"Clean Up UAE" campaign sets target of 45 thousand participants to clean 113 locations in the country by the December 4 launch

Emirates Environmental Group continues its call for corporations, educational institutions, individuals, civil institutions, and the various national departments and agencies to participate in the 12^th cycle of the “Clean Up UAE” campaign. The campaign kicks off on December 4^th in Abu Dhabi and ends on the 12^th of December in Dubai, intending to cover all 7 Emirates.  Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of EEG, explained that the current cycle aims at attracting 45,000 participants to clean up 113 sites in the United Arab Emirates. Thus far, 28,488 participants have registered for the campaign since the opening.

She emphasized that the nation-wide “Clean Up UAE” campaign is about preserving and protecting our environment. Participants are asked to clean selected sites in the country, symbolizing the initiative of maintaining our environment. The ambition of such a campaign is to instill a culture of collection and recycling in the hearts of the community under the tag line “Together, for a cleaner UAE”.

Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi further expressed that in the first cycle of the campaign on December 12, 2002, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman were the only Emirates involved. Over the years, the campaign flourished and gained prominence. It attracted more people and increased support from the public and private sector.  By the year 2005, participation from all the Emirates was achieved. 

She underlined that the current cycle looks forward to a growing participation from families, schools, companies, and government institutions. This variety of people involved will go hand in hand to cooperate towards preservation and maintenance of the UAE environment. Environmental awareness should increase among the spectrums of society. We aim that this campaign will leave a grand impact on the UAE society because there is a deeper meaning behind such a movement. Furthermore, it will help deliver its mission to preserve the environment for the future generations.

Cooperative cleaning will not be the only activity in this week-long event. To add to the spirit of the campaign, there will be many pleasurable activities that will take place such as environmental films, workshops, skits, competitions, exhibitions, tree planting activities, and beverage container recycling demonstrations.

We are looking to reach a new definition of sustainable development for humanity as we also strive towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals. There is a growing importance for good environmental practices and it is the responsibility of everyone to make this goal a reality. Collective action should not only start with this event; it should start from our homes.    

All UAE residents are urged to take responsibility by actively participating in the “Clean Up UAE” campaign. And much praise goes to the support received for the campaign from Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Environment and Protected Areas Authority-Sharjah, Municipality and Planning Department-Ajman, Al Ain Municipality, Ajman Free Zone Authority, Department of Public Works and Services in Ras Al Khaimah, and the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah and all its subsidiaries.