URB to revive dubai's coast with 100 million mangrove trees

URB unveils Dubai Mangroves for coastal regeneration

Dubai Mangroves sets new standards for coastal regeneration. Spearheaded by URB, the same masterminds of the Dubai Reefs Project and The Loop in Dubai, this initiative will integrate ecological preservation with urban development, enhancing the city’s coastline by planting more than 100 million mangrove trees over 72 km, aligning with the environmental goals and objectives of the Dubai 2040 Master Plan, focusing on urban resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable planning. At the heart of this initiative are Mangroves, known for their unique ability to sequester carbon, protect coastal areas from erosion, and support marine life and food security. With the capacity to absorb approximately 12.3 kg of CO2 annually per tree, the entire project can sequester 1.23 million tonnes yearly, the equivalent of removing the CO2 emitted by more than 260,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the roads each year.

all renders © URB

promoting edutainment

The project also includes various edutainment assets, such as the Mangrove Visitor Hub, designed to educate and engage the community and visitors about the importance of mangroves and the broader environmental challenges facing our planet. The Hub, alongside the Botanical Museum and the Nature Reserve Conservation Center, will serve as platforms for research, education, and advocacy, promoting environmental stewardship among residents and tourists alike. ‘This project is much more than coastal regeneration or resilience; it’s about setting a global standard for how cities can balance the needs of the planet with the needs of the people,’ explains Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB.

Dubai Mangroves sets new standards for coastal regeneration

six pilot design studies

Dubai Mangroves is currently at the research stage with six pilot design studies proposed across selected zones. These areas are strategically chosen to test and refine the methodologies for mangrove restoration and to explore the integration of various infrastructural elements that support both the ecosystem and community needs.

The designated zones for these critical pilot studies are: Jebel Ali Beach, Dubai Marina Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeim Beach, Mercato Beach, and Dubai Islands Beach.

Across these zones, Dubai Mangroves will introduce a wide array of social, environmental, and leisure infrastructures. These will encompass beach sports facilities, habitats for wildlife, areas dedicated to biosaline agriculture practices, and integrated running and cycling tracks. Each zone will serve as a model for how diverse infrastructural elements can be harmoniously combined with mangrove restoration efforts to create multifunctional coastal landscapes that offer ecological, recreational, and aesthetic benefits.

planting more than 100 million mangrove trees over 72 km