UAE’s changing environmental security

The UAE is facing environmental security issues due to rapid development, increased tourism, and continued economic growth. This paper evaluates the different aspects behind the changing environmental security, the risks involved, and what the UAE government is doing to combat those risks. The challenges UAE faces due to climate change, rapid development, and increased consumption are immense. Efforts are being made by UAE to deal with the threat of food and environment security.

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UAE’s changing environmental security

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Table of content
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….4
The Environment and Environmental security ………………………………………………4
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Climate changes ……………………………….….…..….5
Rapid urbanization and tourism ……………………………………………………..….……7
Environmental pollution, dust storms, and air quality ……………………………………….9
The growing water deficit and increasing desalination plants ……………………..……….10
The threat of food security …………………………………………………………………….13
The risk of rising sea levels ……………………………………………………………………14
Efforts being made by UAE …………………………………………………………..……….15
Conclusion …………………………………………….……………………………..………. 17
References …………………………………………….……………………………..……….18

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Introduction
The UAE, like other countries across the world, is facing the issues of environmental
security. Rapid development increased tourism, and continued economic growth have added to
the stress of the problem. The growing consumption of natural resources exerts a strain on the
environment and creates a larger ecological footprint. For the UAE government, the environment
and environmental security are the top priority today. Rapid urbanization and tourism plus the
climate changes have raised environmental pollution, increased dust storms, and lowered air
quality. UAE’s fossil fuels are the main factor behind the economic activity. Plus, the increasing
desalination plants to fill in the growing water deficit and the risk of rising sea levels are further
deteriorating the environmental conditions. Efforts are being made by UAE to deal with the
threat of food and environment security. The region needs to take concerted and practical steps to
lower the greenhouse gas emissions due to an increase in population and its consumption. The
challenges UAE faces due to climate change, rapid development and increased consumption are
immense. What holds the key is environmental security with sustainable development.

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Introduction
The UAE was established in 1971 as a federal state and includes seven emirates, namely,
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Um Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ajman Ras Al Khaimah. The UAE is
considered a leading political force in the Middle East (MarketLine 16). Rapid development and
continued economic growth have raised the standard of living. However, increased consumption
of natural resources has led to a greater ecological footprint. The UAE has been actively taking
steps to avert water wastage, lower CO2 emissions and add to its environmental security. The
paper evaluates the different aspects behind the changing environmental security, the risks
involved and what the UAE government is doing to combat those risks.
The Environment and Environmental security
Environmental security is essential for any nation as it inspects the risks created by
environmental events and trends to the nation and its population. Environmental security
prevents or repairs any damage to the environment, responds to environmental conflicts and
safeguards the environment (InforMEA). The relation between humans and the environment has
become an important focus in recent years. WHO states four categories of environmental
pollution, the burning of solid fuels indoors, particulate substances in outdoors, pathogens in
water and carcinogens in industrial environments. According to WHO, every year, there are
thirteen million deaths due to these risks. Environmental risks include outdoor air pollution,
drinking water contamination, indoor air pollution, occupational exposures, coastal water
pollution, and climate change globally (MacDonald et al. 3). Population growth and rapid
urbanization can create several environmental problems such as variations in hydrological
processes, shortage of water resources and as the effect of urban heat island (Shanableh et al. 1).
The impact of climate change is already felt by several countries such as rising sea level,

