Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Aramco is offering crude to selected Asian refiners from outside the Strait of Hormuz, opening another supply route as prolonged disruption at the strategic waterway reshapes Gulf energy exports. The company is negotiating privately with buyers for Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude to be transferred between vessels off Fujairah in the UAE. Some of the cargoes are intended for September loading. […]
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen below 300 million barrels, deepening concerns over Washington’s emergency oil cushion as prolonged Middle East supply disruptions force further withdrawals from government stockpiles. Federal inventory data for the week ended August 7 put the reserve at about 298.7 million barrels after a weekly draw of roughly 6.1 million barrels. That was the lowest level since 1983 and extended a sharp […]
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed Sawit EcoTherm, a non-conductive dielectric fluid made largely from palm-derived materials that allows servers and other computing components to be immersed directly in coolant. The technology eliminates the need for conventional evaporative cooling towers and is being positioned for AI and hyperscale facilities where rising processor densities are producing substantially more heat.
Sawit EcoTherm remains at the pre-commercial stage, with pilot projects, technical validation and partnerships with data centre operators among the steps required before widespread deployment. Researchers say the fluid could reduce cooling-related energy consumption by about 30% to 50%, largely by removing server fans and transferring heat directly from electronic components.
MPOB estimates that conventional water-based cooling across Malaysia’s expanding data centre industry could eventually require as much as 876 million litres of water a day. Other projections based on currently identified developments are lower, illustrating the uncertainty surrounding future capacity and cooling configurations. Data centres planned across Selangor, Johor and Negeri Sembilan have been estimated to require more than 445 million litres daily if projected demand materialises.
The pressure is particularly acute in Johor, which has become one of Asia’s fastest-growing data centre clusters because of its proximity to Singapore, available industrial land and established power and connectivity infrastructure. Water availability and grid capacity have increasingly become constraints as developers seek to commission large AI facilities.
Malaysia’s data centre and cloud computing investment approvals reached RM144.4 billion between 2021 and the middle of 2025. Global technology and infrastructure groups including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, ByteDance, Equinix and AirTrunk have committed billions of dollars to expanding computing capacity in the country.
AirTrunk announced plans this year to invest about $3 billion in two additional hyperscale campuses in Johor, adding more than 280 megawatts of capacity. Equinix separately unveiled an investment exceeding $190 million for another Kuala Lumpur facility designed to support more than 2,200 cabinets and equipped for advanced liquid cooling.
Those developments are accelerating interest in alternatives to traditional air and water cooling. AI servers can generate several times more heat than conventional computing equipment, making direct liquid cooling and immersion systems increasingly attractive as rack power densities rise.
Sawit EcoTherm uses palm-derived ester formulations engineered to provide electrical insulation while absorbing heat from processors, memory, power supplies and graphics processing units. MPOB has developed two formulations, EcoTherm 5s and EcoTherm 8s, both with dielectric breakdown strength exceeding 75 kilovolts.
The fluids are designed for single-phase immersion systems, where coolant remains liquid while circulating through a closed loop. The 8s formulation has a minimum flash point of 200 degrees Celsius, while the 5s version has a minimum of 160 degrees. Their characteristics are intended to combine thermal performance with relatively low pumping requirements.
Palm-derived material can also offer a cost advantage. Commercial synthetic and petroleum-based immersion fluids can cost about RM50 to RM80 per kilogram, while the raw-material cost for producing the palm formulation has been estimated at roughly RM20 to RM25 per kilogram. Final commercial pricing has not been announced.
MPOB says up to 95% of the material used in Sawit EcoTherm can come from renewable bio-based sources. The formulations are biodegradable and free from PFAS, a class of persistent chemicals that has attracted growing regulatory scrutiny because of its resistance to environmental degradation.
The technology nevertheless carries broader sustainability questions because expansion of oil-palm cultivation has historically been associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss and pressure on wildlife habitats. The environmental case for palm-based coolant will therefore depend partly on traceable sourcing, lifecycle emissions and whether demand can be met without encouraging additional land conversion.
