Abu Dhabi: With the declaration that new marine protected sites across the emirate are now open to the public, Abu Dhabi has increased substantially its eco-tourism offers. The newly opened regions will provide residents and visitors with a variety of new ways to explore the emirate’s coastline and waterways, as well as boosting the Emirate’s maritime economy.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in partnership with the Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Abu Dhabi Maritime, and Abu Dhabi Ship Building, made the announcement at the Monaco Yacht Show.
Hundreds of yachting enthusiasts and experts, including captains and crews, yacht management businesses, yacht agencies, and owners, flocked to the annual luxury trade event specializing in the marine industry. The latest addition to the Emirate’s growing array of tourism products is a new marine reserves map of the capital and its waterways, which highlights the new places open to the public.
The strategy, according to Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, include developing tourism options in a sustainable way to meet the growing demand for more activities around the area. The EAD now oversees six marine reserves, including the Marawah Biosphere, which is the region’s largest and first UNESCO-designated marine reserve.
According to Ahmed Al Hashmi, Acting Executive Director for Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the EAD, “despite harsh conditions, abundant marine life is hosted, which has the highest tolerance threshold in the world.” The largest humpback dolphin population in the Indian Ocean, the densest dugong population in the world, and the second-largest dugong population in the world are all found here, so EAD is pleased to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi on the selection of marine protected areas that will help boost eco-tourism in Abu Dhabi.
Supporting the development of tourist industry partners is one of DCT Abu Dhabi’s primary responsibilities. To ensure the sustained growth of their businesses, the new marine services tie marine and yacht management enterprises with the emirate’s overall tourist plan.
Abu Dhabi has more marine developments in the works, including the upcoming debut of Yas Bay on Yas Island, the emirate’s primary entertainment zone. The new bay will have new yacht berths and will be complemented by multiple world-class hotels and entertainment venues, including the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
