Abu Dhabi (WAM)
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representative of the ruler in the Al Dhafra region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the “Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve”, which is the first of its kind in the country and the West Asia region. It is located in the Al Wathba area, about 45 kilometers from Abu Dhabi has more than 1,700 fossil dunes spread over an area of up to 7 square kilometres.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Nahyan bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Head of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Ahmed Matar Al Dhaheri, Director of the Office of His Highness the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, Issa Hamad Boushehab, Advisor to His Highness the President of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, and Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Al Amin General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Salama Ajlan Al Amimi, Director General of the Ma’an Community Contributions Authority, Ahmed Saqr Al Suwaidi, CEO of ADNOC Marine, and a number of senior officials.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his tour of the reserve by inspecting the main visitor center, which includes many facilities, such as the viewing area, the exhibition corner, yards and benches to sit and enjoy the splendor and beauty of the site, in addition to equipping the site with many service and health facilities, parking and others.
Many educational, awareness, and guidance panels have been placed throughout the site, the most important publications of the Authority of scientific and educational books.
His Highness visited the visitors’ walkway, which was equipped within the eco-tourism program, as it offers a unique and distinct opportunity that allows visitors to view the scenic nature and practice many activities, such as walking the illuminated paths that are up to 3 km long back and forth, and on both sides of them are many umbrellas and seats for rest and recreation to watch the shows. The musical light of the fossil dunes, which will be around the clock at the official opening times, where the visitor can watch these shows from the amphitheater area, which can accommodate more than 200 visitors at the same time, and the site will provide food and drink services for visitors within specific places on the site.
At the conclusion of the opening and the tour, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan watched an introductory film about the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve.
His Highness stressed that the inauguration of the reserve comes with the aim of protecting the natural heritage of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and encouraging eco-tourism, as Abu Dhabi is rich in a unique diversity in its environments, habitats and natural layout, and among these natural components is the wonder of fossil dunes, which are distinctive and rare sand formations that are found densely in the Al Wathba area. South of the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, in addition to its presence in other areas of the emirate, where it has been classified within the habitat map prepared by the Authority, and is an important habitat for many wildlife.
His Highness praised the role of the Authority in preserving these unique and rare fossil formations by declaring this site as a reserve.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan indicated that the Authority is working with its partners, including the Department of Municipalities and Transport, the Department of Culture and Tourism, the Abu Dhabi Center for Waste Management “Tadweer”, and a number of relevant government agencies to preserve the unique site, which is a distinctive destination for a walk and learn about the history of the region. Especially since these fossil dunes are among the important natural habitats that characterize Abu Dhabi, as they have not been recorded with the same features and density in any other regions of the country.
His Highness praised the efforts of the work teams at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency and their role in preserving the reserve and providing the infrastructure to receive the public.
It is noteworthy that the Al Wathba Dunes Fossil Reserve is one of the pillars of the natural heritage of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and falls within the category of “geological features” of natural reserves according to the standards of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and it is a candidate for joining the UNESCO global list of geoparks, and according to specialists’ estimates, the site is due within the boundaries of The reserve dates back to the Ice Age, when it is estimated to be about 120 thousand years old.
It is noteworthy that the fossil sand dunes are hardened sand dunes located within specific areas of the sand areas, and they consist of calcium carbonate deposits that solidified during the glacial period millions of years ago, as a result of various weather factors, and the formations in the Al Wathba area derive their shape from the interaction between the strength of the winds. and sediment supply.
integrated plan
During the last period, the authority implemented an integrated plan to develop and protect the fossil sand dunes site in Al Wathba, which included developing the site’s infrastructure, building many service and tourism facilities, including the visitor center, and installing directional boards that were distributed to the most important areas of the site. Works of external and internal fences with a length of 7 km, in addition to preparing the internal road network.
The reserve will receive its visitors starting from Saturday, February 5, throughout the week, from eight in the morning until ten in the evening, and on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays, the site will be open until eleven in the evening, without fees. » A media campaign aimed at educating the public about the importance of the site by sending awareness messages through the Commission’s accounts on social media sites, where the Commission stressed the importance of visitors to the site to avoid climbing fossil formations and throwing garbage and organizing any events or activities in fossil dune sites.
The authority stressed the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the site and not to infringe or practice any transgressions that would affect and harm the safety and sustainability of fossil dunes.