Dubai is leading the charge when it comes to sustainable innovation and growth.
I recently spent a week in Dubai’s desert, prowling the sands in a modified Land Rover in a bid to observe some of the Middle East’s most elusive residents. I glimpsed an abundance of incredible wildlife — the Arabian oryx, various owls, lizards, eagles, vultures, flamingos — yet it’s a far from natural sight that sticks in my mind above all others: the ethereal, sparkling Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Rising from the dunes like an alien craft, the solar park – the largest single-site solar park in the world – is both a staggering feat of engineering and progressive thinking, and an awe-inspiring, almost celestial vision. The park provides clean energy for tens of thousands of Dubai residents, and since its launch, has trimmed Dubai’s carbon emissions by around 214,000 tonnes a year. By 2030, it will be reducing approximately 6.5 million tonnes.
In many ways, the solar park epitomises Dubai’s ongoing obsession with both being green and also the emirate’s devotion to bringing the inconceivable to life. Dubai is a place that has, for decades, enabled innovative, determined thinkers, architects and artists to pursue their wildest dreams – the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Cayan Tower and Ain Dubai are testament to that.
This mentality is, if anything, quietly becoming more pronounced. Dubai is firmly on the way to becoming a global eco superpower. It has the ambition, drive, impetus and financial backing to make big things happen, and given the emirate’s history of surpassing even the most aspirational of targets, the world is now sitting up, taking note, and getting very excited.
A city in the sand
Dubai, the UAE’s most populous city, is an improbable, implausible beacon of ingenuity and technological accomplishment. It’s a city that, to all intents and purposes, shouldn’t really exist, yet exist – and thrive – it does.
On the face of it, Dubai and its neighbouring emirates have very few of the ingredients needed to sustain a population of millions. Around 80 per cent of the UAE’s surface area is desert, it rains a mere 25 days per year, and it has little arable land. Indeed, until relatively recently the country was sparsely populated, with only a smattering of hardy souls calling it home. To put that in some context, in 1950 the UAE’s population was approximately 70,578. It’s now verging on ten million.
The UAE’s meteoric rise from tranquil Middle Eastern backwater to ultra-modern commercial superpower is best illustrated by Dubai. Over the last five or so decades, it has transformed from an insignificant fishing village to a colossal, sprawling metropolis, a hub of commerce, industry, finance and international trade. It has also simultaneously established itself as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.
The city has become a byword for modernity, a shining example of what can be done with the right amount of imagination, resourcefulness, investment and endeavour. Yet its success story is not without its caveats. In 2008 the WWF ranked the UAE as the country with the world’s worst eco-footprint, and the region has often come under fire for some of its less-than-sustainable practices, such as being compelled to import 85 per cent of its food, or the fact that the vast majority of its water – upwards of 90 per cent – comes from energy-intensive desalination plants. Dubai, being the region’s largest city, has understandably borne the brunt of the criticism.
“There is no doubt that there are some environmental challenges to the natural environment in Dubai. This includes high carbon footprint, limited water resources, waste generation, and air pollution. However, Dubai has recognised the need to balance economic growth with environmental conservation and is actively promoting sustainability in various sectors,” says professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, deputy principal (global sustainability) at Heriot-Watt University and director of the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC).
There is, undoubtedly, cause for green optimism. Dubai, perhaps more so than anywhere else in the world, has made a habit of proving itself capable of comprehensive, systemic transformation. It has time and again embraced change and emerged stronger as a result – and its focus is now firmly set on becoming a global eco pioneer.
A planet-first approach
Dubai’s leaders have pledged not only to do things better, but have also vowed to develop and spearhead the world’s much-needed green revolution. As ambitions go, they don’t really get much bigger.
Its mission started as all such projects should: by addressing its own shortcomings. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has, for example, decreed to increase its share of clean energy to 29 per cent by 2030, and announced plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) launched a Dhs100 billion (US$27 billion) Dubai Green Fund to facilitate the financing of clean energy projects. As if to further demonstrate the emirate’s green focus, in 2022 Dubai Police became the first police force in the world to go carbon neutral.
