emirates7 - Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, chaired the third meeting of the UAE Council for Environmental and Municipal Work for 2024.
The meeting focused on the role of municipalities across all emirates in implementing the objectives of the national program, ‘Plant the Emirates,’ in the near future. Additionally, the Council evaluated strategies aimed at promoting sustainable communities, addressing several key issues.
This meeting is part of ongoing coordination and oversight of the municipalities and relevant authorities' efforts throughout the country. The goal is to address all aspects related to environmental projects and initiatives, ultimately achieving sustainable economic and social development in the UAE.
During the meeting, Dr. Al Dahak remarked, “This meeting occurs at a critical time following the launch of the national program ‘Plant the Emirates’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, along with the accompanying integrated campaign. The recent announcement of the ‘National Agricultural Centre’ also represents a significant milestone in the UAE's efforts to bolster sustainable food security by enhancing local production of various strategic crops and agricultural products.”
She further noted, “National efforts to promote agriculture will be integrated at all levels, involving relevant state agencies, the private sector, and society as a whole. Municipalities will play a vital role in this initiative, given their responsibilities in supervising farms and supporting local farmers and agricultural enterprises throughout the UAE. The Council will be tasked with guiding and sustaining these efforts for years to come.”
Dr. Al Dahak concluded, “Despite the broad range of issues and responsibilities we encounter, we can achieve more collectively and exceed the expectations of our wise leadership in strengthening the role of municipalities in the UAE's journey toward building sustainable communities. These communities can significantly contribute to the nation's progress, with active participation from every member of society.”
The third meeting reviewed details about the ‘Plant the Emirates’ program and the municipalities' roles in enhancing it, in collaboration with federal entities and the private sector, as well as their contributions to engaging the community in upcoming events and initiatives.
The agenda also included discussions on recommendations from the previous meeting regarding the Unified Municipal Guides 2024, updates on the UAE Integrated Waste Management Agenda 2023-2026, the National Mosquito Control Program, the National Air Quality Agenda 2030, and coordination efforts at the Gulf level, including the Ministry's participation in the upcoming Gulf Municipal Works Conference in Saudi Arabia and the review of the Gulf Building Code guidelines adopted in 2023.
The meeting reviewed the outcomes of the Ministry's participation in the 12th Gulf Municipal Works Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and discussed participation in the Bahrain International Garden Show 2025. Additionally, the Ministry's involvement in the ministerial meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia during its first summit in 2021, was addressed. This initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation in combating land degradation, preserving vegetation cover, and promoting international support for regional efforts.
The meeting also examined updates on the “Ne’ma” national initiative to reduce food loss and waste, national preparedness for addressing environmental risks, and the latest developments related to national targets for managing solid waste.
Attendees included Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Under-Secretary of the MOCCAE; Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at MOCCAE; and Ahmed Mohamed Al Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Electricity, Water, and Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Also present were Dawood AlHajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality; Major General Pilot Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, Director-General of the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority; Dr. Saif Al Ghais, Director-General of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah; Asila Abdullah Al Mualla, Director of the Fujairah Environment Authority; Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director-General of Operational Affairs at the Department of Municipalities and Transport - Abu Dhabi; and Salama Alawadhi, Director of National in Country Value (ICV), Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).
The meeting focused on the role of municipalities across all emirates in implementing the objectives of the national program, ‘Plant the Emirates,’ in the near future. Additionally, the Council evaluated strategies aimed at promoting sustainable communities, addressing several key issues.
This meeting is part of ongoing coordination and oversight of the municipalities and relevant authorities' efforts throughout the country. The goal is to address all aspects related to environmental projects and initiatives, ultimately achieving sustainable economic and social development in the UAE.
During the meeting, Dr. Al Dahak remarked, “This meeting occurs at a critical time following the launch of the national program ‘Plant the Emirates’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, along with the accompanying integrated campaign. The recent announcement of the ‘National Agricultural Centre’ also represents a significant milestone in the UAE's efforts to bolster sustainable food security by enhancing local production of various strategic crops and agricultural products.”
She further noted, “National efforts to promote agriculture will be integrated at all levels, involving relevant state agencies, the private sector, and society as a whole. Municipalities will play a vital role in this initiative, given their responsibilities in supervising farms and supporting local farmers and agricultural enterprises throughout the UAE. The Council will be tasked with guiding and sustaining these efforts for years to come.”
Dr. Al Dahak concluded, “Despite the broad range of issues and responsibilities we encounter, we can achieve more collectively and exceed the expectations of our wise leadership in strengthening the role of municipalities in the UAE's journey toward building sustainable communities. These communities can significantly contribute to the nation's progress, with active participation from every member of society.”
The third meeting reviewed details about the ‘Plant the Emirates’ program and the municipalities' roles in enhancing it, in collaboration with federal entities and the private sector, as well as their contributions to engaging the community in upcoming events and initiatives.
The agenda also included discussions on recommendations from the previous meeting regarding the Unified Municipal Guides 2024, updates on the UAE Integrated Waste Management Agenda 2023-2026, the National Mosquito Control Program, the National Air Quality Agenda 2030, and coordination efforts at the Gulf level, including the Ministry's participation in the upcoming Gulf Municipal Works Conference in Saudi Arabia and the review of the Gulf Building Code guidelines adopted in 2023.
The meeting reviewed the outcomes of the Ministry's participation in the 12th Gulf Municipal Works Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and discussed participation in the Bahrain International Garden Show 2025. Additionally, the Ministry's involvement in the ministerial meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia during its first summit in 2021, was addressed. This initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation in combating land degradation, preserving vegetation cover, and promoting international support for regional efforts.
The meeting also examined updates on the “Ne’ma” national initiative to reduce food loss and waste, national preparedness for addressing environmental risks, and the latest developments related to national targets for managing solid waste.
Attendees included Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Under-Secretary of the MOCCAE; Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at MOCCAE; and Ahmed Mohamed Al Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Electricity, Water, and Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Also present were Dawood AlHajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality; Major General Pilot Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, Director-General of the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority; Dr. Saif Al Ghais, Director-General of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah; Asila Abdullah Al Mualla, Director of the Fujairah Environment Authority; Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director-General of Operational Affairs at the Department of Municipalities and Transport - Abu Dhabi; and Salama Alawadhi, Director of National in Country Value (ICV), Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).