plastic waste

Dubai Can, a citywide sustainability initiative, has cut the usage of an equivalent of almost 18 million 500ml single-use plastic water bottles in two years since its launch.

The initiative achieved this by placing 50 public water stations in strategic locations across the city, including parks and popular tourist destinations. These stations have dispensed almost nine million litres of water.

For context, in the UAE, yearly, a resident typically uses 450 plastic water bottles on average, the equivalent of four billion plastic bottles being used annually across the country.

The initiative was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, on 15 February 2022 and has plans to expand with 30 additional water fountains being installed by the end of the year in locations around the city.

All water stations throughout the city adhere to the highest hygiene standards and comply strictly with municipal, healthcare, and federal regulations.

The water is also tested in accordance with DEWA, GCC, and World Health Organization standards and kept at 10°C.

Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance Sector, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “The Dubai Can movement has been embraced by residents and visitors alike and we are proud of the considerable success it has achieved since its launch two years ago, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a leading sustainable destination. We have seen consistent engagement with Dubai Can across the city, and the positive impact the initiative has made over the past two years. By reducing plastic waste, we are protecting our oceans, wildlife, and natural landscapes, and by choosing reusable options like our public water stations, we are promoting a healthier lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint. We will ensure that Dubai Can will continue to encourage residents and visitors to adopt greener practices and lifestyle choices, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to consolidate Dubai’s position among the top three global cities for business and leisure over the next decade.

Adding: “As we strive to achieve Dubai’s sustainability goals, we look forward to the continued success of Dubai Can, particularly in the UAE’s ‘Year of Sustainability’, which has been extended into 2024 and invites everyone to join in the collective effort to adopt sustainable practices. Dubai Can has driven the behavioral changes that are needed to tackle environmental challenges and the success of this initiative could not have been possible without the support of our valued city stakeholders and partners, as well as the overwhelming response from the public.”