Dubai airports begin early light switch off for Earth Hour

Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central will both switch off all non-essential lights for an hour every day in the run up to Earth Hour on March 29.

DUBAI // The city’s two major airports have flipped the switch early this year for the annual Earth Hour event.

While the worldwide event in which homes and businesses turn off lighting for an hour takes place on Saturday March 29 the airport’s operator began its participation last Thursday.

At both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, all non-essential lights have been switched off for an hour a day up until the end of Earth Hour.

The shut down will not affect the functioning of essential facilities within the two airports.

“This is a great opportunity for us to renew and increase our environmental commitment and take the lead in setting the right example. We have been participating in the global initiative since 2009 with hour-long switch off at the airport and realised there was scope to substantially increase our contribution to the cause by extending it over several days,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.

As an airport that welcomes nearly six million passengers from more than 125 destinations each month, Dubai International is a perfect venue to spread the message of environmental conservation around the world, said Mr Griffiths.

The campaign will save the airport an estimated 300,000 kilowatt hours of energy, which is equal to 129 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, or the same as carbon sequestered by 5,427 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

Last year, Earth Hour was observed in 7,000 cities and towns in 154 countries around the world with major landmarks in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi also taking part.

It aims to make more people aware of the need to cut carbon emissions.