DUBAI // Catch a bus, get on your bike or simply stretch your legs - these are some of the alternatives on offer to at least 2,500 Dubai government employees who plan to leave their cars at home in favour of a greener commute on Wednesday.
This is the second year that Dubai Municipality is promoting Car Free Day to ease pollution and encourage more environmental awareness in the emirate, and all Dubai residents are being encouraged to follow suit.
Last year, more than 1,500 municipality employees took other means of transport to and from work, leaving their usually overcrowded car park completely deserted.
Car Free Day 2010 saved the environment from approximately three tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the municipality director general Hussain Nasser Lootah, who will lead the way for his employees this year by hopping on the Metro.
Following last year's success, the municipality has invited other agencies to join them and support has come from the Dubai Land Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Etisalat and the Roads and Transport Authority.
"Dubai is one of the highest-polluted areas, so we need to raise more awareness on the importance of saving the environment. We encourage everyone to take bicycles, abras, the Metro or walk," said the municipality director general Hussain Nasser Lootah, who will lead the way for his employees this year by hopping on the Metro.
Sultan Butti bin Mujrin, the director general of the Dubai Land Department, believes public transport has been made easy. "People are used to taking cars but it isn't difficult to use other means," he said. "We may get lost and take a while, but that's OK - we'll get there."
melshoush@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
