Dubai Can’s To Achieve Its Biggest Milestone For Sustainability

The initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.

The water stations throughout the city adhere to strict hygiene standards and provide clean and safe drinking water that is tested according to DEWA, GCC, and World Health Organization standards.

Nearly 1,000 stakeholders and sponsors from both the government and private sector have been credited with the success of Dubai Can over the past year. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and support have been vital in achieving the initiative’s goal of reducing single-use plastic water bottle consumption and promoting the use of reusable alternatives, as mentioned in the report.

Tatiana Rahal, Managing Director at talabat UAE, said, "As we hit the one-year mark of talabat UAE becoming Dubai Can’s only founding partner, we are incredibly grateful for the Dubai government’s efforts to provide the community, including all delivery riders, with access to free drinking water across the city." "One of our core values at Talabat is to be central drivers of change and innovation, and we believe that sustainability is a critical force for positive impact."

She added, "Dubai Can goes beyond reducing single-use plastic bottles; it offers a citywide solution and enables people to adopt environmentally friendly habits." With COP 28 taking place in the UAE this year, the initiative is a reflection of the leadership's vision to encourage the adoption of sustainable ways of living to protect the environment and reduce the impact of climate change.

Duncan O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific for Premium, Midscale, and Economy brands at Accor Group, said, "Accor’s participation in the Dubai Can initiative was a two-prong approach, the first of which was sponsoring one of the first public fountains in the city, at the Dubai World Trade Centre."

"The second aspect of our involvement in the project was to implement in-house filtration units to provide safe and plastic-free drinking water to guests throughout our 55 hotels in the city." We have so far achieved 20 percent implementation, a number we hope to steadily increase throughout the year. "We are proud to be active participants in this incredible initiative and look forward to further developing our support throughout our hotels."

Aligi Gardenghi, Vice President, Operations, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton, commented, "In addition to supporting Dubai Can on a practical level—implementing initiatives such as air-to-water machines and water purifying systems across a range of our properties—we believe it’s invaluable as part of a broader, society-wide effort needed to foster real behavioural change, especially with the city set to lead the global climate action conversation when hosting COP 28 later this year. From this perspective, Dubai Can is perfectly aligned with Travel With Purpose, our global ESG strategy to drive responsible travel and tourism. "As a leading brand in Dubai’s dynamic hospitality space, it’s imperative that we continue to embrace opportunities such as Dubai Can to effect positive environmental and social impact across our operations, supply chain, and communities."

Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International, added, "We are excited to celebrate the one-year mark of the Dubai Can initiative." The efforts of the leaders and DET have inspired individuals, communities, and organisations to take initiative and support this incredible citywide sustainability movement.

"Marriott International is fully committed to supporting Dubai Can." In the past year, our teams have come together to support the initiative in multiple ways, including the installation of water filtration systems connected with the municipality’s water supply across many of our properties in Dubai. Other ongoing initiatives include the installation of in-house bottling plants and public water filter stations at participating hotels, as well as efforts to remove the use of plastic across our restaurants in the city.

Tim Cordon, COO for the Middle East and Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, said, "Radisson Hotel Group believes in a thriving, sustainable, and responsible business that supports our people, communities, and the planet with ethical business practices, carbon reduction, sustainability practices, and employability programmes to build better futures."

"Being part of the Dubai Can citywide sustainability movement is self-evident for us since we, as a company, already have a strong, responsible business heritage and sustainability programme in place, which is built around three pillars: think people, think community, and think planet."