© Ahmed Sameer

© Ahmed Sameer

On 29th of March, 2014, Earth Hour celebrated its 8th anniversary. Once

again, Earth Hour called on the world to unite and demonstrate the

necessity of taking action against climate change by switching off their

light for one hour. This year, Earth Hour’s impact was record-breaking

worldwide, reaching over hundreds of millions of people in 162 countries

in over 7000 cities. Famous landmarks all over the world switched off for

the hour, such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Golden Gate

Bridge in California and a new landmark this year - the Sultan Ahmed

Mosque in Turkey.

Beyond the global switch off, Earth Hour called for an amplified, multiplied

and powerful hour through the launch of a new platform “Earth Hour

Blue”.

2014 marks the UAE’s 7th year participating in Earth Hour; and as

darkness swept over the 7 emirates on the night of 29th March 2014, the

world’s tallest building, the UAE’s Burj Khalifa and the iconic Sheikh

Zayed Grand Mosque switched off in support of the hour. Residents also

participated in an amplified Earth Hour in response to EWS-WWF’s call to

not only to switch off for the hour, but also to switch to energy efficient

lighting as a first step towards long term impact and change.

Andy Ridley, the CEO of Earth Hour commented on how the crescendo of

Earth Hour made 2014 to be one of the most influential year yet.

“It is a fairly wild experience to watch as countries and cities from around

the world start to share their plans for the night and beyond the hour,

each story builds momentum and inspires other teams to share and do

more. For me, 2014 is the most important year in the project’s history as

we see so many campaigns multiplying the effect of everyone’s efforts

2014 is the biggest and most important Earth Hour ever!”

Earth Hour Blue is an all-new digital platform for the planet launched in

2014 to capture the power of the crowd and engage people around the

world beyond Earth Hour. Earth Hour Blue calls people to add their voice

to some of the biggest environmental campaigns across the world!

Success Stories;

Singapore - Using the Earth Hour platform, $20,000 were raised to

‘Stop the Killing’ in South East Asia. With these donations, WWF-

Singapore can kick start their attack on wildlife crime, and help save

the lives of animals and the rangers who protect them.

Australia - Earth Hour Blue helped raise awareness and encourage

the public to fight for the iconic Great Barrier Reef from climate

change and mega port developments.

Ongoing Projects;

• Light up a Village – WWF Uganda are raising money to turn on the

lights of some 600 homes in Uganda.

• Lampedusa Turtle Project – Help WWF Italy to support the

Lampedusa Sea Turtle Center which faces constant challenges

• Switch on for Mali - Campaign helping to raise funds for water tanks

and solar powered equipment to provide sustainable alternatives to

villages in Fiji.

For more information on ongoing projects, please visit www.earthhour.org

All 7 Emirates participated and with an anticipated reach of

approximately 5.5 million across the UAE, the Earth Hour movement in

the UAE continues to gather pace year on year.

Fujairah

Dubai

Sharjah

Dubai Al Ain

Abu Dhabi

©AlAinZoo ©TaimurKhan

© FatimaAlzaabi ©AlAinClubInvestmentCompany

Landmarks

Many of the UAE’s landmark buildings also switched off all non-essential

lights. Leading the list were several prominent landmarks such as the Burj

Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Hyatt, Emirates Palace, Etihad

Towers and the Burj Al Arab.

©Saeed Nassouri

Burj Khalifa

Emirates Palace

© NataschaMehrabi

Etihad Towers

©IqbalPallam

Burj Al Arab

© Saeed Nassouri

© ErikaHoonhaut

Contents of the Earth Hour pack:

• An Earth hour t-shirt

• A CFL energy efficient light bulb

• A card kit with information about how to switch to energy efficient lighting

• A reusable cloth bag to wrap everything up!

© EWS-WWF © EWS-WWF

In the lead up to Earth Hour 2014, EWS-WWF

launched a local call to action encouraging

corporations and individuals to

Get Enlightened and “Make the Switch

to energy efficient lighting.

The Earth Hour team designed a new Earth Hour

Pack for EH2014 that included all the information

you need to #MakeTheSwitch and participate in

Earth Hour. It was used as a great way to

engage with employees, customers, and

communities to show genuine commitment to

help build a sustainable future and pioneer

positive environmental change. *All proceeds from the sale of the pack will go to EWS-WWF’s work on climate change and energy including the Earth Hour campaign.

As part of Earth Hour UAE 2014, the

community rallied around the ‘selfie’

phenomenon by posting photos of

themselves with energy efficient bulbs on

social media. Taking a ‘selfie’ was a fun

and impactful way to ensure residents

could support the cause, spread

awareness and do more than switch off

for just one hour.

Helping to inspire more people to make a sustainable change in the UAE

were a host of our very own local superhero ambassadors. HH Sheikh

Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi (also known as the Green Sheikh) tweeted

his support for Earth Hour

Olympian Sheikha Latifa

Al Maktoum was one of

our great Earth Hour

2014 Ambassadors in

the UAE. She said: “I’m

proudly supporting

Earth Hour 2014 and

encourage the whole

of the UAE not only to

turn off the lights for

the hour, but to make

the switch to energy

efficient lighting for the

good of our country

and our planet.”

