Dubai: The Meydan Group will team up with Dubai Municipality in an ongoing programme to clean and preserve Dubai’s desert areas through a new environmental initiative named ‘My Arena, My Environment’ centred around the sport of endurance riding.

The focus is one of the many inter-related parts of the campaign that was developed and launched by Dubai Municipality in 2012.

To date, a large amount of debris, primarily plastic water bottles, have been removed from the vast desert in and around the Seih Assalam area and Al Qudra’s expansive cycling track route.

Abdul Majeed Abdul Aziz Saifaie, Director of Waste Management for Dubai Muncipality, said: “Dubai Municipality is glad to have Meydan Group’s Dubai Equestrian Club to team with our efforts to preserve the Dubai desert. Our combined efforts will ensure that the desert is kept a pristine environment for years to come.

“Dubai Municipality is encouraged by this spirit of teamwork and Dubai Equestrian Club’s commitment to the environment and all of Dubai.”

Meydan Group’s participation in the programme will ensure that the endurance teams and spectators who frequent the ride routes around the Dubai International Endurance City maintain the environment.

More than 20 endurance rides are contested at the venue every year. Each ride attracts hundreds of participants and spectators and the impact on the landscape could leave a lasting effect if not contained.

Mohammad Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said: “We are pleased to enter into this important programme as part of the overall Dubai Municipality initiative ‘My Dubai, My Environment’. The desert is home to our heritage. It is our responsibility that we keep safeguard this environment. The steps we take today will benefit of future generations who will inherit the responsibility for conserving the desert.”