Dubai Islands: Danger to environment?

In an article by Tina Butler, a journalist writing for Mongabay.com in August of 2005, explained the threat to existing aquatic ecosystems through the construction process of Nakheel's reclamation. Nakheel, a large corporation that has been at the forefront of much of Dubai's artificial seascapes, has stirred up so much sediment that organisms are being choked due to silt. Butler explains that the "health of the coral reefs has been in a state of continuous decline over the past 50 years. The Arabian Gulf is one of the most grievously affected areas, with recent estimates of habitat loss pegged at 35 percent. Increases in temperature and salinity have previously been attributed as the leading factors in reef habitat degradation, but the new pressure from dredging serves only to exacerbate the declining state of the environment". According to Butler this is directly affecting tourists, the group that much of this has been produced to bring. She claims the SCUBA industry has been affected drastically; "the current activity has essentially destroyed Dubai's diving industry even if temporarily, and enthusiasts have left the area for clearer waters".


Today, Nakheel is in financial turmoil abandoning future contracts and attempting to proceed on existing ones in an effort to streamline the corporation and bring the red zones of their budget back into the green. Perhaps this is more a problem than just completing the already questionable work. Will a half finished state of construction pose problems with unstable foundations, resulting in lack of intended development and use meaning the degradation was all for nothing? Only time will tell how it all pans out.

[Tina's article can be viewed here]