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changing the hydrological cycle and extreme weather events. The human activities are further
intensifying those negative impacts of climate changes.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Climate changes
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a prime example rapid urbanization in the past few
decades’ and has become a scientific importance to environmental researchers. The
environmental researchers are keen to study the impact of the rapid transformation from desert to
urban cities, surges in traffic, very high temperatures and changes in lifestyle patterns (Karin et
al. 632). Before the 1970s, the UAE populations lived a nomadic lifestyle or dwelled in reed huts
which were naturally ventilated. Modern building practices have led to tightly insulated
buildings (Karin et al. 633). The UAE, before the discovery of oil in 1958 was looked upon as on
the poorest nations in the Arab world. There were no modern schools, telephone system or public
hospitals. However, by 2010, the UAE had become the third primary gross national income per
capita: $59,993 in the world (MacDonald et al. 1). Infant mortality rates have gone down, and the
life expectancy has risen.
Climate changes are not a new phenomenon and have been taking place for centuries. It
is the climate fluctuations that take place over shorter frequencies that can lead to climate
variability. There is growing evidence that the global warming witnessed in the last few decades
is the result of human activities. The overall climate transformation is posing as a threat to
human health and populations and is a significant threat to nature and humanity in the 21st
century (Salam 458). Humans rely on the stability of the ecological and physical systems of the
earth. The climate system is a vital force that supports life on the planet. However, it is coming
under pressure due to urbanization, population rise, and economic activities, and one can see the
impacts of climate around the globe. There are much more extreme events of climate like

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stronger storms, increasing sea levels, melting glaciers, and more droughts. The surface of the
planet has heated by about 0.8°C over the past century (Salam 458). The climate change will
impact flora and fauna of that particular region as well as the cultural identity of the people. The
geomorphology of the dry regions of the world relies on the contact of wind and water. The wind
carries sand and dust to slopes, and from there they are relocated by water in channels. Aeolian
and fluvial procedures create significant biogeochemical connections between the atmosphere,
hydrosphere, pedosphere, and biosphere. Environmental scientists understand the importance of
studying aeolian–fluvial interactions to understand channels and dunes in the arid regions (Pain
and Abdelfattah 14). The Arabian Deserts today are not what they were a couple of decades ago.
The prehistoric lake deposits in the Arabian deserts show that they experienced much more
humid conditions when compared to the present.
The climate change in UAE is already leaving health and environmental effects due to the
current warming trend and increased incidences of extreme weather events (Salam 459). The
UAE region is dry and has sunny days all year round. The weather along the shoreline is hot and
moist and is dehydrated in the interiors, and dust-laden sandstorms frequently hit the coast. UAE
has minimal resources of renewable water, and the majority of that is used for the farming
activity, industrial purposes and the rest for drinking. The oil and gas industry sectors, power and
transportation sectors are the most significant sources of pollution. Poorly, Environmental
Performance Index (EPI), ranks the country as asserted by Vij and Viz (46). In Saudi Arabia, the
exploitation of water resources and excessive water consumption for domestic purposes and
agriculture activities have depleted groundwater resources. The human activities and land use
change plus a growing population, severe droughts and food security have only enhanced the
issues (Mahmoud and Gan 1330). Forestlands have been replaced by agriculture fields and

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further affected the natural resources in the arid environment. The climate changes and human
activities are impacting the and the fauna and flora of the desert environment. There are four
physiographic regions in the Northern Emirates that carry a complicated history of uplift and
tilting. The alluvial plains are the result of multifaceted interaction between alluvial and aeolian
procedures (Pain and Abdelfattah 28). Changes in the Arabian Gulf and post-glacial fluctuations
in sea level have contributed to aeolian sediments and the current coastal landforms. However,
alluvial activity has always been complex and holds a significance.
The rising average temperatures due to the upsurge in greenhouse gas emissions are
bringing in climate change around the world. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report states how climate change is already affecting rainfall, drought and temperature
across the planet and have made them more extreme. The middle eastern region is projected to
get warmer all through the 21st century (Chowdhury et al. 640). The expected higher
temperatures would cause a rise in the vapor pressure which is further expected to change
atmospheric circulation patterns. The yearly maximum temperature in the UAE is likely to rise
by between 2.79 and 3.8o, and the annual precipitation is likely to lower from 16.8 to 37% by
2080 (Chowdhury et al. 640). Greenhouse gases are accruing at a faster rate than before, and the
primary contributor are Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorine
compounds (Salam 460). The UAE is taking specific steps to respond to this critical
environmental issue.
Rapid urbanization and tourism
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has fast become the center of attention because of its
highest carbon footprints (Vij and Viz 43). Rapid modernization and urbanization with massive
expenditure on infrastructure as well as tourism have positioned the UAE at the sixth rank for the

