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UNITY FOR CHANGE – أفق INITIATIVE: TRANSFORMING UAE RETAIL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS

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DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Unity for Change – أفق, an alliance led by Chalhoub Group, LVMH, Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), Majid Al Futtaim, and Aldar Properties, has unveiled its finalized sustainability goals. This groundbreaking framework focuses on reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste to landfill, and promoting eco-design across UAE retail operations.

Launched at COP28 in 2023, the initiative brings together industry leaders to advance measurable environmental impact through collaboration and shared expertise. The defined objectives span three core pillars:

1. Energy Efficiency

Achieve 5% annual energy savings or carbon emissions reduction for all shopping malls starting 2024.KPIs include reducing energy consumption to:
– 300 kWh/m² for beauty stores by 2030.
– 300 kWh/m² for non-beauty stores by 2026.

2. Eco-Design

Implement a 12-criteria checklist for sustainable retail renovations and new projects, including:
– 50% energy-efficient lighting systems.
– VOC-free materials for paints and interiors.
– FSC-certified wood for at least 50% of installations.Guidelines will be distributed by early 2025 alongside compliance training programs.

3. Waste Management

Achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030 for LVMH and Chalhoub Group, with a 50% diversion goal for Aldar Properties, Emaar Malls, and Majid Al Futtaim.Implement digitized waste management systems by 2026 and unified policies with stakeholder training by April 2025.

Next Steps

The alliance will maintain momentum through actionable steps:

Detailed Implementation Guidelines: Manuals for energy efficiency, eco-design, and waste management will be shared in early 2025.Progress Dashboards: A digital system will track and share progress with stakeholders.Training Programs: Unified training content will roll out by December 2025 to drive compliance.

“This announcement marks a bold step forward in our collective mission to reduce carbon emissions and waste across the UAE’s retail landscape,” said Florence Bulte, Chief sustainability officer, Chalhoub Group. “One year on from the creation of Unity for Change, this partnership reflects our communal dedication to sustainability. By aligning our goals and pooling resources with LVMH, Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), Majid Al Futtaim, and Aldar Properties, we are redefining sustainability for the Middle East’s retail sector and leading ESG goals across the region’s prominent luxury market.”

Saoud Khoory, Chief Retail Officer, Aldar Investment said: “we are pleased to be part of this important sustainability collaboration, which brings together some of the largest retail players operating in the UAE. At Aldar, sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and our commitment to a net-zero future aligns with leading global real estate industry benchmarks. We recognize that impactful climate action requires collaboration, and we look forward to implementing the new sustainability framework across our retail assets. By adopting a whole value chain approach and working closely with our partners, we aim to create climate resilient places that deliver long-term social and economic value in the UAE and beyond.”

Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Executive Director, Emaar Properties, said: “At Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), sustainability is not just a goal; it is a responsibility we embrace wholeheartedly. Through Unity for Change, we proudly join industry leaders to redefine environmental stewardship in the retail sector. This marks a pivotal step in our commitment to eco-friendly innovation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.”

Commenting on the progress made on Unity for Change, Ahmed El Shamy, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “It’s been truly inspiring to see how the Unity for Change initiative has evolved since its announcement at COP28 last year. At Majid Al Futtaim, we are proud to stand alongside other industry leaders in this transformational partnership that reflects the urgency of tackling climate change. By uniting expertise and resources, we have outlined actionable goals to address critical challenges in waste management, energy efficiency, and eco-design, setting a scalable model for sustainability in the retail sector.”

“One year after the launch of Unity for Change, we are proud to see this pioneering collaboration in the UAE deliver a robust sustainability framework for the retail sector. By addressing key areas such as energy efficiency, eco-design, and waste management, this initiative reflects our collective ambition to redefine retail practices in harmony with environmental priorities. This milestone, presented during the LIFE 360 in Stores Awards, embodies the spirit of ‘Joining Forces’ to drive meaningful transformation and underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing climate challenges,” said Hélène Valade, LVMH Environmental Development Director. 

The findings and finalized objectives of this initiative were officially presented on December 12th in Paris, France, during the LVMH “LIFE 360 in Stores Awards” ceremony.

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Wiremind raises €35 Million in First-Ever Funding Round

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The French scale-up will accelerate its international expansion and position itself as the go-to technology partner for transport operators and the live events ticketing industry

PARIS, 6 October 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wiremind today announced it has raised €35 million from three new investors: IronWave (formerly Wendel Growth), Bpifrance Investissement (via its Large Venture fund) and Seaya Andromeda. Co-founders Colin Girault-Matz (CEO) and Charles Pierre (CTO) remain majority shareholders and retain control of the business.

