lost two thirds of its speakers in five decades,” highlighting the urgent need for preservation efforts despite official progress.
Living heritage
With Morocco marking its second year of officially recognizing Yennayer, the celebration comes at a time of both progress and persistent challenges for the Amazigh people.
Traditional Amazigh land management systems, dismantled during colonial times, remain un-reinstated. Remote communities still struggle for basic infrastructure and services.
Yet in villages across the High Atlas, families gather around communal plates, sharing meals that symbolize abundance and renewal. Children search for hidden dates in their “tagoula,” while elders pass down stories of harsh winters and resilient communities.
Young couples choose this time for weddings, and families mark their sons’ first haircuts, linking personal milestones to the cycle of seasonal renewal.
The celebration of Yennayer 2975 thus stands as both a victory and a reminder – of battles won for cultural recognition, and of continued struggles for full equality and justice.
Scholars highlight the camel’s role in Arab history and the Arabic language
Experts from Saudi Arabia and abroad gather in Riyadh
Scholars at a Riyadh conference this week underscored the fundamental role the camel has played in shaping Arab heritage, emphasizing the profound link between camels and the Arabic language.
King Saud University, in partnership with the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, is hosting the Fifth International Conference, titled “Camels in Arab Culture,” which ends on Thursday.
Prominent scholars and specialists from Saudi Arabia and abroad are participating in the conference, which is exploring key topics related to camels, including heritage, history and geography, and archaeological findings.
Hajed Al-Harbi, conference chairman, said: “Honoring camels is a tribute to our deep-rooted values and rich heritage, reflecting our pride in our origins and historical legacy.”
Ibrahim Al-Furaih, conference secretary, told Arab News how the conference underscores the central role camels have played in shaping Arabic literature and intellectual thought throughout history.
“Camels are a fundamental element of our national identity and Arab culture, with a significant presence in our heritage.
“Whether through literature, poetry, inscriptions, or the daily life of early Arabs, they have left an indelible mark. Their influence endures, continuing to shape the lives of Arabs to this day,” Al-Furaih said.
Bedoor Al-Fassam, chair of the public relations committee for the conference, said organizers spent months preparing for the event.
Dr. Al-Fassam, who is also an assistant professor of literature and criticism in the Arabic language department at the university, confirmed that conference participation requests exceeded 300, from which 40 research papers were selected. The submitted papers covered a wide range of fields, including literary, linguistic, historical, and social studies, in addition to anthropology research.
Alongside participants from Saudi universities, the conference features academics from Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Canada.
The attendees discussed the definition of camels in language and lexicography, as well as their effect on cultural and national identity.
Additionally, they explored the role of camels in Arabic poetry, narrative storytelling and biographies, highlighting their significance in other literatures and cultures.
The conference further delved into the role of camels in the national economy, addressing sectors such as investment, tourism, and entertainment, in addition to camel festivals, sports and racing events.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Dr. Hajid Alharbi, Conference Chairman, delivered a speech during the opening of the “Camels in Arab Culture” conference on Tuesday in Riyadh. (supplied)
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar has announced its entry into the Philippines market, signing agreements with the government of the Philippines to develop 1 gigawatt (GW) of clean energy projects to strengthen its growing portfolio in Southeast Asia.
The Implementation Agreement with the Department of Energy and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of Investments of the Republic of the Philippines covers the development of solar, wind and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a total capacity of up to 1GW by 2030.
The signing ceremony of both agreements was witnessed by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Secretary of Energy of the Philippines.
The Implementation Agreement was signed by Undersecretary Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Republic of the Philippines Department of Energy, and Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, with the MoU exchanged between the Ambassador of the Philippines to the UAE, Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver, and Masdar’s CEO.
The agreement, which will support the Philippines Energy Transition Programme to achieve 35 percent renewable energy in power generation by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040, operationalises the MoU on Energy Transition Cooperation signed in November 2024 between the Philippines and the UAE during the working visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the country, which identified renewable energy as an area of collaboration.
