Dubai Municipality strengthens community engagement with 162 volunteer activities under 'An Hour with the Cleaner' initiative

• 7,180 volunteer hours recorded in support of sustainable city cleanliness across Dubai.
• 136 government, semi-government, and private entities participated in 2024.
• Activities focused on preserving Dubai’s cultural and environmental aesthetic.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25 March 2025: Dubai Municipality has reinforced its commitment to community engagement and environmental responsibility by organising more than 162 field-based volunteer activities in 2024 under the ‘An Hour with the Cleaner’ initiative. The initiative recorded a total of 7,180 hours of volunteer work, with participation from over 7,180 volunteers representing 136 government, semi-government, and private sector entities, as well as members of the wider community.

These activities were designed to promote a culture of environmental sustainability and shared civic responsibility, encouraging the public to contribute to the cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of the Emirate. In addition to waste collection across various locations, volunteers were involved in sorting and recycling collected materials, promoting a wider understanding of waste reduction practices and contributing to the emirate’s environmental goals.

Eng. Saeed Safar, Director of the Waste Operations Department at Dubai Municipality, highlighted the importance of the initiative in shaping community awareness. “The ‘An Hour with the Cleaner’ initiative reflects the commitment of Dubai’s community to upholding the city’s status as one of the cleanest and most liveable cities in the world. It represents the strong civic values that unite our community and underscores the importance of working collectively to protect our urban and natural environment. This initiative embodies our vision of sustainability, volunteerism, and shared responsibility.”

He added: “Dubai Municipality plays a leading role not only in service delivery but also in fostering community partnerships through environmentally focused volunteer programmes. By involving various segments of society, we support the emirate’s integrated waste management strategy, reduce waste generation at source, and promote sustainable habits such as sorting and recycling.”

As part of the Municipality’s ongoing efforts, 20 dedicated volunteer activities were carried out in Al Hadeer depression, where more than 2,000 volunteers joined campaigns to remove waste and preserve the natural environment. Dubai Municipality also supported organisations and volunteer teams by providing logistical equipment and oversight for clean-up operations in residential areas. In addition, the initiative supported four Farjan Dubai events across Al Barsha South, Al Warqa, Al Mizhar, and Nad Al Hamar, engaging more than 600 volunteers. Two further activities were organised in Al Khawaneej 2 in partnership with the Hamdan Volunteer Team, involving over 100 volunteers.

Originally launched in 2017, ‘An Hour with the Cleaner’ is one of Dubai Municipality’s flagship community initiatives. It aims to encourage year-round volunteer participation in cleaning campaigns across public beaches, parks, markets, industrial areas, residential neighbourhoods, and desert environments. The programme plays a central role in promoting environmental stewardship and civic pride, contributing to Dubai’s image as a model city for sustainability and social cohesion.