“On land and in the sea, our fore-fathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so because they recognized the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations.”

The late President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

“Climate Change, Sustainability, Resource Protection, Endangered Species, Renewable Energy…

Across the world, societies are becoming increasingly aware of the issues that affect life on Earth – our newspapers, magazines, television and cinema reflect on a daily basis our collective interest in our shared planet, Earth. Yet, even as we gain knowledge on a daily basis about how our living, physical, natural, and man-made environments are all inter-connected, we are well aware that our understanding and appreciation of the environment has only begun to scratch the surface. This is a journey, and although collectively we have a long way to go, the direction is set. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi, like its neighbours in the United Arab Emirates and the wider region, has a desert and marine environment of great beauty and value – the adaptations of the living world to Abu Dhabi’s unique climatic conditions and physical geography are of immense scientific interest. The climate and physical geography, including the Emirate’s water and oil resources, provide clues as to how the living world, including human societies, has changed and adopted over the ages. Gaining an understanding of this environment, and the challenges being faced, is crucial to developing appropriate policies and responses so that we can offer our children a sustainable future.

This Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate is designed to serve the diverse stakeholders of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the wider community. It will be published in hardcopy, digital and online formats, in both Arabic and English. It also represents one of the key products of an EAD major programme, the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI).”