Irena: Residents welcome UAE's winning bid

Dubai: After it was revealed on Monday that the UAE won the bid to host the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), Gulf News readers started writing in by the dozens, congratulating the UAE for a job well deserved.

Venkat Ramani, an Abu Dhabi resident, was proud to hear that the UAE won the bid and that it is the first developing country to host a major international organisation.

He said: "There is hardly any other country in the world worthy of being a host to such a prestigious headquarters and which better place than Masdar City? It is the world's first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city completely powered by renewable energy."

Ramani feels that the day is not far when the UAE will see the maximum use of alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and nuclear energy to power the country.

Aazmin Kantawala, a Malaysian expatriate residing in Dubai, said that because of the country's phenomenal progress, it is only natural to establish Irena's headquarters in Abu Dhabi. She said: "[The] UAE is in the centre of the world and from what I have seen, it has managed its growth very well. I think it is ready to host Irena."

Kantawala thinks that this is the way to the future. Considering that the UAE is still developing, it could use Irena to grow in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Andreas Schonke, a Dubai resident, felt that the UAE deserved to win this bid for its hard work.

He said: "As a German, I am proud that the UAE has won the bid to host Irena."

Mohammad Rafiq, a Dubai resident, was equally happy about the news.

He said: "I wholeheartedly congratulate the leadership of the UAE and its people for having achieved the great milestone of hosting the headquarters of an international body." According to Rafiq, it is a giant leap towards a bright and green future for the UAE.

Kashif Raza Kahot, an Abu Dhabi resident, wrote in to gulfnews.com, commending the UAE for its commitment to renewable energy. He said: "I am proud that the UAE is the first developing country to host a major international organisation."

Shahzad Shaikh, a Pakistani expatriate residing in Dubai, feels that this is the chance for the UAE to prove to the world what it is truly capable of achieving. He said: "This will have a big effect across the region. Most of the headquarters of various departments have always been in either Europe or the US. Now, this region has a chance to showcase its abilities and what it can do."