'The Lagoons' to sponsor Dhs 10m visitor centre at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

In addition, Sama Dubai, the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding, will oversee the design and conceptual quality of the new facility.

The Visitor Centre will be built according to specifications drawn up by Dubai Municipality to ensure that it is in harmony with its surroundings. The two-storey building will be constructed from natural materials and the use of natural lighting will be maximised. Energy conservation is to play a significant role in the environmental friendliness of the centre with solar energy being used to heat water and solar power for air conditioning and electricity. A waste management programme will include recycling and composting of food and beverage waste. The new visitor centre is to incorporate disability access into its design to allow easy and safe access for visitors with mobility problems.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Dubai Municipality's Acting Director General, said: "The centre will promote awareness on the significance of environmental conservation, and will act as a centre for learning and providing updated information on the country's bio-diversity. The initiative will also help promote Dubai as a prime eco-tourism destination."

"We are working closely with Sama Dubai in driving the harmonious coexistence of 'The Lagoons' and the sanctuary. The decision to build the Visitor Centre demonstrates the commitment of Sama Dubai to protecting and enhancing the environment of Dubai Creek and its associated wetlands as well as its commitment to playing an active role in the community,"

he said.

Existing bird watch hides set up early in 2005 were a first step towards development of the more elaborate visitor centre and education facilities planned for the protected area. The new centre will provide opportunities for visitors to witness the sanctuary's stunning bio diversity while serving as both an edutainment attraction and a centre for scientific research.

Lootah noted that the centre would comprise multi-purpose halls which can be used for conducting awareness lectures and environment workshops. It will have state-of-the-art multi-media appliances apart from high-capacity binoculars that will help people observe wildlife in the wetlands of the Ras Al Khor Sanctuary. He added that the project is in the preliminary design stage.

The municipality built in February 2005 three bird watch-towers at different locations along the sanctuary in a bid to help environment enthusiasts to watch flamingos and other migratory birds at the sanctuary.

Farhan Faraidooni, CEO, Sama Dubai said: "The centre will promote environmental awareness and serve as a great educational and recreational facility which will raise the public's appreciation of this unique wetland habitat and the UAE's environment in general. This also counts as an important step forward in presenting both Dubai and the UAE as viable eco-tourism destinations with distinctive offerings.

"The new visitor centre at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary presents an excellent model of government-business partnerships that benefit the community at large. The sanctuary's harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship with its neighbouring 'The Lagoons' sets an exemplary benchmark for balanced sustainable development as Dubai continues on its path of growth and prosperity."

"Environmental excellence and sustainability is the cornerstone of 'The Lagoons' development and Sama Dubai is constantly seeking ways in which it can contribute to the well being of communities in countries where it operates," added Faraidooni.

Other elements planned for RAKWS Visitor Centre include expansion of the marine wetlands area in front of the centre and the construction of a boardwalk or raised hiking trail. The ground floor of the centre will include a reception area and administration offices, display room, cafeteria and bird watching areas. The first floor will have additional bird watching areas, an audio-visual room, library and research and studies facilities.

'The Lagoons' recently sponsored a team of Ramsar Convention experts as part of a joint effort to assess and evaluate the candidature of RAKWS as a Ramsar listed site. In conjunction with Dubai Municipality's Environment Department and relevant authorities and stakeholders, 'The Lagoons' is helping drive efforts to recognize and preserve the ecology of the Dubai Creek wetlands.

'The Lagoons' development has embraced environmental excellence as a cornerstone of the development and promised to provide an inimitable experience of 'environmental living on Dubai Creek.' Accordingly, it has pledged to continue in its efforts to have its neighbouring sanctuary included in the 'Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.'

The Lagoons' is being developed by Sama Dubai in an area adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. It offers its future residents the pleasures of nature including the enjoyment of living alongside the Dubai Creek's diverse bird life, flora and fauna in a development that has been designed and constructed to be in harmony with the surrounding ecosystems.

Protection of the environment is a key component of the development. 'The Lagoons' is one of the first projects in Dubai to undertake a comprehensive Integrated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) following international standards across all facets of the project.