The first phase of a major project to develop Dubai's marine ecosystem was launched on Saturday. The Dubai Reef initiative, unveiled at Cop28, aims to increase sea life, improve the sustainability of fishermen’s livelihoods and attract eco-tourism.
In the initial wave of the project, 1,000 structures, called reef modules, are being deployed into the emirate's waters to provide food and shelter for a variety of fish and marine species.
A total of 20,000 reef modules will be deployed in subsequent phases over three years, spanning 600 square kilometres, to create 400,000 cubic metres of coral reefs.
The scheme was hailed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, one of the project's partners, and chief executive of Emirates airline. “This marks the start of a remarkable project to restore and protect our marine ecosystems at unprecedented scale,” he said.
“This project plays a pivotal role in coral reef habitat restoration, coastal protection and the revival of marine biodiversity along Dubai's foreshore,” said Ahmed Bin Thani, director general of Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority. “The project is part of Dubai’s efforts to increase fish stocks, support sustainable fishing and help boost food security.”
The reefs are designed to last more than 100 years, providing long-term ecological benefits. It is also hoped Dubai Reef will create a stream of green economy projects, as well as boosting the city's job market, eco-tourism, leisure activities and research opportunities.
Different modules
The first module is called a fish cube, a 10-tonne structure with an internal volume of 32 square metres. The second type, a reef shade, is a 2.4-tonne unit created to enhance coral growth and increase the population of demersal fish – which live on or near the bottom of seas – as well as offering shelter to other species including hammour and sheri. They have been designed to prevent entanglement with fishing traps.
The third structure is called an Arab marine pyramid, weighing 1.5 tonnes, designed specifically to foster essential habitats for coral reef ecosystems.
“These purpose-built modules will enhance the marine habitat in Dubai and safeguard our oceans and food security,” said Ryan Paik, chief executive of HaejooX, the South Korean firm that built the reef structures. “The modules were built in Dubai using low-carbon concrete [and] will be deployed in different depths across Dubai waters.”
Tomorrow 2021
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Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Tomorrow 2021
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
Tomorrow 2021
World Mental Health Day
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
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Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
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- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
