Part One
Overview of UAE
UAE is among the global nations on the southeastern side of the Arabian Peninsula. The country borders Saudi Arabia and Oman and is a federation of seven different emirates: Fujairah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Umm Al-Quwain, while Ras Al Khaimah joined the confederacy in 1972. Abu Dhabi is the nation’s capital and is located within the largest and wealthiest of the seven emirates. UAE has developed rapidly and significantly since it was invented, with Abu Dhabi as the nation’s capital (Errichiello, 2023). It is known for its modern infrastructure, status, and global events as a transportation and trade hub. The nation has managed to host various global events, among them the COP 28 climate summit, held in Dubai in 2023, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) 13th ministerial conference, held in February this year.
The nation’s president is His Highness (HH) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his vice is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In addition, the country also has a prime minister and a defense minister who assist in discharging state roles to the public. The nation’s federal structure involves a supreme council, which contains leaders of every emirate, the minister’s council, and the federal national council. Every emirate has a local government, police force, and courts of law. The Federal National Council (FNC) of UAE contains forty members; twenty are permanently appointed, while the remaining twenty are individually selected. The country held its last elections in October 2023, which required 50% of the representatives to be of the feminine gender (Elmassah et al., 2022). FNC plays an advisory role for those in leadership and provides a platform to address the concerns of the emirates. UAE is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Organization of Islamic Protection (OIP), the United Nations (UN), and the Arab League. Also, it is a member of the organization of the petroleum exporting nations, World Trade Organizations, and the International Renewable Energy Agency, which was established in the year 2009, whose headquarters is in Abu Dhabi.
The nation has excellent bilateral relations with Australia, as this relationship is multifaceted, friendly, and ever-growing. The two nations are underpinned by extensive trading relations, with UAE being the largest Middle East Trade and investment partner. Over the years, the two nations have enjoyed good defense and cooperation in law enforcement, aviation, and security. The latter is guided by legal assistance agreements about issues of extradition and criminal law, which is mutual. Economically, UAE is considered the third largest economy in the Middle East and among the wealthiest nations based on its per capita. In 2023, the country’s estimated GDP was at USD 509 billion.
Furthermore, the country hosts up to 6% of global oil reserves and is ranked seventh largest proven reserve of natural gas (Elmassah et al., 2022). In 2021, the revenue from petroleum exports amounted to USD 58.5 billion. Within the medium term, gas and oil, which form two-thirds of the exports and account for a larger portion of the nation’s revenue, underpin the nation’s economy. Over the years, the country has taken some vital steps to ensure the diversification of its economy, with about 70% of the total GDP generated by other sectors that are not oil and gas. During its 50th nationhood anniversary, the country launched fifty new economic initiatives to attract more investors within foreign direct investments for the next nine years (Errichiello, 2023). Abu Dhabi, for example, in addition to having the most oil and gas reserves, has made greater investments in nuclear power, clean tech, information technology, and petrochemical industries, an establishment that thrives as a multibillion-dollar initiative in Masdar City. Abu Dhabi has also invested in learning institutions, sports, and cultural attractions like the one racing track, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Ferrari theme park to ensure economic diversification from oil by encouraging tourism.
Over the years, Dubai has diversified to exhibitions ranging from ICT, Finance, and re-export sectors, making the country consolidate a significant historical reputation as one of the region’s entrepots. Dubai has equally developed luxurious hotels, large ports such as the Jebel Ali, and other free-range trade zones that attract manufacturing and service-providing industries. With a population of 9,97 million individuals, the nation solely depends on its emigrant workforce, which accounts for 88% of its population (Elmassah et al., 2022). Furthermore, it is opening various utilities to attract the involvement of private sectors through the establishment of free trade zones in the region, attracting investors from foreign nations by providing them complete ownership without taxation. UAE has grown significantly in trade and investment and is Australia’s most significant trade and investment partner, with $ 9.3 billion in two-way goods and services trade as of 2022.
Environmental Issues in UAE
The UAE faces various environmental challenges even as it continues to expand and develop its economy. One of the challenges is desertification, a process through which fertile land turns into a desert because of environmental factors like climate change, deforestation, soil degradation, and overgrazing (Yagoub & Al Yammahi, 2022). Some of the impacts of desertification on the environment include biodiversity loss. Many animal and plant species are threatened despite their efforts to adapt to the ever-changing environment, and that forces them to migrate to other favorable habitats or, in some cases, become extinct. A good example of a once abundant animal species that was native to the UAE was the Arabian Oryx antelope; however, presently, this species is endangered due to habitat loss and overhunting, as evidenced by species decline. In addition, desertification causes a decline in the availability of fertile land since the soils cannot sustain agricultural activities, resulting in a decline in agricultural activities within the region, forcing the nation to rely on food imports as the solution to food security.
The other challenge is a scarcity of water, which has resulted in a decline in underground water sources such as aquifers, irrigation water, and vital drinking water sources (Al-Dabbagh et al., 2020). The decline has also reduced the nation’s capacity to engage in agricultural activities as the farmers need help to meet the water demand for the crops, which threatens the UAE’s food security. Furthermore, water scarcity impacts the nation’s recreational opportunities, such as fishing and boat riding. It creates a limitation in the hotel’s and resorts’ capacity to provide water-based recreational activities, hindering the overall growth of the nation’s tourism sector.
