Desert climates drive innovation in the MENA region. Current projects focus on resilient cities, climate change, and scalable solutions, supported by private and NGO investments.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s natural characteristics — desertified climates with limited access to water — have long compelled residents to seek innovative solutions to day-to-day challenges. Many of the projects currently underway in MENA focus on developing resilient cities, addressing climate change impacts, and engaging residents in problem-solving at scale. Generous investments from private funders and developers, as well as the evidence-based work of NGOs characterize the majority of projects in the region.
Let’s look at the projects transforming the Middle East and North Africa that are helping elevate our world.

CapitalMED Medical City  For creating a world-class medical campus in a challenged area  UN SDG: 3, Good Health and Well-being  Egypt

Cairo, Egypt’s capital, has faced challenges in providing access to and delivering high-quality health care. The privately-owned Egyptians for Healthcare Services (EHCS) wanted to change that, not only ensuring access for health and well-being services for Egyptians but creating a world-class campus that would attract medical professionals and patients from all over the world “who want to practice and heal.”
The campus, which began opening in 2023, is an ambitious project. The nearly seven million square-foot facility includes a hospital with inpatient and outpatient care and multiple specialty centers, a wellness spa and natatorium, research and education facilities, accommodations, a shopping center, and public gardens. The construction of the eco-friendly campus, which will continue to open in phases from now until 2027 and is projected to cost $850 million USD.

UAE’s Sharjah Sustainable City - Discover Your Urban Farm Initiative  For turning city dwellers into urban farmers  UN SDG: 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities  United Arab Emirates 

Sharjah Sustainable City is a Dubai residential development considered to be the first operational, net zero city in the United Arab Emirates. It’s an important accomplishment in a desertified country that is frequently criticized for over-the-top luxury developments that place high burdens on the environment and natural resources. The residential development features green infrastructure including solar panels, greenhouses, and easy connectivity to public transportation.

To support their sustainability efforts, the community rolled out a new project dubbed the “Discover Your Urban Farm” initiative in February 2024. Residents of Sharjah Sustainable City were invited to begin using AgriPods, large circular planters where they can grow their own fruits, vegetables, and other plants. An ongoing educational campaign was implemented to support residents in their urban farming efforts, with workshops and technical support addressing topics such as sustainable urban farming and landscaping practices, and endemic species that thrive in the UAE climate, supporting local habitats and consuming minimal resources.

UN Women’s Oasis Programme  For boosting refugee women’s work and income opportunities.  UN SDG: 5, Gender Equality  Jordan

Refugee women and women who have survived gender violence often experience instabilities in their lives, such as living in under-resourced refugee camps. This can translate to a lack of support and opportunities, particularly in business pursuits. While many of these women may have experience owning or managing a business, they are often in limbo, living temporarily in host countries where they cannot work legally or open a bank account. These barriers prevent them from being able to run a business and, by extension, supporting their families financially.

UN Women recognizes this challenge, and in 2023, launched the Oasis Programme for Jordanian and Syrian women living in such conditions. During the project, which was funded by multiple national governments, the European Union, and private foundations, Oasis Programme served 1,642 women in cash-for-work activities; of these women, 589 also participated in and completed Oasis’s business training program. The cash-for-work and training project paid off: 70 percent of the training program graduates started their own new businesses, such as tailoring shops, after completing the Oasis Programme.