Lights out on and Offline at Majid Al Futtaims Websites and Malls in Honour of Earth Hour 2016

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, is supporting the global Earth Hour movement on March 19, 2016, through an innovative digital and onsite initiative, to raise awareness about the importance of reducing energy consumption. 

By diming and switching off lights for one hour, along with setting the malls temperature at a standard 24 degrees, Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls will avoid the emission of 35 tons of CO2, demonstrating the major impact of slight modifications in energy usage. The company’s sustainability experts estimate that up to $10,000 in energy consumption could be saved in Earth Hour 2016. 

Majid Al Futtaim malls including: Mall of the Emirates, City Centres Al Shindagha, Deira, Me’aisem and Mirdif in Dubai; City Centres Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, My City Centre Nasseriya and the Matajer Malls in the Northern Emirates, City Centres Bahrain, Beirut, Qurum and Maadi across the region, will all switch their combined 52 websites to power-saving mode in addition to dimming the malls exterior and interior lights on March 19, between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. The initiative aims to reduce energy consumption up to 30%, while underscoring the company’s focus on sustainability and efficient use of resources. 

“Majid Al Futtaim strives to create new and innovative ways to work towards greater environmental sustainability. We encourage our visitors and communities to join our digital initiative as we participate in this global movement that aims to protect the planet by reducing energy consumption.” said Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, Head of Sustainability - Majid Al Futtaim Properties. 

Throughout the GCC, Majid Al Futtaim’s malls are amplifying the Earth Hour energy-saving message through a number of other platforms. Mall of the Emirates will encourage all participating retailers to switch off exterior signage. In UAE’s Northern Emirates, City Centres Ajman, Fujairah and Sharjah are distributing to visitors complimentary City Centre-branded energy-efficient light bulbs to reduce power consumption in their homes. 

City Centre Qurum will host a ‘Switch On Nature’ activation, creating a ‘C’ structure made of energy-efficient light bulbs and encouraging visitors to remove one bulb at a time to decrease energy consumption. In order to participate and receive a bulb, shoppers will have to use the hashtag #CCQEarthHour on social media and tag City Centre Qurum. 

Also in City Centre Beirut, customers are invited to take part in Earth Hour as the mall’s lights will be turned off during an extravagant performance by a talented contortionist set to stun spectators. The event will take place at 8PM and special glow in the dark bracelets will be distributed to all attendees. 

For more information on Earth Hour, visit: www.earthhour.org