Discover the Dubai hotels and resorts supporting the planet with their sustainability initiatives.
1. Jumeirah Al Naseem, Madinat Jumeirah
Jumeirah Al Naseem pioneers sustainability in multiple ways (as do all of the hotels under the Madinat Jumeirah). The resort prioritises the elimination of single-use plastic, recycling, and water conservation, and minimises food waste and energy consumption. Jumeirah Al Naseem’s Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is a major hit with tourists. The sanctuary rehabilitates unwell and injured turtles. Guests can visit the centre daily, free of charge, feed the turtles and discover marine life conservation.
2. Al Maha and Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR)
Al Maha and Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a 45-minute drive outside of Dubai within a protected nature reserve. The resort is certified by Eco Luxury Retreats of the World and is known as a centre for eco-tourism thanks to its efforts to protect the ecology of the desert. Here, over 6,000 species of indigenous trees are planted while visitors can also encounter regional wildlife such as the Arabian oryx. The oryx and other wildlife species have been re-introduced to the area under the conservation programme, where the resort plays an integral part. On sustainability front, the resort’s all 43 swimming pools are solar panel operated to maintain an ambient temperature and saving up to 220,000 kilowatt every month. The resort also has a special irrigation process where used water is recycled for landscaping along with many other practices. Since inception in 1999, Al Maha Desert Resort has been the flagbearer of eco-friendly tourism while showcasing the local Bedouin heritage.
3. Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira practises the hotel group’s global sustainability initiatives in addition to its own local ones. In 2022 the hotel partnered with Freestyle Divers and Azraq For The Oceans to create an artificial reef in Dibba Bay, off the coast of Fujairah. The reef is designed to create a new underwater ecosystem that supports marine life. The hotel has eliminated single-use plastic while the amenities in guest suites are cruelty-free and made from responsibly sourced and sustainable materials. The hotel has introduced solar panels to save energy and provides guests with access to Tesla X electric vehicles so that they can explore the city in a carbon-friendly way.
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, JBR
The Ritz-Carlton JBR partnered with Green Container Advanced Farming (GCAF) to launch their own sustainable and hyper-local on-site hydroponic farm which was one of the first-ever vertical farms in Dubai The hotel harvests a range of herbs, microgreens, lettuce and other produce from its facility. The farm grows crops year-round and gathers harvest each day that amounts to up to ten kilograms of produce.
5. JA The Resort, Jebel Ali Beach
The three hotels that form JA The Resort in Jebel Ali use hot water powered by solar water heating while also utilising their own desalination and sewage treatment plants for fresh water and irrigation water that’s used for the resort’s grounds. JA Resorts have also pioneered their own tree-planting drive.
