From Sydney Opera House to Empire State Building, global landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

For one hour on Saturday evening, landmarks around the world turned out the lights for Earth Hour.

The annual event, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature, encourages people to turn off lights and non-essential electric appliances for one hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in order to reduce their carbon footprint. But, as the Earth Hour website states: “It is so much more than that. It is a symbol of unity. It is a symbol of hope. It is a symbol of power in collection action for nature.”

Among the global landmarks that turned off the lights were the Empire State Building in New York City, Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue, Sydney’s famous Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Colosseum in Rome.

Scroll through the gallery to see global landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

In the UAE, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability Pavilion went dark at 8.30pm, as did Legoland and The Green Planet, plus Dubai Holding Asset Management's residential properties across Bluewaters Island, City Walk, Al Khail Gate, Shorouq, Ghoroob and Layan. Dubai International Airport also turned off all non-essential lights.

Anantara Sir Baniyas Island lights candles for Earth Hour. Photo: Farah Andrews

In Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Emarat Park took part, as did Abu Dhabi Mall, the National Rehabilitation Centre and hotels on Sir Bani Yas Island.

Emirates Nature-WWF encouraged residents “to switch off their lights and create the biggest hour for Earth, spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet".

"Taking place during the Year of Sustainability and Cop28, this year’s campaign will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of our planet, the need to protect it, and how little time we have to do so,” the group said.

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2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

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