Environmental Protection

Most of Mandarin Oriental hotels are fully dependent on municipal water supplies, and rely partially on other sourcesof water including surface water, groundwater and desalinated water. Through the use of a desalination plant, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi does not draw from the municipality supply, but converts sea water into water for irrigation. Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi has also kick-started efforts to become one of the first hotels in the world to have a desert vegetable garden. Seed varieties that are home-grown, heat-resilient, low in water consumption and full of flavour and nutrients are utilised, while the drip-irrigation method is employed to further minimise water usage. Through this initiative, the hotel hopes not only to engage guests but also raise broader awareness about the importance of growing sustainable organic vegetables that are adapted to the local climate. At Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi beekeeping complements the organic desert vegetable garden, helping with the pollination of vegetables. Across our hotels that support beekeeping, freshly harvested local honey is used in a variety of restaurants and bars, while beeswax is used to make candles and soap.