Translating the directives of the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform Dubai into one of the smartest and more sustainable cities in the world, Dubai Municipality has signed a contract with Philips Lighting on Monday for the design, manufacture and supply of Dubai Lamp. The lamp will be available in the Dubai market by the end of this year.

The contract is the culmination of the launch of the world’s most energy efficient commercially available LED lamp during WETEX exhibition in October last year. The Dubai Lamp Initiative is the fruit of a unique research partnership between Philips Lighting and Dubai Municipality, resulting in the development of the world’s first commercially available 200 lumen per Watt LED lamp, which will be available in widely used shapes and colours. 
Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality signed the contract on behalf of the Municipality, while Philips Lighting was represented by Paolo Cervini, President, Philips Lighting, Middle East & Turkey. 

“We have plans to replace 80% of the traditional lamps used in Dubai with the new Dubai Lamp. Dubai Municipality and Philips Lighting are preparing for the supply of two million Dubai Lamps for residential and professional use across the city in 2017. This could increase to 10 million lamps by 2021,” said Lootah. 

“To begin with, we will make it mandatory for new buildings under construction to use Dubai Lamp. It will be made the basic requirement for getting the Building Completion Certificate,” he said.

“This will be beneficial for both sides. The owner of the building will be able to save a lot of money on energy charges and we will able to protect the environment,” Lootah pointed out. 

“In the beginning, we will concentrate on the new buildings. As regards the old buildings, we will make a study on the implementation mechanism. The Municipality will also focus on big complexes such as schools, hospitals, mosques and other big buildings,” he said.

He said the Dubai Lamp Initiative aims to raise public awareness of the need for energy saving and for reduction of carbon emissions. “It is in line with the government directives and Dubai Municipality Vision and also supports the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy which targets a 30% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 16% by 2021, in addition to promoting clean energy practices to protect the environment and achieve sustainability in all walks of life, and contribute to Dubai Municipality's share of the proceeds to support the Green Fund to be used in innovative initiatives,” said Lootah.

He said that this project comes as part of Dubai government’s keenness to launch specific initiatives that contribute and prove the seriousness of Dubai in the creation of a global role model in the application of the concept of smart and sustainable city.  

Lootah added that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum encourages such innovative and ambitious initiatives launched by our national establishments within the framework of the UAE strategy aimed at establishing the elements of sustainable development, a concept which was laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan since the founding of the Union as he was keen to benefit the future generations of our dear people, and to provide safe and decent living for each member of the community as far as the progress of the country is considered. 

"Dubai’s pioneering collaboration with Philips Lighting to realize such accomplishments in the field of clean energy are encouraging and offers an imitable international model. Environmental protection forms the first priority for everyone, and from our part, we keep this in mind with our constant work and relentless efforts to reach the goal of a smart and sustainable city," said Lootah.

Cervini said the partnership with Dubai Municipality is a prime example of how a public-private partnership can deliver innovation that is practical and cost-effective for both consumer and professional markets.
He said the initiative is a first of its kind in the world and has set a new benchmark in energy efficiency and sustainable development in Dubai.

Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector said the Dubai Lamp initiative aims to develop energy policies that reflect a global perspective in the field of sustainability.

“The initiative also aims to meet the current and future challenges facing the energy sector and to formulate responsible policies for implementing and developing mechanisms and frameworks and exchanging experiences between the different countries of the world to enhance the development of human potential in pursuit of the common good of humanity,” he said.

“The initiative promotes to continue striving for responsible and rational use of fuel in the global economy with encouragement to expedite the process of safe and timely transition to renewable energy sources and provide a safe, appropriate and sustainable energy accessible to everyone,” he said. 

In addition to supporting policies aimed at increasing energy efficiency, the initiative encourages efficient use of energy in industrial processes, buildings and electricity networks, said Al Awadhi. 

The contract is for five years, and the intellectual property right will be divided equally between Dubai Municipality and Phillips Lighting for a period of five years. The Municipality will make investments in the field of research and development to create the most efficient lamp in the world. The manufacturing and supply of lamps will start during the month of March 2017.