UAE | Environment

UAE 'must re-assess' all coastal projects in Gulf

There is a need for the UAE to re-examine all the development projects in coastal zones, an environmentalist has said.

  • By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:29 February 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Hussain Nasser Lootah meets participants and officials after inaugurating the Seventh International Conference on Coastal and Port Engineering in Developing Countries.
  • Image Credit: Supplied picture

Dubai: There is a need for the UAE to re-examine all the development projects in coastal zones, an environmentalist has said.

Majid Al Mansouri, secretary general, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, said: "The reassessment needs to be carried out in coordination with all countries in the Gulf especially with Iran and Iraq. The Gulf water is semi-closed as a result of which it carries a lot of pollution, not to forget the impact of climatic change."

Al Mansouri was speaking on the sidelines of the four-day Seventh International Conference on Coastal and Port Engineering in Developing Countries.

It was inaugurated by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality.

Increase in soil aridity

Al Mansouri said the per capita share of potable water in West Asia decreased from 1,700 cubic metres to 907 cubic metres during 1985 to 2005. He also compared a 60 per cent increase in the aridity of fertile land to a 75 per cent increase in the population.

He said: "Our coasts are repeatedly subjected to development risks, including increased pollution, salinity and over-use of fisheries wealth, plus numbers of people now choosing to reside in waterfront areas, and the growing amount of industrial projects, water treatment plants and power production."

Al Mansouri stressed that every coastal project should be put through an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

The general secretary also emphasised that environment laws should also be properly implemented.

"Projects should get approved by EIA before getting the green light to go ahead. The laws are there but they are not properly enforced. For example, in Abu Dhabi we are studying the air pollution caused by transportation. Currently about 20 per cent transportation is run by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) but gradually it will be extended across the board.

"Abu Dhabi has invested $800 million [about Dh2,938 million] in green diesel. This will bring down air pollution. There are a lot of environment related regulations issued in Abu Dhabi simultaneously with the growth taking place. For example, every drop of sewerage water will be re-used. In Abu Dhabi in the next five years it will be made mandatory to have green buildings. For this the government of Abu Dhabi is establishing a separate department within Abu Dhabi Municipality," said Al Mansouri.

He said Abu Dhabi is currently working on a new policy on coastal management.

It took nearly 13 months for Al Garm in the Western Coastal region to get an environment permit.

Conference: Professionals' Platform

The Acting Director of Dubai Municipality, Hussain Nasser Lootah, in his opening speech underlined the significance and timeliness of the conference in light of the expanding development of waterfront engineering projects in Dubai and across the region.

He identified several vital touch points of the conference, including its focus on coastal and port infrastructure engineering, management and planning of ports and marinas, development of waterfronts and beaches, monitoring of beach movements, risk management for coastal areas and the importance of protecting the coastal environment.

Lootah said: "We are presenting three papers showcasing best practices that deal with the main theme of the conference.

"These include a coastal process model-based Decision Support System for Live Management of the Dubai dynamic coastal zone, coastal modelling of the Dubai coastline with emphasis on morphological model validation and shoreline management of the Dubai coast."

Dr Ranjit Galappatti, chairman of the International Organising Committee, PIANC-COPEDEC, said PIANC was established to provide a forum where coastal and port engineering professionals from developing countries could interact with colleagues from more developed areas.

Eric Van den Eede, president of PIANC, emphasised that PIANC's core objective until 2010 is to address young professionals worldwide. Lootah also opened Waterfront 2008, an exhibition of products, technologies and services featuring some 30 companies, including platinum sponsor Sama Dubai, gold sponsor the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai, and silver sponsor Dubai Maritime City.

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