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quality of its infrastructure. The country has expanded itself to sectors like tourism and other
industries quite effectively. United Arab Emirates' Travel and Tourism contributes more than
four percent o Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Vij and Viz 44). However, the speedy growth
and development have taken a toll on the environmental security of the UAE. The large-scale
developments of skyscrapers, shopping, artificial islands, and artificial ski resorts consume
exponentially high energy. The tourism industry may be the cause behind the main
environmental issues in the UAE. The adverse impacts can be seen in the overgrazing in the
rangelands, desertification and the decline in natural vegetation. The salinity levels of the soil
have risen because of the extensive groundwater pumping and the oil industry effluents have
added to the CO2 emissions and air pollution. A statistical analysis of Al Ain municipality
undergoing speedy urban growth since the mid-1980s gives a clear example of a planned urban
sprawl. The increase in planned led to a growth in residential land in Al Ain, which also
experienced agricultural sprawl between 1990 and 2000 (Sharaf et al. 98). However, agricultural
activities would be impacted due to the limited water availability and high costs of fertilization.
The environment and tourism industry are closely related as the climate and nature along
with manmade activities impact the tourist experiences. The natural resources are often
exploited, and much energy is consumed to maintain those changes (Vij and Viz 41). The
progress of the tourism industry further adds to the food demand predominantly in the UAE
(Pirani and Arafat 1). According to a study by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
shows tourism contributed between 5% and 14% to global warming (Vij and Viz 41). Traffic
noise is a significant environmental noise that can impact the human health negatively A
growing body of research points to the link between exposure to noise and health issues like
sleep disturbance, hypertension, and annoyance (Hamad et al. 69). There has been a mounting

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interest in environmental noise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Hamad et al. 70). The noise
level relies on the volume, classification, and speed of the vehicles (Hamad et al. 84). The tourist
resorts in UAE already face the challenges of water shortages and rising temperatures. By 2030,
the temperatures are expected to increase further and intensify the challenges of keeping the
tourists comfortable and interested with the tourist products (Vij and Viz 45). With more tourists
coming to UAE and especially Dubai means more flights, increased ground transportation, and
the recently launched cruise tourism means more ships coming to the UAE. The net result is an
increased carbon footprint of UAE (Vij and Viz 45).
Environmental pollution, dust storms, and air quality
According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of the global
population is breathing in dangerous levels of pollutants. About seven million people die every
year because of outdoor and indoor air pollution. More than 90 percent of these deaths take place
in poor to middle-income countries (Emirates News Agency). Any air pollution exposure, short-
or long-term is related with several negative health effects. Health outcomes due to air pollution
impose a substantial burden on health care costs. United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the fastest
developing countries with rapid industrial and economic development sees a substantial impact
on air quality. UAE authorities are concerned about the health significance of air pollution and
looking for environmentally friendly growth plans. (Al-Taani et al. 144). There are air quality
monitoring systems and control centers set up to determine human exposure and monitor
atmospheric pollution trends. Environmental pollution is linked to a more significant number of
deaths, and in the UAE, it is especially cardiovascular disease behind the major deaths. There is
a dire need to lower especially cardiovascular disease and improve the quality of indoor and
outdoor air. Steps like aggressive marine monitoring program for water quality and introducing

