du commits to plant 1820 Ghaf seeds in celebration of UAE Environment Day

du, in association with Goumbook and the Give a Ghaf Tree Planting Program, organised a Ghaf tree planting event to further cement its commitment to environmental protection and sustainability

Dubai, UAE, 4 February 2015: In celebration of the UAE’s 19th National Environment Day, leading UAE telecommunications operator du has joined forces with Goumbook and committed to plant a total of 1820 Ghaf tree seeds - one per employee - through the year within the Give a Ghaf Tree Planting Program. As a symbolic gesture of the commitment, du volunteers planted 80 Ghaf trees at Banyan Tree Al Wadi’s Nature Reserve.

The Ghaf tree is widely regarded as the national tree of the UAE. The tree planting event, which took place on February 4, saw participation from a number of du employees including Abdulhadi Alalyak, Vice President of Asset Management

du employees will be able to plant the rest of the seeds over the course of the year, as part of their volunteering calendar at Al Barari Estate Dubai. In 2014, 54 du volunteers dedicated 171.5 hours planting Ghaf seeds as part of the company’s environment-focused voluntary activities.

To further drive engagement and raise awareness, du also provided each employee ‘seed paper’ with a message reminding them about the significance of the day, printed with environmentally friendly ink. Employees can plant a tree at home and celebrate the spirit of UAE Environment Day through the rest of the year with their families.

“This year, we are celebrating the UAE’s National Environment Day for the second time under the theme ‘Green Economy…Innovation and Sustainability’,” Abdulhadi Alalyak, Vice President of Asset Management, du. “In line with this, we aimed to orchestrate a powerful initiative ideally-suited to this vision - one that would help spearhead environmental awareness across our nation and solidify our path towards a green economy. At du, we have long understood that environmental responsibility falls on each and every one of us. Since du’s inception, sustainability has been central to our business ethos; today, it remains a key pillar of our company philosophy.”

Alalyak continued, “As we mark the UAE’s 19h National Environmental Day - a significant milestone for our country - we, at du, would like to reiterate our dedication to conserving the environment for our future generations. Our seed planting initiative proved immensely successful, serving as a true catalyst for environmental education here in the UAE. We are proud of the du team for proactively undertaking activities that contribute to the betterment of our planet.”

“Banyan Tree launched its Stay For Good greening communities in 2014, the initiative reinforced support to the local communities and surrounding ecologies of each of its resorts.” Said Axel Jarosch General Manager of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resort in Ras Al Khaimah “Our three founding principles - people, planet and profit - are the cornerstones to our working practice. The goumbook plant a ghaf tree collaboration reflects Banyan Tree’s ethos of creating sustainable and ecologically conscious experiences, bringing guests close to nature whilst protecting the environment and we are pleased to welcome du to our Oasis of Indulgence for this unique activity”.

The Give a Ghaf Tree Planting Program was launched by Goumbook in 2010 to raise awareness on the UAE national tree and the incredible biodiversity present in the desert. Since then over 26,000 seeds have been planted by local companies and individuals who have found a connection with the local environment and an opportunity to learn more about the UAE.

“It is an incredible achievement for us to partner with a company such as du which embeds sustainability practices within the business and provides its employees with volunteering activities and environmental education”, said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Goumbook’s Managing Director and Founder of the Give a Ghaf Tree Planting Program. “Our aim is to reach the local population and create a link with Nature. The Ghaf tree is the symbol of the living desert, a true survivor that can teach us many lessons on water conservation, local heritage and environmental values”.