Dubai: A marine biology laboratory is being developed by real estate giants Nakheel and the United Nations University to enhance environmental monitoring of the Arabian Gulf and assess water quality.

The United Nations University - International Network for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) is a United Nations entity created to strengthen global water management capabilities.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Nakheel and Environment Health and Safety (EHS), the regulatory arm of Dubai World to sustain the analysis undertaken across all Nakheel marine developments.

UNU-INWEH will train staff on the latest ecological monitoring technology and provide unbiased and objective analysis.

The new marine biology laboratory, and major new analytical instrumentation at the existing lab, EHS will have the resources needed for coastal monitoring activities in Dubai waters and the wider region.

The monitoring programme analyses and assesses water quality parameters, physical oceanography and ecological characteristics. It aims to develop an empirical model that will help predict ecosystem dynamics, consequent water quality and environmental sustainability for the waters surrounding the new coastal structures being developed by Nakheel, it was revealed in a statement.