Dr. Al Jaber said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between the UAE and the Philippines. By leveraging the UAE’s world-class expertise in renewable energy and the Philippines’ abundant natural resources, this agreement will create jobs, drive low-carbon socio-economic progress and expand global renewable energy capacity in line with the UAE Consensus.”
Lotilla commented, “Building on the long-standing ties between our nations and the recent Energy Transition Cooperation agreement, we welcome Masdar’s proven leadership and expertise in delivering utility-scale renewable energy solutions. This collaboration will significantly advance our goal of achieving 35 percent renewable energy in power generation by 2030.”
Secretary Lotilla further emphasised that the landmark partnership underscores the Philippines’ commitment to a clean energy future.
By integrating renewable energy into the country’s energy mix on an unprecedented scale, the Administration of President Marcos Jr. is enhancing energy security while laying a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship.
With Masdar’s support, the Philippines is setting a new benchmark for energy transition in the region.
Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Undersecretary at the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments Managing Head, commented, “It is inspiring to witness the strengthening of the bilateral relations between our countries, following the visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos to UAE last year and a series of reciprocal ministerial missions thereafter.
The partnership with Masdar is a testament to our mutual commitment to fostering a dynamic and sustainable economic future, and our shared vision for economic sustainability and prosperity. This aligns seamlessly with the Philippine strategy to position ourselves as a smart and sustainable hub for manufacturing and services in Southeast Asia.”
He added, “The Philippines is making significant strides in the renewable energy sector. Masdar’s own planned renewables projects will contribute to accelerating sustainable economic growth in the different regions in the Philippines, and will especially complement our infrastructure development initiatives within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) — Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas — which is being developed as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and logistics.
“The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Board of Investments, will be Masdar’s staunch partner. Together with Masdar, we give our unwavering commitment to fostering a greener and more resilient future for the Philippines.”
Al Ramahi welcomed the announcement as a significant expansion of Masdar’s activities in Southeast Asia, a key strategic market in its ongoing efforts to achieve a renewable energy capacity of 100GW by 2030.
“With our proven success in implementing large-scale renewable energy projects in the region and worldwide, we look forward to utilising our expertise and experience to support the Philippines in meeting its ambitious renewable energy goals,” he added.
The agreement marks Masdar’s entry into the renewables sector in the Philippines. Southeast Asia is a key investment destination for Masdar.
The company has developed the region’s largest floating solar facility in Indonesia – the 145MW Cirata Floating Solar PV plant – which is generating enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.
In February 2023, it entered the geothermal energy sector through a strategic investment in Pertamina Geothermal Energy.
Masdar also signed a landmark agreement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in 2023 for the development of 10GW of clean energy projects across the country.
Qatari Diar received a Guinness World Records distinction for “the most fireworks launched by multirotors/drones in an aerial display.”
The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.
The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.
The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.
The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.
The 18th edition of the World Branding Awards honoured the success and achievements of some of the World’s Best Brands as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The 2024-2025 World Branding Awards saw over 927 brands from 66 countries nominated as “Brand of the Year”. Of these, less than 100 were declared Winners.
The prestigious Award Ceremony was held at the Tower of London, United Kingdom. It welcomed over 80 guests worldwide and was hosted by acclaimed British television broadcaster, David Croft.
Global winners who proved excellence and impeccable branding in their industry include Yakult (Japan), Lurpak (Denmark), Sennheiser (Germany),Spotify (Sweden), BYD (China), and Heinz (United Kingdom).
Winners from Kuwait include GIG, KEMS, RIVA, Mabanee, The Avenues, and Boursa Kuwait. Other National tier winners include Absolut (Sweden), Airland (Hong Kong), Aurora (Thailand), Bank of Taiwan (Taiwan), Boots (United Kingdom), Evolene (Indonesia), Fern-D (Philippines), Frank & Co. (Indonesia), Munchy’s (Malaysia), Natural Aqua Gel Cure (Japan), Spritzer (Malaysia), and VISTRA (Thailand), to name a few.
