DUBAI ESTH UPDATE: COASTAL DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FREE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUBAI 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, RA AND OES STATE PASS TO USAID EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ETRD EAID PGOV AE SUBJECT: DUBAI ESTH UPDATE: COASTAL DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FREE ZONE; DUBAI HEALTHCARE CITY REF: 07 ABU DHABI 1998 DUBAI 00000100 001.2 OF 003 (SBU) SENSATIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Amman ESTH Hub officer and PolEconoff held January 30-31 ESTH related meetings in Dubai. Meetings with Nakheel, the developer of high profile Palms and World island projects, highlighted their pioneering aspects as they reclaim additional coastal land. While Nakheel is planning environmental safeguards, the long-term impacts are not predictable. Visits to the Harvard Medical Institute at the Dubai Healthcare city revealed 'Dubai's plans to bolster its healthcare services and research capabilities, but indicate considerable challenges remain before Dubai can realize its ambition to become a medical research destination. Enpark is a new free-zone positioned to attract investments in environmental and energy efficient businesses. Arab Science and Technology Foundation president shared some of the difficulties of engaging with Gulf countries to encourage greater R&D investments. End Summary. Luxury Villas for the Rich. Condominiums for Ecology -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Amman ESTH Hub officer and PolEconoff met Michael Nates, Senior Manager for Environment, Health & Safety, and Sustainability for Nakheel. Nakheel, part of the Dubai government-owned "Dubai World" group of companies, is the development company behind the three luxury "Palm Island" projects and the "World". The Palm Jumeirah is nearing completion, and the islands for the World (2-3 miles out from the shoreline) have been reclaimed in waters running at 12-18 meters depth. The first residents of the Palm Jumeirah have already moved, and an Atlantis hotel resort complex is heading toward completion; still to come is Trump Tower/hotel. Land reclamation for the two other committed Palm projects - the larger Palm Jebel Ali and the larger still Palm Deira is well underway, while, reclamation for the Dubai Waterfront project (near the Palm Jebel Ali and slated to be the size of Manhattan and housing 1.5 million inhabitants) is in its early stages. Nates compared the new projects to be started to "building a new 
London," but highlighted the difficulty in estimating final capacity and peak infrastructure demands since many people are buying the properties as investments or second/third holiday homes. Recently, Nakheel announced yet another offshore project for a 2015 timeframe, a series of new islands shaped like the planes and Milky Way galaxy named the Dubai "Universe" project. ¶3. (SBU) Nates highlighted that Nakheel is "building things to last," trying to build communities, not just fancy buildings. Nakheel has hired international consultants as well as the United Nations University - Institute of Water, Environment and Health to provide consultancy services to understand the scientific and engineering behavior of the reclaimed island developments. Dutch expertise has supported Nakheel in land reclamation and detailed hydrology and oceanographic modeling. Nates lamented the frequent criticisms the projects are exposed to noting that Nakheel purposefully keeps a low media profile give the media focus on only the negative news. Nates specifically referenced this strategy in conjunction with Nakheel's new "Blue Communities" project, a large environmental initiative targeted at developing standards for reclaimed land development. ¶4. (SBU) Nates acknowledged the Palm and World projects would not likely have received the necessary regulatory approvals in the U.S. or Europe. However, with the backing of the ruler of Dubai and the free zone authority, these ambitious projects have made impressive headway. While Environmental Impact Analysis have been approved for all the projects, Nates acknowledged the long term environmental impacts potentially will not be known for 20-30 years. ¶5. (U) Nates highlighted the strong water monitoring program, a wastewater treatment and irrigation facility, and participation in the Emirates Green Building Council and goal of achieving Gold LEED certification. Recent water quality tests which measure temperature, salinity, oxygen levels, and water circulation speeds showed significantly positive oxygen levels in the waters around the Palm Jumeirah. Treated wastewater is being used for irrigating the plants. A desalination plant is online and providing drinking water for the new developments. DUBAI 00000100 002.2 OF 003 The natural rocks that form the outer barrier for the Palms project are proving to be fertile ground for marine