The road to Rio and the UAE sustainability question: an initial assessment of the Green Sheikh's message

As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to 'saving the world from itself', became renewed. In a bid to cut back the carbon footprints for which the Middle East is renowned, it is interesting to see that a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation also is a member of one of the ruling families. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi (aka the Green Sheikh) has been a champion for the environment. In this paper, we profile 'the man' and 'his message' in the light of how the two may be amplified and better aligned with the major investments made by the UAE towards building a sustainable hub that complements the global sustainability initiative.