Developer has designs to build one of world’s largest marine restoration and ecotourism sites in Dubai
Plans for what would be one of the world’s largest marine restoration and ecotourism projects have been revealed. Dubai Reefs would be a floating living laboratory, developer URB said.
At the heart of the futuristic project is a sprawling marine institute, where scientists and researchers could work to improve efforts to protect the marine and coastal regions of the emirate.
The project, which is currently in the research and development stage, would support the building of an artificial reef, spanning about 200 square kilometres. Developers hope this would help to regenerate the ecosystem, offer protection from storms and create habitats for marine life.
Responsible tourism is a major part of the plans. Visitors will travel by electric boat shuttles to Dubai Reefs for marine ecotourism experiences. Staying in floating eco resorts and lodges, all of which would be powered fully by renewable energy, travellers would have access to the marine projects at the site, which include creating a home for more than a billion corals and the planting of more than 100 million mangrove trees.
Activities on offer would include underwater “forest bathing”, similar to the ancient Japanese wellness practice that promotes calm and quiet among the trees. At Dubai Reefs, the corals would act as the trees.
Tourists would also have “edutainment” classes at The Marine Institute, to help them better understand the ecosystem and connect people with the marine world.
The project would also include residential properties, retail outlets, education centres and research sites, with a built-up area of about 80,000 square metres and a target of creating more than 30,000 green jobs.
If the project goes forward, Dubai Reefs could house wave farms, which would be used to produce additional clean energy for the city. Climate-friendly food production could be set up at the floating site using regenerative marine farming.
“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,” Baharash Bagherian, chief executive of URB told
The National.
“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 eco-tourism and marine research, Dubai Reefs aims to
become a blueprint for ocean living, while mitigating the impacts of climate change.”
Depending on when the project is funded, the first phase could be completed between 2025 to 2030. With travellers in the UAE increasingly prioritising sustainable travel, it could also provide a further boost to tourism.
“The main challenge is the commercial viability, to ensure that the entire initiative can be funded privately and that all assets are revenue-generating assets,” Bagherian said. “We are looking to develop the best balance between built-to-lease assets and built-to-sell assets that are in line with the project mission.
“Any built-to-sell assets will provide the revenue for funding the additional phases of the project, thus not requiring any public funding.”
Other factors still being discussed are ways to ensure that all aspects of sustainability are considered by the operators, and that the project, should it come to fruition, is inclusive and accessible to all.