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new anti-smoking campaigns can usher in public health benefits in the UAE (MacDonald et al.
12). Reducing environmental pollution can help prevent premature deaths and lower the risk of
gastrointestinal illnesses.
Dust storms which are made of tons of dust suspended into the atmospheric boundary
layer. They can cause severe air pollution and lower visibility which can further read to traffic
and aircraft accidents (Prakash et al. 19183). Other environmental impacts include crop damage
and lower soil fertility. Dust storms are frequent in the Arabian Peninsula, and there is evidence
that dust storms and deposition can have a noteworthy effect on the marine chemical and
biological processes (Prakash et al. 19199). The chemical compositions of atmospheric dust,
such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and iron leave an impact on the terrestrial and marine
ecosystems and marine productivity (Hamza et al. 261). The Arabia Peninsula, one of the largest
desert areas is seen as a major source of dust storms. The strong monsoon winds create dust
storms over the Gulf area. The United Arab Emirates has an extended coastal area, and its
atmosphere is affected by dust storms which are a sensitive indicator of the consequences of
climate changes. It is found that the fast-developing industrial areas surrounded by desert region
often exceed the acceptable limits of the pollutants (Al-Taani et al. 148). The concerned
authorities can transfer information to the investors and raise awareness among the public on
how to take further protective steps and maintain healthy conditions for air quality.
The growing water deficit and increasing desalination plants
UAE is already an arid region with water scarcity, and the water deficit is already rising
every year. It can be stressful to manage water resources under the scenario of little rainfall,
limited groundwater, and high evaporation rate. It is essential to study the extreme hydro-climate
variables within the UAE region as asserted by Chowdhury et al. (640). The observed hydro-

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climate variables changes in the UAE have added momentous challenges to the water sector.
There are chances of extreme temperature and rainfall in the north-eastern part of the UAE
(Chowdhury et al. 643). Shortage of potable water is a growing problem across the world, and it
is at its peak in the UAE. The Gulf countries are characterized by irregular and sparse rainfall
and have the lowest renewable water resource index (Al-Shayji and Aleisa 681). The
environmental conditions impact the dietary habits of the shell species originating in the shallow-
water coastal areas. The growing sedimentation rate in a lagoon close to Kalba shows the impact
on the habitat and food resource (Lindauer et al. 114). According to the UAE Ministry of
Environment and Water, 70 desalination plants support 40% of the water supply (Mohsen et al.
895). Majority of the water from the groundwater resources is used for irrigation. It is projected
that the UAE water demand will double by 2030 and the desalination plants and wastewater
treatments would have to increase their capacity to meet the growing demand. The UAE has the
highest per capita consumption rate for water in the world, and it is thrice of what is in Europe
and stands at 550 liters a day (Mohsen et al. 895). After Saudi Arabia, it is the second largest
desalination producer in the world. The water gap may widen if the desalination projects fail to
keep pace with the growing need for water due to the growing population and economic
expansion in the region.
The Persian Gulf is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the world. The
rising number of nuclear power and desalination plants is changing its land- and seascape
(Meshkati et al. 43). Besides, the ongoing offshore oil and gas production further weakens the
sea life and ecosystem, making it more fragile. The Gulf countries should be concerned about the
consequence of these technological calamities and the with long-lasting detrimental effects on
the environment (Meshkati et al. 44). The population of the Gulf countries including UAE is

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rising at a phenomenal rate, and given the land shortage, one finds more urban settlements on the
coast. The coastal populations are heavily reliant on on marine ecosystems as asserted by
Meshkati et al. (45).
The maximum number of desalination plants are found in the Gulf and carry 11 million
cubic meters capacity per day. The Gulf countries are heavily reliant on this water for their
drinking. The desalination plants capacity has been increased to meet the growing demand,
which is expected to rise by 50% by 2050 (Meshkati et al. 46). The UAE contributes to more
than 90% of seawater desalination. Due to the continued use of non-renewable water, the
groundwater reserves in the GCC region are fast depleting (Darwish 166). The water in Saudi
Arabia is drawn from deep fossil aquifers, reclaimed wastewater, surface water, and desalinated
water. The reliance on groundwater is already overburdened and most damaging as this source is
nonrenewable. Saudi Arabia needs 85% of water for its agricultural activities. Thus, any shortage
of water can be detrimental for the agricultural activities and harm the food security of people
(Darwish 167). Increasing water shortage will lead to greater reliance on desalination plants, and
as these are energy intensive plants, they are a heavy burden to the atmosphere.
While desalination can help create potable water, it is not the solution because of the
extremely high costs involved. There are negative ecological and health impacts due to the
emissions from the desalination process because of burning the fuels. The greenhouse gases
lower the urban air quality and elevate the air pollution. Distressing consequences are already
seen in the UAE countries with significant contamination levels of vanadium, nickel, and
mercury (Al-Shayji and Aleisa 682). Moreover, desalination releases chlorine and heavy metals
traces in the coastal waters which can have a negative impact on the marine food chain. There
are risks of tanker incident and oil spills in desalination plant that can lead to significant

