Sheikh Hamdan shares video of orcas in Dubai waters

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has shared footage of a pair of orcas swimming off Dubai.

The Crown Prince of Dubai said on Instagram that a sea creature was spotted in Jebel Ali on Wednesday.

He posted a short clip of a distinctive black-and-white mammal in the stories section of his account, which has more than 15 million followers.

The footage appears to show a second orca following close behind, but largely underwater for much of the recording.

“An orca was found today in Jebel Ali,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote on the post.

Sightings of orcas — also known as killer whales — are not common in the UAE and they have made a splash in the country this week.

Orcas sighted in Abu Dhabi waters

Fisherman captured remarkable footage of a pair of orcas surrounding a dugong sea cow off the coast of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The public has been warned against swimming in the sea for the next two days due to the continued presence of one of the orcas.

While killer whales are not normally considered a threat to human beings, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency urged people not to approach the orcas, which are among the most well-travelled of marine wildlife.

“Orcas are usually not a threat to humans, however, we urge the public to keep a safe distance when spotting [them] and alert the Abu Dhabi government call centre on 800555,” the agency said on Instagram.

The agency added that although the latest sighting is rare, orcas are not infrequent visitors to Abu Dhabi waters.

It is not clear if the orcas discovered in Dubai are the same two sighted near the capital.

It is not the first time Sheikh Hamdan has marked the arrival of orcas off the emirate.

A video of a killer whale swimming around Dubai Marina that was shared by Sheikh Hamdan in January 2022 helped environmentalists track a pod 24km from shore.

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

MATCH INFO

Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')

Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.