DUBAI — Dubai Municipality has declared February 17 as “car free day”.

Dubai metro

More than 1,500 employees and officials of the civic body will switch to public transport next Wednesday to spread awareness about air pollution, Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah announced at a press conference 
on Tuesday.

The transport sector contributed to 42 per cent of carbon dioxide emission in the emirate. Almost 90 per cent of this — which equals to over 20million kg of carbon dioxide per day — came from petrol and diesel used in cars, according to 2009 statistics released by the department, said Hamdan Khalifa Al Shaer, Director of Environment Department.

Lootah said the aim of the initiative —a first of its kind from the government sector in UAE — was to encourage everyone to minimise the use of cars and reduce the amount of carbon emission.

“Even if it is (for) one day, the concept will be followed up with the cooperation of individuals and companies,” said Lootah.

“We are sure other departments and public will follow. Environment is not only the responsibility of government bodies. Everyone in the society has a role and responsibility towards its protection,” he said.

The concept of “car free day” originated in the US following the oil crisis in 1970. In 1999, European cities marked the first World Car Free Day and more than 1,500 cities across the globe now participate in the movement that encourages communities to adopt alternative transport instead of private vehicles.

By introducing the concept here, Dubai municipality hopes to set an example and has invited other departments and companies to encourage people to use Dubai Metro, RTA buses and water taxis.

The civic chief said he would take the Metro to reach office on the “car 
free day”.

“Anyone coming late will be fined,” he said citing that using public transport should not be an excuse for being late to office.

Visitors to the Municipality are also urged to participate in the initiative which will see the parking lots in the Municipality’s main building in Deira closed for the entire day.

Lootah said the civic body also planned to encourage its office employees to use Metro on a regular basis. “We can pay for their tickets…we will be reducing carbon emission and at the same time, we will be saving parking space as well.”

Al Shaer said a report about the result of implementing the initiative would be prepared later.

In November, Municipality had announced the “green parking” project which will introduce green specifications for parking lots. Lootah said the details of the progress in the project would be revealed soon.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com

While there were no changes in rents for the areas covered by the KT-Asteco survey, people continued to relocate to better locations and upgrade their units in terms of quality and size.

The opening of the Metro on September 9 has not yet translated into higher rents for properties located close to the train stations, but landlords of such units are hopeful that they will be able to boost rates over time.

In several upscale neighborhoods and projects, the average annual rent in October for a studio ranged from Dh50,000 to Dh60,000, while one-bedroom units were still ranging from Dh85,000 to Dh120,000. A two-bedroom flat was priced at Dh120,000 to Dh160,000, while a three-bedroom unit was at Dh160,000 to Dh210,000, the survey found.

Areas with these rents included Dubai Marina, Marina Promenade, Emaar Six Towers, Downturn Burj Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road and World Trade Center areas.

In the mid-tier neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, the Greens, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Marina, a studio in October went for Dh35,000 to Dh50,000, a one-bedroom flat ranged from Dh55,000 to Dh75,000, a two-bedroom flat at Dh70,000 to Dh100,000, and three-bedroom units from Dh90,000 to Dh120,000, the survey showed.

Average annual rents were cheaper in International City, Discovery Gardens , Deira, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and some parts of Dubai Marina. A studio in these locations was priced at Dh26,000 to Dh40,000, and a one-bedroom unit at Dh38,000 to Dh65,000. A two-bedroom flat ranged from Dh60,000 to Dh85,000, while a three-bedroom unit went for Dh90,000 to Dh110,000.

Office Rents

The KT-Asteco survey found that the average annual rent for premium commercial locations such as Dubai International Financial Centre, Downtown Burj Dubai and Sheik Zayed Road was between Dh150 and Dh370 per square foot per annum.

In Jumeirah Lake Towers, Bur Dubai, Tecom, Downtown Jebel Ali and Festival City, office rents ranged from Dh60 to Dh170 per square foot per annum. In Deira, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai Sports City, office rents ranged from Dh50 to Dh100 per square foot per annum in October, the survey learned.

rocel@khaleejtimes.com