The 'blue hole' discovered off Al Dhafra. All photos: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
The 'blue hole' discovered off Al Dhafra. All photos: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
It provides a unique habitat for fish such as grouper, sweetlips, emperor fish and jackfish.
It provides a unique habitat for fish such as grouper, sweetlips, emperor fish and jackfish.
The underwater sinkhole is about 12 metres deep, 200 metres wide and has an area of about 45,000 square metres.
The underwater sinkhole is about 12 metres deep, 200 metres wide and has an area of about 45,000 square metres.
Similar holes can be found across the world, with the deepest reaching 300 metres beneath the seabed.
Similar holes can be found across the world, with the deepest reaching 300 metres beneath the seabed.

UAE

Abu Dhabi discovers rare 'blue hole' in Arabian Gulf

About 12 metres deep, the underwater sinkhole is home to grouper, jackfish and corals

The National

October 09, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Find out more: Exploring the underwater phenomenon of blue holes

A rare “blue hole” has been discovered in the Arabian Gulf by environment chiefs in Abu Dhabi.

The underwater sinkhole lies just off Al Dhafra and is about 12 metres deep, 200 metres wide and has an area of about 45,000 square metres.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said it was a “recent discovery in a routine inspection” and was being monitored as part of regular surveys and assessments.

It provides a unique habitat for fish such as grouper, sweetlips, emperor fish and jackfish, and holds at least 10 types of coral species, which form a reef at the edges of the hole.

The agency said it was significant because it “provides a glimpse of how historic reefs used to look in Abu Dhabi".

Experts will conduct an environmental assessment survey of the unique ecosystem to learn more about its geological composition. This will involve mapping the area and analysing seawater.

The agency will also conduct scientific and topographic surveys.

Read more

Abu Dhabi releases red list of at-risk species

Similar holes can be found around the world. The deepest blue hole, the Yongle, lies in the South China Sea and reaches 300 metres beneath the seabed.

Other famous blue holes include the “Great Blue Hole” in Belize; “Gozo’s Blue Hole” in Malta; the Blue Hole at Dahab in Egypt and “Dean’s Blue Hole” in the Bahamas.

“These unique structures attract divers from all over the world and are home to fringing reefs and diverse fish species, and at their depths, they host diverse microbial communities,” said the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

Sinkholes of this type were usually formed in limestone rock during the Ice Age when sea levels were low. Water eroded the stone over time and left an opening that water rushed into as sea levels climbed.

Ocean Photography Awards 2021 - in pictures

Scroll below to see stunning images of ocean life taken this year.