life and new coral formations -- one consultant terming them condominiums for ecology. Nates joked that some Palm residents have complained of the fish being too noisy. Nakheel will develop a sustainability report over the coming year and also establish targets for using renewable energy along the Dubai waterfront projects. ENPARK -------------- ¶6. (U) Enpark (www.enpark.ae) is a unit of TECOM investments (a member of 100 percent Dubai government-owned Dubai Holdings and focused on knowledge industries). Director Ali bin Towaih is positioning Enpark as a free zone destination for clean energy and environmental technology companies with over 8 million square feet of office, research centers, residential, educational and leisure facilities. All the buildings in Enpark (target population of 35,000) will be LEED certified at the Gold level. Eight businesses have signed on to the based in Enpark with another 42 in the pipeline. Bin Towaih urged U.S. businesses to set-up premises in Dubai/Enpark and noted that the current Dubai investment climate should be attracting U.S. businesses to set-up showcase projects for the region. He is keen to consider a regional GreenBuild conference being held in Dubai. Harvard Medical Institute at Dubai Healthcare City -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Dr. Thurer, Chief Academic Officer at the Harvard Medical Institute (HMI) in Dubai provided an update on HMI's plans which include a fifteen year initial commitment to be based in the Dubai Healthcare City (DHC). Noting that education and healthcare were until recently neglected in Dubai, Thurer believes that HMI has a key role in Dubai's vision of providing world-class infrastructure, including health care services. HMI has assisted Dubai with the development of regulatory and licensing rules. Only 2 hospitals in Dubai currently have the Joint Commission International accreditation, which Thurer envisions increasing rapidly as healthcare standards rise. However, Thurer does not envision Dubai becoming a destination for medical tourism. Finding skilled medical sand support staff is problematic given that only 40 doctors and 100 nurses graduated from UAE institutions in 2007. ¶8. (SBU) HMI is currently providing continuing education services for healthcare professionals. It has also started a medical research grants program with a roughly USD 14 million initial endowment. Thurer noted that medical research in the Gulf and Middle East is very weak, but acknowledged King Faisal Hospital in Saudi Arabia as being a "serious research facility" with 90 PhDs and $50 million in annual research grants. ¶9. (SBU) Thurer highlighted the success of medical exchanges as the best form of science diplomacy the USG could practice, noting the high return of goodwill and knowledge transfer these exchanges provide. He referenced recent exchanges where a group of Iranian doctors (who had previously never left Iran) went to the U.S. under the international visitor program and came back with a strong appreciation for the U.S. Several follow on projects have developed from that initial exchange. ¶10. (SBU) HMI and DHC are operating under the umbrella of Tatweer - part of the parastatal Dubai Holdings. Thurer applauded the excellent access HMI has to the ruler of Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also UAE PM and Vice President. According to Thurer, the research projects are currently under-funded if they are to achieve the Sheikh's vision for becoming a world-class healthcare research facility. Arab Science and Technology Foundation -------------- 11.(SBU) Dr. Abdalla Alnajjar bemoaned the lack of governmental support for R&D in the Arab world. He noted that the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) in particular suffered DUBAI 00000100 003.2 OF 003 because while the oil rich gulf countries support national R&D efforts, pan-Arab efforts were viewed suspiciously. He highlighted the many achievements of the ASTF since its foundation 7 years back, including the research grants, the capacity building programs and its database of over 10,000 Arab scientists (reftel). Alnajjar believes that most of the foreign S&T Arab diaspora is in Europe rather than the U.S. - with the highest concentration at 70% in France. Alnajjar referenced a previous request to the Department for a letter from the Secretary which he could use in lobbying for support from other SIPDIS Gulf region governments. Alnajjar does not expect to continue in his role after his current term expires in three years. Premier of 11th Hour -------------- ¶12. (U) On the occasion of the February 4 UAE National Environment Day, Warner Bros. and the Ministry of Environment and Water/Federal Environmental Agency held the UAE premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental documentary - 11th Hour. This splashy event served to encourage greater public awareness of environmental issues (reftel). SUTPHIN