Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
A sustainable future is not defined by clean energy and lush greenery alone, but by communities that care for one another. At this year's Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), volunteers, humanitarians, and civil society organisations highlighted how community engagement is essential to building a more inclusive and resilient future.
One initiative that exemplifies this people-centred approach to sustainability is the Emirates Red Crescent's Preservation of Grace Project. It aims to discourage the waste of food, clothing, and furniture, as it works to redistributes usable items to those in need.
Sultan Al Shehhi, General Manager of the Grace Preservation Project, showcased the impact the initiative has achieved through collaboration with the private sector. "Through cooperation with companies in the UAE, we have been able to transform many unused materials into beneficial resources."
Beyond material redistribution, Al Shehhi emphasised a broader understanding of the campaign and the scope of what should be preserved. Preserving blessings, he said, is not limited to curbing waste from food, clothing, or furniture. "It also covers medicine, agriculture, the environment, energy, and technology."
At ADSW 2026, the team saw “new horizons for learning about developments in sustainability, technology, and recycling", Al Shehhi said.
Technology, he added, is key to scaling impact. "We are working to harness technology to find new mechanisms that improve performance and reach more efficient solutions."
A Lifelong Mission
This same spirit of community service was reflected in the participation of Fathiya Al Nadhari, one of the UAE's first Emirati female volunteers, who shared lessons from her decades-long journey in humanitarian work.
A student of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), Al Nadhari devoted her life to helping those in need
"Volunteer work is not temporary or fleeting," she said, recalling an advice from the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "It is continuous work, and it should be passed on to future generations."
She underscored the role of families in sustaining environmental awareness.
"We should not rely solely on institutions or school curricula," she said. "Families, especially mothers, have a responsibility to instil sound environmental practices in children."
That message of shared responsibility was echoed by the Environment Friends Society (EFS), which focuses on embedding sustainability principles across civil society.
Dr Ibrahim Ali Mohamed, Chairman of the Board of EFS, said the organisation continues to roll out practical initiatives aimed at conservation.
"We are constantly introducing new projects, including paper recycling, reusing used clothing, and collecting cooking oil and converting it into biofuel instead of disposing of it in sewage systems, due to its positive environmental and economic impact."
Looking ahead, he outlined upcoming initiatives that combine environmental action with digital innovation.
"We linked National Environment Day to the topic of digital transformation and artificial intelligence because any technology not managed within a proper quality framework can pose a risk, while the proper use of technology helps protect the environment and serve the community."
He also highlighted how digital platforms have expanded public engagement.
"Many of our events moved to Zoom, and more than a thousand people from the UAE and other Gulf countries participated with us, in addition to Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. This is a great success in amplifying the association's voice across the Arab world."
"Our ambition is limitless," Dr Ibrahim concluded. "We strive to be more responsive to civil society and to support the country's sustainability plans for 2030 and 2050."
