Photo essay: How Abu Dhabi Golf Club is reducing its water use ahead of Cop28


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Lush greenery surrounds Abu Dhabi Golf Club, home to the 18-hole National Course and nine-hole Garden Course.

The sprawling space in Khalifa City has a sleek clubhouse, dining options and used to be the site of the Abu Dubai HSBC Golf Championships.

Ahead of Cop28, the venue has begun to reduce its water usage, despite needing it to keep everything green. A new initiative involves reducing the amount of grass, and then concentrating on what remains to improve its quality and overall condition.

“The main reason behind reducing the usage of water and grass is the fact that less grass means less water, less water means lower costs,” Kieren Pratt, the director of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, tells The National.

An indirect benefit is that less energy is needed to pump and treat water, and reducing the demand for power also lowers harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide.

World leaders and ambassadors will gather in Dubai for Cop28 from November 30 to December 12, where they will discuss if enough has been done since Cop21's Paris Agreement to limit average global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“The time is now for businesses and philanthropists to step up and play a leading role in helping the world meet net-zero pathways,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate.

The event will include more than 300 discussions about climate change and sustainability. Organisers are expecting up to 70,000 people a day to visit the site.

Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation during the two-week conference to reflect the event's commitment to reducing carbon footprints.

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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RESULTS FOR STAGE 4

Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.

Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Updated: November 24, 2023, 6:01 PM