Spaces to preserve biodiversity
Located at the tip of Arabia, with a coastline along the Persian Gulf, the Emirate of Dubai is home to natural areas, some of which attempt to reconcile tourism and the protection of biodiversity.
Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve : located at the mouth of the Dubai Creek, this protected area, classified as a RAMSAR, is composed of mudflats, mangroves and lagoons, and is home to pink flamingos and migratory birds that can be easily seen from observation posts.
Al Marmoum Animal Reserve: covering 20% of Dubai's territory, this natural area is home to various ecosystems and protects endangered species. You will be able to observe Arabian Oryx, flamingos and reptiles.
A development model that disregards environmental constraints
The urbanization of Dubai has been a challenge to environmental constraints.
Palm Islands,
three artificial archipelagos associated with hotel complexes and transport infrastructures have been conquered from the sea by means of large quantities of sand dredged from the Persian Gulf (desert sand being unsuitable for construction).The World
, an artificial archipelago of 300 islands whose construction has been on hold since the 2008 crisis, would have required nearly 500 million tons of imported sand, a resource that is in the process of being depleted. The desert and aridity have been braved by the establishment of water desalination plants, which result in toxic discharges that also contribute to the rise in sea temperature. The production of one litre of fresh water results in the discharge of 1.5 litres of brine containing chemicals). The exploitation of oil has allowed the megalopolis to grow, even in its excesses. The infrastructures are particularly energy-intensive (construction, but also operation of buildings and air conditioning). Transport is also highly developed. Associated with a significant urban sprawl, it encourages carbon mobility. In 2019, the emirate will welcome nearly 17 million international visitors to its resource-intensive complexes (water, energy). The air quality in the Emirate is among the worst on the planet. The levels of fine particles in the Gulf countries far exceed the threshold values recommended by the World Health Organization. Human activities and sandstorms are to blame.Actions lacking ambition in the face of environmental challenges
Access to petroleum resources has not promoted the rational use of resources. However, the 2008 oil crisis and the prospect of the decline (pick oil) and depletion of black gold have prompted discussions and actions in favour of energy efficiency ("zero energy" districts) and alternative energies (nuclear power plant, Mohammed Ben Rached Al-Maktoum photovoltaic project). These actions, as well as the "Dubai Clean Energy 2050" programme, are also part of the fight against global warming, to which the UAE is committed (signing of the Paris Agreements). However, containing the rise in temperatures requires coordinated efforts at all scales and in all sectors.
