Environment

    Deforestation is the climate deal-breaker the world can’t afford to ignore any more
    24 Nov 2025

    In the Great Frost of 1709, the wine froze in the glasses of French king Louis XIV in his palace at Versailles. The “Little Ice Age”, at its chilliest in the 16th and 17th centuries, may have been in part caused by the mass annihilation of people in the Americas during European colonisation, and the […]

    How Sharjah coral reefs are turning the tide in recovery from bleach damage

    Two crucial coral reefs in UAE waters are showing signs of recovery from bleaching in a boost for the environment, a study has shown. When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. Corals can survive a bleaching event, […]

    Under pressure: Fujairah divers’ coral project battles effects of climate change

    A project to revive the country’s marine species is paying dividends but more needs to be done to mitigate the impact of pollution on the UAE’s coral reefs, an expert said. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Marine Owen, co-owner of Freestyle Divers, realised there was no more time to waste to offset the effects of climate change. […]

    Aljomaih Energy and Water-led consortium achieves financial close for Jubail–Buraydah Water Transmission Project

    Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, in partnership with Buhur Investment Company and Nesma Group, announced the successful financial close of the Jubail–Buraydah Independent Water Transmission Pipeline Project, with a total investment value of approximately SAR 8.5 billion ~ USD 2.26 billion. The achievement follows the signing of the Water Transmission Agreement between the project company, Stream […]

    UAE’s plan to ban single-use plastics by 2026: Everything you need to know

    Dubai: Plastic, and its remnants such as microplastics, are now present in nearly every part of our lives, from daily shopping to the water we drink and the food we eat. Acknowledging the impact of plastic pollution, the UAE is taking decisive action to eliminate unnecessary plastic from everyday use. From January 2026, the country […]

    Why the UAE’s famed Empty Quarter is not as empty as you might think

    The Rub’ Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, is often thought of as an area of endless sand dunes, a landscape that is striking but, as its name suggests, empty. But those who have been there many times know that there is much more to the Empty Quarter than the cliché of nothingness, even if visitors may have […]

    Abu Dhabi calls on public to help shape next phase of plastic pollution policy
    06 Sep 2025

    Abu Dhabi is looking to the public to help shape the next stage of its single-use plastic policy, as the emirate prepares for a federal ban to come into force next year. The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi has launched a public survey aimed at evaluating the environmental, health and social effects of the single-use plastics regulations […]

    Nature’s most underrated ally in the climate change fight is thriving in the UAE
    28 Jul 2025

    Just beyond Dubai’s skyscrapers and busy streets lies a five-square-mile wetland reserve that is a vital seasonal habitat for migratory birds. Earlier this month, the Dubai Executive Council approved a Dh650 million ($177 million) development plan for the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, as the reserve is known. And at the heart of this vision are trees […]

    Abu Dhabi launches 25-year climate action plan in ‘defining moment’ for emirate
    25 Jul 2025

    Abu Dhabi on Wednesday set out a 25-year action plan to address the growing threat of climate change and protect the emirate’s precious natural resources for future generations. The comprehensive strategy, announced by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, will focus on bolstering the “highly vulnerable” environmental systems of groundwater, soil and biodiversity, which are viewed as critical to human health, […]

    Environment Minister visits date palm forest in China as ties grow

    The UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment has hailed the country’s growing ties with China after seeing how a thriving date palm partnership is bearing fruit on an overseas trip to the country. Dr Amna Al Dahak visited the UAE-China Friendship Forest of Date Palm in Wenchang City, on the southern island province of Hainan, where an ambitious […]