Emirates Group continues to support region’s most visited protected area to nurture the biodiversity of the UAE. Protecting fragile ecosystems is one of the sustainable development goals set out in the UAE’s national strategy.
GLOThe Emirates Group has renewed its agreement with Dubai Municipality for the management of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), in its continuous commitment to preserving wildlife and protecting natural habitats. As custodian of the reserve for over 20 years, the Emirates Group is charged with its full operations and funding of its efforts to nurture the fragile ecosystem of the UAE, in addition to research and education programs.
With Dubai’s rapid pace of development and urbanisation over the past two decades, the DDCR was borne out of the Dubai Government’s commitment to preserving the emirate’s unique desert habitat and biodiversity. The reserve is the UAE’s first national park, spanning an area of 225 square kilometres which is roughly 5% of the total land area of Dubai.
Signing the agreement on behalf of Emirates Group, Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Executive Vice President – Facilities, Projects Management & Group Procurement & Supply Chain said: “At the core of Emirates’ Group strategic goals is our commitment to sustainability and protecting the precious environment that we operate in. Since the establishment of DDCR in 2002, the Emirates Group has supported this important initiative by operating the reserve and managing its vast facilities on behalf of the Government of Dubai. The UAE has declared 2023 the Year of Sustainability, and we are proud to continue playing a role in achieving the nation’s sustainability goals.”
Commenting on the renewed management agreement, Engineer Alya Abdulrahim Alharmoudi, Acting CEO – Environment, Health & Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, added: “Our collaboration with Emirates Airline to preserve and manage the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Al Maha) demonstrates the significant role of public-private partnerships in promoting the sustainable development of natural reserves. It also reflects the Municipality’s commitment to efficiently coordinate with all its partners in order to further boost the economy. This agreement plays a vital role in preserving the diversity of environmental and natural reserves, as well as strengthening wildlife conservation, which is essential for the development of tourism and environmental sectors in the Emirate of Dubai as well as the UAE. At Dubai Municipality, we are committed to fostering sustainability in the natural and desert reserves by carrying out research operational plans and studies. This will contribute to conserving their ecological diversities in a sustainable manner and highlight their relevance as significant tourist attractions for wildlife and desert safaris.”
The Emirates Group has invested more than AED 28 million in the reserve since its establishment in 2002, to fund and support the conservation of the natural desert landscape and its indigenous fauna and flora. The protected inland desert habitat is currently home to over 560 different species of plants and trees, birds, mammals, reptiles and arthropods – more than double the original 150 indigenous species which thrived in the area prior to DDCR’s efforts. The reserve’s effective management strategies have helped promote the natural processes that lead to rewilding of the desert habitat and its rehabilitation.
By protecting Dubai’s valuable desert ecosystems, Emirates has also made it possible for the DDCR to provide an authentic desert experience for visitors through carefully managed and monitored tours. Funding from the Emirates Group and limited tour operations at the DDCR also enables the reserve to conduct scientific research, collect data, and develop new technologies necessary for its management, in addition to rolling out education programs designed to enrich the visitor experience.
The sustainable tourism offering allows visitors from around the world to experience spectacular dune drives, desert safaris and traditional Arabian experiences while gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the desert’s natural habitat, heritage and wildlife, and the importance of conservation. A new Desert Visitor Centre is currently being developed to further enhance the educational experience for guests of the reserve.
The DDCR operates under the supervision of the Dubai Conservation Board (DCB) which is chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Since the inception of the DDCR, the reserve has been immensely successful in growing the population of sand gazelles, Arabian gazelles and the Arabian onyx, from 230 initially to over 1,300 today. A further 171 Arabian Oryx have been relocated to other protected areas in the UAE. Also amongst its other milestone achievements are the re-introduction of 2,800 Houbara, or Macqueen’s Bustard, which roam freely within the safe environment of the reserve. In excess of 31,000 native trees flourish in the vast area, which include the Ghaf tree, native to the desert and known for its ability to survive its extreme climate conditions without irrigation.
Disclaimer: Press release
© Press Release 2025
Send us your press releases to news@globalloyalty.org
Press releases originate from external third-party providers. This website does not have responsibility or control over its content, which is presented as is, without any alterations. Neither this website nor its affiliates guarantee the accuracy of the views or opinions expressed in the press release.
The press release is intended solely for informational purposes and does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice, nor does it express any opinion regarding the suitability, value, or profitability of specific securities, portfolios, or investment strategies. Neither this website nor its affiliates are liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, nor for any actions taken based on it. By using the information provided in this article, you agree to do so at your own risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors shall not be liable to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to lost profits, savings, and revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract, or any other theory of liability, even if the possibility of such damages was known or foreseeable.
The images used in press releases and articles provided by 3rd party sources belong to the respective source provider and are used for illustrative purposes in accordance with the original press releases and publications.
Disclaimer: Content
While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date content, Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the correctness accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or reliability of the information or the results derived from its use, not that the content will meet your requirements or expectations. The content is provided “as is” and “as available”. You agree that your use of the content is at your own risk. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. disclaims all warranties related to the content, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for any interruptions. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so these jurisdictions may not apply to you. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. Reserves the right to modify, interrupt, or discontinue the content without notice and is not liable for doing so.
Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. shall not be liable for any damages, including special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages, or damages for lost profits, revenue, or use, arising out of or related to the content, whether in contract, negligence, tort, statute, equity, law, or otherwise, even if advised of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability for incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you. These disclaimers and limitations apply to Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and its parent, affiliates, related companies, contractors, sponsors, and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, agents, content providers, licensors, and advisors.
The content and its compilation, created by Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd, are the property of Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.
