The Dubai Reef project aims to reconnect the ocean with the city…

During the COP28 summit currently taking place at Expo City, H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince officially launched the landmark Dubai Reef project.

First unveiled back in May 2023, the Dubai Reef project will begin to take shape in 2024, and is one of the world’s largest marine reef development projects. Spanning more than 600 square kilometres of coastline from the Palm Jebel Ali to Dubai Islands, its main goal is to highlight the importance of living in harmony with the ocean.

The four-phase development will see the creation of over 400,000 cubic metres of coral reefs through the implementation of more than 20,000 reef modules. The hope is that this will increase the fish and biomass population by eight times during the next decade. It will also capture some seven million tonnes of carbon annually, the equivalent of 1.5 million cars.

While those impressive figures share the direct impact, the wider impact will resonate through the city for generations to come, as the UAE continues its mission to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

“Dubai is strongly dedicated to making substantial contributions to global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change through initiatives that promote the sustainability of our natural environment, with particular emphasis on coral reefs,” Sheikh Hamdan shared on LinkedIn.