Dubai will open the world’s largest marine restoration and ecotourism development.
Developer URB has unveiled plans for Dubai Reefs, a floating living lab and ecotourism hotspot, which could generate more than 30,000 jobs in a green economy.
Dubai Reefs consists of a sustainable floating community for marine research, regeneration and ecotourism.
Dubai Reefs
The project includes residential, hospitality, retail, educational and research facilities.
The marine institute will be the heart of the project, working towards greater protection of the marine and coastal environment of the UAE.
It aims to accelerate the marine science and conservation capacity of Dubai, while building the most diverse artificial reef, covering 200sq km.
It also aims to create a home to more than 1 billion corals and 100 million mangrove trees.
The project will offer unique experiences in marine ecotourism with various floating eco lodges, all of which are powered by 100% renewable energy from various types of solar and hydropower.
These include wave farms that will also produce additional clean energy for the emirate’s growing population. Regenerative Ocean Farming is another key feature of the project, which is a climate-friendly food production technique.
Baharash Bagherian, URB CEO, said: “The health of our cities is intrinsically tied to the health of our oceans. The ocean is the source of life controlling everything.
“Given that everything on our planet is connected, a healthy ocean is a healthy city. Our ocean will be entirely different by the end of the century if we don’t take action today. We need an entrepreneurial spirit in the planning of coastal cities and the types of infrastructure as well as developments that are linked to the ocean.
“As an innovative coastal city, Dubai is best positioned to lead such a transformation. Beyond creating a unique resilient destination for ecotourism and marine research, Dubai Reefs aims to become a blueprint for ocean living, whilst mitigating the impacts of climate change.”
Ultimately, Dubai Reefs will promote social, environmental and economic benefits. It aims to transform the emirate into an eco-destination, where the ocean and the city thrive in balance.
Follow us on
