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EUROVENT, AMCA EUROPE, EVIA PUBLISH 2 ND EDITION OF FAQ GUIDE ON FAN REGULATION IIR RELEASES DOCUMENT ON HIGH-TEMP HEAT PUMPS FOR INDUSTRIAL DECARBONISATION May 2026 PERSPECTIVES Urban resilience Dr Samiullah Khan, Al Tanmyah Farnek Data Centre cooling Dr Angela Fandino, ESF Q&A Carbon intelligence Srinivasan Rangan, Cosmos Energy Intelligence US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ ccme.news/digital Ensuring business continuity NEWS Adsorbi launches cellulose-based filter media ASHRAE outlines technical programme for 2026 annual conference Castel expands GoGreen CO2 portfolio Empower reports 44% y-o-y increase in Q1 2026 net profit Epta showcases integrated refrigeration ecosystem Hisense launches Hi-Smart H5 neo series VRF outdoor units JCI expands European footprint Kaiterra opens regional hub in Dubai LUVE signs agreement to supply data centre cooling solutions Rheem receives recognition at MIITE 2026COMING SOON, RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA PRESENTS SILVER SPONSOR STRATEGIC HVACR RECRUITMENT PARTNER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OFFICIAL BROADCAST PARTNERVOL. 21 NO. 05 MAY 2026 12 10 06 www.ccme.news 3 REGULARS Regional News Global News eDItor'S note Show of strength and determination COVER STORY Unlocking HVAC supply routes HVAC industry manufacturers and suppliers discuss how planning, flexibility in logistics and transparency are helping ensure business continuity amidst geopolitical uncertainty 14 PERSPECTIVES Urban resilience in a post-war world Decentralisation of essential services is key to ensuring continuity, adaptability and self-reliance, says Dr Samiullah Khan of Al Tanmyah Farnek ‘Regulating Data Centres is not optional’ Setting maximum Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) thresholds reduces total electricity demand, including for cooling, says Dr Angela Fandino of Engineering Sustainable Futures (ESF) Q&A 'Energy excellence, carbon intelligence, business growth’ These are constituent elements of one agenda in the GCC region of today, says Srinivasan Rangan of Cosmos Energy Intelligence 04 20 28May 2026 4 O NE of the standout features of this issue’s cover story on business continuity at a time of geopolitical uncertainty is the show of strength and determination embodied in those my team and I interviewed. Listening to them speak has been revealing of their mindset – they have chosen to approach this tricky situation not through waiting and watching but by taking clear, decisive steps, backed by adequate planning and operational structures. Much before the conflict, they had gone through the rigours of risk identification and scenario modelling. And when the situation called for action, it was a matter of process alignment, continuous monitoring and adaptability. I am sure there are other HVACR businesses with similar attributes, and how I wish for all of them to come forward and share their views (do write to me at surendar@cpi- industry.com)! At the time of writing this Editor’s Note, it is my fond hope that the crisis is resolved and that the chokepoint ceases to be one. But as is said often, every crisis is an opportunity to learn and to grow stronger. And the same is the case with the current situation. In April 2024, when the UAE and neighbouring GCC region entities experienced an extreme weather event that threatened life and property, the focus in the aftermath shifted to rain-resilient urban eco-systems, and out of that intense gaze came solutions to fortify infrastructure and superstructures, with clear roles for town planning, civil, structural and MEP disciplines. And now, an opportunity has presented itself to identify possible means to ensure uninterrupted supply of capital equipment and spare parts, and to establish manufacturing, storage and supply chain templates specifically to overcome future possible geopolitical disruptions, here in the region and elsewhere. On June 3, we shall be conducting the 6th Edition of The Client, Consultant, Contractor Conference, in Dubai – which, given the circumstances we find ourselves in, has the tagline, ‘The Resilience Forum’. An in-person event, the Conference is an opportunity to swap notes, validate approaches and take home insights and recommendations that can be deployed to strengthen businesses. At times like this, it is important to gather with intent, listen with attention and to act on the learnings with earnestness. Business continuity matters – there are simply too many livelihoods at stake. Krishnan Unni Madathil Auditor, Bin Khadim, Radha & Co. Chartered Accountants, carrying out an analysis of the market, writes on business opportunities for the HVACR industry. Dan Mizesko President, Dalkia US Chiller Services, writes on issues relating to chilled water systems, including operation & maintenance. Nabil Shahin Managing Director, AHRI MENA, writes on HVACR- specific regulation issues. Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles. Angela Fandino Director, Energy Sustainability at Engineering Sustainable Futures, writes on engineering approaches, and business and financial models that enable a green urban ecosystem. Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Associate Editor Karu Suren karu.suren@cpi-industry.com Online & Social Media Abdul Hakeem marketing@cpi-industry.com Editorial Assistant Arushi Menon features@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Judy Wang Our representative in Asia (except India) +852 307 80 826 judywang2000@vip.126.com Deep Karani Our representative in North America +1 365 885-6849 deep.karani@cpimediagroup.com Design Head Ulysses Galgo design@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Published by Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé fred@cpi-industry.com EMPANELLED COLUMNISTSCo-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Head Office PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Jaguar Printing Press L.L.C © Copyright 2026 CPI Industry. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle Eastearly! Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR Show of strength and determinationwww.refrigbuyersguide.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES EMAIL: advertising@cpi-industry.com THE LARGEST DATABASE OF REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Refrigeration BUYERS’ GUIDE 2026 Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East LOOKING FOR REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS? NOW WITH 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL ONLINE ADVERTISING PACKAGES!May 2026 6 PERSPECTIVE Decentralisation of essential services is key to ensuring continuity, adaptability and self-reliance at macro as well as micro levels, says Dr Samiullah Khan, Head – Sustainability, Al Tanmyah Farnek D UBAI has consistently demonstrated exceptional composure and strategic foresight in navigating global geopolitical uncertainties. Through calm and decisive communication, the emirate’s leadership has ensured that residents, investors and businesses remain confident, effectively mitigating panic. The proactive strengthening of defense readiness, combined with the highly visible capability of the armed forces, has reinforced a profound sense of security across the region. Equally impactful is the government's economic agility, highlighted by targeted, confidence- building interventions like the AED 1 billion stimulus package. Such measures send a clear, undeniable signal to the global business community – that Dubai remains resilient, agile and fiercely open for growth, even in turbulent times. Furthermore, the government’s consultative approach – actively engaging all stakeholders for continuous feedback – reflects an inclusive and highly adaptive governance model. Navigating the VUCA World: A strategic imperative post-war scenario We are operating in what is fundamentally defined as a VUCA world, characterised by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. Volatility: Rapid and unpredictable shifts in geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions Uncertainty: Limited visibility into future supply chain, and market disruptions Complexity: Interconnected global systems, where localised shocks cascade rapidly across sectors Ambiguity: A lack of clarity regarding long-term cause-and-effect relationships In such an environment, highly centralised systems, while remarkably efficient during stable periods, become acutely vulnerable to systemic disruptions. Therefore, true urban resilience must be engineered through the decentralisation of essential services, ensuring continuity, adaptability and self-reliance at macro as well as at micro levels. Aligning with Dubai’s DSM Strategy 2050 The imperative for structural decentralisation is not merely theoretical; it is the vital engine required to meet Dubai's most ambitious government mandates. Spearheaded by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Demand Side Management (DSM) Strategy 2050 aims to establish Dubai as a global benchmark for energy efficiency. The statistics and targets driving this strategy are uncompromising: Dubai is actively working to double efficiency improvements, targeting critical savings of at least 30% by 2030 and 50% by www.ccme.news 7 Key components: Reducing consumption though awareness programmes, mandating greywater recycling within buildings, leveraging atmospheric water-generation technologies and smart leak-detection metering and utilising onsite water treatment for municipal landscaping are key measures for achieving a decentralised water management system. Statistical impact: Desalination is incredibly energy-intensive. By enabling the hospitality and residential sectors to optimise consumption and to recycle up to 60-70% of their internal water demand, Dubai can alleviate stress on municipal infrastructure, lowering the overall energy-water nexus footprint, in strict alignment with the DSM target to halve water consumption by mid- century. Atmospheric water generation technologies have improved substantially over the years and can now deliver decentralised clean drinking water at scale at a cost of about AED 0.3/litre. This eliminates cost, loss and risk of transmission. Decentralised Food Security Approach: Transition from import- 2050 in electricity, water and transport fuel consumption, compared to business-as-usual