Author: Neel Achary

AD Ports Group Announces Formation of UAE’s First Shipbuilders Consortium

Unified platform to align national shipbuilding capabilities to drive maritime innovation and growth

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 15 May 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global enabler of integrated trade, transport, industry, and logistics solutions, has announced the formation of the Consortium of UAE Shipbuilders, a unified platform across shipbuilding, vessel repair, fabrication, and marine engineering.

The Consortium brings together an initial group of national industry players spanning shipbuilding, steel production, marine engineering, and fabrication, including AD Ports Group, SAFEEN Drydocks, Premier Marine Engineering Services, Dubai Shipbuilding & Engineering (DSBE), Al Seer Marine, Dutch Oriental, JOME Engineering, Saifee, Blue Gulf Ship Builders, and MBK Marine Industries, among others.

The Consortium will enhance collaboration and strengthen the UAE’s position within the maritime industrial sector. It will improve visibility across project pipelines, enable more efficient procurement, and support coordinated execution, increasing delivery capability and overall sector competitiveness across the full maritime value chain, including increased participation by locally based small and medium-sized shipyards.

Led by Noatum Maritime, part of the Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, the initiative is designed to strengthen coordination across the domestic maritime sector and provide opportunities for small and medium-sized companies to access larger and more complex projects in both local and international markets. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “The establishment of the UAE’s first Shipbuilders Consortium reflects our commitment to advancing the nation’s industrial capabilities, in line with the vision of our wise leadership in the UAE and broader economic diversification objectives. By strengthening alignment across the sector, we are enabling greater scale, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning the UAE to play a more prominent role in global maritime trade and manufacturing. Through our maritime division, we are helping to shape a more connected and competitive national shipbuilding ecosystem.”

Noatum Maritime delivers shipbuilding and repair capabilities in the UAE through SAFEEN Drydocks, a joint venture with Premier Marine Engineering Services. Internationally, SAFEEN Drydocks has expanded its shipbuilding footprint by acquiring the Balenciaga Shipyard in Spain, further strengthening its ability to support complex vessel construction and fabrication projects across global markets.

As the lead entity, Noatum Maritime is well-positioned to define the governance and commercial framework for the Consortium, ensuring alignment with the UAE’s strategic goals for industrial growth and economic diversification.

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Indian Pet Wellness Brand Dogsee Chew to Debut at Cannes Film Festival 2026

Bengaluru, May 15: In a landmark moment for the global pet care industry, Dogsee Chew, one of India’s top pet care brands, is all set to make its debut at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival 2026, bringing the fast-growing pet wellness industry to one of the world’s most influential global platforms.

For Dogsee, Cannes is more than just a brand presence. It is a sign of the growing cultural and commercial significance of pet care around the world. As pets become ever more integral family members in modern times, the conversation around pet nutrition, wellness and conscious care giving has evolved into a global mainstream movement, one that is now shaping consumer behaviour, retail trends and wellness choices across markets.

Founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs and pet parents Sneh Sharma and Bhupendra Khanal, Dogsee Chew pioneered the Himalayan yak chew category globally by introducing natural Chhurpi-based dog treats sourced from the Himalayas. Today, the brand is present in over 30 countries and trusted by more than a million pet parents worldwide based on the belief that pets deserve cleaner, healthier and more natural nutrition. At the core of Dogsee’s portfolio are its Himalayan Yak Chews, 100% natural, preservative-free, rawhide-free, and high-protein treats crafted using ethically sourced yak and cow milk through a traditional Himalayan smoke-drying process. Over the years, the company has expanded into dental chews, training treats, functional flavoured variants, and wellness supplements under the Dogsee Activet Plus+ range.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to represent the pet wellness industry on a platform as iconic as Cannes Film Festival. For us, this is a great opportunity and a moment that reflects how pet care has evolved into a meaningful global conversation around wellness, nutrition, and conscious living. Bringing a Himalayan-born brand to this stage is truly special”, said Bhupendra Khanal and Sneh Sharma, Co-founders, Dogsee Chew.

Dogsee’s presence at Cannes signals a larger shift taking place across the pet industry. Once considered a niche category, pet wellness has emerged as one of the fastest-growing global consumer sectors, driven by rising awareness around animal health, premium nutrition, and holistic care. The brand’s debut at Cannes underscores how businesses for pets are now entering the mainstream cultural and business conversations, along with fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle.

As Dogsee continues to strengthen its footprint across India, the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia Pacific, the company aims to position Himalayan natural nutrition as the global benchmark in pet wellness while building one of the world’s most trusted pet care brands from the Himalayas. 

