In this fourth and final episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Giulia De Masi, Associate Professor and Principal Researcher at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Adrien de Saint-Germain, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Desalination. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of seawater desalination — making it smarter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. From predictive analytics that optimize plant operations to AI models protecting marine biodiversity, the discussion highlights how technology is driving innovation while safeguarding the environment.
 

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

-How AI reduces energy consumption in desalination plants
-The role of predictive maintenance and digital twins in improving efficiency
-How sensors, data, and AI models protect marine ecosystems near desalination sites
-Why combining renewable energy with desalination is critical for the future
-What the next decade of AI-powered water solutions could look like

In this third episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Clio Chaveneau, Associate Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Rafiq Sid, Program Manager at Veolia Near Middle East.

Together, they unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we sort, manage, and recycle waste — from AI-powered cameras on trucks to robotic arms that can identify up to 60 types of materials. But the conversation doesn’t stop at innovation. They also explore the social, legal, and environmental risks AI introduces, from data privacy to e-waste and energy use.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• How AI is being used to optimize recycling operations.
• The role of data and computer vision in improving sorting accuracy.
• Why collaboration across governments, businesses, and citizens is essential.
• The ethical and ecological concerns raised by smart waste technologies.
• What responsible innovation in waste management really looks like.

🎧 You can also listen to "Let’s Turn the Tide podcast" on Podeo, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

في الحلقة الثالثة من سلسلتنا الخاصة حول الذكاء الاصطناعي — والتي تأتي بالتعاون بين شركة Veolia Near Middle East وجامعة السوربون – أبوظبي — تستضيف نادين زداني كلاً من الدكتورة كليو شافونو، أستاذة مساعدة في علم الاجتماع بجامعة السوربون – أبوظبي، ورفيق سيد، مدير البرامج في Veolia Near Middle East.

معًا، يناقشون كيف يُعيد الذكاء الاصطناعي تشكيل طرق فرز النفايات وإدارتها وإعادة تدويرها — بدءًا من الكاميرات الذكية المثبّتة على الشاحنات وصولاً إلى الأذرع الروبوتية القادرة على التعرّف على ما يصل إلى 60 نوعًا من المواد. لكن الحوار لا يقتصر على الابتكار؛ بل يتناول أيضًا المخاطر الاجتماعية والقانونية والبيئية التي يطرحها الذكاء الاصطناعي، بدءًا من خصوصية البيانات ووصولاً إلى النفايات الإلكترونية واستهلاك الطاقة.

في هذه الحلقة، ستتعرفون على:

• كيف يُستخدم الذكاء الاصطناعي لتحسين عمليات إعادة التدوير.
• دور البيانات وتقنيات الرؤية الحاسوبية في رفع دقة الفرز.
• لماذا يُعدّ التعاون بين الحكومات والشركات والمواطنين أمرًا أساسيًا.
• المخاوف الأخلاقية والبيئية المرتبطة بتقنيات النفايات الذكية.
• وما الذي تعنيه الابتكارات المسؤولة فعلًا في مجال إدارة النفايات.

In this second episode of our special AI-focused series — brought to you in partnership with Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani sits down with Dr. Samuel Feng, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and researcher at the Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence.

This conversation dives into the growing conversation around Green AI — the movement to make artificial intelligence more energy-efficient, transparent, and aligned with climate goals. Together, they explore the hidden environmental costs of AI, the race to build bigger models, and the groundbreaking work of projects like DeepSeek.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

• Why AI training, not usage, is the real energy burden.
• How data centers and model scaling threaten climate targets.
• What DeepSeek tells us about efficient AI design.
• How incentives need to shift to prioritize sustainability in tech.
• Whether a truly “green AI” future is even realistic.

In this first episode of our special AI-focused series of Let’s Turn the Tide — brought to you in partnership with Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — host Nadine Zidani sits down with Prof. Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

This conversation opens up a fresh perspective on how artificial intelligence works — and what it means for the future of human decision-making, especially in the Middle East. Together, they explore how to stay critical, informed, and empowered in an AI-driven world.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

• How to distinguish between AI myths and realities in public discourse.
• Why understanding legal and ethical frameworks around AI is urgently needed.
• The responsibility of education systems in shaping critical thinking around emerging technologies.
• How different regions, including the Middle East, are responding to the global AI conversation.
• Why a human-centric approach to AI is essential for sustainable innovation.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the Host:

Nadine Zidani is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok
• MENA Impact Website

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.
Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter (X)

In this special episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani is joined by Sébastien Dorne, HR Director for Veolia in Africa and the Middle East, to explore the critical issues of gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace, particularly in the context of the Middle East. Drawing from over 20 years of experience in HR, Sébastien shares his personal journey and professional insights on how gender roles are evolving and the transformative practices needed to break down barriers.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