scenarii. Furthermore, this framework directly supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which mandate providing 100% of Dubai's total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Executing the 12 key programmes under the DSM umbrella requires shifting away from legacy reliance on centralised grids and moving towards intelligent, distributed infrastructure. The game-changer initiative: Decentralisation of core urban systems To achieve these formidable 2030 and 2050 targets, while insulating the economy from VUCA shocks, Dubai must decisively accelerate its transition towards decentralised infrastructure across four critical pillars: Energy, Water, Food and Waste Management. Decentralised Energy Systems Approach: A shift from strictly large, centralised power generation to distributed energy systems embedded directly within energy efficient communities and individual assets is an absolute necessity. Key components: Biophilic design of new infrastructures, and retrofitting of existing ones would reduce energy requirement. Widespread deployment of rooftop solar PV, BIPV, nano vertical axis wind turbine, geothermal, nano onsite waste-to-energy across residential and commercial real estate, building- level battery storage and localised microgrids integrated with smart Building Management Systems (BMS) are vital elements for consideration. The objective is to reduce embodied, operational and end-of-life carbon. Statistical impact: By empowering residential clusters, malls, schools, hotels and free zones to generate 30–50% of their energy onsite, Dubai can drastically reduce transmission losses, ensure energy security during grid disruptions and directly accelerate the 50% energy savings goal mandated by the DSM Strategy 2050. Decentralised Water Systems Approach: Reducing the heavy reliance on centralised, energy-intensive desalination through localised water management, recycling, efficiency frameworks and atmospheric water generation technologies is the way forward.May 2026 8 PERSPECTIVE CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here. The writer is Head - Sustainability, Tanmyah Farnek. He may be contacted at samiullah.khan@altanmyahfarnek.com dependent supply chains to localised, controlled-environment urban agriculture, vertical farming, hydroponics and balcony or community gardens are practical measures. Key components: Vertical farming integrated into urban buildings, community-based hydroponics and aquaponics, and shared rooftop farming initiatives represent the way forward. Statistical impact: The UAE traditionally imports the vast majority of its food. Pioneering a localised "farm-to-table" model within hospitality and residential hubs significantly reduces vulnerability to global logistics disruptions. It yields fresher produce with a drastically lower carbon footprint, serving as a cornerstone of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy. Real-estate developers and hotels in UAE have already adopted this model. Today, community farming is more cost effective than purchasing most vegetables at the supermarket. Decentralised Waste Management Approach: A pivot from centralised, landfill-reliant systems to at-source waste segregation, recovery and processing and on-site waste-to-energy is an absolute necessity. Key components: Utilising organic waste biodigesters, composter at the community level, localised Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), waste-to- energy micro-solutions and AI-enabled tracking would yield the desired results. Statistical impact: Empowering individual buildings and communities to achieve up to 90% waste diversion through onsite segregation would support deep circular economy integration. It would slash transportation emissions, relieve municipal landfill burdens and unlock new revenue streams from high-quality recyclables. Dubai has already piloted 90% elimination of waste in 90 days. Integrated impact: A resilient, self-sustaining Dubai – a 30-minute city When these four pillars are decentralised and seamlessly integrated through smart technologies, Dubai will evolve from a conventionally centralised grid into a robust network of self-sufficient micro- ecosystems. Strategic outcomes The following are possible outcomes that would be most welcome: ■ Enhanced national security through infrastructure resilience ■ Climate leadership and accelerated decarbonisation ■ Economic diversification through green technologies ■ Increased investor confidence in a future-ready city ■ Improved quality of life and wellness for residents Dubai has already demonstrated world-class leadership in crisis response and economic agility. The next phase of its evolution is future-proofing the city against systemic global shocks. Decentralisation is not merely a sustainability initiative; it is the definitive strategic resilience framework required for the VUCA era. By embedding energy, water, food and waste systems at the community level – and actively driving the 50% reduction targets of the DSM Strategy 2050 – Dubai is poised to set a new global benchmark. Indeed, Dubai will thrive not just as a smart city, but as a regenerative, hyper-resilient and self-reliant urban ecosystem. Next >