Abu Dhabi: Travellers passing through Abu Dhabi International Airport are being urged to vote for the UAE's Bu Tinah Island in the campaign to have it named as one of the official new seven wonders of nature.
Travellers are urged to cast their vote online. They can also vote by text as many times as they like. The Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) said it would set up its Bu Tinah voting booth in the airport's Terminal One during peak travelling hours between July 25 and August 25.
About 30,000 travellers and visitors pass through the airport daily, and it employs around 4,500 staff.
The Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi said it would take less than two minutes to vote online.
Busiest place
Manager of Communications and Marketing at EAD, Laila Yousuf Al Hassan said: "We've chosen the airport because it is one of the busiest places in Abu Dhabi this time of year. This way, visitors from all over the world will be able to learn more about Abu Dhabi's wonderful natural heritage."
Bu Tinah in 3 Minutes (English) from Bu Tinah Island on Vimeo.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Senior Vice-President Airport Operations Ahmad Al Haddabi said: "...we are pleased to host the Bu Tinah voting booth at Terminal One in Abu Dhabi International Airport, and we hope that with our collective efforts, we will succeed in promoting our cultural and natural treasures to the rest of the world."
In March 2010, EAD launched this international campaign. Bu Tinah Island was shortlisted among 28 finalists from a list of 447 sites. Winners will be announced on November 11, 2011. The campaign is under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of EAD.
The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) is the campaign's platinum sponsor.
Regional entries in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign
The voting booth has toured more than 17 organisations across the UAE.
Bu Tinah Island, which is about 130 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi, is a unique island and a core area of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve — the first marine biosphere reserve in the region.
7 Reasons to Vote for Bu Tinah Island
Coral Reefs: Their survival, despite the harsh environment, has given researchers insight into coral reef survival elsewhere in the world in the face of global warming.
Natural Mangroves: They reach an average height of 5 metres and support wildlife including birds, fish and crustaceans.
Hawksbill Turtles: Every year, these critically endangered species arrive to Bu Tinah Island to nest.
Dugongs: These threatened species are often spotted swimming among the Island's extensive seagrass meadows. They have been able to live without disturbance in a clean natural sanctuary, thanks to EAD's management of the marine biosphere reserve.
Dolphins: The Indo-pacific humpback, bottlenose and common dolphins swim around the Island.
Ospreys: Bu Tinah Island is a major breeding site for this globally important bird.
Socotra Cormorants: Bu Tinah Island is a roost site for about 20,000-25,000 of these birds.
- Source: Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi
How to vote?
Visit Bu Tinah Website www.butinah.ae or
Send a SMS with the word ‘BU TINAH' to 3888 (Dh 2 per SMS)
Do you think this will help increase tourism in the UAE? What would you like to see as the new seven wonders of the world?