© Ziad Shrayteh

Several people used their influence to help amplify the message of Earth

Hour. The list includes Emirati adventuress Samia Al Mudhareb, Virgin

Radio’s DJ Kris Fade, show jumper Abdulla Al Marri, Olympian Samira Al

Bitar, Rashed Al Rashdi, student George Zacharia and DJ Bliss. These

ambassadors supported Earth Hour on social media, in media interviews,

promotional videos and photos whilst also reaching out to their own

circles of followers to inspire environmental change.

© RSB – Abu Dhabi © Samira Al Bitar

© DJBliss

© Samia Al Mudhareb

© George Zacharia

Thanks to the support and

commitment from our partners

and the UAE community, many

events were organised to

celebrate the hour. Below you

will find some of the highlights.

Abu Dhabi • Khalifa Park

Hosted by Abu Dhabi

Municipality, Earth Hour was

celebrated in Khalifa Park with

an evening of music and dance,

counting down to the Hour.

• St.Regis at Saadiyat Island

• Abu Dhabi Corniche Family

Park

• Al Ain Zoo

• Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

• Monte-Carlo Beach Club

• Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan

• by Rotana

• Marina Mall

© Moath Noor

© EWS-WWF

© EWS-WWF

Khalifa Park – Abu Dhabi

Municipality

Yoga on the Beach –

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

Art of Living – Abu Dhabi

Corniche Family Park

© KulsoomZakir

© FairmontBabAlBahar

© AOLPhotographer

Key events:

Dubai

• Bay Avenue in Business Bay

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority organised an activity packed event. The countdown was followed by an Earth Hour walk, which took place throughout the Hour.

• Fairmont the Palm

• Amwaj Rotana

• Jumeirah Rotana

• Sofitel Hotel

© EWS-WWF

© EWS-WWF

Amwaj Rotana – Concert in the Dark

© KrishnaSundaragopal

Earth Hour celebration – Sofitel Hotel

© RohitSalunke

HSBC volunteers at Business bay event_

© HSBC

Key events: Sharjah

• Al Majaz Waterfront

This event was hosted by the

Environment and Protected Areas

Authority (EPAA)

Key events: Fujairah

• Fujairah City Center

Fujairah Municipality celebrated

Earth Hour in Fujairah City Center

with Fujairah residents.

© FatimaAlzaabi

Sharjah Event – Al Majaz

Waterfront

© AishaAlyammahi

Fujairah Event – Fujairah City

Center

© FatimaAlzaabi

Sharjah Event – Al Majaz

Waterfront

Sharjah Event – Al Majaz

Waterfront

© FatimaAlzaabi

© AishaAlyammahi

Fujairah Event – Fujairah City

Center

In a YouGov survey of 1,202 UAE residents, results show that 75% of

respondents have heard of Earth Hour, with 60% of these people planning to

participate in Earth Hour 2014. This figure has grown since last year, when

only 54% planned to take part.

Facebook Highlights

2.5 million reach through an EWS-WWF Facebook campaign

Twitter Highlights

• 5.5 million impressions on Twitter

• Over 2.89 million accounts reached with Earth Hour related hashtags

#earthhour , #EarthHourUAE and #EarthHourDubai were trending on Twitter

Featured Earth Hour Articles in:

- Al Ittihad

- Al Bayan

- Emarat al Youm

- Gulf News

- Malayalam News

- Khaleej Times

- The National

- 7 Days

- Abu Dhabi Weekly

- Al Wahda

- Timeout Dubai

- Alroeya

- The Gulf today

Online Earth Hour Articles in:

- Expat Woman

- Emirates247.com

- Emaratiya.com

- Alkhaleej.ae

- Timeoutdubai.com

- Godubai.com

- Dubizzle

- Mideaster.com

- Dubaicityguide.com

- Uaetoday.com

- Thenational.ae

- Akhbar.alaan.tv

- Arabstoday.net

- Gulftoday.ae

Broadcast:

- Al AanTV

- Sama Dubai

- CNBC Arabia

- Studio One

- Virgin Radio 104.4

- Radio 1

- Radio 2

- Channel 4 104.8

- Noor FM

- Al Arabiya

- City FM

- H FM

Total Ad Value (AED): 6,449,514

English: 3,046,896 Arabic: 3,402,618

Total Ad Value via Broadcast (AED):

331,779

DUBAI Burj Khalifa Downton (Emaar Properties) Fairmont Hotel DIFC Raffles Hotel Dubai Airports Traders Hotel Shangri - La Standard Chartered Bank Tower Jumeirah Emirates Towers Dubai Municipality HQ Dubai Festival City Le Meridien Hotel and Spa Sheikh Rashid Tower Grosvenor House Jumeirah Beach Hotel Rose Rayhaan hotel Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Raffles Hotel ABU DHABI Etihad Towers Emirates Palace Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan Rotana ADCO Hala Arjaan Rotana Park Rotana Park Arjaan Rotana Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Maqta Bridge Musaffah Bridge Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Sheikh Zayed Bridge Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi ALDAR HQ ADGAS ADMA-OPCO Beach Rotana Municipality of Abu Dhabi City HQ Department of Transport AD HQ ADWEA HQ ADDC HQ TRANSCO HQ Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Masdar Institute

