Plans for ‘world’s largest coastal regeneration project’ revealed in Dubai

Jacopo Prisco, CNN
·4-min read

Editor’s Note: This CNN series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.

A stretch of more than 70 kilometers (43 miles) of shoreline in Dubai could become the site of the “world’s largest coastal regeneration project,” if a project called Dubai Mangroves were to go ahead.

Over 100 million mangroves — a group of trees and shrubs that live mainly in coastal waters, where they are able to support entire ecosystems — would be planted as part of the project. That’s enough to absorb over 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 per year, according to URB, the sustainable city developer behind the initiative — the equivalent of removing 260,000 gas-powered vehicles from the road.

“Mangroves are nature’s own defense system against coastal erosion and rising sea levels, which are crucial concerns for any coastal city, including Dubai,” says Baharash Bagherian, an urban planner and founder of URB.

“Currently, we’re in the research phase,” he adds. “We have identified six locations for proposed pilot studies as next stages and are focusing on the designs for those locations. We envision the project’s completion by 2040.”

Better than a rainforest

URB’s other designs, which are all still in the planning phase, include a masterplan to equip Dubai with over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of cycling lanes by 2040, and Dubai Reefs, a floating community for marine research and ecotourism that would include the world’s largest artificial reef.

Dubai Mangroves was originally proposed as part of Dubai Reefs, and later singled out as a separate initiative. According to Bagherian, it’s meant to address several environmental and urban challenges. “Primarily, it aims to combat the effects of climate change,” he says, which is achieved via the mangroves’ natural ability to mitigate sea level rise — by gradually creating a buffer between sea and land — and their ability remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.

Mangroves are able to do this 10 times faster than mature tropical forests and they can then store the carbon three to five times more densely, according to the US National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.

They bring other benefits, too, as they act as nurseries for marine life and create a natural habitat for fish, birds and other plants, increasing biodiversity. They also directly improve the economy of coastal communities by supporting fisheries and aquaculture, as well as providing raw materials for crafts and construction.

Finally, as demonstrated by other mangrove hotspots around the world, they can become a tourist attraction. “The project is set to raise the bar for ecologically responsible tourism, by creating an environment where visitors can enjoy nature without harming it,” Bagherian says, adding that the goal is not only to attract tourists but to encourage them to become active participants in preserving the natural heritage.

A conservation center staffed by marine biologists and a large botanical museum are among the facilities planned for the visitor hub.

URB, the developer behind the design, shown in this rendering, hopes Dubai Mangroves will be completed by 2040. - URB
URB, the developer behind the design, shown in this rendering, hopes Dubai Mangroves will be completed by 2040. - URB

AI gardeners

Technology will play a role in both the development and the operations of Dubai Mangroves, with artificial intelligence (AI) constantly checking over the plants. “We are looking at utilizing cutting-edge tools such as drone reforestation to plant mangroves efficiently and remote sensing technology to monitor the health and growth of the mangrove forests,” says Bagherian.

Drones would precisely place the mangrove seeds in locations where they have the best chance of survival. Satellite imagery would then be used to gain an overview of the mangrove coverage, making it easier to identify areas that require increased attention. At the same time, AI-driven analytics could process large chunks of data to offer guidance to biologists and urbanists on restoration efforts and policy decisions.

Six areas are currently being considered for pilot studies that would inform the final plan for the project: Jebel Ali Beach, Dubai Marina Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeim Beach, Mercato Beach and Dubai Islands Beach.

Bagherian believes that as well as tackling climate change and boosting the local economy through ecotourism, the project would improve quality of life for locals.

“On a social level, it enhances urban liveability by offering recreational spaces for residents and visitors, improving air quality, and contributing to the mental and physical well-being of the community,” he says.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Latest stories

  • Giant endangered fish makes dramatic return to Pembrokeshire waters

    An endangered giant fish, absent from Pembrokeshire waters for about half a century, has made a dramatic return.

