A whale spotted in the waters of Fujairah on Friday is being guided back on its migratory route by a dedicated team of marine experts.
The Bryde's whale - also referred to as a tropical whale due to its preference for warm waters - was sighted close to Fujairah Port, the Fujairah Environment Authority confirmed.
In co-ordination with the port, the Fujairah Research Centre and experts from the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre, the authority formed a specialised team to ensure the wellbeing of the mammal.
Team members, including biodiversity experts from the authority, were tasked with monitoring the whale’s movements and putting plans in place to get it back on his migratory course.
Comprehensive medical examinations were conducted on the whale, which was found to be in good condition.
Asilah Abdullah Al Mualla, director general of the Fujairah Environment Authority emphasised the significance of the sighting.
“Bryde’s whales are baleen whales typically found in warm and temperate waters worldwide. Known for their streamlined bodies, these whales are a testament to the health of our marine ecosystem,” she said.
“The whale, identified scientifically as Balaenoptera edeni, was documented near Fujairah Port and is estimated to measure between nine to 10 metres, suggesting it is a juvenile, not yet fully mature.”
She said the whale shows no signs of medical distress requiring immediate intervention.
“The authority is working with specialised teams to ensure it safely resumes its migratory path.”
“The efforts are being managed to ensure the whale is returned to its natural environment without disrupting shipping traffic.”
The authority said the sighting highlights the ecological richness of Fujairah’s waters and further supports the scientific documentation featured in the Whales and Dolphins book published by the Fujairah Environment Authority as part of its Natural History Series.
Fujairah is known for its biodiversity, featuring pristine waters filled with coral reefs and marine life.
The emirate’s coastline includes five marine reserves, serving as habitats for a variety of species and making it a prime destination for marine exploration.
In early 2022 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, shared a video of what was believed to be a Bryde's whale swimming near Dubai Harbour.
“Truly a rare and beautiful creature to watch,” he wrote in a caption accompanying the video, which was shot by the crew of My Ocean Company, based in Dubai.
A Bryde's whale was also spotted in Abu Dhabi in October 2021 during a marine survey.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, which made the discovery, said at the time the presence of whales is an indicator of the good health and quality of the emirate’s waters.
Bryde's whales eat about 630kg of food every day, mainly krill, shrimp and a variety of schooling fish, such as herring, mackerel and sardines.
They use different methods to feed, such as skimming the surface, lunging and creating bubble nets, which they do in co-operation with other whales.
Bryde's whales can weigh up to 25 tonnes and adults can measure between 12 and 16 metres in length.
The species was named after Johan Bryde, the Norwegian consul to South Africa in the early 20th century, who built the country’s first modern whaling station.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Specs%20
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The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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More from Janine di Giovanni
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
