The General Network for Government Communications (GNGC) concluded 2024 with a sharp focus on promoting sustainability and food security, at the network’s final meeting of the year, its members underlined the important role of media in driving awareness to support initiatives like “Grow in UAE”.
The meeting was organised under the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai and convened communication officials from across Dubai’s government. Held at the Dubai Municipality Nursery in Warsan, the session highlighted initiatives aimed at expanding green spaces and enhancing sustainability in the emirate.
Budoor Ali, Director of Government Communications at the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, spoke on the importance of communications strategies in raising public awareness of and boosting community engagement with Dubai’s government initiatives.
She said: “Effective communication is essential for ensuring messages resonate with society. By leveraging the most advanced communications tools to hand, we can raise awareness and elevate the impact of campaigns that inspire and inform the community, encouraging people to help write Dubai’s global success story.” Ms. Ali added: “This gathering strengthens intergovernmental collaboration and reinforces the synergy between Dubai’s different government initiatives, helping to ensure they serve every part of the community.”
Community-led Initiatives
Taif Al Amiri, Director of Corporate Marketing Department at Dubai Municipality, shared the municipality’s latest efforts to empower local farmers and promote sustainability in the food value chain, including Dubai’s Farmers’ Market. She said:
“Supporting Emirati farmers is a key pillar of Dubai Municipality’s strategy to build a sustainable food ecosystem. Through the Dubai Farms programme launched under the Dubai Social Agenda 33, we provide technical, logistical, and agricultural support to local businesses, enhancing the quality of local produce and driving sustainability within the agricultural sector.”
Ms. Al Amiri added: “Dubai Municipality Nursery is the first in the Middle East to integrate fully automated systems, advanced agricultural technologies, artificial intelligence, and robotics, producing up to 90 million flower seedlings annually. The nursery also utilises sustainable irrigation in line with the municipality’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”
Advancing food security
Hajar Al Ketbi, Director of Government Communication at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, outlined the key features of the Grow in UAE programme. She highlighted the positive community engagement with the programme, particularly since its launch. She said: “The programme promotes agricultural innovation, environmental sustainability, and food security by supporting local farmers and encouraging homegrown produce. Grow in UAE’s initiatives significantly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the UAE’s food systems while fostering partnerships with the private sector to advance sustainable agricultural practices”.
Exploring Dubai’s green vision
The meeting concluded with a guided tour of the Dubai Municipality Nursery in Warsan. With the motto “Dubai’s Beauty Starts Here”, the nursery is the city’s primary hub for growing seedlings and is vital to Dubai’s transformation into a greener, more sustainable city.
Strengthening government communication
Established in 2009, the GNGC leads efforts to enhance collaboration among the Government’s communication teams and ensure communications strategies are aligned with Dubai’s vision.
