His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved Dubai's environmental plan, including initiatives and projects to be implemented.

Shaikh Mohammad ordered Dubai Government to place the environmental issue as a top priority.

In response, Dubai Government has announced plan to implement several important projects and initiatives, concerning sanctuaries and natural resources, green building and solid waste management.

The first issue stresses the importance of preserving Dubai's sanctuaries and sustaining natural resources and biologic diversity, which enhances tourism.

The government will turn unclassified land outside the structural plan of Dubai into sanctuaries to preserve natural and biologic diversity.

The second issue is based upon the government's commitment to the concept of green building, which will be applied to future projects, facilities and governmental buildings.

The concept takes into consideration sustainable design, water and electricity consumption efficiency, interior environment and used resources and material. It falls under international standards aiming at reducing pollution, cutting down natural resources consumption, reducing operation cost while enhancing performance and creating a healthy living and working environment.

The third part of the plan aims at cutting down the environmental risks of solid waste, by applying a comprehensive solid waste management programme.