Immersion cooling itself is not new. Vegetable-derived, mineral-oil and synthetic dielectric fluids are already available, while many operators developing AI facilities favour direct-to-chip liquid cooling because it can be integrated into server architectures without fully submerging equipment. Commercial success for Sawit EcoTherm will depend on compatibility with hardware, long-term fluid stability, maintenance requirements and acceptance by server manufacturers.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia will host more than 2,200 participants from 100 countries in Riyadh for the 21st IDRA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse, placing water security, desalination technology and reuse at the centre of an international policy and investment gathering. The congress, scheduled for November 1-5, will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time and hosted by the Saudi Water […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United States and Iran had not confirmed an extension of their 60-day peace framework on Monday, despite reports that the two sides had agreed to prolong the arrangement as its August 17 deadline arrived. Current reporting instead indicated that the negotiating period had expired without a broader settlement. The conflicting accounts injected fresh uncertainty into efforts to contain the conflict and restore […]
Wison Engineering has secured a contract worth about $4.04 billion from ADNOC Gas to build a major natural gas processing train and associated power infrastructure at Habshan in Abu Dhabi, marking the biggest engineering, procurement and construction award in the company’s history. The core EPC contract for Phase 2 of ADNOC Gas’s Rich Gas Development project is valued at $3.9 billion. Wison will also construct a 220-kilovolt […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai XRG has entered Venezuela’s energy sector after securing an interest in the offshore Loran gas licence, extending Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s international investment arm deeper into Latin America’s natural gas and liquefied natural gas market. The Abu Dhabi-based company will participate alongside BP and UCC Oil and Gas Holding in the second phase of Loran, a large offshore gas resource within Venezuela’s […]
An explosion near the Zawiya power station has knocked several generating units offline, adding fresh pressure to Libya’s electricity network after a series of attacks on energy infrastructure in the strategic western city. The General Electricity Company of Libya said specialised teams were investigating the cause and technical circumstances of the blast, which occurred on Saturday, August 15. Engineers were also working to stabilise the national grid […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai IntrospeXion is expanding psychological support for workers in demanding UAE operating environments, deepening its engagement with offshore and onshore teams as companies place greater emphasis on mental wellbeing, resilience and human performance. The specialist workplace mental health consultancy has been working with Blu Subsea Diving Services, a Dubai-headquartered subsea services company, providing support to employees exposed to the pressures associated with offshore, marine […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A 60-day window for the United States and Iran to negotiate a durable peace agreement has expired without a breakthrough, leaving the Strait of Hormuz dispute unresolved and military and economic pressure intensifying across the Gulf. The deadline was part of an interim framework agreed in June after months of conflict. It was designed to halt fighting, restore commercial navigation through the Strait […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE is accelerating its push into global markets through a rapidly expanding network of trade agreements designed to strengthen non-oil exports, attract investment and give domestic businesses easier access to major economies. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme has grown to 38 agreements since its launch in September 2021, extending the country’s commercial reach across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Eighteen […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran has resumed crude loading at Kharg Island’s western terminal after a 25-day interruption, signalling a cautious restart at its main oil-export hub while Tehran expands alternative maritime and land-linked routes to reduce its exposure to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Satellite imagery showed a very large crude carrier, or VLCC, berthed at the western terminal on August 12, the first vessel there […]
Arjavi Indraneesh China’s carefully constructed Gulf strategy is facing one of its toughest tests as Iran’s confrontation with the United States disrupts energy flows, threatens Arab partners and exposes the limits of Beijing’s influence over Tehran. The immediate pressure point is the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic remains sharply below normal levels after months […]
The article Iran escalation puts China’s Gulf strategy under serious strain appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Washington is preparing another escalation of economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promising measures without precedent even as the options left to exploit carry growing risks for energy markets, China relations and the US economy. Bessent has said new steps will be announced next week and described the strategy as combining extreme financial isolation with the continuing blockade of Iranian ports. The administration has […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump has urged Americans to tolerate higher gasoline prices as the economic cost of stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while escalating tensions by saying he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. Speaking in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump acknowledged the pressure that rising fuel costs were placing on households but argued that preventing Tehran […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has pledged to defend its sovereignty and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after another Adnoc vessel was attacked while crossing the strategic waterway, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s determination to keep its energy trade moving despite escalating maritime threats. Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said repeated attacks on Adnoc tankers would not force the country to […]
Russia’s second domestically built ice-class LNG carrier has begun its first Arctic voyage, strengthening Moscow’s capacity to move liquefied natural gas despite Western sanctions and a shortage of specialised vessels. The Konstantin Posiet departed Bolshoy Kamen Bay in Primorsky Krai and headed towards the Northern Sea Route, the Arctic shipping corridor running along Russia’s northern coastline. Shipping data indicated that the vessel was due to reach an […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai stocks ended lower on Friday as disappointing corporate earnings and escalating tension around the Strait of Hormuz weighed on investor sentiment, while Abu Dhabi’s benchmark managed a marginal gain. The Dubai Financial Market’s main index fell 0.4%, extending losses for a second consecutive session. Air Arabia and contractor ALEC Holdings were among the biggest drags after their quarterly results disappointed investors. Emaar […]
The UAE has strongly condemned Iran over attacks on two ADNOC-affiliated vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the strikes as a serious violation of international maritime rules and a threat to regional and global energy security. The vessels were attacked on the evening of Thursday, August 13, while transiting the strategically important waterway. No crew members were injured and the situation aboard the ships was […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices edged higher on Friday as Washington’s warning that it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely revived fears of tighter crude supplies, countering pressure from a sharp rise in US inventories and a weaker global demand outlook. Brent crude futures were up 1 cent at $87.08 a barrel by 0247 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 6 cents […]
These include eight awards under the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA) series issued by the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), as well as a 2024 Certificate of Honor from GFHS; LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; GreenRE Gold ratings for Forest City Island and its international school; GEO Certified status for both golf courses from Scotland’s GEO Foundation; and a seven-year consecutive ranking for Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia. In 2026, the Classic Course was ranked No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia.
