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400 Participate in RAK Beach Clean-up Drive

RAS AL KHAIMAH - Around 400 volunteers in Ras Al Khaimah participated in the beach clean-up drive which was organised recently by the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) as part of the ‘Clean Up UAE’ national campaign.

The participants who included 
volunteers and officials from the RAK FTZ, local government schools and private companies gathered to clean 
up garbage from the Hulayla Island beach and also get rid of rubbish from the seabed of the coast.

Despite the poor weather conditions the day proved a huge success with 
at least 800 bags of garbage being 
collected from the beach and sea including metallic and plastic materials, said the officials.

Since its introduction in 2002, the ‘Clean Up UAE’ campaign, which is organised by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), has been instrumental 
in bringing all segments of the UAE communities together — from government organisations to private companies and individuals — who wish to do their part to preserve the country’s natural beauty.

The CEO of RAK Free Trade Zone, Oussama El Omari, said, “Our annual participation in the ‘Clean up UAE’ is a great way for us to extend our environmental efforts to the community level. With the current cool weather, we are all eager to go out and experience nature. But it is hard to enjoy a nice day at the beach or in the desert, if there is litter strewn all around.”

He added that protecting the environment is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of RAK FTZ and the RAK community at large.

“Currently the UAE’s per capita waste generation is among the highest in the world – a direct result of the fast paced development in the region. Since we all have enjoyed and continue to reap the benefits of this amazing progress and growth, it is only fitting that we also take responsibility for its effect on our environment,” said El Omari.

Habiba Al Marashi, EEG Chairperson, said, “Each one of us holds an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Through our everyday choices and actions, we can collectively make a huge impact on our country.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Protection Department and the RAK Municipality had recently said they would put in place strict measures to curb the practice of dumping of wastes into the sea and warned that violators would face tough penalties.

Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Chairman 
of RAK Municipality, said some residents and fishermen were said to 
be dumping several types of garbage in the sea, which were polluting the 
marine ecology.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE