The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) ushered in the New Year on a green note by entering into a Cooperation Agreement with Al Hilal Bank, one of the UAE's leading Islamic banks, for a year-round Tree Planting Programme in the country.

The main objective of the partnership between EEG and Al Hilal Bank is to instill a sense of environmental awareness and responsibility amongst the children in the UAE.

The initiative, which will tap existing and new customers of Al Hilal Bank, is part of EEG's commitment to the United Nations Environmental Programme's (UNEP) Billion Tree Programme and a realization of the bank's efforts to play an active role in community development.

Existing and new customers of Al Hilal Bank will be encouraged to open a Seghaar savings account for their natural/ legal children to be eligible to plant a tree which will bear the kid's name. The parents and the kids will also be reminded to visit their trees regularly and submit photos or drawings of their trees as they grow. 

"Our partnership with Al Hilal Bank is yet another realisation of our vision for a brighter and greener future for the UAE," EEG Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi said.

"We do not only teach our children the value of saving money for their future, we also inculcate in them significant environmental awareness," she added. 

Other benefits of the tree-planting programme include increasing the sustainable green patch of the UAE; reduction of carbon footprint by providing carbon sinks; improvement of the air quality and stabilizing the soil in the country.

The EEG enters into partnerships with various private companies and government agencies to achieve environmental sustainability in the UAE. To date, it has surpassed its target of planting one million trees by successfully coordinating, facilitating and overseeing the planting of 2,091,066 indigenous trees in the UAEand its neighbouring countries since 2007. 

Al Hilal Bank, which is a corporate member of the EEG, has also contributed in the country's economic growth by providing fresh, smart and green banking while staying true to core Islamic values.