As the tides shift and the climate narrative grows ever more urgent, I find myself reflecting on a remarkable story unfolding in the heart of the Arabian Gulf.
Mangroves have long been revered in the country. The UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, personally oversaw large scale restoration of mangroves in the 1970s. His vision transformed Abu Dhabi’s coastlines into laboratories of environmental stewardship.
Today, we are reaping the rewards of that legacy. A 2020 habitat mapping study by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed a 92 per cent increase in the emirate’s mangrove cover between 1987 and 2021. This is the result of conservation and restoration efforts, including the planting of 51.5 million mangroves to date.
But this is not just about numbers. Our dominant native species, Avicennia marina, or grey mangrove, has adapted to some of the harshest coastal conditions on Earth. Without requiring freshwater, these trees survive extreme salinity, high temperatures and the shifting nature of tidal zones. In an era of climate disruption, they are survivors.
Globally, mangroves are finally gaining recognition as high-value, nature-based solutions. They store up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, are nurseries for marine life, barriers against storm surges and enrich biodiversity both above and below the waterline.
Losing mangroves means losing critical protection for millions of people living in coastal areas worldwide. An estimated 748 million people live within the first five kilometres of a shoreline; approximately 10 per cent of the world's population. The next five-km band contains approximately 343.5 million people – accounting for an additional 4.6 per cent of the Earth's population.
Losing mangroves also means forfeiting a vital carbon sink in the fight against climate change. The good news is that global mangrove loss has slowed to between 0.04 per cent and 0.7 per cent per year. But while the rate of deforestation declines, new challenges emerge: habitat fragmentation, sea-level rise and rapid coastal development threaten the functional integrity of mangrove ecosystems.
Mangroves are resilient, adaptable and remarkably attuned to change. By 2035, climate shifts will likely reshape where and how these forests thrive. Globally, rising seas, changing salinity and stronger storms may cause die-offs in some areas and expansions in others.
In warmer regions, flowering and fruiting may begin earlier, while higher latitudes could see mangroves taking root for the first time. The phenological changes and possible geographical shifts due to contraction and expansion of mangroves will offer an opportunity for conservation.
Protecting existing mangroves is critical. To outpace climate change, however, we must restore with precision, focusing on coastal zones and mangrove genotypes most likely to thrive in tomorrow’s conditions. That’s why EAD works closely with scientists to model future scenarios and guide restoration where it will have the greatest long-term impact.
Last year, EAD began a project to expand its study of carbon storage and sequestration rates across different blue carbon habitats. The study gave us the latest data on carbon storage and sequestration, and added to our previous studies.
One of the most important findings was that saltmarshes in Abu Dhabi are storing more carbon than previously expected. The study also revealed significant differences between sites, highlighting the need for location-specific data to guide conservation. Overall, the updated data for mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses and microbial mats reinforces how vital these habitats are to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The project helped us expand the scope and coverage of our carbon sampling making the dataset available for carbon sequestration rates in Abu Dhabi amongst the most robust globally in terms of coverage and statistical representation.
In Abu Dhabi, 3,000 square kilometres of seagrass meadows sequester an estimated 44,100 tonnes of carbon annually. This is equivalent to offsetting the emissions from roughly 22,000 one-way flights between London and Abu Dhabi - highlighting the vital role these coastal ecosystems play in climate mitigation.
These findings will help shape planning, informing restoration priorities, identifying key conservation zones and reinforcing protection efforts with robust evidence. They also set a new benchmark for science-driven marine conservation and contribute to support the UAE’s national climate goals.
The Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI), launched in 2022, is Abu Dhabi’s flagship programme for mangrove research, restoration and community engagement. It is mobilising resources towards science-based mangrove restoration and helping develop and use technologies that can redefine how the world restores mangroves.
ADMI has also developed the UAE’s first national Mangrove Restoration Guidelines, launched in 2024 with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Emirates Nature-WWF and other national partners.
These guidelines offer a roadmap for restoration across ecological zones, blending traditional techniques with new technology. They include comprehensive guidance on drone-assisted seed dispersal – an approach EAD has been piloting with its partners since 2020 and which positions Abu Dhabi as a global leader in scaling restoration through precision and innovation.
In April, Abu Dhabi supported the single most important scientific assessment of mangrove species worldwide by hosting the world’s first Mangrove Week through ADMI. The event was supported by key partners Adnoc and the Zoological Society of London, to explore mangrove science and solutions.
A major highlight was the first comprehensive global Red List assessment of mangrove species in more than 15 years. The assessment evaluated the conservation status of over 70 mangrove species worldwide, providing data that will inform priorities, investments and policy action for the most at-risk species. EAD will soon release the first-ever mangrove monitoring toolkit for the Arabian Gulf Region.
Restoration is not just planting. It must restore function, support biodiversity, consider seascape connectivity and be designed for the long term. And EAD is aligning its efforts with the Global Mangrove Alliance and the Mangrove Breakthrough, an international initiative to mobilise political, financial and technical support to halt mangrove loss and restore 15 million hectares globally by 2030. Abu Dhabi is proud to contribute to that initiative, not only through funding and technical support but by developing scalable models that other coastal cities can adopt.
Our vision for 2035 is to position Abu Dhabi as one of the global capitals of mangrove research and innovation. By combining Abu Dhabi's natural advantages, such as the uniquely resilient Avicennia marina, with advanced data platforms, AI-powered monitoring systems, we are moving into a new era of precision mapping. This allows us to see more, act faster and restore smarter. Additionally, through our world-class scientific partnerships, we are creating an integrated model that unites innovation, policy and community action.
Our priorities go beyond protecting and restoring mangroves. They focus on integrated coastal management and protection that ensures the connected seascapes continue to thrive and provide ecosystem services that are essential to health, well-being, the economy and overall quality of life. Our efforts to protect and restore mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems are cornerstones of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy.
Through ADMI, we are inviting residents and volunteers to take part in mangrove monitoring. Grassroots participation generates valuable insights that informs science-based decisions. By fostering awareness, stewardship and a sense of shared responsibility, conservation can be a collective journey.
Abu Dhabi’s story is not one of isolated success, but a growing global movement, anchored in science, accelerated by innovation and made possible through collaboration. Let us intensify our efforts to protect and restore, not just landscapes and seascapes, but the trust between people and planet.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
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The five pillars of Islam
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
