Al Murjan Reef Rehabilitation Project
“Every life has a beginning and this rock signifies a new one.”
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Under the Royal Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, UAE; Al Murjan Reef Rehabilitation Project is an initiative by the Dubai Ladies Club, Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai and Traders Hotel, Dubai under the umbrella of ‘sustainability’ Shangri-La's Social Responsibility initiative.
Inspired by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, UAE, who is also the Honorary President of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, Al Murjan - which means “coral” in Arabic - was borne out of her devotion towards the marine life sanctuary in Dubai.
Al Murjan will be the first community-based coral reef development project within the UAE. The project will seek to build capacity at the community level through necessary trainings to community groups in coral reef education and awareness; management planning; and long-term financing and sustainability. Through Ladies Dive at Dubai Ladies Cub – which is the first and only Diving Centre dedicated for women from the local community will have the opportunity to get involved through a variety of volunteer programs and special diving camps organized by Dubai Ladies Club in collaboration with Emirates Marine Environmental Group.
Aside from providing food and shelter for numerous fish and marine species, coral reefs in the UAE play important ecological, economic, recreational and cultural roles by protecting coasts from erosion, supporting commercial fishing and an array of recreational activities.Through the expertise of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, the project will be done in three phases: acquiring as well as deployment of rocks onsite, transplanting of corals and follow up surveys.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts remain committed to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner while balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders. In striving to be a leader in corporate citizenship and sustainable development, a corporate-level CSR Committee drives the company’s initiatives in the strategic areas of stakeholder relations, environment, health and safety, supply chain and employees. Under the umbrella of sustainability, Shangri-La’s social responsibility programme consists of the two elements of “embrace” and “sanctuary.” Embrace focuses on Shangri-La’s Caring People Project, which aims to promote the highest level of education and health support in underprivileged communities. In sanctuary, the programme concentrates on Shangri-La’s Care for Nature Project, which promotes the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. For more information, please access the CSR section on www.shangri-la.com.
The “Murjan” project is also supported by Barakat Trading and Regaltech.
Click here to download the EMEG June-July 2011 Newsletter.