Rihab, Rimal and Villa Rotana initiates under the sea & shoreline clean-up campaign!

In partnership with Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police-Rescue and Transport Team and Filipino Scuba Divers in Dubai, Villa Rotana, Rihab Rotana, and Rimal Rotana took part in protecting and preserving one of world's most valuable resources on WORLD OCEANS DAY 2015.

Oceans matter! They paid their dues to Mother Nature by cleaning the ocean. About 10 colleagues from the three hotels also organized a clean-up on the shoreline, while 10 professional divers cleaned the ocean on Saturday, 6 June, 2015 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

Mr. Kinan Al Ghraoui, General Manager of Villa Rotana, Rihab Rotana and Rimal Rotana, said: “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to clean, we are going back from where we came from. We owe it to our mother nature to do this and I’m proud that the colleagues took an initiative, participated and made this celebration a success”

Oceans are the lifeblood of planet Earth and humankind. They flow over nearly three-quarters of our planet, and hold 97% of the planet's water. They produce more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and absorb the most carbon from it. No matter how far from the shore that you live, oceans still affect your life and the lives of your families and friends, classmates and colleagues.

The air that you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the products that keep you warm, safe, informed, and entertained — all can come from or be transported by the ocean. About half of the world’s population lives within the coastal zone, and ocean-based businesses contribute more than $500 billion to the world’s economy.

Historically, we thought that we could never take too much out of, or put too much waste into, the oceans. The sheer numbers of people who use and depend on the ocean, and the sometimes unwise practices we adopt, have created problems such as over harvest of resources, reduction in biodiversity, and degradation of marine habitats and species, among others. We risk the very ecosystems on which our survival depends.

Joel Acosta, President of Filipino Scuba Divers Club said, “We as a group always dive for a good cause. It was another great experience doing such initiative and be part of Rotana Hotels initiatives in taking care of the environment and creatures under the sea.”

Dubai Police, Transport and Rescue Department under the supervision of Major Ali Abdullah Ali Khamis, extended their support by providing a rescue boat during the event to make sure the safety and security of all divers that went under the water.

Mr. Mahmoud, a representative from Dubai Municipality, Waste Management Department commented on the event, “The 2 hours spent by the hotel colleagues to clean under the sea and the shoreline made really a difference. We recognized the efforts and support of Villa, Rihab and Rimal Rotana.”

The hotel colleagues collected a total of 27 bags of mixed trash from under the sea and the shoreline of the Jumeirah Beach.