Winner of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Aimee Jan: A green turtle, surrounded by glass fish in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. 'I was out snorkelling when one of my colleagues told me there was a turtle under a ledge in a school of glass fish, about 10 metres down,' says Jan. 'When I dived down to look, the fish separated around the turtle perfectly. I said to her: ‘I think I just took the best photo I have ever taken’.'
Winner of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Aimee Jan: A green turtle, surrounded by glass fish in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. 'I was out snorkelling when one of my colleagues told me there was a turtle under a ledge in a school of glass fish, about 10 metres down,' says Jan. 'When I dived down to look, the fish separated around the turtle perfectly. I said to her: ‘I think I just took the best photo I have ever taken’.'
Second place in Ocean Photographer of the Year, Henley Spiers: 'Diving amidst the barrage of gannets, I witness the violent synchronicity of these impressive seabirds as they embark on fishing dives,' says Spiers of this photo taken in the UK's Isle of Noss. 'They hit the water at 60 miles per hour (96kmh), an impact they can only withstand thanks to specially evolved air sacs in the head and chest. The bird’s agility transfers from air to sea where it also swims with incredible speed.'
Second place in Ocean Photographer of the Year, Henley Spiers: 'Diving amidst the barrage of gannets, I witness the violent synchronicity of these impressive seabirds as they embark on fishing dives,' says Spiers of this photo taken in the UK's Isle of Noss. 'They hit the water at 60 miles per hour (96kmh), an impact they can only withstand thanks to specially evolved air sacs in the head and chest. The bird’s agility transfers from air to sea where it also swims with incredible speed.'
Third place in Ocean Photographer of the Year, Matty Smith: 'A hawksbill turtle hatchling just 3.5cm long and a few minutes old takes its first swim,' says Smith of his photo taken in Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea. 'It had emerged from an egg just minutes earlier with approximately 100 of its siblings. They quickly made their way into the ocean to disperse as rapidly as they could and avoid predation from birds and fish. I had to work quickly for this shot.'
Third place in Ocean Photographer of the Year, Matty Smith: 'A hawksbill turtle hatchling just 3.5cm long and a few minutes old takes its first swim,' says Smith of his photo taken in Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea. 'It had emerged from an egg just minutes earlier with approximately 100 of its siblings. They quickly made their way into the ocean to disperse as rapidly as they could and avoid predation from birds and fish. I had to work quickly for this shot.'
Winner of Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Ben Thouard: Surfer Matahi Drollet catches a wave known as Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia
Winner of Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Ben Thouard: Surfer Matahi Drollet catches a wave known as Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia
Second place in Adventure Photographer of the Year, Ben Thouard: A wave known as Teahupo’o, as seen from below, in Tahiti, French Polynesia
Second place in Adventure Photographer of the Year, Ben Thouard: A wave known as Teahupo’o, as seen from below, in Tahiti, French Polynesia
Third place in Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Sebastien Pontoizeau: A freediver duck dives to capture a photograph of a humpback whale off the coast of Reunion Island
Third place in Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Sebastien Pontoizeau: A freediver duck dives to capture a photograph of a humpback whale off the coast of Reunion Island
Nominee in Adventure Photographer of the Year, Steve Woods: Sea lions swarm a diver off Vancouver Island, Canada
Nominee in Adventure Photographer of the Year, Steve Woods: Sea lions swarm a diver off Vancouver Island, Canada
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: In late spring, the emperor penguin colony almost mainly consists of chicks in Antarctica
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: In late spring, the emperor penguin colony almost mainly consists of chicks in Antarctica
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: When both parents are foraging, their chicks gather in creches, or mini huddles
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: When both parents are foraging, their chicks gather in creches, or mini huddles
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: A lone chick standing on the ice shelf, as the sea ice broke up too early, in Antarctica
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: A lone chick standing on the ice shelf, as the sea ice broke up too early, in Antarctica
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: Male emperor penguins huddling during polar night in Antarctica, to stay warm as a group
Winner of Collective Portfolio Award, Stefan Christmann: Male emperor penguins huddling during polar night in Antarctica, to stay warm as a group
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: A southern bobtail squid performs a spectacular display on the seabed at night
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: A southern bobtail squid performs a spectacular display on the seabed at night
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: Pacific Man o’ War, a colourful marine invader, under an apocalyptic red sky
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: Pacific Man o’ War, a colourful marine invader, under an apocalyptic red sky
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: The Porpita porpita siphonophore appears like a miniature spinning galaxy on the ocean surface
Second place in Collective Portfolio Award, Matty Smith: The Porpita porpita siphonophore appears like a miniature spinning galaxy on the ocean surface
Third place in Collective Portfolio Award, Alex Kydd: A rare encounter with a fever of cownose rays on the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Third place in Collective Portfolio Award, Alex Kydd: A rare encounter with a fever of cownose rays on the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Third place in Collective Portfolio Award, Alex Kydd: A freediver falls through an ocean full of moon jellyfish in Raja Ampat, West Papua
Third place in Collective Portfolio Award, Alex Kydd: A freediver falls through an ocean full of moon jellyfish in Raja Ampat, West Papua
Winner of Community Choice Award, Phil de Glanville: Surfer Jack Robinson rides the famous break known as ‘The Right’, home to some of the heaviest waves in the world in Denmark, Western Australia
Winner of Community Choice Award, Phil de Glanville: Surfer Jack Robinson rides the famous break known as ‘The Right’, home to some of the heaviest waves in the world in Denmark, Western Australia
Winner of Conservation Photographer of the Year, Kerim Sabuncuoglu: A dead moray eel on an abandoned fishing line in Bodrum, Turkey
Winner of Conservation Photographer of the Year, Kerim Sabuncuoglu: A dead moray eel on an abandoned fishing line in Bodrum, Turkey
Highly Commended in Conservation Photographer of the Year, Thien Nguyen: Anchovy fishing boats photographed from above along the coastline of Phu Yen province, Vietnam
Highly Commended in Conservation Photographer of the Year, Thien Nguyen: Anchovy fishing boats photographed from above along the coastline of Phu Yen province, Vietnam
Winner of Exploration Photographer of the Year, Martin Broen: Speleothems cast long shadows at cenote Dos Pisos in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Winner of Exploration Photographer of the Year, Martin Broen: Speleothems cast long shadows at cenote Dos Pisos in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Third place in Exploration Photographer of the Year, Matty Smith: A portrait of a squid, taken in Bushrangers Bay, Australia
Third place in Exploration Photographer of the Year, Matty Smith: A portrait of a squid, taken in Bushrangers Bay, Australia
While you're here
THE%20HOLDOVERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexander%20Payne%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Giamatti%2C%20Da'Vine%20Joy%20Randolph%2C%20Dominic%20Sessa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%2C%20Manal%20Khader%2C%20Amer%20Daher%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on animal trafficking
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC

Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045

Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km

While you're here

Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)

Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)

While you're here
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

January 24 – First T20, Lahore

January 25 – Second T20, Lahore

January 27 – Third T20, Lahore

February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi

April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi

April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi

Explained
The view from The National
The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 640hp

Torque: 760nm

On sale: 2026

Price: Not announced yet

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

On Women's Day
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowdash%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESean%20Trevaskis%20and%20Enver%20Sorkun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERestaurant%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20Judah%20VC%2C%20TPN%20Investments%20and%20angel%20investors%2C%20including%20former%20Talabat%20chief%20executive%20Abdulhamid%20Alomar%2C%20and%20entrepreneur%20Zeid%20Husban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: October 12, 2021, 6:50 AM`
Abu DhabiEnvironmentArabian Gulf