Just 20 brands were selected to receive the Regional tier award this year, including M-150 (Thailand), Tsui Wah (Hong Kong), Nippon Rent-A-Car (Japan), and MR DIY (Malaysia). These brands were voted as consumers’ favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region.
“Winning the Brand of the Year, with 70% of the voting power in the hands of consumers, is a testament to a brand’s ability to resonate with its audience. It’s recognition that a brand has not only met but exceeded its customers’ expectations. It’s a badge of honour that signifies a brand’s commitment to providing exceptional value, building trust, and creating lasting relationships,” said Mr Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.
More than 100,000 consumers participated in the nomination process globally this year. On average, there are only 5 winning brands in each country, proving that winning a World Branding Award is a remarkable accomplishment.
For more information and the full list of winners, visit awards.brandingforum.org.
Ankara aims to help the new Syrian administration rebuild its infrastructure after its 13-year civil war.
Turkey will restore parts of the historic Hejaz Railway in Syria, reconnecting Turkish rail lines to Damascus, Turkish Transportation Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Tuesday during a meeting with journalists.
The comments by the Turkish official come as Ankara works on helping rebuild its southern neighbour after 13 years of civil war.
“We will quickly assess the situation and take steps to restore the railway connection to Damascus as a first stage,” Uraloglu said during a meeting with the Anatolian Broadcasters Association in Ankara, according to a transcript.
“There are sections of the railway stretching from Turkey to the Hejaz region. We know that these lines have not been operational for a long time as part of a larger network,” Uraloglu added.
“From 2009 to 2010, we sent passenger trains there and even took a journey ourselves.
“There’s existing infrastructure in place… However, in some areas, such as Iraq, we’ve seen railway tracks stolen and sold as raw iron. We may face similar issues in Syria.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a cabinet meeting on Monday that every minister with a specific portfolio will study the shortcomings and problems in Syrian infrastructure and offer help to the new Syrian administration.
A caretaker government has been established in Damascus to maintain state services following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country earlier this month in the face of a rebel offensive.
‘Ambitious dream’
The legendary Hejaz Railway was the ambitious dream of Sultan Abdulhamid II of the Ottoman Empire, who, in 1990, envisioned a train line connecting Istanbul to Mecca.
Named after the Hejaz region in the western Arabian Peninsula, home to Islam’s two holiest cities – Mecca and Medina – the railway was constructed with remarkable speed, funded entirely by Muslim donations. While some donations were voluntary, others were coerced.
The line, which was already connected to Istanbul, extended from Damascus to Medina, with a branch line to Haifa in Palestine.
It was primarily intended to facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and to strengthen Ottoman control over its distant provinces. The railway also served as a military transport route for Ottoman forces.
However, the railway faced frequent sabotage, particularly during the British-backed Arab Revolt, led by the intelligence officer TE Lawrence, famously known as “Lawrence of Arabia”.
The project came to an abrupt halt with the outbreak of World War One.
The Hejaz Railway never reached its ultimate destination of Mecca, ending in Medina – approximately 400km short of the holy city.
Nimco Mahamud-Hassan is considering moving to Wales, another in a series of dramatic relocations that have shaped her life. The 1900s cast-iron stove and thousand-plus cookbooks in her kitchen complicate things.
First, there is the cast-iron stove, which is enormous, runs on gas and was made in early 20th century England. Beside it is a shelf of ceramic Turkish coffee pots, which climb to the ceiling, their vibrant colors reflecting sunlight. And then, of course, there are the cookbooks – Nimco has more than a thousand.
Nimco’s kitchen is as warm as her smile, her stove as British as her accent and her tools as multicultural as her cooking. From her corner of Tennyson Street in Somerville’s Winter Hill, Nimco can make an entire diaspora out of food, blending her native Somalian recipes with flavors and cooking methods from around the globe. It’s a unique skill set that Nimco brought to classes taught through the City of Somerville and Milk Street Cooking School, and to her catered events. In 2018, she was a Somerville Arts Council artist of the month. This year, she quit everything to start writing a cookbook.