  • A robot got stuck under Antarctic ice years ago. Its data has now revealed an even bigger problem

    Antarctica is one of the fastest-warming regions in the world

  • Met Office delivers snow verdict following reports of 'Arctic blast'

    The Met Office has responded to reports that an 'Arctic blast' will hit the UK later this month

  • Scientists Consider Drastic Action as Doomsday Glacier Threatens to Flood Entire Islands and Coasts

    Thwaiting Period The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is called the "Doomsday Glacier" for a reason. Larger than the state of Florida, the icy mass contains so much water that scientists predict that its melting could single-handedly raise global sea levels by over two feet — and possibly over five times more that, if it triggers […]

  • ‘Much-loved’ three-month-old giraffe calf at Marwell Zoo dies

    A “much-loved” three-month-old giraffe calf at Marwell Zoo has died

  • Massive grizzly bear known as 'The Boss' spotted in Canmore area

    Massive grizzly bear "The Boss" seemed to have lost his bearings earlier this week.He was spotted by a local nature photographer in the Canmore area, much farther east than he's normally known to frequent.The Boss, officially known as Bear No. 122, was seen Sunday where photographer and biologist Jason Leo Bantle lives in Harvie Heights, a hamlet just northwest of Canmore.Parks Canada said The Boss is in his mid-20s, and the last time he was captured he weighed roughly 450 pounds (about 200 kilo

  • Location of turbines at what would be 'England’s largest onshore wind farm' revealed

    The exact location of the new turbines at what would be "England’s largest onshore wind farm" has been revealed

  • ‘You’re in the hands of mother nature’: The million-pound house perilously close to the edge

    The tiny thatched cottage perched on Peak Hill, a 400 ft cliff above Sidmouth in Devon, has unrivalled views of the Jurassic coast – but you take your life in your hands to enjoy them. Following a dramatic cliff collapse last week, which triggered a smaller rockfall below the property, there is now just 40 ft separating the house from the cliff edge. Another rockfall and the garden could be taken out altogether, or worse still, the historic cottage could topple into the sea. “I doubt anyone is s

  • Met Office gives verdict on UK snow forecast after reports of four-day ‘arctic blast’

    Reports emerged claiming the UK would be hit with an ‘arctic blast’ by the end of November

  • SNP ban on woodburning stoves scrapped because alternatives are ‘more polluting’

    SNP ministers have scrapped a controversial ban on installing woodburning stoves in new homes after a huge backlash in rural Scotland forced a “humiliating” about-turn.

  • Grizzly Bear Catches Snowflakes on Tongue in Adorable Video

    One of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s resident grizzly bears was the picture of winter joy as he reclined cozily in the snow and caught snowflakes on his tongue on Wednesday, November 6.This adorable video captures Emmet, a 19-year-old grizzly bear, catching snowflakes on his tongue at the zoo in downtown Colorado Springs on Wednesday.“We love snow days at the zoo, and we’re open every day of the year,” the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo said in a press release.According to the zoo, Emmet and his “longtime roommate,” Digger, both came to the zoo in 2007 as young bears. They are not biologically related and were both labeled as “nuisance bears after several negative interactions with humans prior to being removed from the wild,” the zoo said.The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo said nuisance bears often “aren’t as lucky as these two,” and end up euthanized or relocated.Grizzlies are native to the Rocky Mountain region and do not hibernate, instead gaining enough weight “to carry them through the cooler season” along with their fluffy coats, the zoo said.Grizzlies go into torpor, a “hormonal physiological and behavioral change triggered by the changing seasons” that sees the bears slow down, sleep more, and “want to eat, eat, eat,” according to the zoo. Credit: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo via Storyful

  • Water company's £40 million plans to improve town blighted by flooding

    A multi-million-pound plan has been launched to help protect a seaside town blighted by flooding and water issues.

