Dubai Ruler promotes Lootah as Director General of Dubai Municipality

Dubai Ruler promotes Lootah as Director General of Dubai Municipality

Dubai, 07 January 2009: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, promoted Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, as Director General of the municipality on Wednesday.

The appointment of Mr. Lootah came as a reward from HH the Ruler of Dubai for the sincere efforts and constructive ideas of Mr. Lootah who contributed remarkably during the past period in enhancing the standard of civic services as well as oversaw the implementation of several ambitious projects in the Emirate of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed praised Mr. Lootah for his effective performance as the Acting Director General of the Municipality.

Mr. Lootah extended his gratitude and appreciation for the trust placed on him by the Dubai Ruler and he vowed that he would spare no efforts in serving the nation and the people. He noted that Dubai Municipality would go ahead with implementing its development and service projects in the best interests of the nation, the citizens and the society at large.

Mr. Lootah had been working as the Acting Director General of the Municipality since 2 February 2006. As Acting Director General, Mr. Lootah managed the civic body, helped by a team of six assistants who head as many sectors consisting of 20 departments. Three departments and an independent office and section report to him directly.

A civil engineering graduate from the United States, Lootah began his career as an engineer with the Federal Ministry for Electricity and Water. He joined the municipality in 1985 as assistant head of a section, and was later promoted to the post of director for the Drainage Department.

He was appointed assistant director general for Environment and Public Health Affairs with the departments of Public Health, Environment, Public Parks & Horticulture and Drainage & Irrigation reporting to him. In 2004, he was transferred to the post of the assistant director general for Planning and Building Affairs to look after the departments of the Planning & Survey, Building and Government Housing, Geographical Information Systems Centre and Statistics Centre.

He also chaired a number of committees in the municipality such as the Technical Committee, Strategic Plan Committee, e-Government Committee, Personnel Committee, and organizing committees of a number of conferences organised by the municipality. He was also instrumental in winning some 40 local, regional and international awards for Dubai Municipality.

As Acting Director of the Municipality, Mr. Lootah unveiled a strategic plan for the civic body (2007-2011) which was aligned with the Dubai Strategic Plan for 2015. His accomplishments during this period also included signing of twinning or partnership agreements with several cities worldwide including Barcelona (Spain), Busan (South Korea), Qingdao (China), and Lyon (France), signing of strategic partnership agreements with several local and federal government establishments including RTA, DEWA, Tatweer, Dubai World Central, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Properties, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, and introduction of the green building regulations.