Dubai will soon be home to the world’s largest ocean community megaprojects – the Dubai Reefs.
The project will help strengthen Dubai’s position as a leader in sustainable marine initiatives as well, according to a statement by Dubai Reefs developer URB.
The upcoming floating community will feature facilities for marine research, regeneration, ecotourism, hospitality, retail, and education.
At the heart of the project is a marine institute that will work towards greater protection of the marine and coastal environment of Dubai.
It will also create the most diverse artificial reef, covering 200 square kilometers and home to over 1 billion corals and 100 million mangrove trees.
The project will also offer unique experiences in marine ecotourism, with floating eco-lodges powered by 100 percent renewable energy, including solar and hydropower.
Additionally, Regenerative Ocean Farming, a climate-friendly food production technique, will be a key feature of the project.
The CEO of URB, Baharash Bagherian, believes that the project is essential for Dubai as well as other coastal cities at risk of sea level rise.
“The health of our cities is intrinsically tied to the health of our oceans. The ocean is the source of life controlling everything. Given that everything on our planet is connected, a healthy ocean is a healthy city. Our ocean will be entirely different by the end of the century if we don’t take action today,” he said.
“We need an entrepreneurial spirit in the planning of coastal cities and the types of infrastructure as well as developments that are linked to the ocean. As an innovative coastal city, Dubai is best positioned to lead such a transformation. Beyond creating a unique resilient destination for ecotourism & marine research, Dubai Reefs aims to become a blueprint for ocean living, whilst mitigating the impacts of climate change,” Bagherian added.
The Dubai Reefs project will also ultimately promote social, environmental, and economic benefits, transforming Dubai into an eco-destination where the ocean and the city thrive in balance.
The project is a significant step towards creating a sustainable future and could pave the way for other coastal cities to follow suit.