“I often feel that cookbooks that are written of African food in general have a lot of irrelevant pictures,” Nimco said. “You know, a broken car, a hungry child.” Her own cookbook will be different, she said. It will be beautiful.
When Nimco was a child, she would make beautiful Somali pancakes. Her mother taught her how to cook, and by the time Nimco was 8 she would make breakfast over an open fire, as is the Somali tradition. It was around then that a family of missionaries started taking an interest in her, pressuring her family to let them take Nimco out of the country and give her a better education.
Nimco was a curious girl. She wrote consistently in her diary and loved to cook even then, though she couldn’t make much on her own. She laughed easily, and was obedient in school, as every Somali child learned to be.
The missionaries were her neighbors, and as part of their sponsorship of Nimco’s education, they wanted to unofficially adopt her.
Egypt and England
Nimco’s father opposed this; like more than 99 percent of Somalia, Nimco and her family were Muslims, and he was sure the missionaries meant to convert her. On the other hand, Nimco was one of seven daughters among 13 siblings, and Somalia was on the brink of war. Her mother thought that it was a good opportunity for Nimco to leave, and eventually she had her way.
Nimco moved to Egypt when she was just 12, where the missionaries sponsored her schooling. At first, it was difficult. Nimco was living with her brother, who was not much older than her, and neither knew how to speak Arabic. Every day, Nimco would go to school where, week by week, she would pick up the language. The missionaries’ promised education was nowhere to be seen – it was only after two years that they sponsored Nimco to attend three weeks of English lessons. Thus, Nimco and her brother picked up Arabic from their black-and-white television and their Egyptian neighbors. Every evening Nimco would make spaghetti and sauce, the only dish she knew how to cook. This went on until the neighbors started asking Nimco questions.
After three years, the missionaries invited Nimco to visit them in England. She packed a small suitcase, leaving behind her diary, her brother and almost all her belongings. She flew up for what was supposed to be a three week trip; Somalia’s civil war erupted in the middle of it. Suddenly, Nimco’s life was flipped upside down – everyone that she’d known from Somalia was in danger, and the missionaries felt that it would be safest for her to stay in England, sending her to live with a British foster family, the Mitchells.
Nimco was 15, with a funky afro and mismatched clothes, alone in a new country with a language she didn’t speak. It was a familiar sensation, but this time she was utterly bereft of her family. When she stepped into the Mitchells’ front door, she didn’t know what to expect. Would she be welcomed? Would the family be nice?
They were not.
Among the English
Nimco spent her first day in the Mitchells’ family home cleaning, a pastime she quickly understood no one else in the family had ever taken on. Liquids were congealed on the kitchen counter. When she tried to lift some cans up, to organize, she realized they were stuck. She had to pry them off,.
The family quickly fell into a routine, relying on Nimco to clean everything for them. She even had to clean the rooms of the Mitchells sons, who were barely younger than her.
At school – where her grades were better than the Mitchells boys, despite them going to a posh private school – Nimco’s teachers were kind, inviting her to Christmases at their homes and giving her private English lessons for no pay. One teacher was friends with the principal of a private girls school and managed to provide Nimco a year’s education there for free. To do her schoolwork, Nimco would have to hide from Mrs. Mitchell, who would force her to do chores whenever she caught her studying.
One morning, Mrs. Mitchell’s sister, Margaret, came to visit. She had a daughter of similar age to Nimco and like Mrs. Mitchell, wasn’t a kind woman. Nimco was listening idly to the two sisters’ conversation, Margaret effusing over the cleaning that Nimco had done. “Sue,” she finally said, “do you think I could borrow Nimco?” Nimco stood there aghast, then left and walked to a park to cry.
It was as if the woman were talking about borrowing a vacuum cleaner instead of a human child.
