Earth Hour 2021: how to participate in the UAE

From candle-lit yoga to dining in the dark, people around the world are urged to switch their lights off for one hour

Sites across the UAE will go dark such as when the Burj Al Arab went dark last year for Earth Hour 2020. Courtesy Emirates Nature-WWF

Earth Hour 2021, an hour with no electronics or light, is taking place this week in a bid to raise environmental awareness.

This year Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, director general at Emirates Nature-WWF, says the event is more important than ever.

"Human health and the health of our environment are inextricably linked. Our collective resilience, well-being, nutrition, and ability to avert disease is fully connected to the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the ways we interact with nature," says Abdullatif.

"Earth Hour 2021 gives us a golden opportunity to join hand-in-hand and drive change together, as an active civil society, towards a green recovery for the UAE."

A family marking Earth Hour by candle light in 2020. Ruel Pableo for The National

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a global call to action organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It takes place at 8.30pm annually on the on the last Saturday of March, urging people around the world to switch off their lights and any unnecessary electronics for one hour.

Here we round-up ways to mark Earth Hour in the UAE...

Get a free plant sapling at The Tap House 

To mark Earth Hour, The Tap House at Club Vista Mare is giving a sapling to all customers who arrive wearing green on Saturday as a symbol of giving back to the planet.

The Tap House, Club Vista Mare, Dubai; Saturday; 04 514 3778

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach is recognising Earth Hour with a number of deals. The Shore House restaurant is set to go dark for 60 minutes at 8.30pm, where there will be 10 per cent off candlelit dining experiences on the beach and 20 per cent off select beverages at Shore House restaurant.

Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach; Saturday; 07 204 8888

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

The Farmhouse at the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert will go dark for Earth Hour. Courtesy Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach's sister hotel The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert is also offering Earth Hour deals. The dune-side luxury hotel's Farmhouse and Moorish restaurants are set to go dark for 60-minutes at 8.30pm. There will also be a candle lighting ceremony outside Farmhouse restaurant and a happy hour offering 50 per cent off selected drinks at Moon Bar.

Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert; March 27; 07 206 7777

Yoga at Zero Gravity 

Get mindful during Earth Hour with a candle-lit yoga session on the beach at Dubai's Zero Gravity with yogi Karina Onga.

A gentle Vinyasa flow session, which will be suitable for all levels, the beach will be candle-lit from 7pm until 11pm, in preparation for the 8.30pm hour-long session.

The class costs Dh50, which is fully redeemable on food and beverages on the beach before or after the class.

Earth Hour beach yoga, Zero Gravity, Dubai; 8.30pm-9.30pm, Saturday; Dh50; 04 300 0009; [e-mail]

Earth Hour at the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel and Remal Hotel

Both the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel and the Remal Hotel in Abu Dhabi will be taking part in Earth Hour. The hotels will be switching their lights off 8.30pm until 9.30pm, so any guests checked in, don't be surprised when it all goes dark.

Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel and Remal Hotel, Abu Dhabi; 8.30pm-9.30pm, Saturday; 02 809 2222; afoc.ae

Celebrate at home 

Reading by candle light is one way to observe Earth Hour. Unsplash

Of course, you don't need to go out to mark Earth Hour. Switch off all of your electronics, make sure to squeeze in that one last Netflix episode, and just light a few candles around your home.

Playing a board game with family members, reading a book by candle light or taking a walk around your neighbourhood to check out how many people are observing Earth Hour are a few other ways to pass the time.