Profitable since its founding in 2014, Wiremind develops revenue management, inventory and distribution software for passenger transport operators and event organisers. In 2025, its revenue grew by 67% while adding 23 new clients. Today, it serves over 80 clients across the product suite.

After 12 years of self-financed growth, Wiremind will use the new capital to fuel two strategic priorities:

International expansion: Wiremind will continue its growth in South America and increase its presence in the Middle East and APAC transport markets, building on its success across Europe and North America.Increased investment in AI: Wiremind designs its own machine learning models and optimisation algorithms, which sit at the core of its clients’ revenue, capacity, inventory and distribution systems. The funding will scale up R&D and add a new layer: large language models (LLMs), both within the decision engine that drives pricing recommendations and in tools that make the platform easier to use.

“Charles and I began our careers in the rail and aviation industries, so we have a unique understanding of the challenges our clients face. It is this first-hand knowledge that we leveraged to grow Wiremind over the years, while staying completely self-financed and investing in our own R&D. Today, we’re accelerating our efforts given the speed at which the market is adopting artificial intelligence tools. This financing round will allow us to reach rapidly growing geographic markets where decisions on technology investments are being made right now,” said Colin Girault-Matz, CEO and Co-Founder of Wiremind.

Wiremind’s flagship product, CAYZN, a revenue management platform whose ARR grew 81% in 2025, is used by more than 20 operators, including Eurostar, National Express, SNCF, Trenitalia and Transavia. PAXONE, its OSDM-native inventory and distribution system, was selected to power France’s new national Intercités ticketing system. EVENTORI, its AI-powered ticketing platform for sports clubs and event organisers, grew 140% in 2025.

Media Contact
Audrey Noel 
Press Relations
audreynoel.medias@gmail.com 

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Ondo Private Markets To Bring Private-Company Exposure Onchain, Starting with AI

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Ondo Finance launches Ondo Private Markets, providing tokenized exposure to leading private companies.The first asset, tokens referencing a leading pre-IPO AI company, is expected to begin secondary market trading this week, with robotics, cybersecurity, biotech, and infrastructure names to follow.Exposure comes through tokenized notes which provide the economic performance of a reference company’s per-share value at a qualifying liquidity event, built on Ondo’s infrastructure with $3.7B in TVL and over 1M holders.

GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ondo Finance today announced Ondo Private Markets, which will bring tokenized notes delivering the economic performance of industry-defining private companies onchain. Starting with a pre-IPO AI company, the first market will launch this week with permissionless trading available 24/7 on secondary markets. Exposure to leading names across robotics, cybersecurity, biotech, infrastructure, and other sectors will follow as Ondo Private Markets builds out the broadest selection of private-company exposure onchain.

Why it matters

The vast majority of large US companies are private, with 87% exceeding $100 million in annual revenue being privately held. This includes the firms shaping the next generation of technology, meaning retail investors are sidelined for many of today’s largest wealth-creation opportunities. Exposure to leading startups remains largely concentrated among institutions and venture capitalists, and even those who get in can wait years to get out. Private markets have offered neither broad access nor an open exit.

Ondo Private Markets is built to solve both challenges by providing targeted exposure to the world’s top-performing private companies on permissionless blockchain rails where it can trade 24/7 in secondary markets. Eligible investors will be able to enter, exit, or adjust positions anytime, no longer needing to wait for an IPO to realize liquidity. 

How it works

Exposure is provided through tokenized notes, with each note’s payout linked to the per-share value realized on the referenced company’s common shares at a qualifying liquidity event. Further increasing the opportunity for investors, Ondo Private Markets tokens are both freely transferable and composable onchain, enabling them to be transferred or deployed as productive capital across the DeFi ecosystem. 

“In the US, the majority of the investment options accessible for retail are public companies, yet 87% of companies with over $100m in revenue are private. That’s where many of the leaders defining the next era of our economy are emerging, and retail investors can’t access them today. Ondo Private Markets is built to change that, bringing tokenized exposure to the world’s best companies with 24/7 trading on permissionless rails.” — Ian De Bode, Acting CEO and President, at Ondo Finance.

Ondo Private Markets builds on the same institutional-grade infrastructure behind the market-leading platforms for tokenized stocks and Treasuries, which together represent $3.7 billion in total value locked and more than 1 million cumulative holders. It extends Ondo’s mission to make traditional financial assets globally accessible onchain, opening access to an asset class that has long been out of reach for most investors.