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contamination of the water supply. A few examples were Seki oil tanker incident in 1994 and,
diesel fuel spill in 1997 un in Sharjah, UAE (Meshkati et al. 47).
The threat of food security
The definition of Food security holds as per World Health Organization (WHO) holds”
“when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy
and active life” (Pirani and Arafat 1). Changes in climate and population growth in GCC
countries are already creating challenges of food and water security. Rise in sea level, loss of
biodiversity and desertification plus scorching temperatures and extreme humidity have become
characteristic of this region (Darwish 165). Salt intrusion is leaving an impact on agriculture and
adding to the threat of food security in the GCC region. According to Pirani and Arafat (1), the
UAE is said to have the highest average population growth globally at 6.84%. The UAE along
with other Gulf countries relies heavily on food imports. At the same time, the UAE wastes food
worth more than USD 3.54 billion every year (Pirani and Arafat 1). UAE and Saudi Arabia
import maximum food because of their greater populations. The UAE imports some items like
refined sugar and potatoes in larger quantities than Saudi Arabia despite having a lower
population than Saudi Arabia (Pirani and Arafat 2). It is due to the Saudi agricultural sector that
fulfills the requirement.
The UAE region imports food from many countries and the food miles based on the mass
of food imported and the distance between that country, and the UAE can vary. It is essential to
reduce those food miles to lower the impact on the environment and add to environmental
security. The UAE needs to set a mark to yield 30% of its food and import another 50% from
countries closer to it like India and Africa and other Gulf countries (Pirani and Arafat2). UAE
Ministry of Foreign Trade study points out even greater meat consumption rates in the region,

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and this is perturbing given the viewpoint of water security. As compared to growing a kilogram
of wheat which requires 1350 liters of water, a kilogram of beef necessitates about 16,000 liters
of water. The UAE's agricultural sector is already under stress due to the scarcity of renewable
water resources. Agriculture primarily uses a majority of total groundwater resources.
Agriculture should concentrate only on water-efficient crops that are appropriate for the arid
climate of the UAE. It could follow Saudi Arabia’s project of being self-sufficient in the wheat
production.
The risk of rising sea levels
The Arabian Peninsula region including the UAE is facing major concern regarding sea
level rise. The large and small islands are particularly vulnerable to this threat. The commercial
movement along the coastal areas and the low-lying geology in this region only intensify those
threats (Darwish 166). Even a small rise in sea levels can inundate a larger area of land can leave
disastrous effects on roads, salt marshes, and beaches. Even in metropolises like Dubai, the
coastlines are likely to get harmed if the reinforcement measures are not implemented as stated
by Darwish (166).A study on Sharjah city shows a four-fold increase in the residential and
commercial areas with a high concentration of buildings and roads. GIS environment
investigation on the urbanization shows a decrease in the minimum precipitation required by
around 30% (Shanableh et al. 15). The industrial and residential land in the Sharjah city has
become most flood sensitive regions. Thus, the fast-paced urbanization has affected the runoff
features significantly and thus making it essential to advance sound flood management strategies
for the city. Rainwater harvesting and paved areas need to be replaced with porous paving to
lower the chances of rainwater runoff and minimize the impact of floods as stated by Shanableh
et al. (15). Any flash floods in arid regions can create a possible threat to life, personal property,

