UAE | Leisure
Grand plans ahead for Sir Bani Yas Island
The Middle East's largest wind turbine sits on an island as big as Abu Dhabi city, surrounded by hundreds of Oryx, sand gazelles and other types of antelope.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:23 November 4, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Hundreds of Oryx, sand gazelles, antelopes and other species call Sir Bani Yas Island home.
Dubai: The Middle East's largest wind turbine sits on an island as big as Abu Dhabi city, surrounded by hundreds of Oryx, sand gazelles and other types of antelope.
Video: A trip to Sir Bani Yas Island
Around 40 giraffes peer over the tops of trees and no more than 100 cars have the roads to themselves - even if their maximum speed can only ever reach 50kilometres per hour.
Sir Bani Yas Island is a haven for animals. Animals come first in fact and anybody who forgets that will be deported. One of Shaikh Zayed's great legacies left behind is now open for the public to enjoy, namely the tranquility of the mangroves, and the sights of leaping deer or proud blackbucks grazing.
The island is far from an eco-destination with so much water used to irrigate the thousands of trees, plants and special grasses used for fodder while private jets, sea planes and soon a 50-seater carrier will bring people to the island.
No carbon offset programme is in place either to avoid placing any responsibility on elite guests, but the wind turbine churns and does provide 2 per cent of the electricity needs of the island - specifically for the 64-room Desert Islands Resort and Spa.
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The island has undergone a massive amount of land reclamation, planting, irrigation and wildlife husbandry but a sustainability model has been put in place, according to Lars Neilsen, marketing manager of Desert Islands destination offshore Abu Dhabi's Al Gharbia, the Western Region.
"It's not eco-tourism it is nature based tourism. The island's [ecological] footprint is very low. The hotel is an original building built by Shaikh Zayed and is on the reclaimed part of the island, so it is not impacting fertile ground at all," he said.
Desert Islands will be made up of eight natural islands including Sir Bani Yas Island, the historical Delma Island and the previously unexplored Discovery Islands. Four of these will remain untouched as they are turtle breeding grounds.
Generating jobs
Development of the destination is to be phased, at an estimated total investment from both the government and private sector at more than $3 billion (Dh11.5 billion). Towards the completion of Desert Islands, it is projected to generate around 6,500 jobs.
In the very near future Masdar, Abu Dhabi's clean technology initiative, will implement solar panels and more wind turbines to fully power the island.
The idea behind the island is to conserve and preserve nature. There are free roaming animals, however, Arabian and African animals are in separate multi-hectare pens 'to keep it authentic', says Neilsen. "Eighty per cent of the island is for animals to roam free," he said.
So far the resort is only opened for hotel guests but come January the island will develop a day-tripper scheme for daily visitors. Access to the island for non jet-setters is by ferry from Jebel Dhanna, south-west of Abu Dhabi very near Saudi Arabia.
According to Tourism and Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Desert Islands will be a model of sustainable development that will meet the needs of the present without compromising future needs.
A desalination plant powered by Masdar's alternative energy plant on the island will provide water for the island's animals and vegetation.
According to Neilsen there are 3 million trees on the island. The wind turbine which was installed in 2004 but only made operational last year, powers a lot of the irrigation pumps for watering. Different types of grasses have also been planted to test for one that uses the least water. All in all though, 30,000 tons of animal feed is sent to the island each week- mainly cut grass from Delma Island.
For each visitor to the resort a mangrove is planted. Visitors can actually get up close to the mangroves and kayak around them as part of the activities on offer. Biking, snorkeling and trekking are also available.
Game drives take visitors around the island to see all the animals. It is believed that Arabian Oryx are extinct in the wild but there are around 400 on Sir Bani Yas. Six striped hyenas were recently added. Cheetahs could also be arriving next year.
Animal haven; unique island
--The name Sir Bani Yas Island originates from the Bani Yas tribe, who first inhabited Abu Dhabi.
- The island operates the region's only wind turbine, which has a production capacity of 850 kilowatts per hour. Currently it is producing energy to power the island's facilities alongside conventional supply from the national grid. The island also plans to produce power from solar energy.
--The wildlife reserve was created more than 25 years ago to ensure the survival of Arabia's endangered species.
--To date some 36 archeological sites have been found on the island with the oldest remains being a pre-Islamic monastery dating back to 600 AD.
--Sir Bani Yas Island is 87 square kilometres, making it the largest, natural island in the United Arab Emirates.
--The island is home to around 23 species of free-roaming animals, including giraffes, a variety of antelope and one the world's largest herd of critically endangered Arabian Oryx.
--Birdlife includes flamingos, sea gulls, cormorants, wild fowl, pintails, shovelers, blackwinged stilts, teals, crab plovers, avocets and grey herons.
--As part of the late Shaikh Zayed's 'Greening of the Desert' programme, nearly 2.5 million plants and trees have been planted, including over 18,000 date palms and olive groves.
--Sir Bani Yas Island is home to many animals that the World Conservation Union classifies as critically endangered or vulnerable to the wild, including sea turtles, sand gazelles, blackbuck antelope, Urial sheep, barbay sheep and Arabian oryx.
Getting there
The island is accessible through Desert Islands' boat and plane services. The sea plane service is operated by Empire Aviation, a division of Etihad Airways. The boat service is included in the room rate. Room rates for Desert Islands Resort & Spa includes all activities. For more information contact Tourism and Development Investment Company (TDIC):
Deluxe Sea View Dh1,900
Deluxe Beach Access Dh2,200
Junior Suite Dh2,600
Beach Villa Dh4,200
Royal Villa Dh11,700
Have you or someone you know, ever visited Sir Bani Yas island? Which is your favourite eco-tourism destination in the UAE? How else can eco-tourism be promoted? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
I have been to the island along with my family during the Summer. My kids really enjoyed it. The island is beautiful and quiet compared to the busy city. The chance to see the different animals in their various habitats is amazing. We had a tour of the island. To simply put it, its a great island, a must see. Nice to hear that they are considering it as a tourist destination.
Kenny
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2008, 15:58
I have been to Sir Bani Yas three times.
There used to be cabins that we stayed in there. We just had to take permission from the managers of the island. The drive there was long, but in my opinion, that island is the best place to see nature in the UAE.
Abdullah Ismail
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2008, 11:07
I have been to Sir Bani Yas. It is a very beautiful place. I went with my friends on a water boat and I was amazed to see the different kinds of ostriches, giraffes, gazelles and other lovely animals. It is nice to hear that the island is now open to public.
Kauser
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2008, 07:42
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