Dubai's cocktails get a taste of 10,000-year-old Greenland ice in eco‑friendly venture

This unique ice has captured global attention for its innovative application designed to mitigate the impacts of global warming. The Arctic Ice startup, the exclusive provider of these glacier pieces, has made this possible. Since its establishment in 2022, the company has excavated over 22 tons (approx 44,092 lb) of ice.

The concept of mining ice from fjords for sale has been a resounding success, enthralling bars across the United Arab Emirates. Greenland locals have been using this local ice for drink preparation for many years. However, this introduction to the global market is unprecedented. Glaciers near Nuup Kangerula produce exceptionally high-quality frozen water aged over 10,000 years. Due to its purity, this ice is suitable and safe for human consumption.

It's essential to highlight that this glacier ice melts slower than regular ice and lacks bubbles in its composition. The fjord-derived ice is eco-friendly, and its transportation to Denmark yields low carbon emissions. With Greenland being an autonomous Danish territory and reliant on Copenhagen for 55% of its budget, this Arctic Ice venture could boost Greenland's economy, enhancing its financial and, hopefully, political autonomy.

Initially, the company must identify ice that hasn't touched the glacier's top or bottom. To extract such pristine ice, they employ a crane-equipped boat. This natural ice is stored in a special box and transported to Nuuk, Greenland's capital. Here, it is stored in refrigerated containers, shipped to Denmark, and subsequently dispatched to Dubai, a journey that takes 19 days.

Arctic Ice sees its operations as a Greenland revolution. The country has a small export sector and primarily leans toward imports. Exporting ice to Dubai provides a convenient solution, as these containers would otherwise be empty. The owners' main goal is to achieve absolute climate neutrality and to innovate a technology that effectively captures and stores carbon dioxide. Will their ambitious Ice Empire plans come to fruition?