Al Maha Arjaan Rotana New York University Abu Dhabi St. Regis Saadiyat Island Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel TwoFour54 buildings National Bank of Abu Dhabi Fairmont Bab Al Bahr International Tower

SHARJAH

Al Qasba - Eye of the Emirates

Khan Corniche

Clock Tower

Al Qasba Mosque

University City

Mamzar Corniche

Central Market

Al Majaz Waterfront

FUJAIRAH

Fujairah Municipality

UMM AL QUWAIN

Umm Al Quwain Municipality

RAS AL KHAIMAH

RAK Municipality

Double Tree By Hilton Resort and

Spa

Marjan Island Resort and Spa

AJMAN

Ajman Municipality

Abu Dhabi Accountability

Authority

Abu Dhabi Cause Connect

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition

Center (ADNEC)

Abu Dhabi Retirement

Pension Fund

ADAA

Adeeb Electrical and

Electronics Services Co LLC

ADGAS

AECOM

Al Ain Zoo

Al Bustan Rotana Dubai

Al Fahim Group

Al Futtaim Carillion

Al Murooj Rotana Dubai

Al Noor Hospital Airport Road

ALDAR

Amwaj Rotana Dubai

Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island

Al Sahel Villa Resort

Atkins

BK Gulf Facilities

Management

Bloomberg LP

Bridgestone Middle East &

Africa

Burger Joint New York Dubai

Canon Middle East

Centro Sharjah by Rotana

ChoCo'a LLC

Choithrams

Cristal Hotel Abudhabi

Crowne Plaza Dubai

Crowne Prince court

DIFC

DP World

Drake and Scull International

Drydocks World - Dubai

du

Dubai Airport Authority

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and

Industry

Dubai Festival City

Dubai Municipality

Dubai Properties Group

Dubai Silicon Oasis

DUBAL

Dusit Thani Dubai

Emirates Aluminum

Empriate International Gulf

Environment and Protected Area

Authority - Government of Sharjah

ETA ASCON

Etihad Towers

Etisalat

Executive Affairs Authority

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

Fairmont Dubai

Fairmont The Palm

Four Points by Sheraton Downtown

Dubai

Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed

Road

Fuchsia restaurant LLC

Geant

Ghaf Investments

Good Deeds Individual Social

Responsibility

Green Globe

Green Hope UAE

Gulf Agency Company Jordan

Hawthorn Hotel & Suites by Wyndham -

JBR

Hilton Hotels

Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi

Holiday Inn Downtown Dubai

HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Idama (Ejadah Group)

Journey Toys Abu Dhabi

Many organisations and schools across the UAE participated in Earth

Hour, engaging their communities and supporting the movement. The

list below only includes organsiations that have registered on our

website: uae.panda.org/earththour

Jumeira Rotana Hotel

Jumeirah Rotana Dubai

Khadamat Facilities

Management

Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by

Rotana -

Liberty Investment Company

LLC

Lime Tree

Linklaters LLP

Louis Berger

Maqta Bridge

Marina Mall

Marriot Hotels

Masat Dubai Properties Group

Masdar Institute

Media One Hotel

Moevenpick Hotel Jumeirah

Lake Towers

Monte-Carlo Beach Club,

Saadiyat

More Cafe

Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta

Gate Dubai

Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah

Beach

Movenpick Hotels Dubai

Municipality of Abu Dhabi City

Musaffah Bridge

National Bank of Abu Dhabi

Novotel and Ibis Gate Hotel

OnTime Group

Panasonic Marketing Middle

East & Africa FZE

Petroleum Institute

Philips Lighting Middle East

Raffles Hotel

Rose Rayhaan by Rotana

Rosewood Abu Dhabi

Savoy Central Hotel Apartments

Savoy Crest Hotel Apartments

Savoy Park Hotel Apartments

Savoy Suites

Sheikh Zayed Bridge

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Social Media Club UAE

Sofitel The Palm Dubai

Students for the Earth

TADWEER (The Center of Waste

Managment- Abu Dhabi)

Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP)

The Art of Living - Abu Dhabi

The Change Initiative

The Eclipse Hotel Apartments

The Source Magazine

UNB

Unique System FZE

Virgin Megastore Middle East

Vox

Vox Cinemas

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

Cambridge International School Dubai Medical College for Girls Dubai Pharmacy College Julphar Secondary School Murdoch University International Study Center Our Own English High School, Sharjah (Girl's Branch) Safiya School The Indian High School, Dubai (Oud Metha campus) Umm Hakeem AlAnsaria University Of Sharjah Dental Students

Association