Gardens to have distinct themes

 
A Dh200 billion project to protect the environment and increase the amount of green space in the UAE was launched on Friday by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Mohammed bin Rashid Parks, the biggest project of its kind, will cover a total area of 880 million sq ft of which 73 per cent will be green spaces. It will be implemented by Dubai Properties, a member of Dubai Holding.

At the launch, Sheikh Mohammed surveyed a model of the project’s master plan, along with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Other dignitaries present at the launch of the project included Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Lieutenant-General Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan, Director of Sheikh Mohammed’s Office, and other senior officials.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his belief that the project would be unique due to its design and engineering, and also for its educational, human and historical values.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, who is also chief executive officer of Dubai Holding, said the new project reflected Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to create a pollution-free environment in the country. He said what distinguished Mohammed bin Rashid Parks was its vast green areas and its emphasis on education and research through universities and specialised institutes.

The mega project consists of four ‘houses’. Al Hikma House, or the house of wisdom, will contain a central library, knowledge parks, head offices of international organisations, international universities, history and sciences colleges, a translation centre, an “invention statue”, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Mosque.

The second house – Humanity House – will contain buildings of Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Unicef and other charities. It will also contain museums – a “light museum” and a human civilisation museum.

The third house will be the Nature House, which will contain family parks, scientific laboratories specialised in environmental research, universities and institutes for the life and natural sciences, hotels, nightclubs, a zoo, a rose and flower park, and alternative medicine hospitals. 

The fourth house is the Commerce House, which will contain towers to house higher institutes of banking and financial studies, top global companies and international and Islamic banks.

The project will be implemented in six phases. (Wam)