The awards and certifications documented here address a specific set of criteria: design quality, sustainability standards, and operational assessments by independent institutions. This release provides a transparent account of the institutions that have assessed Forest City, the areas reviewed, and the limits of what such recognition can reasonably prove.
Sustainability and Green-Building Recognition
LEED-CS Gold pre-certification has been secured from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for multiple buildings, demonstrating that environmental performance was embedded in project planning from the outset. LEED pre-certification represents verified design intent and a formal commitment to sustainable performance criteria, including energy modelling, water efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
This design-stage commitment is reflected across the master plan, which dedicates over 60% of the total land area to non-built space, equivalent to 2.86 million m² of green infrastructure. This includes two golf courses, public parks, landscaped residential zones, and mangrove corridors extending along the Johor coastline — green space that, as of 2026, supports more than 400 officially documented species.
At the national level, Forest City Island and its international school have received GreenRE Gold ratings under Malaysia’s green real-estate framework, reinforcing the project’s alignment with recognised sustainability benchmarks at both international and domestic levels. Beyond building-level certifications, Forest City has received eight awards under the SCAHSA, issued by the GFHS, an international non-profit organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The documented recognition spans planning and design, green-building industrial development, city-industry integration, green smart city development, coastal ecological protection, low-carbon city planning, and green and intelligent construction, with awards recorded from 2016 to 2023. In 2024, Forest City also received a Certificate of Honor at the 19th Global Forum on Human Settlements from GFHS for its contribution to promoting sustainable cities and human settlements for all.
| Award / Certification | Issuing Body | What It Certifies | Status as Reported by Forest City |
| SCAHSA series, including green and intelligent construction recognition | Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS, UN ECOSOC consultative status) | Sustainable city planning and green construction | Eight awards and a 2024 Certificate of Honor, with documented recognition from 2016 to 2023 |
| LEED-CS Gold pre-certification | U.S. Green-Building Council | Core and shell sustainable building design | Multiple buildings |
| GreenRE Gold | GreenRE, Malaysia | Green real-estate design and operation | Forest City Island and international school |
| GEO Certified | GEO Foundation, Scotland | Sustainable golf-course operations | Both golf courses |
Golf and Hospitality Recognition
Forest City’s leisure and hospitality assets have also received external recognition, led by the continued performance of Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course in regional rankings. The Classic Course has maintained its position among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia for seven consecutive years, ranking No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia in 2026, a rise of 14 places from the previous year. The ranking is assessed by an independent panel co-hosted since 2016 by the Chinese and Korean editions of Golf Travel magazine and was reported by The Star on 26 April 2026 following the awards ceremony at Hillview Golf Club on 14 April 2026.
The hospitality component of the resort has also received platform-based recognition. Forest City Golf Hotel earned the Agoda Gold Circle Award 2025 based on service ratings and operational performance on the booking platform. Forest City regards the award as an encouraging indicator of its commitment to guest experience and service consistency, while noting that it reflects day-to-day hospitality performance rather than a measure of the wider development.
Additionally, both golf courses have earned GEO Certified status from Scotland’s GEO Foundation, which evaluates sustainable golf-course operations. GEO Certified is described by the GEO Foundation as “golf’s most comprehensive and widely recognised eco-label”, and is awarded following successful completion of the OnCourse programme and an independent audit. Collectively, these accolades attest to quality across golfing excellence, hospitality service, and environmental stewardship — recognition reflected in visitor engagement, with the resort welcoming more than 100,000 golfers in 2025.
