The initiative is set to motivate communities across the city to undertake simple changes such as using refillable water bottles.

With keeping the ongoing climate change issue and ecological imbalance due to plastic usage, an innovative citywide sustainability initiative has been launched to empower communities to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.

The initiative, titled ‘Dubai Can’ was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and aims to inspire people to make a difference through a series of sustainability-focused initiatives.

The initiative is set to motivate communities across the city to undertake simple changes such as using refillable water bottles. A total of 34 free public water refilling stations has been installed across the city wherein residents are encouraged to forgo plastic disposable water bottles and instead use refillable bottles.

Sheikh Hamdan also took to Twitter to share a gruesome video on plastic pollution wherein a plastic water bottle floats down in the sea amongst the fish, with words, “this will stay here for 450 years… “it’s time to make a change”, with the caption, “One small change, one big impact! #DubaiCan.”

Implemented by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism ‘Dubai Can’, major places like beaches, parks, malls and major attractions including Dubai Festival City, Al Shindagha Historical District, Dubai World Trade Centre, Burj Park, Expo 2020, Mall of the Emirates Metro Station among others have the water refilling stations.

By implementing ‘Dubai Can’, Dubai aims to empower communities to act, which will further strengthen Dubai’s drive to become one of the world’s most sustainable cities, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Masterplan.

All water stations across the city will provide the highest standards of hygiene and maintain strict adherence to municipal, healthcare and federal regulations that include providing clean and safe drinking water, which will be tested under Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), GCC and World Health Organization (WHO) standards.