Monitoring programme

The Dubai coastal zone, and in particular the Jumeirah frontage, has been identified as a key element in the expected dramatic expansion of tourism to the region. An unprecedented amount of coastal development is taking place in Dubai that will, considered together with an expected 300% increase in population within the next 20 years, put the emirate's coastal resources under tremendous pressure.  It is therefore vitally important that coastal developments accommodate such aspects. This can best be achieved by means of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach based on a good understanding of prevailing coastal processes. The application of state of the art monitoring and modelling tools was identified by the Dubai Municipality as a vehicle for developing this understanding. The most important strategic initiative for effective management of the Dubai coastal zone was identified to be the implementation of a coastal zone monitoring programme.  Whilst the Dubai Municipality undertook an initial monitoring campaign in 1997, the first full-scale programme was launched in mid-2002 (phase 1).  This was followed up in 2007 by the present incarnation of the monitoring programme (phase II).