“[Dubai] is taking leading steps in promoting sustainable practices and environmental conservation in the Middle East, and is a great example for arid regions around the world who want to advance their sustainable infrastructure,” says Maroto-Valer. “Dubai Municipality won first place in four categories at the Energy Globe Award 2022. The winning projects include the Municipality’s conservation labs, which incorporated an energy management system to optimise energy consumption.”
Several large-scale infrastructure projects also go a long way to successfully showcasing Dubai’s lofty green credentials. The Dubai Sustainable City, for example, is the first operational net-zero energy city in the emirate, and has been designed partly to showcase the viability of world-class, high quality, low-energy living. The Dubai Metro, a state-of-the-art, driverless metro system that runs on electricity and provides a low-emission alternative to traditional modes of transportation, has not only increased travel efficiency, but also reduced traffic congestion and air pollution in Dubai.
The Museum of the Future, opened in 2022, is already one of Dubai’s most popular attractions – it had more than one million visitors in its first year – and is home to art exhibits, immersive displays and in-depth examinations detailing what’s likely in store for our fragile planet. It is a groundbreaking, important undertaking, and one that highlights Dubai’s commitment to prioritising environmental projects, and disseminating vital knowledge far and wide.
An all-encompassing agenda
Of course, sustainability and its associated long-term eco benefits can only truly be achieved if there is wholescale buy-in, not only from government and its various public bodies, but also from the private sector. This is something Dubai has recognised, and is an approach scores of businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, are fully aligned with.
Since March 15, 2023, Dubai hotels have been mandated to submit their consumption of nine carbon emission sources, including electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste, recycled waste, petrol, diesel and refrigerants.
This information is then assessed to provide detailed insights on the sector’s overarching performance, and to provide advice and guidance that will catalyse improvements across the board. Numerous hotels have been ahead of the game for a while. The H Dubai, for example, has been awarded the Green Key Certification by the Emirates Green Building Council on multiple occasions, owing to its dedication to being green and also for continually seeking out new ways to improve performance. Its latest investment, an advanced biodigester that intelligently breaks down organic material, managed to reduce 3.9 tonnes of carbon emissions in its first two months of operation.
Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, a romantic desert resort that puts a modern spin on the traditional Bedouin village, has also taken the sustainability bull by the horns. In the last few years it has implemented a host of green initiatives, from the introduction of LED lighting and solar panels to reducing its water and energy consumption, and converting used oil into biodiesel. It also donates 5 per cent of its annual profit to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, a national park that protects the region’s fragile flora and fauna.
Restaurants are also getting in on the act. Teible, which provides an authentic yet entirely modern take on traditional Middle Eastern food, sources around 95 per cent of its ingredients from within the UAE, and recently installed an eco-friendly wood wool ceiling. Lowe, which has been awarded a Michelin Green Star for its approach to sustainable gastronomy, avoids single-use plastics and imaginatively uses leftovers to create new dishes. Folia, based in the Four Seasons at Jumeirah Beach, has partnered with Tiny Footprint, the world’s first carbon negative coffee company, to minimise the impact of caffeine consumption.
Going green is almost becoming competitive in hospitality, with hotels and restaurants vying to do things better than their competitors. They are actively pursuing ways to make a positive difference, and such cordial – yet eminently serious – rivalries are sparking creativity and fermenting tangible positive change. In Dubai, going green is now far more than just a good thing to do – it’s a necessity for long-term success.
Attracting eco-friendly businesses
Dubai’s green agenda has, somewhat unsurprisingly, made it a magnet for eco-conscious startups, such as Desert Control, a groundbreaking initiative that has developed a chemical-free ‘liquid natural clay’ solution capable of turning desert sand into fertile soil.
