Coastal Lagoons (Khors) of the Emirates

Abstract

Coastal lagoons represent one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to their position at the dynamic transition zone between land and sea. UAE’s coastal lagoons, also known as khors, are home to a diverse assemblage of organisms, including many resident and endangered species that rely on the interconnected mosaics of habitat types (mangroves, seagrass, saltmarshes, mudflats) that also provide a wealth of benefits to society. These ecosystem characteristics, and the need to ensure their sustainable development, have made lagoons a high priority for conservation in the Emirates. Primarily located along the UAE’s Arabian Gulf coast, coastal lagoons have been highly impacted by urbanization that modifies or removes habitats and disturbs wildlife due to increased pollution from artificial light, noise and chemicals. Coastal lagoons in the UAE are in urgent need of protection to ensure that current and future generations continue to enjoy healthy coastal ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem-based management that is supported by local institutions and includes participatory monitoring through citizen science programmes will increase public engagement and advance progress towards the goal of living in harmony with nature.

Multi-habitat carbon stock assessments to inform nature-based solutions for coastal seascapes in arid regions

“…The study was conducted in two coastal lagoons in the UAE: Khor Faridah in Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) lagoon in the emirate of UAQ. In the UAE, coastal lagoons (locally known as 'Khors') are shallow coastal water bodies that are partially separated from the sea and are known for their high productivity and biodiversity (Mateos-Molina et al, 2021a;Mateos-Molina et al, 2024). Khor Faridah is located on the eastern side of Abu Dhabi and covers an area of approximately 254 km 2 , while the UAQ seascape covers an area of about 138 km 2 (Figure 1).…”

“…In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other arid countries, coastal ecosystems are the major carbon sinks, owing to the sparseness of vegetation in the terrestrial system. However, these coastal areas face multiple pressures from urbanisation and sea level rise that increase the vulnerability of blue carbon habitats (Mills et al, 2016;Lovelock and Reef, 2020;Mateos-Molina et al, 2024). The UAE also faces numerous environmental challenges associated with global warming, including increasing air and water temperatures (Hereher, 2020), diminishing freshwater resources (Savarani, 2023), and the loss of marine habitats and species (Wabnitz et al, 2018).…”