About Ondo Finance

Ondo Finance is a blockchain-based technology company focused on tokenizing real-world assets and bringing institutional-quality financial products onchain. By bridging traditional finance and decentralized infrastructure, Ondo aims to make capital markets more accessible, transparent, and efficient.

About Ondo Private Markets

Ondo Private Markets brings private-company exposure onchain. It enables eligible investors in permitted jurisdictions to access tokenized notes designed to provide economic exposure to leading private companies. The notes are obligations of their issuer, not shares in the referenced companies, and provide no ownership or shareholder rights.

DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS: FOR NON-U.S. PERSONS ONLY. 

Important Information Regarding Token Regulatory and Eligibility Matters: The tokenized assets referenced herein (the “Tokens”) have not been registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) or the securities or financial instrument laws of any other jurisdiction. The Tokens may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons unless registered under the Act or an exemption from the registration requirements thereof is available. 

Persons who place buy orders from within the United States, or any of its states, possessions, territories or federal districts, and persons who are “U.S. persons” or acting for the account or benefit of any “U.S. persons” within the meaning of Rule 902 of Regulation S promulgated under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are prohibited from subscribing for, acquiring or redeeming the Tokens.

Important Information Regarding the Tokens: The Tokens provide their holders with economic exposure to the value of their underlying assets. However, the Tokens are not themselves stocks and the Tokens do not provide their holders with rights to hold or receive their respective underlying assets. 

The communications herein are only intended for actual or potential business relationships or technical integrations with respect to Tokens. Nothing herein constitutes any offer to sell, or any solicitation of an offer to buy, any assets. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice. Acquiring Tokens involves risks. A holder of Tokens may incur losses, including total loss of their purchase price. Past performance may not be (and for the Tokens will not be) an indication of future results. Investors are responsible for conducting their own research, investigation, verification, checks or consultation for professional or investment advice.

This FAQ is a summary only, is qualified in its entirety by the Token Terms, the Subscription Agreement, and the Token Terms Acceptance and Redemption Claim Certification (collectively, the “Offering Documents”), and does not modify or supplement the Offering Documents. In the event of any conflict, the Token Terms control. Capitalized terms not defined in this FAQ have the meanings given in the Token Terms. Full Offering Documents, Token Terms, and Risk Factors will be provided to eligible clients before subscription and govern in the event of any inconsistency with this summary.

The communications herein may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future financial performance, business strategies, or expectations for the growth or development of Ondo Finance, PM Issuer Co (BVI) Limited or any of their respective affiliates (each, an “Applicable Entity”). These statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, projections, and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: economic, competitive, legal, governmental, and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, services, or prices of any Applicable Entity. No Applicable Entity undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Additional terms and restrictions apply. See https://app.ondo.finance/legal-documentation and the Token offering documents for details.

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GIGABYTE Showcases NVIDIA-Powered AI from Desktop to Enterprise Scale at Ai Everything Abu Dhabi 2026

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ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GIGABYTE, the world’s leading computer brand, will showcase its latest NVIDIA-powered AI solutions at Ai Everything taking place in Abu Dhabi from October 6 to 7.

GIGABYTE introduces the AI TOP ATOM, a compact personal AI supercomputer based on the NVIDIA DGX Spark platform. Delivering 1 PFLOPS of FP4 performance, it is designed for security, local AI development, fine-tuning, and data science.  

The plug-and-play system offers 1TB to 4TB storage options and supports four-node clustering through a high-speed QSFP switch with 200GbE connectivity per node. Powered by NVIDIA ConnectX-7 networking, the four-node configuration delivers high-bandwidth inter-node communication and provides up to 512GB of aggregate unified system memory for larger and more demanding AI workloads. AI TOP ATOM enables developers and SMBs to build, test, and fine-tune AI models locally, maintaining greater control over sensitive data before scaling workloads to enterprise data centers or the cloud. 

Also on display is the GIGABYTE W775-V10, a high-performance desk-side AI workstation powered by NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, delivering up to 20 PFLOPS of FP4 performance and 748GB of coherent memory. It supports up to 400 concurrent requests, enabling secure local AI development for regulated data and proprietary models.

“AI development has traditionally required significant cloud investment or shared clusters, putting smaller teams at a disadvantage,” said Jay Lee, GM META at Giga Computing. “This gives teams the ability to develop and test locally, then scale to the data center or cloud when ready. Visit GIGABYTE at Ai Everything Abu Dhabi (Booth H3-04) to experience NVIDIA-powered scalable AI solutions.

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