• How unconscious bias affects hiring and promotion decisions and its impact on the workplace.
• The importance of education in empowering future female generations and to challenge gender norms and perception.
• The rapid evolution of diversity and inclusion in the Middle East and how it compares to Europe when it comes to women empowerment in the workplace.
• How Veolia is leading change for gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace through their own HAYA community in the MENA region and their workplace policies in ensuring fair treatment and equal opportunities.
• Sébastien’s powerful advice to both women and men when it comes to equal rights in the workplace.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the Host:

Nadine Zidani is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• Instagram⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide podcast, host Nadine Zidani, a sustainability expert and Founder of MENA Impact, is joined by Alicia Mansour, Innovation Decarbonization Director and AI Strategy Lead for Africa the Near Middle East at Veolia,to break down the concept of decarbonization and its crucial role in addressing climate change and achieving net zero goals in the Middle East. Alicia shares her expert insights on decarbonization, the importance of partnerships, and how innovation and AI is shaping a sustainable future.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

• What decarbonization means and its role in reaching net zero by 2050/2060 in the Middle East.
• The pillars of decarbonization, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon capture, and carbon offsetting.
• Veolia’s climate plans and commitment to being a leader in ecological transformation, and its role in achieving net zero goals, and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
• How AI and technology are shaping the future of sustainability and decarbonization.
• The challenges private sector companies are facing in accelerating net zero goals.
• The critical role of partnerships and alliances between public and private entities in addressing climate change and driving impactful environmental solutions.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the Host:

Nadine Zidani is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani speaks with Amnah Alyammahi, Operations and Maintenance Engineer at Veolia Middle East, to explore the transformative potential of biogas as a renewable energy source in the UAE and beyond. Amnah shares her inspiring journey in environmental services, emphasizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve waste management, and drive a more sustainable future.

In this episode, you will gain insights on:

• The process and potential of biogas as a renewable energy derived from organic waste.
• How biogas can reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to the UAE 2030 vision through sustainable innovation.
• The role of waste segregation in fostering effective waste management and energy production.
• Applications of biogas, from power plants to potential residential use in the UAE.
• Amnah's Journey in environmental services and her role in Veolia Middle East.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the Host:

Nadine Zidani is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, host Nadine Zidani, a sustainability expert and founder of MENA Impact, dives into the world of hazardous waste management with Sylvain Vaccher, Business Development Manager at Veolia Middle East, for an eye-opening discussion on hazardous waste management. With over 25 years of expertise, Sylvain unpacks the meaning of hazardous waste, its environmental impact, and the role of industries and individuals in ensuring its safe disposal.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

• What constitutes hazardous waste and why its proper disposal matters.
• How household items like batteries and paint contribute to hazardous waste.
• Risks posed by improper disposal of hazardous materials, including environmental damage.
• The primary industries generating hazardous waste in the Middle East.
• Veolia’s processes for hazardous waste treatment, including neutralization and recycling.
• Challenges in managing hazardous waste in the middle east.
• Future advancements in this field and practical tips for safe hazardous waste disposal in the UAE.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the host- Nadine Zidani:

Nadine is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)

In this captivating episode of Let’s Turn the Tide, we sit down with Solange Ghantous, Plant Manager at Veolia’s VEBES Wastewater Treatment Plant in Abu Dhabi, to dive into the transformative world of water reuse. Solange sheds light on the challenges of water scarcity in the Middle East, the vital importance of treating water as a precious resource, and how circularity principles are redefining water management.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

• Challenges of water scarcity in the Middle East and treating water as a precious commodity.
• The role of circularity in water management and its impact on sustainability.
• The wastewater treatment process, from collection to reuse for irrigation, industrial purposes, and even drinking.
• Veolia’s innovative water recycling projects, including major successes in the UAE, Jordan, and Namibia.
• Common misconceptions and concerns people have about the wastewater reuse.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the host- Nadine Zidani:

Nadine is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠
• MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)

Water scarcity is a growing global crisis, with 2.2 billion people lacking access to safely managed drinking water. The Middle East is among the most water-stressed regions, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, making desalination a critical solution. In this episode of Let’s Turn The Tide, Erwan Rouxel, CEO of Veolia Oman, discusses how desalination addresses this issue.

In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:

• Why water scarcity is a critical issue in the Middle East and why desalination is one of the solutions.
• The desalination process and its key steps.
• Veolia's impactful desalination projects in the region.
• Advantages and challenges of desalination technology.
• Efforts to minimize the environmental impact of desalination.
• Future innovations shaping desalination technology in water-stressed regions like the MENA region.

Want to see the faces behind the voices? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

About the host- Nadine Zidani:

Nadine is a sustainability expert, impact entrepreneur, and founder of MENA Impact, the first platform for sustainability resources in the MENA region. Based in the UAE, she is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving systemic change through her work and public speaking.

Follow Nadine Zidani:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠
• MENA Impact Website⁠⁠

About Veolia:

Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful and concrete solutions for water, waste and energy management that help to radically change the game. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them.

Follow Veolia Near Middle East:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)