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and infrastructure in the urban area. Water shortage is a growing fear in the UAE and Gulf
regions. The arid zone with scarce rainfall and high amount of evaporation makes it difficult for
the UAE to rely on sustainable potable water production and thus relies heavily on desalination
(Mohsen et al. 894). The shell species are influenced by atmospheric carbon and are dependent
on marine carbon sources. The changed lagoon shoreline development and local ocean patterns
due to climatic and sea level changes are reflected in the shells over time (Lindauer et al. 114).
Efforts being made by UAE
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), headquartered in Dubai
is responsible for environmental projects and taking initiatives to deal with critical environmental
issues. The strategy of MOCCAE is to promote sustainable environmental ecosystem and boost
the competitiveness of the UAE regarding in eco-tourism. UAE aims to become one of the most
prepared countries to face the consequences of climate change and promote the conservation of
nature (United Arab Emirate). UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)
has launched the MOCCAE app in collaboration with Khalifa University of Science and
Technology to measure the UAE Air Quality Index (Arabian business). The satellite-monitored
air quality index can forecast air quality across the UAE. Air pollution is a growing concern
around the world today, and it is essential to know the quality of air one breathes. Getting access
to real-time air quality data can help direct the national targets. The UAE is getting strict about
environmental protection and has enacted laws to safeguard its environment and ecosystem.
UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is working actively to preserve its
plants' species and completed the first phase of its date palm tree identification in 2014
(Government.ae a). The objective of the project is to raise palm tree planting and date production
and add to the gross domestic product of the nation. Several initiatives have been launched to

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preserve the plant species. Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Plant Genetics
Resources Centre have been set up to safeguard the plant species. Federal Law No. 22 has been
passed by the UAE to regulate the possession of predatory and dangerous animals. The law
permits only circuses, breeding, zoos, wildlife parks to keep wild exotic animals. The pet owners
would need a license to kepi their pets, and there are heavy fines in lieu of AED 10,000 to
700,000 for those who fail to comply with the law (Government.ae a). UAE’s Ministry of
Climate Change and Environment and Emirates Animal Welfare Society and Emirates Park Zoo
actively promote animal protection and raise public awareness through campaigns. While oil and
natural gas seem feasible for desalination projects at the moment, the solar energy seems the best
options at present. For the long-term solutions, the UAE can consider nuclear energy to ensure
economic and technical feasibility of the operations. (Mohsen et al. 900).
Environmental protection is the primary objective of the current developmental policies.
The aim behind is to increase green areas, improve the marine environment and develop water
resources. Other objectives are to preserve fisheries and livestock and protect biodiversity.
Different legislations have been put in place to ensure a sustainable environment and promote
environmental behavior of individuals. Environmental education has become a central part of
United Arab Emirates school curricula and textbooks. Many new projects have come up that
emphasize renewable energy and seawater desalination technologies. Dubai Clean Energy
Strategy 2050 has a mission to produce 75 percent of energy from clean sources by 205 and
lower the carbon footprint by 70 percent (Government.ae a). Air Quality Monitoring Stations
would help lower the greenhouse gas emissions, and Emirates National Grid (ENG) would help
lower electricity costs as it would link the UAE under one regional grid. Dumping waste in the
sea can be detrimental from the marine life. Several laws have been put in place to ban throwing

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waste and oil sludge in the sea. UAE Federal Law No. 24 prohibits discarding of pollutants or
wastes from ships or industrial installations into the marine environment (Government.ae a). The
UAE is implementing certain actions to reduce its carbon emissions with effective policies and
introducing monitoring and tracking devices for emissions. In addition, the UAE remains
dedicated to intensifying the low-carbon technologies and investing in nuclear power and
renewable energy in the coming years (Government.ae b). The UAE is monitoring the emission
of gases and the greenhouse effect to lower its per capita carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Environmental risks like air pollution, water pollution and global climate change are
eroding the environmental security. The environmental researchers are taking keen interest in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its environmental security because of the rapid urbanization
and changes in lifestyle patterns seen here. UAE is already experiencing health and
environmental effects due to current global warming trends and upsurge in greenhouse gas
emissions. Major factors that rapid urbanization, tourism are adding to the environmental
pollution and eroding the air quality. Other factors like dust storms, rising sea levels, increasing
desalination plants to cover the growing water deficit and threat of food security are challenging
the environmental security of the UAE. The UAE government is making efforts to deal with
critical environmental issues and boost a sustainable environmental ecosystem. It is actively
promoting public awareness through educational campaigns and monitoring air quality by
controlling the emission of greenhouse gases.

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