Dubai,  21 January 2008

Dubai Municipality has announced that it will undertake this year 109 landscape and beautification projects worth Dhs463 million which will include development of the existing six public parks, setting up of 21 neighbourhood parks, 23 community facilities, four Ponds Parks and several other beautification projects.

This was revealed by Eng. Rashad Bukhash, Director of General Projects Department, while addressing GLADAC 2008, the first Gulf Landscape Architecture and Design Awards Conference, which was held on Monday at the Conference Centre of Knowledge Village.

He said the upcoming projects would add a total of 113 hectors of greenery to the urban landscape and would include several beautification projects for different areas  across the city in line with the Strategic Plan for Dubai Municipality (2007-2011) which seeks to increase the per capita share of greenery to 23.4 square meter and raise the total area of cultivated land to 3.15 per cent of the total urban land by 2011.

Bukhash added that expansion of public parks would cover all the six existing parks i.e. Jumeirah Beach Park which was originally built in 1990 with a total area of 52 hectors at a cost of Dhs31 million, Mushrif Park (1992, 525 hectors, Dhs66 million), Creek Park (1994, 96 hectors, Dhs172 million), Safa Park (1975, expanded in 1992, 64 hectors, Dhs56 million), Mamzar Park (1996, 90 hectors, Dhs56 million), and Zabeel Park (2005, 52 hectors, Dhs180 million).

The new neighbourhood parks, which would include facilities such as jogging track, play-grounds for a variety of games, water features, walkways, shaded sitting areas, include Safouh Park (cost Dhs12 million, area: 2.1 hectors), Mirdif 3 Park (Dhs10 million, 2.3 hectors), Mizhar 2 Park (Dhs10 million, 1.7 hectors), Nad Al Sheba Park (Dhs8 million, 9537 square meters), Al Barsha Pond Park (Dhs2.7 million, 6.7 hectors), and Qusais Pond Park (Dhs5.5 million, 4.7 hectors).

The new community facilities, which will include sports courts for football, tennis, basketball and volleyball apart from soft landscape, walkways, shaded sitting areas, and children's play areas, are coming up in Al Qusais 3 (Dhs1.2 million), Nad Al Hamr (Dhs2.3 million), and Abu Hail (Dhs1 million).

Other beautification projects include the Port Saeed Plaza at a cost of Dhs12 million.

Dr. Diane Menzies, President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), which organised the event in a Gulf city for the first time, Ingrid Duchhart, Senior Lecturer at Department of Landscape Architecture of Wageningen University, Amsterdam, and Alfonoso Vegara, ISoCarp Former President, also addressed the audience.

The conference brought together presidents, vice presidents & senior executives from world-renowned organisations as well as an audience of up to 200 industry-related professionals and delegates hailing from all corners of the globe.

Bukhash said the conference was highly beneficial for all participants, including those from Dubai Municipality, a great opportunity to learn and exchange expert knowledge in the field of landscape architecture and design as well as to highlight the importance of spatial design and landscape planning in the city.

"We, at Dubai Municipality, are pleased to associate ourselves with IFLA in organising this prestigious event for the first time in the region," said Bukhash.

Dr. Menzies said GLADAC 2008 recognized the landscape architecture industry's immense growth and development within Dubai, the UAE and the GCC region. 

"This event marks an historic first for the Middle East region. IFLA, in partnership with Dubai Municipality, is proud to bring some 35 eminent speakers in the field of landscape architecture including senior officials of the UN, IFLA, UN-Habitat, Union of International Architects, the UNESCO, the Council for Education in Landscape Architecture, Crisis Group International, ISOCARP, as well as presidents of international landscape architect associations from America, Europe, UK, South Africa, Far East, India and Australia. Apart from them, parliament dignitaries from Malawi, South Africa, and Kenya, professors from faculties of landscape architecture of major global universities including King Saud University of Saudi Arabia. Also taking part are renowned landscape architects from the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, the Americas and Africa.

"As global environmental and development issues are impacting the face of landscape we need professionals and professional bodies to make sure that the stewardship of the Earth is maintained for the better.  The relationship between IFLA and the local associations can drive educational, environmental, heritage, cultural and conservation issues in all landscape matters and we welcome the opportunity of helping in this region," she said.

Dr. Menzies added that the UAE and GCC are currently going through a development boom and have unique environmental issues that need to be addressed in a careful and rigorous manner.  Landscape architects should be and will be at the forefront of addressing these issues.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2008