And Witnesses the Participation of 70,330 volunteers in the city of Al Rahba, ICAD Residential City and Labotel workers village
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the 23rd edition of the Emirates Environmental Group’s (EEG) “Clean UAE” campaign continued its impactful journey. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, represented by the Shahama Municipality Center, the campaign arrived in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on Monday, December 9. The initiative will proceed to Sharjah on December 10, followed by Fujairah on December 11, Ras Al Khaimah on December 12, and will conclude its activities in Umm Al Quwain on December 14.
The Abu Dhabi event, held in the Al Rahba area, witnessed an outstanding turnout with participation from 1,830 individuals representing various sectors of society, including private companies, government institutions, schools, families, and volunteer groups. Together, they collected 7,327 kg of waste across a sprawling area of 20 km, showcasing a unified commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability.
Complementing this monumental effort, ICAD Residential City and Labotel Workers Village further demonstrated their commitment to sustainability by organising a special campaign within their labour camps, successfully generating an additional 17,066 kg of waste. This grassroots initiative underscored their proactive role in fostering environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Ms. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Co-Founder and Chairperson of EEG, expressed heartfelt gratitude to to the Director of Al Shahama Municipality and his team who were all there in full force ready to render any support and guidance to all participants. She highlighted the power of collective action, stating:”The Clean UAE campaign is a testament to the unity of our community in working towards a shared goal of environmental conservation. The participation of individuals, representing all walks of life including; families, private companies, academia, and other stakeholders over the past few days is a clear demonstration of how collaborative efforts can drive sustainable change.”
Ms. Al Mar’ashi emphasised the significance of initiatives like “Clean UAE,” noting its ability in bringing together diverse groups to achieve sustainable environmental objectives. She added: “Programmes such as the Clean UAE campaign inspire people from all walks of life to set and achieve sustainable goals, demonstrating to the world how challenges can be tackled through unified action.”
She further explained that EEG ensures its programmes are designed to align with global objectives, embodying the principle of “Think globally, act locally.” The Clean UAE campaign is a prime example of this approach, directly supporting several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 13: Climate Action, Goal 15: Life on Land, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Ms. Al Mar’ashi expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Main Sponsors of the campaign, Salik and McDonald’s, for their outstanding support, and to the CSR Partner, the Arabia CSR Network, for its meaningful collaboration.
She also extended her thanks to the Support Sponsors—Abu Dhabi Terminals, Dubai Investments, CANPACK, and Farnek—for their unwavering commitment to the success of the Clean UAE campaign. Additionally, she acknowledged the Supporting Entities—Almarai, Fujairah Plastic Factories, Oasis, Del Monte, and Ahalia Medical Group—for their continued dedication to promoting sustainability. She emphasised that their collective contributions and partnerships have been pivotal in driving this campaign to be more inclusive and impactful.
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a professional working group established in 1991 in the United Arab Emirates. It is devoted to protecting the environment through the means of education, action programmes and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the 1st environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact, the Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), EEG is a full Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).