In a powerful demonstration of community spirit and environmental commitment, Sharjah Sustainable City, Sharjah City Municipality, and BEEAH joined forces to observe World Cleanup Day with a beach clean-up activity.
The activity took place at Al Khan Beach in the Emirate of Sharjah and was aimed at promoting environmental protection while raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding natural landscapes, including beaches and aquatic life.
During the hour-long activity, residents of Sharjah Sustainable City and employees from partnering organizations participated in collecting waste, which was then sent to a recycling waste management facility.
Commenting on the initiative, Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, said: “As a leading sustainable community in the emirate of Sharjah, effective waste management and clean-up are central to our mission. As part of these efforts, we regularly collaborate with specialized organizations and encourage our residents to embrace sustainable practices, including waste sorting. Today’s clean-up drive reflects our broader goals of fostering environmental responsibility and promoting sustainability beyond our community. I extend my gratitude to Sharjah City Municipality and BEEAH for their support in making this event impactful and advancing our commitment to sustainable living in Sharjah.”
For his part, His Excellency Obaid Saeed Al Tunaiji, Director General of the Sharjah Municipality (SM),affirmed that this initiative underscores the municipality’s commitment to enhancing the urban and aesthetic appearance of the emirate and emphasized the importance of maintaining clean beaches, which are distinguished tourist destinations that see significant traffic, especially during the summer. His Excellency noted that Health, Safety, and Environment are among the priorities of the municipality’s work and one of the core pillars of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, with cleaning campaigns playing an important role in these efforts.
Rafael Lopez, CEO – Waste Collection and City Cleaning at BEEAH, commented: “Preventing waste from entering our surroundings is crucial to the health of ecosystems and communities. We are proud to have collaborated with Sharjah Sustainable City and Sharjah Municipality, joining forces at Al Khan Beach, to make a positive impact here in Sharjah, where we are fortunate to have incredible nature and biodiversity. Clean-up initiatives like these immediately benefit our natural environment in the short-term, but also inspire collective action in society towards a sustainable, climate-positive future in the long-term.”
As the first sustainable master-planned residential community developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with Diamond Developers, Sharjah Sustainable City has been at the forefront of supporting global efforts toward sustainable development. The city regularly organizes community engagement activities aimed at sharing knowledge and raising public awareness on critical areas, including waste management, pollution, urban farming, and health and wellbeing. The clean-up program was part of these efforts and served as a significant event to engage the community in broader environmental initiatives in Sharjah and the UAE.
The World Cleanup Day has grown into the largest civic movement in human history since its inception in 2018. With a vision of a healthy and waste-free world, the day gained even greater significance last December when the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted a resolution designating September 20 as World Cleanup Day.