Sustainability
When I think about Dubai, I don’t imagine much greenery or sustainability. I think of modernization and urban life: factories piling pollution into the air and trees torn down to make space for man made skyscrapers. However, these assumptions were challenged when I recently visited Dubai in December 2024.
I had originally gone to see family, but something that struck me is how the city is actually home to many unique companies that focus on sustainability. One particular company that stands out is called The Giving Movement, a brand that was recommended to me by my cousins, who gifted me some of their items for the holidays. Everything in the giving movement is locally produced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They specialize in activewear, offering selections of leggings, sweats, tops, and many other items as well.
Surfing through their website, I was fascinated by the origins of the company: the owner, Dominic Nowell-Barnes, was motivated to create change in the fashion industry when he saw the terrible conditions laborers work in and the pollutants released as garments are produced. After understanding the downsides of the textile industry, he made it his mission to create a brand that combats these stigmas in the fashion world, that all brands are harming people and the Earth. The Giving Movement was the product of that mission.
Now, it is known as one of the most transparent clothing labels, providing details on every supplier they work with and vetting that all of their factories are ethical and sustainable (see photo b).They make sure that everything they produce is eco-friendly, even the packaging, which is made of plant starch! The limit the amount of garments produced to not overproduce or waste clothing, but also not taking as much time as clothing that is made to order. They use products and materials healthy for the skin, making sure that their customers have the best experience they can get out of their pieces. Additionally, every purchase that a customer makes means that The Giving Movement donates 4 dollars to a charity that supports child welfare.
The Giving Movement is just one example of the many sustainable brands that have roots in the UAE. Only Ethikal is another sustainable clothing brand that focuses on positive environmental impact. It uses natural materials– such as cotton– to ensure high-quality and healthy clothes for your skin. They also support fair working conditions, as they make sure the factories they partner with have workers who are well-paid and working in healthy conditions. Similarly to The Giving Movement, they pay close attention to their packaging, using compostable bags composed of cornstarch. What I found most special was that most of their items are made to order, reducing the amount of extra items they have and making sure there is almost no waste; they are also working to become a carbon zero emitter, and donate 1% of all of their revenue to a well-vetted charity annually.
I also saw this campaign of sustainability with my own eyes walking out on the street: you can’t litter, there are specific rules for disposing of water on the street, and you’re eligible to be fined if you are caught burning anything into the air, whether it is inside your home or out in your garden. Together, Dubai’s strict rules and brands’ commitment to the environment make Dubai and the world a cleaner place, focusing on problems such as carbon emission to help reduce their negative footprint.
Accessibility
During this same trip, I also began thinking about another part of inclusive design: accessibility. Dubai is designed impressively, with towering skyscrapers and gorgeous marinas, but an advanced design does not mean it is usable by all.
To begin, something that stood out to me was the use of the phrase “People of Determination” instead of “people with disabilities.” This replacement is used in the UAE to acknowledge the achievements of people with disabilities, who are often faced with setbacks and hardships able-bodied people don’t normally experience. Alongside this, there are also many services available for people with disabilities; for example, there is an official at every government office who is solely responsible for providing for disabled people.
Dubai’s infrastructure and buildings were all constructed much more recently than other major cities like New York, London, and Tokyo, which has given it the opportunity to implement stronger design choices regarding people with disabilities. Dubai Municipality has created the Dubai Universal Design Code, which establishes accessibility standards for buildings and encourages older buildings to be modified so that they can be more easily used. The city even has a program called Wosool, where existing buildings can be evaluated by engineers based on accessibility requirements, integrating accessibility into the design process over just being an add-on.
Transportation is another area where Dubai has made accessibility a priority. According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, the Dubai Metro and tram systems include features such as tactile pathways for people with visual impairments, elevators large enough for wheelchairs, accessible ticket counters, wide entrance gates, designated wheelchair spaces and audio and visual announcements. Alongside this, the busses are designed with low floors and other features that help people with disabilities enter and exit comfortably. There is also a specific taxi services for people with disabilities. These vehicles are designed to accommodate wheelchair users, and the RTA offers a specific option for booking a People of Determination taxi.
Another standout was the attention given to spaces that are naturally difficult to make accessible, such as beaches. Sand is incredibly difficult for a regular wheelchair to move across, meaning that something as simple as going to the beach can become inaccessible. Dubai Municipality has introduced accessible facilities at its beaches including ramps, accessible bathrooms and designated parking spaces. It also provides beach and floating wheelchairs, which allow people with disabilities to move across the sand and even enter the water more easily. Lifeguards at these beaches are also trained to provide additional assistance.
The same idea can be found throughout many of Dubai's public spaces. Dubai Municipality lists wheelchair ramps, elevators near entrances, accessible restrooms and accessible parking among the accommodations available at its facilities. People with disabilities (with a valid card) are also exempt from admission fees at several government-operated attractions, including iconic places like the Dubai Frame, Dubai Safari Park, Children’s City and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Dubai's tourism department has even created specific resources identifying accessible hotels and attractions so travelers with disabilities can plan their trips more easily.
Together, the sustainability initiatives I discovered and Dubai's approach toward accessibility changed the way I viewed the city. I originally saw Dubai mostly as a symbol of rapid modernization, but I began to understand that modernization can also create an opportunity to rethink how cities are built. True innovation should not only mean creating taller buildings or newer technology. It should also mean designing a city that considers its environmental impact and, equally importantly, the different people who need to navigate it.
