DIFC Takes Part in Afforestation Week

Press Release

DIFC takes part in Afforestation Week

Dubai – 08March 2012: The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the financial and business hub connecting the region’s emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas, announced today that it hasparticipated in the 32nd‘Afforestation Week’, which was launched under the theme “Together let’s plant the UAE” in collaboration with Dubai Police and the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment. The campaign promotes collaborative environmental programmes in general and supports the wider initiative launched earlierwith the aimto plant one million trees across Dubai.

Prof.Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Bin Fahad, Chairman of the Higher Committeeof the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment, Director of Dubai Police Academy, joined Nabil M. Ramadhan, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of DIFC Authority to plant a number of trees in the DIFC district.

Prof.Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Bin Fahad said: “The Afforestation Week has become a traditional event that we utilise every year to raise awareness of the importance of planting trees, while supporting the Government’s endeavours for a greener and more sustainable Dubai. The contribution of significant corporates and bodies such as the Dubai International Financial Centre gives the campaign more significance and meaning, and encourages individuals to follow suit. At Dubai Policeand the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment, we seek to adopt such green initiatives that will help us address several environmental issues, predominantly pollution. We also believe that spreading green areas supports our desire for a cleaner and healthier country.”

In turn, Nabil M. Ramadhan commented: “We are pleased to take part in this valuable initiative, which comes in line with our commitment to support environmental initiatives as part of a wider corporate social responsibility agenda planned for 2012. As a leading international financial centre, DIFC is keen to help in addressing critical global issues such as climate change, which is also evidenced by our annual participation in the Earth Hour campaign. In addition, we have an ongoing commitment to keep DIFC environmentally friendly through a number of ways includingoptimising energy, water and paper consumption and adopting green building standards.”

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About DIFC

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial and business hub connecting the region’s emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Since its launch in 2004, DIFC, a purposely built financial free zone, has been committed to encouraging economic growth and development in the region through its strong financial and business infrastructure. Currently, DIFC's client base comprises over 800 active registered firms, including 21 of the top 30 global banks, 8 of the top global money managers, 6 of the 10 largest insurers and 6 of the top 10 law firms in the world. More than 12 thousand employees operate in an open environment complemented by international legal and regulatory standards. DIFC offers its member companies benefits such as 100 percent foreign ownership, zero percent tax rate, with no restriction on capital convertibility or profit repatriation. DIFC has its own independent financial and ancillary services regulatory body, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). It also has the DIFC Courts, which is an independent common law judiciary based in DIFC with jurisdiction over civil and commercial disputes in or relating to the Centre.

DIFC is built upon a modern legal, regulatory and physical infrastructure which makes it the destination of choice for Financial Services firms establishing a presence in the region.

For further information, please visit our website: or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.

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