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
- The iconic Burj Al Arab will be taking part in the big switch-off
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
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.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Earth Hour: Your comments and pictures
How will you be taking part in Earth Hour? Here's what you said
-
Who is taking part in Earth Hour?
In Dubai and across the world - who is taking part in Earth Hour?
-
Post earth hour environmental tips
Environmental tips: Here's what you can do when the lights go back on
-
Dubai gearing up for Earth Hour
Dubai gearing up to support Earth Hour campaign
-
The origins of the Earth Hour campaign
Sydney 2007: How the campaign to switch off lights began
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Have your say
Living in untidy homes
Do you think that people who live in untidy homes have bad character?
Latest news
- HAAD action against doctor who sold sick leaves
- Napolitano warns against anti-Muslim backlash
- Fog sweeps the UAE
- Emirati students in US set to rise
- No friends of mother Earth
- Tussle on for tertiary students
- Faded parking lines pose a problem
- UAE to announce H1N1 vaccination campaign
- Focus on best methods of crime investigation
- Benefits of pill-sized camera displayed
- Prosecutions need to adopt new technologies
- Big decline in robberies in Dubai
- Ministry to shut down typing centres
- Car stickers to identify new drivers on road
- So what will it take to float Gulf News' boat?
Community Reports
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
-
Surprising truth of 'abandoned cars'
An Abu Dhabi resident believes that some mechanics are using parking spaces as rent-free workshops