Economic and Community Contribution
Forest City’s recognition record is supported by reported economic and social contribution figures. Internal records indicate that, as of November 2025, the development had contributed over RM790 million in taxes to the Malaysian government, alongside more than RM50 million in employee-related taxes.
More than RM53 million has been invested in charity and community programmes, including support for local schools and villages, and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created.
According to Forest City’s internal records as of November 2025, the development has engaged more than 190 local enterprises, attracted property owners from over 20 countries and territories, and contributed to attracting an estimated 300,000 international visitors to Malaysia.
The Significance Behind These Awards
In 2018, Forest City was profiled by Forbes as one of the “5 new cities that are set to shake up the future”. While the coverage is now nearly eight years old, it underscores the project’s long-standing visibility in global urban development conversations, rather than serving as an endorsement of present-day investment returns.
Green-building certifications relate primarily to design and operational standards; the SCAHSA recognitions focus on planning and sustainability; and golf-course rankings evaluate course quality and related criteria.
For prospective residents and investors, the awards should therefore be treated as evidence of build quality, institutional engagement and assessed sustainability credentials, to be considered alongside current data on occupancy, demand, connectivity and market liquidity. Questions relating to the Special Financial Zone framework and connectivity — including the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link scheduled to open for passenger service on 1 January 2027 — should be assessed through dedicated materials, current market data and, where relevant, Forest City’s investment overview.
The Broader Impact of Awards and Recognitions
The relevance of Forest City’s awards and certifications varies by audience. For ESG-minded investors and institutions, the most relevant credentials are Forest City’s LEED-CS Gold pre-certification, GreenRE Gold ratings, and GFHS recognition. These are issuer-named credentials aligned with green-investment screening and can be reviewed alongside Forest City’s broader investment framework. For enterprises operating within the SFZ, this integrated environment — where land and marine ecosystems are carefully preserved — enhances environmental performance and strengthens sustainability credentials.
For prospective residents and families, the GreenRE rating for the international school and the golf and hospitality recognition for the resort may be more directly relevant to daily living than city-planning awards. These credentials point to quality — but prospective residents should also assess schools, amenities, transport, community facilities, and the broader facts about Forest City on the ground.
For Malaysia-market watchers, Forest City’s SCAHSA record and reported RM790 million tax contribution mark the development as a recognised case study in green development and city-industry integration. This recognition is a data point on the development’s institutional standing, not a forecast of its commercial outcome.
Conclusion
What the awards record does establish is something more specific. Forest City reports nearly 40 awards and certifications across named institutions, including the U.S. Green Building Council, the Global Forum on Human Settlements, the GEO Foundation, and the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia panel. This is accompanied by reported contributions of more than RM790 million in taxes and the creation of more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. Prospective residents and investors should also consider Forest City’s position as the financial-services flagship within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone, along with its duty-free island and Malaysia Digital Status.
The strongest claim the awards support is also the most modest one: that Forest City has been built and planned to a standard that named international institutions have repeatedly chosen to certify — which is a starting point for due diligence, not a substitute for it.
Hashtag: #ForestCity #SFZ #ForestCityAchievements #Malaysia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) is Malaysia’s first designated special financial zone and a key financial-services component of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone. It is positioned to attract financial institutions, multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals and businesses operating in wealth management, financial technology and global business services.
Its incentive framework includes a 0% income tax rate for qualifying Single Family Office Vehicles for up to 20 years, a preferential 5% corporate tax rate for approved qualifying activities, and a special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers, subject to the applicable conditions, regulatory approvals and prevailing legislation. Forest City also holds duty-free island status, further strengthening its appeal as a regional investment, business and wealth-management destination near Singapore.
The Trump administration is intensifying economic pressure on Iran as Washington struggles to translate months of military operations into political concessions from Tehran. The strategy combines tighter sanctions, restrictions on oil exports and a renewed naval blockade while preserving the threat of further strikes. President Donald Trump’s government appears increasingly focused on weakening Iran’s ability to finance the state, military forces and regional operations rather than relying […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Kuwait has foiled an alleged ISIS-linked plot to attack a vital facility using a specially built drone and explosives, arresting a citizen before the planned operation could be carried out. The Interior Ministry said the State Security Service uncovered the plan after intensive monitoring and surveillance. Investigators found that the suspect had received training in manufacturing explosives and drones and had constructed a […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has emerged among the world’s 10 leading destinations for private artificial intelligence investment, strengthening its position in a global race to secure capital, computing capacity and specialised talent. The World Development Report 2026, The Promise of Artificial Intelligence, places the Kingdom among a relatively small group of economies attracting substantial private investment into AI. The assessment comes as Riyadh directs more […]
