Dubai: Every new residential or commercial building project in Dubai will now have to dedicate eight per cent of its area for greenery, said a senior official.
"We will enforce the rule that every residential or commercial project must have an eight per cent green area," said Mohammad Al Fardan, Head of Promotion and Recreation of Public Parks and Horticulture Department at the Dubai Municipality.
The civic body has an ambitious plan to turn 8 per cent of the urban area into a green area by 2020. The original target of 2012 was postponed due to extensive construction work.
Al Fardan told Gulf News yesterday that new rules to have more green areas in every project would be enforced as part of Dubai Municipality's 2020 green area plan .
"We have extended our target date because the progress was hampered due to road works, metro project and a number of new residential and commercial projects," Al Fardan said.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference to announce the International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM) to be held in Dubai from March 6-8, Al Fardan said currently Dubai has 3.7 per cent of green areas in the city.
He said the municipality this year would carry out 56 projects, including five new parks, seven community areas, 13 children's play areas, 15 city "beautification" drives and four new nurseries for plants.
The green cover in 2006 was 2,236.8 hectares (3.7 per cent of Dubai's total urban area).
"We use locally produced plants and flowers. However, with the anticipated growth, there is a need for more advanced technology, expert guidance and a greater variety of plant and flower species," he noted.
"The municipality has chosen to support IPM Dubai 2007 as it will serve as the platform to meet industry leaders, review new products and adopt new technologies," he added.
The IPM Dubai is being organised by Planetfair Dubai LLC and Messe Essen GmbH, Germany, under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates.
Running from March 6-8 at Airport Expo Dubai, IPM Dubai will feature more than 200 international exhibitors from 22 countries. Exhibition highlights are the national pavilions of Colombia, Egypt, Germany and South Africa.
The latest technology and techniques will be on display, along with floristry accessories and sales promotion items.
HORTICULTURE
Flower Centre gives big boost to industry
Dubai Flower Centre (DFC) has given a tremendous boost to flower industry in the region, as it has become hub of horticulture trade in the region, said Ebrahim Ahli, Marketing Director of the centre.
"We have achieved 50 per cent occupancy since opening in July last year and hope to achieve 100 per cent occupancy this year as a number of major international companies have set up their regional hub at the DFC," he said.
Ahli said the DFC has not only helped increase horticulture trade in the region but has helped meeting increasing demand for local consumption. The DFC will have a huge pavilion at the Dubai International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM).
"The DFC has given a boost to the sector by establishing Dubai as a central trading platform for flowers and plants in the Middle East, Asia and the subcontinent," added Michael Mueller, Managing Director, Planetfair Dubai LLC (organisers of IPM).
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