Plans have been unveiled for a hotel entirely powered by solar energy as part of Dubai's ambitious The Sustainable City development.
Due to open in 2017, the 170-room Hotel Indigo will be part of Dubai's first community of its kind in the region with 100 per cent of its energy needs being met by solar power. As well as sourcing its energy through solar power, all waster water produced by the hotel will be recycled, and all material waste will be sorted and then recycled.
The whole complex will include residences, a green school, a community centre, an equestrian centre, solar covered car parks and an organic farm, as well as tourist attractions such as a Planetarium and an Amphitheatre for hosting events.
Until a few years ago Dubai was at the very bottom of the list for being self-sufficient; now by 2020 the aim is to be at the top.