{
  "id": 7239856,
  "title": "It's a sustainable smash hit as Dubai teenager turns recycled concrete into a ping-pong table",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/its-a-sustainable-smash-hit-as-dubai-teenager-turns-recycled-concrete",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/gn-focus/company-news/its-a-sustainable-smash-hit-as-dubai-teenager-turns-recycled-concrete-into-a-ping-pong-table-1.500670766"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Dubai teenager named Sultan, currently a student at Nord Anglia School, has created a ping-pong table that absorbs carbon from the air, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional concrete. This innovative product breathes, absorbing carbon much like plants do when they 'breathe'. The brainchild of Sultan's own design work during his internship at Ducon Industries, the table is made from recycled concrete, eliminating the need for harmful quarrying materials. The engineer behind this groundbreaking carbon-neutral product, Dr Zaid Ghouleh, confirmed that the recycled concrete used in the table is as strong as virgin aggregate blocks, potentially revolutionizing the construction industry in the region. Sultan, only 17 years old, aims to publish his second academic paper on environmental ethics, focusing on contractor perceptions and the technical superiority of carbonation-cured recycled concrete blocks in Middle Eastern construction. His exceptional achievements make him a promising student and engineer in the field of sustainable and environmental practices.",
  "summary": "When we heard that a Dubai student from Nord Anglia School had been instrumental in making a ping-pong table that could ‘breathe in carbon’, we had to find out what compelled him to set aside social media in favour of a social conscience. Outside Ducon Industries’ HQ, you will see something you see in many a playground of MENA region schools or in outdoor recreation areas: a large blue slab of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}