UAE | Environment
Iconic landmarks in Dubai to switch off lights in support of Earth Hour
Dubai will be shrouded in darkness for one hour on Saturday, March 29.
- By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter
- Published: 14:40 March 18, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- The iconic Burj Al Arab will be taking part in the big switch-off
Dubai: Parts of the city will be shrouded in darkness on Saturday, March 29 as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) global initiative to highlight climate change.
Dubai has become the first city in the Arab world to join Earth Hour.
Dubai Holding and the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) have linked up to lead the initiative that also has the support of Dubai Municipality, Dubai International Financial Centre, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai World Trade Centre, Nakheel, Emaar and creative agency Leo Burnett.
Iconic landmarks, including Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, will switch their exterior lights off in a symbolic gesture at 8pm local time.
The Dubai World Cup, which takes place on the same day, will not be affected although officials are discussing the possibility of dimming the lights at Nad Al Sheba for one hour.
The RTA plans to reduce street lighting on some major roads by 50 per cent. Dr Khalid Al Zahed, representing the RTA at yesterday's launch, said: "We want to support the initiative but obviously our main priority is the safety of people on the road."
Khalid Al Shafar, Marketing Director of Dubai Holding, said talks were ongoing with malls and real estate companies in a bid to attract as much support for the initiative as possible.
Jumeirah and Tecom are already on board and negotiations are taking place with Dubai Police and DEWA.
Officials also hope to strike a deal with telecom companies Etisalat and du whereby residents will be informed of Earth Hour via text message (SMS).
"Earth Hour is not a protest or a political movement; it is an awakening of the changes we face in our daily lives. Let us together show the world that Dubai is serious about tackling climate change," Al Shafar said.
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