Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.
Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.
Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.
Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.

'A hidden treasure': Scientists rally to protect the Gulf's overlooked seagrass meadows


Rachel Kelly
  • English
  • Arabic

Vital to dugongs, sea turtles, fish nurseries and carbon storage, seagrass meadows are among the ocean's most critical – and at the same time most overlooked – ecosystems. Yet, they are disappearing at alarming rates around the world.

Scientists from across the region gathered in Abu Dhabi for the first Arabian Seagrass Workshop last week, aiming to change that narrative.

Held at the Yas Seaworld Research and Rescue Centre, the event marks a major step forward in spotlighting the Gulf's underwater grasslands, and accelerating efforts to conserve and restore them.

"Seagrass is a building block," Rob Yordi, zoological vice president and general curator at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, told The National. "It's the food source and shelter for so many organisms -small fish, invertebrates, sea turtles, and of course – dugongs."

The UAE is home to the worlds second largest population of dugong, with 3,000 living off the country's shores.

A single dugong, Mr Yordi explained, can consume up to 40 kilograms of seagrass in a day. "So you need vast, healthy meadows. But, what we've seen over decades is decline. We are trying to figure out why – and how to reverse it."

The centre is conducting field research off the Abu Dhabi coast and running lab-based trials to better understand how to propagate, replant, and restore degraded seagrass beds.

Speaking at the event in Abu Dhabi, Dr Emma Jackson, president of the World Seagrass Association said "seagrass meadows continue to be lost and degraded at a global scale." She highlights that about a third of mapped European seagrass meadows for example have already been lost.

Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality

UAE home to 80% of Gulf's seagrass meadows

According to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the mapped extent of the emirate’s seagrass area is well over 3,000 square kilometres – with the main concentrations found around Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve and Al Yasat Marine Protected Area.

This represents 80 per cent of all seagrass habitat in the Arabian Gulf.

"These meadows support the second-largest dugong population in the world, after Australia," Noura Al Mansoori, marine biodiversity specialist at EAD, told The National. "And, most people don't even realise they exist. Seagrasses are underwater, and they're often mistaken for seaweed, but they're completely different. These are flowering plants with roots and rhizomes, adapted to a marine environment."

Al Mansoori said the Gulf's extreme summer conditions, where water temperatures can exceed 35°C, presents unique survival challenges. "That's above tolerance for many species around the world. But our seagrasses hang on. They're resilient, but they need help."

EAD is deploying AI technology to map historic trends and identify priority restoration zones, building on decades of monitoring and conservation work.

According to research, the dugong is now functionally extinct in China
According to research, the dugong is now functionally extinct in China

Restoring habitat to rescue wildlife

One of the key goals of the Abu Dhabi summit was to lay the foundations to create a regional framework for research and action. Delegates presented national data and participated in gap analyses and planning sessions focused on data from around the region.

Dr Elise Marquis, director of the Yas Seaworld Research and Rescue Centre confirmed that a technical report – "the first of its kind for the region"- will be produced following the session to guide future collaboration.

Looking ahead, the region's seagrass science community is preparing for a bigger stage, Abu Dhabi will host the 16th International seagrass Biology Workshop in 2026, bringing together the world's top experts.

"The momentum is here," said Dr Marquis. "We've undervalued these meadows for too long. It's time we gave them the recognition and protection they deserve."

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8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m

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10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
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Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

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Plan to boost public schools

A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.

It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.

Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.

Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Updated: May 08, 2025, 7:40 AM