More than 20 per cent of the planet’s fertile land is degraded to some extent, and it’s getting worse by the day. Deserts are spreading, valuable land is being lost, and some of the world’s poorest regions are on the cusp of being all-but decimated as a result. This sorry state of affairs, when coupled with a growing global population, is a recipe for widespread disaster.
“Evidence shows that soils are eroding and degrading faster than they can form,” explains Dr Daniel Evans, an expert on soils and biosciences at Cranfield University. “The result is that soils are thinning globally. In many regions, this imbalance has led to the exposure of the underlying bedrock or parent material. Research and innovation is essential to develop smart, efficient, scalable solutions to reverse these desertification processes and start forming soil.”
Desert Control is just one of hundreds of forward-thinking companies attempting to tackle significant worldwide problems, and the backing such operations receive in Dubai could be crucial to overcoming all manner of global challenges. Indeed, Expo Live, a project launched on the back of the wildly successful Expo 2020 Dubai, recently announced that it will award a raft of US$50,000 grants to small companies that are addressing reforestation, the cutting of greenhouse gases, and improving the quality of agricultural practices.
A greener way
The city’s sustainable infrastructure and green initiatives could, conceivably, also attract a new segment of visitors interested in ecotourism and sustainable travel. Dubai has already started to promote its green initiatives through events such as the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards, which celebrates hospitality establishments that are driving environmental awareness. The emirate has also started to better advertise the appeal of its desert and mountain regions, with an uptick in tourism in such areas providing additional funds to protect and enhance Dubai’s natural environment.
“Such initiatives demonstrate Dubai’s commitment to sustainability and show that it is not just a luxurious holiday destination,” Maroto-Valer adds. “Over the coming years, I believe there will be an increased focus on showcasing Dubai’s sustainability and green initiatives.”
Dubai is not only an incredible success story, but one that, only 50 or so years ago, would have been all-but impossible to predict. In recent decades it has expanded and matured at a spectacular pace – but is such growth sustainable? Will the city continue to flourish as we push into a future set to be dictated by renewable energy, green technologies and environmental preservation?
“Predicting what Dubai will look like in 50 or 100 years is challenging as many factors may influence the city’s future trajectory,” admits Maroto-Valer. “However, based on current trends and developments, I believe Dubai’s economy will continue to grow and the city will retain its status as a world leader in sustainable projects while become more self-sufficient.
“Due to the vast investment opportunities and flexible policies attracting foreign investment, there will likely be continued demand for new infrastructure, housing, and commercial developments. Dubai has already made significant investments in renewable energy and desalination technologies as it looks to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on thermal power.
“Having already implemented several ambitious sustainable projects, including the world’s largest solar power project and the world’s first 3D-printed commercial building [designed by the Dubai Future Foundation], I expect Dubai to continue to push the boundaries and develop innovative solutions for environmental challenges.”
NEW HOTELS
Dubai’s skyline is continually altering, with new developments and attractions popping up almost daily. Nowhere is this more evident than in the hotel sector.
Atlantis The Royal, which opened its doors at the beginning of 2023 to much fanfare, is already an iconic establishment worthy of the Atlantis name. Not only does it offer a luxurious, wholly grand hotel experience, but it is also putting sustainability at the fore. It has, for example, pledged to stop using single-use plastic bottles by 2024.
Address Grand Creek Harbour, the first five-star hotel to be located in Dubai Creek Harbour, has been winning plaudits since its launch in January 2023. Offering unrivalled views of the city’s skyline, and with a plethora of amenities – pools, restaurants, spas, lounges – to enjoy, Address Grand Creek Harbour is already making waves in the hotel scene.
NH Dubai The Palm opened its doors in February on the iconic Palm Jumeirah. Situated on the exclusive Palm West Beach, guests have direct access to the beach and promenade. The hotel features 227 guest rooms and suites, plus 306 serviced apartments. Facilities include a sunset-facing rooftop infinity pool and the NH Collection Premium Lounge.
Words: Joseph Phelan