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Group 108 highlights ONE FNG and Grandthum at PRC 2026

Mumbai, May 15 : At a time when retail is steadily moving beyond the predictable, Group 108 marked a commanding presence at the Phygital Retail Convention 2026, held on May 13–14 at the Jio Convention Center, Mumbai. The participation emerged as a layered reflection of the group’s larger retail philosophy, anchored through its flagship developments – ONE FNG and Grandthum.

As one of the country’s most influential retail platforms, PRC served as a convergence point for prominent retailers, franchise networks, developers, and consumer brands engaging in conversations around the future trajectory of physical and phygital commerce. The two-day convention brought together more than 3,000 attendees representing over 1,000 brands, alongside celebrated retail leaders, global brands, technology innovators, and industry experts. With over 30 conference sessions and an expansive exhibition extending across 100,000+ sq. ft., the event highlighted advancements across retail technology, retail design, commercial real estate, and customer experience solutions. Against this backdrop, Group 108’s showcase aligned strongly with the convention’s larger discourse around experience-led retail environments and evolving consumer engagement.

Rather than positioning retail as a static proposition, Group 108 presented a more progressive perspective where spatial planning, movement dynamics, and consumer behaviour converge to create enduring engagement. The discussions emerging during the convention reflected this transition, shifting distinctly beyond transactional thinking toward environments that actively influence how brands are perceived and experienced.

At the center of attention stood Grandthum, envisioned as a high-energy commercial destination rather than a conventional retail address. Its expansive high-street format, uninterrupted frontages, and fluid pedestrian movement were highlighted as defining elements capable of transforming footfall into meaningful consumer interaction.

Alongside this, ONE FNG introduced a distinct yet equally compelling narrative. The development showcased a retail ecosystem shaped around sustained engagement, premium audiences, and continuous consumer circulation, strengthening both visibility and long-term brand value.

Across the two-day engagement, Group 108’s presence evolved into a focal point for strategic industry conversations, attracting retailers, franchise operators, and expansion leaders evaluating the next evolution of physical retail.

Sharing his perspective, Sanchit Bhutani, Managing Director, Group 108, said,

 “Retail is no longer defined by location alone; it is shaped by the experience it delivers. What we are building at Grandthum and ONE FNG is not just retail space, but environments that encourage engagement, strengthen brand presence, and create long-term value. PRC has been an important platform to engage with brands that share this forward-looking outlook.”

Group 108’s participation at PRC 2026 underscores a clear direction toward creating immersive retail environments aligned with evolving consumer and brand expectations.

Attracting young women to careers in construction

By Lara Pacillo

As Australia’s construction industry faces a critical skills shortage, new research from Adelaide University shows how the industry can better support women and therefore strengthen the future workforce.

In Australia, labour shortages are exacerbated by the underrepresentation of young women across various roles, particularly in blue-collar and trade sectors.

Women currently make up just 13 per cent of the construction workforce in Australia, with only around 3 per cent working in trades. At the same time, demand for infrastructure and housing continues to surge, with recent estimates pointing to a 61 per cent skills shortage across the sector.

An Australia-wide study, published in Construction Management and Economics, found that many young women are interested in careers in construction but feel the industry must adapt to better meet their needs.

Current support programs often address women as a single group, despite significant differences in motivations, priorities, and career goals.

“Our research suggests that young women would be willing to enter construction if workplace conditions improved,” explained Professor Nancy Arthur, Dean of Research at Adelaide University’s College of Business & Law, who was joined on the research team by Adelaide University’s Dr Lynette Washington, Dr Ali Ardeshiri and Professor Akshay Vij.

“We also found that salary alone is not enough. Workplace culture, flexibility, and career pathways often matter more.”

Many participants expressed interest in roles that emphasise collaboration, problem-solving, and career progression, challenging how construction jobs are traditionally designed and communicated.

Professor Arthur says the research points to several clear priorities for industry reform:

• Make workplaces safer and more inclusive
• Offer flexible work arrangements
• Create clear and visible career pathways
• Increase the visibility of female role models
• Tailor strategies to different groups, not a one-size-fits-all approach

“The issue is not motivation. It is mismatch,” said Dr Washington.

“Across all groups, there was a clear pattern in what women are after. More than a gender issue, it is a workforce, productivity, and economic sustainability issue.

“If the industry cannot attract and retain more women, it simply will not have the workforce needed to meet future demand.”

While the research supports prior studies identifying safety concerns, workplace culture, and gender bias as major barriers, the new study shows how much these factors matter and how they influence women’s career choices.

“We show that young women are not all the same. Some prioritise flexibility, others value career progression, others respond to financial incentives,” said Dr Ardeshiri.

“This helps explain why many past initiatives have struggled. They treated women as a single group.”

“Fixing construction industry barriers for women will fix construction for everyone,” Professor Arthur says.

“This is about equity, but also about unlocking a workforce the industry cannot afford to ignore.”