UAE’s coastal cities at high risk from rising sea levels
ABU DHABI // Cities along the UAE coastline are at high risk from rising sea levels, a long-term forecast for climate change says.
Environmental changes could lead to 8 per cent of Ajman being lost to rising water, 2 per cent of Sharjah and up to 5.9 per cent of Umm Al Quwain by 2100, according to the report.
Artificial shoreline, islands and breakwaters are also likely at risk.
About 85 per cent of the UAE population live in coastal areas.
"In Dubai, the urban area has almost tripled in less than two decades, with an artificial expansion of the city surface thanks to The Palm islands and the World archipelago projects, thus making the share of built environment potentially exposed to inundation," said the report.
Outside of residential and hotel complexes along the coast, much of the industry including the energy sector is built near the coast and could be affected by rising water linked to melting polar ice caps.
Businesses and factories along the coast may be subject to more frequent flooding from a higher sea level.
"The proximity could cause direct damage to the facilities, or even create scenarios where the factories are unable to operate due to system failures or the inaccessibility of workers along the coast," said the report.
Thousands of hectares of land along the coast are covered in mangroves and are already under threat.
The mangroves provide habitats for dozens of fish species and safe nesting. They also protect shorelines from erosion and waves, and trap carbon from the atmosphere.
To continue that, the mangroves require stable sea levels.
"Climate change has effects on many environmental resources which constitute important assets for the UAE tourism sector such as its biodiversity and landscape," the report said.
"The UAE offers its visitors a diverse ecological profile, including a long coastline, beaches, rich marine life, mountains, valleys, deserts and several natural reserves."
The coastal and marine environment in Abu Dhabi contribute about US$141 million to the economy through industries such as tourism and fishing, the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative says.
"However, any tourism based on the natural environment in Arab countries will be affected by climate change," the report said. "These climate change impacts may also lead to the UAE being a less attractive place for expats to live and work."
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