The Dubai Underwater Observory Projects and Turtle Rehabilitation Unit

Abstract

The new, important, and rough onshore urbanization of the Arabian Gulf close to the Dubai Emirate has the consequences of perturbations and sometimes the disappearance of the natural environment of its coasts. The Dubai authorities launched original projects to facilitate the observation of underwater life by their own population and by tourists along the littoral. At the same time, they decided to take great care of some of the endangered marine species. Architeuthis, a private architecture bureau, planned and studied original systems to enhance the observations of the sea bed around Dubai. It also created and constructed two types of new underwater habitats to protect and increase the number of marine species, especially the marine turtles landing and living on the seashore. Marine turtles used these habitats. The design of these original structures is useful and efficient.