  • Spain hit by fresh flash flooding after deadly storms

    The heavy downpour in the country’s northeast led to dozens of vehicles being washed away

  • Brothers aged 3 and 5 swept away from dad's arms in deadly Spanish floods

    Izan, 5, and Rubén Matias, 3, died during flooding in Valencia

  • Mountain Lion Caught on Camera in Rare Dallas-Area Sighting

    A resident of Frisco, Texas – part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area – got a surprise after a security camera caught video of a mountain lion prowling around his yard in the early hours of November 1.The homeowner, Brent Blackwell, reported the incident to authorities on November 4 and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) later confirmed the cat to be a mountain lion.Speaking to Storyful, Blackwell noted that the mountain lion isn’t the only unexpected animal in the footage. In the bottom right, a rabbit can be seen hiding behind a storage tank. “Must have escaped!” Blackwell said.In a statement on Thursday, the TPWD asked residents to “report any additional mountain lion sightings to local biologists” but said it was likely the mountain lion was “just passing through” and would not “stay in the area for an extended period of time.”When local station WFAA published Blackwell’s video, it caught the attention of another man, Brady Smith, who believed he had spotted the same cat on camera six days earlier at the Lake Dallas RV Park, located more than 7 miles west of Blackwell’s home across Lewisville Lake, according to WFAA.TPWD urban wildlife biologist Rachel Richter inspected the footage from the RV park and concluded that it was likely to be the same mountain lion, WFAA said. “This is the first confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in Denton County” since sightings began being recorded in the 1990s, Richter was quoted as saying. Credit: Brent Blackwell via Storyful

  • Met Office responds to claims of ‘arctic blast’ hitting the UK

    Numerous reports have suggested freezing conditions are around the corner - but the Met Office says temperatures will be around average.

  • Flames and Smoke Billow Into Morning Sky From 'Yet Another' Industrial Fire in English Town

    Residents in and around the Hertfordshire town of Hitchin were asked to keep windows and doors closed after a large industrial fire broke out in the early hours of Friday, November 8.Footage from Alfie Mynott shows the blaze from a nearby train line.Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue said they were dealing with a large fire at a waste recycling site on Wallace Way, Hitchin, on Friday morning.Residents were asked to keep doors and windows closed.The local MP, Alistair Strathern, took to X to condemn “yet another” fire at Hitchin’s industrial estates. Local news said there had been five similar incidents over the past year.The cause of the fire was not reported. Credit: Alfie Mynott via Storyful

  • Rare baby rhino takes first steps outside at zoo near Herts

    An adorable baby rhino has ventured outside his indoor cosy den for the first time at a zoo near Hertfordshire.

  • Mama Bear and Cubs Released After Getting Into Residential Garbage

    A mother bear and her two cubs were tranquilized in Crown King, Arizona, on Sunday, October 27, after the trio were found rifling through the garbage in a residential garage.According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), their officers were flagged down by a Crown King resident who said there were three bears in his garage.AZGFD said their officers darted the bears and captured the mother and one cub. The other cub, however, climbed a power pole, became entangled in phone lines, and fell asleep.The sleeping cub was untangled with help from Arizona Public Service and the Crown King Fire Department.Footage from the Arizona Game and Fish Department shows the mother bear and one of her cubs being set free. The other cub was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center, where it was treated for a leg infection, AZGFD said. Credit: Arizona Game and Fish Department via Storyful

  • Trump Plans to Dismantle Biden’s Climate Law. It Won’t Be Easy

    (Bloomberg) -- President-Elect Donald Trump will be empowered by Republican gains on Capitol Hill to pull back portions of the Democrats’ signature climate law he calls “the green new scam,” which devoted hundreds of billions of dollars to subsidizing emission-free energy.Most Read from BloombergThe Leaf Blowers Will Not Go QuietlyKey Ballot Initiatives and Local Races Highlight Views on Abortion, ImmigrationParis Restricts Through Traffic in City CenterFrom Housing to Immigration, Key Ballot In