ICCROM-Sharjah organizes workshop on climate change adaption in Arab historic cities
Workshop participants will discuss ways to integrate traditional building practices in climate change adaptation and the sustainable development of historic cities
January 31, 2023, 10:20 am

ICCROM-Sharjah organizes workshop on climate change adaption in Arab historic cities

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 31 January 2023 – A regional workshop on “Climate Change and Historic Cities in the MENA Region: Integrating Traditional Knowledge in Climate Change Adaptation and the Sustainable Development of Historic Cities” is inaugurated today in Sharjah. The workshop, which will continue for three days until Thursday 2 February 2023, is organized by the Regional Office for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage in the Arab States (ICCROM - Sharjah) with the generous support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

The workshop focuses on the unprecedented challenges to cultural heritage posed by the climate crisis, and how heritage itself can help mitigate risks. Severe weather events are expected to cause great damage to cultural heritage in various parts of the world, especially in the Arab region. This irreversible damage will not only affect tangible cultural heritage, but also traditional societies’ intangible cultural heritage.

While scientists search for scientific solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change, it is important for organizations, such as ICCROM, to focus on how traditional practices can provide solutions that can be applied to local contexts and replicated elsewhere. Traditional practices were formed in harmony with communities’ surrounding environments, conserving energy and natural resources.

“ICCROM’s mission is to help all of its 137 Member States preserve their cultural heritage and make the world a better place. ICCROM is extremely concerned with climate change issues and is committed to helping achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability for communities, taking into account the significant damage climate change causes to cultural heritage worldwide. This workshop is also aligned with ICCROM's vision of achieving a world in which cultural heritage is closely linked to the concepts of progress, inclusiveness, well-being and stability,” said Dr Webber Ndoro, Director-General of ICCROM.

This workshop will present exemplary case studies on the feasibility of adopting traditional knowledge in contemporary architecture while raising awareness of the risks associated with climate change and the role traditional knowledge has in climate change adaptation. It will highlight how traditional knowledge can contribute to building societies’ resilience. The workshop will also promote research in traditional heritage practices as a means to devise sustainable solutions and prepare for existing and potential risks related to climate change, and how this can be integrated into modern architecture for greater compatibility with the principles of sustainable development.

The event will encourage institutions involved in managing historic cities to coordinate climate change adaptation efforts with the wider framework of city management and emergency preparedness, and make recommendations for designing subsequent related activities for cultural heritage institutions.

Dr Zaki Aslan, highlighting the timeliness of the workshop, stated, “Many countries have emphasized the urgent need to develop practical measures, including legislation, to face the challenges climate change poses. However, research on the impact of climate change on historic cities is still in its early stages in the Arab region; though studies indicate that the Middle East and North Africa will be particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of a changing climate.”

"The workshop is important for uniting efforts, promoting dialogue, exchanging experiences and benefiting from all traditional cultures and practices – for example, building with mud in dry areas – as there are great opportunities to learn from such practices. Preserving our cultural heritage can help us prepare for potential risks associated with climate change and proactively protect our historic Arab cities," Dr Aslan added.

Many of those involved in managing historic cities in the MENA region are participating in the workshop, in addition to international and regional experts interested in climate change’s impacts on historic cities.

This workshop is part of the "Medina" initiative, which focuses on protecting historic cities and supporting the urban heritage management in the Arab region, while valuing cultural heritage’s role in sustainable development.

The workshop also aligns with the great efforts made by the United Arab Emirates to address the challenges and risks posed by climate change regionally and globally. These efforts will be crowned this year with the UAE’s hosting of COP28, the most important global climate conference.

BY: Abdullah Halawa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.