The UAE has been a firm supporter of Tourism Ireland’s annual Global Greening initiative, and on its 10th anniversary, 10 major national landmarks lit up in hues of green to observe Ireland’s National Day (St. Patrick’s Day) on March 17, 2020.
For the first time in the history of Global Greening, the expansive dunes of the Arabian Desert – organised by Arabian Adventures – turned from brown to green, alongside three other new landmarks that included Dubai Frame, Kempinski Emerald Palace, Abu Dhabi University and The Abu Dhabi EDITION.
The Burj Khalifa illuminated 830m of green for the second consecutive year, while recurring loyal landmarks Burj Al Arab, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Nation Towers also joined in the celebrations.
“We’re proud to announce that this year we will enjoy the highest number of ‘Global Greenings’ in the UAE, and we thank the UAE for its tremendous ongoing support of Ireland’s National Day. The UAE is Ireland’s second largest market in the Arab world and has been the fastest growing emerging market, showing a year-on-year increase in visitors over the past five years. It is also home to more than 10,000 Ireland nationals who are delighted to enjoy a ‘piece of home’ in the country that we all call home,” says Aisling McDermott, Tourism Ireland Manager, Middle East & Asia
Commenting on the 2020 Global Greening lineup, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, says: “2020 marks the 10th anniversary of Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative, which takes place this year against the backdrop of the extremely serious COVID-19 outbreak. Global Greening is an expression of solidarity with our tourism industry partners and we are thinking about them across the world.”
“Tourism Ireland will continue to spread the Ireland message around the world, reminding people everywhere about our wonderful scenery, our rich heritage and culture and, above all, our welcoming and friendly people. We will be ready to roll out an extensive kick-start programme to re-start the year when the time is right and we’ll be working flat out to restore as much business as we possibly can for our tourism industry partners.”
