At Jacobs we see every day as an opportunity to make a positive impact.
The latest United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP28 – is being held in Dubai and will bring together governments, businesses and communities to determine how the world will come together to respond to climate change and adapt to its existing effects.
It’s our responsibility to contribute to positive environmental and social impacts today to enable current and future generations to thrive. We must stay curious, ask difficult questions and take bold action to steward our environment, society and economy, while preparing for a very different future. At Jacobs our sustainable business approach PlanBeyond is anchored in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and focused on integrating sustainability throughout our operations and all our client solutions we deliver worldwide.
We’ll be at COP28, supporting discussions on these complex, interconnected challenges that transcend borders and touch every element of our lives. This is a pivotal moment to share best practice and develop ideas and tangible plans about how globally, we can respond and adapt to the realities of climate challenge affecting us today and going forward.
With hundreds of our employees based in the Middle East, and as a strategic partner to many local organizations, Jacobs views COP28 as a critical opportunity to drive positive impact throughout the region.
“COP28 is a critical opportunity to take stock, hone our focus and re-double our efforts to drive positive, impactful change. With every year that passes, our opportunity to change the trajectory of humanity’s impact for the better on the planet we all call home becomes more critical and more challenging. The time to engage and act is now.”
Jacobs in Dubai
Jacobs has been operating in the Middle East since the late 1970s when we opened our first office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since then, our regional footprint has grown, with Dubai and Riyadh becoming the main hubs of our Middle East operations. Over 800 employees are based in the Dubai office working across a diverse portfolio of projects, solving some of the world’s most challenging problems. Jacobs has played a significant role in many of the region’s most iconic projects which have transformed its urban landscape, such as Etihad Rail and Expo 2020 Dubai, where COP28 is being held.
Meet our people
Meet some of our team who will be attending COP28 on behalf of Jacobs:
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Daniel Render
Senior Director, Global Sustainability & Climate Response
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Dr. Nino Kharaishvili
Global Solutions Director, Health System Governance
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Monte Wilson
Vice President, Global Built Environment Market Director
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Zein Mocke
Middle East Director of Climate Change Advisory and Environment
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Mala Alahmadi
Social Value Lead
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Chris Allen
Global Principal for Regenerative and Nature-based Solution
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Samantha Ebner
Associate Director: Intelligent Transformation
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Adam Hosking
Global Solutions Director for Water Resources
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Bryan Harvey
Vice President, Global Program Management
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Maher Abdel-Rahim
Middle East Director Landscape Design & Master Planning
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Steve Zoegall
Vice President and Global Market Director for Cities & Places
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Doug Huxley
Practice Leader for Climate Change and Carbon Management
Explore our climate response solutions
Jacobs has an extraordinary opportunity to drive extensive and lasting change. Last year we elevated Climate Response as a growth accelerator within our company strategy – aligning positive societal impact with long-term business growth, and delivering significant value for our clients through sustainable, integrated, end-to-end solutions:
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Decarbonization
Decarbonization is essential for mitigating climate change and preserving our planet’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Every organization, government and community faces the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to low carbon energy sources. From transportation, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology, to many other sectors, we guide our clients through every step of their decarbonization journey. From evaluating renewable energy generation portfolios, storage solutions, decarbonization roadmaps, capital plans or program management support, we use an interdisciplinary approach to design the solutions needed to achieve decarbonization goals.
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Energy Transition
We’re working with clients around the world to develop strategies and implement projects which integrate an optimal mix of renewable and clean energy sources, grid modernization, energy storage, electric vehicle and battery manufacturing and the energy water nexus. We’re striving to achieve a successful energy transition that reduces emissions, supports reliability and strengthens liveability outcomes for our communities.
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Adaptation & Resilience
Keeping business, cities, countries and whole communities safe, resilient and able to adapt to the impacts of climate change today and in the future is one of our core competencies. This includes resilience advisory developing climate informed governance, policy and strategy frameworks, resilient infrastructure planning, design and operations, emergency management planning response and recovery, the integration of climate response solutions into public health and wellbeing policies and programs and creating active, liveable cities and approaches.
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Regenerative and Nature-Based Solutions
To halt and reverse the destruction of nature we need designs that seek to have a beneficial and positive impact over time by transforming our relationship with the rest of nature and one another into one that is reciprocal. At Jacobs we have capabilities in both regenerative and nature-based solutions to restore and protect the world’s natural capital, while continuing to support economic and social development.
Explore our projects
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Showcase
Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Expo 2020 Dubai (Expo), the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, transforming a 4.38km2 site into a lasting urban legacy.
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Showcase
Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City Beach, Florida
In October 2018, Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) was hit with a Category 5 hurricane which resulted in damage to 100% of its assets. As a result, they have embarked on a rebuilding program that is focused on creating a resilient, sustainable and smart Installation of the Future that leverages innovative solutions in a “system of systems” approach to perform at the nexus of mission assurance, cost efficiency, and social and environmental sustainability.
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Showcase
Project Melaka
Malaysia's largest Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plant in Melaka has entered full commercial operation, generating approximately 2,242 megawatts of high-efficiency, lower-carbon power, helping fulfill 10% of the country’s electricity demand.
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Showcase
Etihad Rail, United Arab Emirates
One of the largest infrastructure projects in the UAE, Eithad Rail is a comprehensive railway network connecting the country and the region.
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Showcase
Delivering social value on Thames Tideway
One of the legacy aspirations of Thames Tideway was to develop and deliver a project's skills and employment strategy. This required an innovative approach to skills and employment, as it needed to deliver the necessary skilled labor for the program and leave a positive legacy for local communities and the entire construction industry. Read more to find out about how this was delivered.
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Showcase
King Abdulaziz Port Mega-Container Hub Transformation
As Engineer Consultants for the Consolidation Works at the First and Second Container Terminals on the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Jacobs’ technical knowledge of container terminal design and our ability to manage multidisciplinary projects from design through construction and commissioning is helping the port move into the future. Delivering a "no surprises" approach to design, complimented by the ability to value engineer the existing arrangements, our team is working toward a successful outcome for our client Saudi Global Ports. Our in-house specialist project delivery team tapped into Jacobs’ wider global and local experience to deliver the project with the highest standards of quality
Want to know more?
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News
Jacobs Joins Race to Resilience
Jacobs has joined the Race to Resilience campaign, supporting global resilience efforts and strengthening the work we do to create resilient solutions across society. Learn more about why we’ve joined this global campaign.
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News
Moving and Storing Water for Climate Response: A Q&A with Adel AbouJaoude
Jacobs’ new Conveyance & Storage Global Solutions Director Dr. Adel AbouJaoude discusses the critical role of conveyance and storage in the OneWater cycle and explains why data solutions are at the top of his agenda. Get to know him in this Q&A.
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Net Zero Labs
Each of us has a role to play in the urgent mission for a climate-resilient world. No matter where your organization is on its decarbonization journey, our Net Zero Labs will provide you with the knowledge and tools required to achieve your emissions abatement outcomes.
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Celebrating Emirati Women's Day
Discover Jacobs' dedication to gender equality and sustainability as we commemorate Emirati Women's Day and actively participate in the gender pledge. Our commitment aligns with UAE government Emirati hire targets, showcasing our inclusive corporate culture, supporting community engagement and contributing to broader societal progress.
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The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect Program (Ages 5-11) is designed to provide young people with the knowledge and understanding they need to put sustainability at the heart of everything they do.