Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Modon inaugurate air purification tower on Hudayriyat Island

Supporting efforts to maintain air quality and reduce the effects of climate change, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with Modon, has inaugurated the region’s first smog-free tower at Al Hudayriyat Island. The new air purification tower is an urban innovation designed to enhance air quality in the area.

The inauguration was attended by His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi’s Executive Committee, His Excellency Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Abdulla Al Sahi, Managing Director of Modon, and Bill O’Regan, CEO of Modon.

His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi’s Executive Committee and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, said: “The enhancement of air quality is one of our core strategic priorities and something we have worked on for decades. We always strive to implement innovative solutions to ensure that the Abu Dhabi community lives in a safe and healthy environment and this smog-free tower is a perfect example of what we are trying to achieve.

“We will also explore the possibilities of introducing smog-free towers across other areas in Abu Dhabi in the future. The installation of the tower on Al Hudayriyat Island is a pilot project, as the experience will be evaluated before continuing to install more towers in other areas of the emirate.”

His Excellency added that EAD continuously monitors the state of ambient air quality in the emirate of Abu Dhabi through a wide network of monitoring stations, which is considered one of the most comprehensive ambient air quality monitoring networks in the MENA Region.

The seven-metre tower uses environmentally friendly positive ionisation technology to purify surrounding air that cleans 30,000 m3 air per hour. The ionisation technology produces smog-free air in public spaces, supporting people to breathe clean air.

Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said: “At EAD we are always on the lookout for the latest technology to enhance air quality in Abu Dhabi. Today we have unveiled the first smog-free tower in the region in Hudayriyat Island. We chose this location because it is a community hub where people enjoy several outdoor activities. Therefore, the tower will allow people with sensitivities to access outdoor areas without worrying about dust – encouraging them to spend more time outside. This is due to the tower’s positive impact on the surrounding environment thanks to its air purification capability, noting that a mobile air quality monitoring station has been installed with the aim of monitoring air quality before and after the tower’s installation.” 

Bill O’Regan, CEO of Modon said: “Modon is committed to sustainable initiatives being incorporated in our projects. With 2024 being the Year of Sustainability, Modon is delighted to have delivered this pilot smog free tower technology in collaboration with EAD, demonstrating our commitment to the environment. We believe this state-of-the-art smog-free tower will add great value to the world-class sports and leisure facilities on Hudayriyat Island by creating a healthier environment with cleaner air.”

The Smog-Free Tower project is part of the MoU signed between EAD and Modon to implement environmental initiatives to reduce air pollution, protect wildlife, marine life and natural resources. This is in addition to developing programmes that ensure a safe and healthy environment and enhance Abu Dhabi’s efforts to achieve the goals of the UAE 2050 Climate Neutrality Strategic Initiative. 

The Smog-Free Tower, previously introduced in select countries like China, the Netherlands, and Poland, is now making its debut in this region. It is a continuation of efforts of EAD who regularly deploys advanced monitoring systems to measure air pollutants as part of its efforts to improve air quality in Abu Dhabi, helping to provide a better quality of life for residents.

As part of its efforts to protect and improve air quality in the emirate, EAD implements many activities and programmes aimed at monitoring and evaluating air quality to identify the most important challenges and sources of emissions, in order to develop the necessary solutions to reduce these pollutants and evaluate their effectiveness.

The agency has been managing a dedicated air quality monitoring network since 2007, consisting of 20 fixed monitoring stations spread throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which closely monitor air quality and provide high-accuracy data of up to 99 per cent.

EAD also operates two mobile stations used to conduct specialised air quality studies throughout the emirate. The data collected is published through the website www.adairquality.ae, where the public can directly access the Air Quality Index to learn about air quality and make informed decisions to protect their health from air pollution.