Like her father had predicted, Nimco’s life in England was also marked by weekly Sundays in church. The Mitchells were born-again Christians, and so Nimco was required to sit with them, and behave nicely as the pastor would preach, “Let’s crush Islam.” Even the nicer sermons – “Love thy neighbor,” for example – were uncomfortable. Church felt like a too-small dress foisted upon Nimco by an insistent mother: It itched, it was painful, the seams were splitting, and she’d never wanted to wear it in the first place. It didn’t fit. She wasn’t Christian.
Still, without church, Nimco would never have met Jo.
Jo was one of Nimco’s first friends in England, and she would communicate with her through a dictionary, flipping through the pages to translate conversations. They didn’t always need the words.
“It’s like, when you like somebody, I think language is just one part of how you communicate as human beings,” Nimco explained. “You can just look at the person and just know.”
The two would wander London together, stopping in secondhand shops and sift through clothes, giggling together. It was seamless.
America
Shortly afterward, Nimco left the Mitchells. She started to cook again, to work for a paper called The Voice and to volunteer for the human rights organization Africa Watch, where she met Alex, the associate director. They hardly saw each other for almost 10 years, but eventually reconnected, traveling together in East Africa. A few years later, the couple married. Together they moved to Somerville. She took cooking classes – later complemented by lessons in China and Thailand and working alongside friends from India and Pakistan – and around 2010, started to cook professionally.
The first person who hired Nimco to cook for him was an MIT graduate student. After the first meal that she brought him, he told her, “I would like to keep this going, whatever it takes.” A few weeks later his girlfriend begged Nimco to let her learn her recipes, and Nimco began teaching. Today, Nimco is the godmother of their oldest daughter.
Throughout her time in Somerville, Nimco has taken in five young women who needed a place to stay while they got on their feet. It was always by chance: a receptionist Nimco met at Goodwill, a sick student in her husband’s class – Nimco opened her arms first, and asked questions later. She gave these women what the Mitchells never gave her: kindness; love; a home.
Maybe that’s the true secret to Nimco’s cooking, beyond the cultural combinations, the cookbook collection and the beautiful tools – Nimco makes her food so that she can share it with others.
Dubai-based DP World has commenced work on the $1.2 billion Port of Ndayane, with the aim of transforming Senegal into a major centre for global trade.
The Willem Van Rubroeck vessel is set to dredge a five km-long shipping channel to build a high-capacity port.
The project’s first phase also includes an 840m quay to accommodate the world’s largest container ships.
This phase will build capacity to handle 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. Phase Two will add a further 410m quay, positioning Ndayane as a logistics hub in West Africa.
The Port of Dakar, a DP World asset in Africa, has expanded significantly to handle 800,000 TEUs in 2023 from 300,000 TEUs in 2008.
However, the Dakar port’s location within a densely urbanised area limits expansion, making Ndayane a strategic port to support Senegal’s long-term trade and economic growth.
DP World group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the Port of Ndayane will elevate Senegal and boost trade across the African continent.
He said the company would also develop an economic zone near the port and Blaise Diagne International Airport.
DP World is working with British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance agency, to fund the project.
BII estimates the port will boost Senegal’s GDP by 3 percent through increased trade flows, potentially adding $15 billion in trade value by 2035.
During construction, the project will create over 1,800 jobs and once operational is expected to support 22,000 jobs in Senegal tied directly to expanded trade.
Last month, Liz Bains wrote in AGBI that the UAE ports operators AD Ports Group and DP World are showing an unquenchable thirst for acquiring new assets in Africa.
DP World’s extensive list of ports and terminals in Africa comprises Djen Djen and Djazair in Algeria; Ain Sokhna in Egypt; Berbera in Somaliland; Bosaso in Somalia; Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania; Maputo in Mozambique; Luanda in Angola; Dakar and Ndayane in Senegal; Banana in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and inland container terminals at Kigali in Rwanda and Komatipport in South Africa.
source/content: agbi.com (headline edited)
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The Willem Van Rubroeck dredger is starting work on a 5 km-long shipping channel for DP World’s Ndayane port in Senegal
