Under the partnership, Azraq's volunteer, corporate and school members will have access to the Freestyle Divers Marine Conservation Academy. Courtesy Freestyle Divers
Bleached coral in the Arabian Gulf. Courtesy: Noura Al Mansoori
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record. AFP
Efforts are under way to protect the UAE's coral on the east coast. Volunteer divers are taking fresh coral from Dibba Port and replanting it further out at sea. Reem Mohammed / The National
Divers will plant 15 artificial reefs off the UAE coastline near Dibba in June to encourage the regeneration of marine ecosystems.
The areas were damaged by dredging and ocean degradation.
Volunteers from the Freestyle Divers’ Marine Conservation Academy will visit the Dibba Rock Marine Conservation Area to mark World Ocean Day on June 8.
This provides a wonderful opportunity to educate, motivate and activate the community on the importance of protecting the marine environment
The reefs will form the foundation for a new ecosystem and coincide with the expansion of the Fujairah dive centre’s Dibba Rock coral reef nursery.
Subject to approvals, 20 boat hulls will be sunk during June and July to form a deep reef environment for diving, marine conservation training and education.
“The UAE coast has an abundance of diverse marine life, but as divers we have seen first- hand the result of pollution and human activity,” said Darryl Owen, managing director of Freestyle Divers.
“Through our programmes, we have seen the result of our conservation efforts with the emergence and return of marine life species.
“Ocean degradation affects us all, so to effect real change, marine conservation activities should be open to everyone.”
Contributing to UAE marine conservation efforts has just become easier for UAE residents and businesses. Courtesy Freestyle Divers
Data from the World Resources Institute showed coral reefs across the world, including those in the UAE, are endangered, with more than half under threat.
By 2030, scientists estimate as much as 90 per cent of reefs could be at risk.
Making up less than 0.5 per cent of the planet's surface, coral reefs are home to 30 per cent of marine species.
An estimated 25 per cent of all marine life is reliant on coral reefs at some point in their lifecycle, while the complex ecosystems provide food and jobs for millions of people globally.
These marine habitats also generate more than half the earth's oxygen and so play a critical role in human survival.
Plans to create one of the world's largest artificial reefs off the Fujairah coastline in more than a decade were first announced in 2019.
Government environmentalists partnered with scientists in the US to develop the huge underwater ecosystem, similar in size to three football pitches.
Coral reefs in Florida face similar threats to those in the Emirates, including rising sea temperatures, human pollution and land reclamation.
In Dibba, Freestyle Divers teamed up with Azraq, a volunteer-run marine conservation organisation based in Dubai.
Under the partnership, Azraq’s volunteer, corporate and school members will have access to the Freestyle Divers’ Marine Conservation Academy, which focuses on theoretical and practical in-water conservation education.
“Freestyle Divers provides an environment where science meets marine conservation,” said Natalie Banks, managing director of Azraq.
"Thhis provides a wonderful opportunity to educate, motivate and activate the community on the importance of protecting the marine environment."
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Age 26
Born May 17, 1991
Height 1.80 metres
Birthplace Sydney, Australia
Residence Eastbourne, England
Plays Right-handed
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$5,761,870 (Dh21,162,343.75)
Wins / losses 312 / 181
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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