The UAE lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, surrounded by two distinct water bodies; the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The marine and coastal environment of the country is an essential source of desalination, fishing, and oil production. Apart from bolstering the country’s economy, the marine environment also embraces the immense biodiversity within the hues of blue pouring out of the bottom of the ocean.
Evolving from the practice of pearl-diving as its primary source of income, The UAE treasures the Arabian Gulf that encompasses dolphins, sharks, turtles, and various other marine species. It also supports a range of coastal ecosystems, including mangrove swamps and coral reefs. However, with the rapid progression of the UAE in the industrial sector, marine ecosystems are beginning to get degraded, putting the marine species on the brink of extinction and making the Arabian Gulf one of the most adversely affected marine environments in the world. Not to mention, it is a significant sink for carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and may lead to oceanic acidification in the future. To prevent this, government officials advice citizens to be mindful and conscious of the environment by adapting to an eco-friendly lifestyle and contributing less to pollution. Industrial waste, oil spills, and sewage threaten marine biodiversity and contribute to degenerating oceanic mechanisms. Around 100 oil tankers sail through the Gulf waters daily, discharging around 8 million tonnes of oil sediments. To sustain the Gulf’s coastal communities, the UAE has authorized regulations for banning sea dumping, which includes throwing waste and oil sludge into the oceans, and introduced programmes that involve planting productive ecosystems and effective food sources such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds which were protected and maintained by Emirate’s Marine Environmental Group. Seagrass can improve water quality by subsidizing loose sediments and pollutants in oceans. At the same time, coral reefs provide a range of habitats for other marine species. Since the Arabian Gulf has been vastly exposed to extreme temperatures, UAE considers it an excellent model ecosystem to delve deeper into the menacing effects of global warming, using it as a tool to collect sufficient data to help devise procedures that would promote conservation of many such vulnerable ecosystems in the future.
In the UAE, primary and tertiary industries such as fishing and tourism heavily rely on marine environments to generate capita. Hence, protecting marine life is essential not only to preserve ecology and viability but also to sustain the country’s economic development. Emirates Nature-WWF’s non-profit organization promotes interspersed marine management and builds conservation menageries to enhance the populations of endangered species such as turtles and humpback whales. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) ensure that aquatic life is shielded from global warming and other anthropogenic activities. Currently, the UAE has established 60 protected marine environments. Ample fish supplies have developed fish markets and amplified trade. Still, government officials look towards subsidizing fisheries from capture and aquaculture and making the procedure more efficient and sustainable because they recognize that irresponsible fishing is detrimental to other species. Furthermore, the UAE was the first Middle Eastern country to be involved in the “Global Ocean Alliance” initiative initiated by the UK, which consisted of 32 countries working together to protect the ocean and coastal communities in the hope of preserving at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Dubai comprises of multiple conservationists that are keen to safeguard aquatic species. The Turtle Sanctuary at Jumeirah Al Naseem Hotel has rescued 1900 sea turtles, returning injured turtles back to the sea after taking care of them till they’re fit to survive in the wild. The sanctuary also runs educational programs to create awareness and augment its motives. Moreover, the Atlantis hotel in Dubai encloses an aquarium which not only acts as an effective tool of attraction for tourists but also contains an animal hospital and includes an active breeding program after which they can release newly-bred fish back into the oceans.
Living a life of harmony and order is a choice we make. To comply with it, we must partake in it, whether it’s by creating awareness, reducing unnecessary plastic waste from the oceans, being cautious while diving, or practicing safe boating. The little things matter, and the little things make a difference. Support UAE’s motives, enhance the marine livelihoods and contribute to social, economic, and environmental enrichment.