The other issue is air pollution, which affects human health by causing respiratory challenges and heart conditions, among other health issues. Cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai have higher levels of air pollution, as evidenced by the increased cases of reported respiratory challenges, including bronchitis and asthma. Air pollution also damages the existing ecosystems, such as the lakes, forests, and oceans, where significant damage to the coral reefs leads to their decline. In addition, air pollution has contributed to the adverse impacts of climate change experienced in the region (Jung et al., 2024). Air pollution from industrial activities and transport enhances the nation’s growing carbon footprint. Also, greenhouse gasses like methane and carbon dioxide have contributed to global warming, positioning the nation at the center because they are essential players in the world’s effort to address climate change.
In addition, the UAE faces oil spills, which have grown to be a significant environmental concern because of their impact on wildlife and the environment. Oil spills devastate marine ecosystems because they block the air spaces in water, resulting in the death of aquatic organisms and disruption of food chains (Moetaz Elsergany et al., 2023). Oil spills within the Persian Gulf are daily and have damaged the region’s rich marine life, including sea birds, mangroves, and coral reefs. Oil spills also contaminate the existing water sources, making them unsafe for irrigation and drinking. They also expose the water bodies to toxic substances, posing a significant health risk to those around the oil spill sites. In addition, oil spills tend to have adverse economic impacts because they elevate costs associated with compensation for damages and clean-up, affecting the overall economy of the local businesses.
Part Two
Selected Issue: Air Pollution
Reasons for Selecting Air Pollution
Air pollution refers to the contamination of indoor and outdoor environments via chemicals and biological and physical agents modifying the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It occurs due to emissions from vehicles, natural gas emissions, fuel oils, and fumes from chemical production. The World Health Organization reports of 2022 indicate that air pollution within cities and in rural areas resulted in 4.2 million untimely deaths across the globe in the year 2019 (WHO,2022). The mortalities were a result of exposure to delicate particulate matter, resulting in cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. According to WHO (2022), 37% of deaths resulting from premature outdoor air pollution resulted from stroke and ischaemic heart disease, 18% resulted from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 23% were a result of acute lower respiratory infections. The deaths resulting from cancer of the respiratory tract were 11%. In addition, individuals who live in Middle and low-income nations tend to experience a disproportionate burden of outdoor air pollution (WHO, 2022). Nations in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific bear the most significant burden, as reflected by the high population of cardiovascular deaths and illnesses.
Strategies to Address the Challenge of Air Pollution
In their study, Akasha et al. (2024) discuss the overall impacts of urbanization on air quality in Dubai Emirate, UAE. The researchers acknowledge that Dubai has a higher rate of population increase and is also growing rapidly. The researchers examined the concentration of the five criteria air pollutants, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide, between 2013 and 2021 in 14 regulatory monitoring stations. The study found significant improvements in air pollution from pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, with reductions amounting to 54% and 93%, respectively, within the study period. The city air quality improvement was attributed to the effective implementation of local policies on environmental conservation impacted by large-scale developments and urbanization. The study findings emphasize the significance of having policies to address air pollution. The policies could range from clean energy policies, which enhance the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy options; vehicle emission controls, which mandate clean vehicle technologies; and industrial regulations, which advocate for clean production approaches through the installation of pollution control devices and enforcement of emission standards in industries to minimize pollution.
The approach is effective due to the role of trees in the reduction of air pollution, as trees often absorb Carbon Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Sulphur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide through their leaves and barks (Munoz-Pizza et al., 2020). The trees also capture airborne pollutants that are available on the surfaces and remove them from the atmosphere, enhancing the quality of air. The other significance of afforestation is that through photosynthesis, trees always release oxygen into the atmosphere, and that enhances the replenishment of the oxygen levels while countering the overall effects of the pollutants within the environment (Munoz-Pizza et al., 2020). The trees also act as natural windbreaks, which reduce the level of pollutant dispersion by altering the patterns of airflow and also by trapping the pollutants within the urban environment, enhancing the quality of air.
The other approach is to develop education programs seeking to create awareness of the causes of air pollution and the mitigation strategies that could be employed in order to foster some sense of responsibility among individuals towards their environment (Rosário Filho et al., 2021). Such education programs will also empower individuals to make informed choices while catalyzing different collective action approaches to control air pollution while safeguarding the overall health of the population (Rosário Filho et al., 2021). In addition, education programs will promote a better understanding of the complexities around the interaction between human activities, environment degradation, and health outcomes, promoting transformative changes to a sustainable, clean, and healthy environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UAE is among the most developed nations in the world, and it is characterized by rapid urbanization and a significant increase in population. The country experiences various environmental challenges, such as air pollution, water scarcity, oil spillage, and desertification, which affect the existence of its population. The study identified air pollution as the major environmental concern that results from urbanization and transport activities, among others. Air pollution impacts the population negatively, with more individuals being diagnosed with respiratory ailments while others die prematurely. Some of the approaches to address air pollution are the implementation of policies to guide emissions and educating the public on air pollution so that they can adapt transformative changes to a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment. Additionally, restoring ecosystems through afforestation initiatives ensures the absorption of pollutant gasses and the replenishing of oxygen levels, enhancing air quality.
References
Akasha, H., Ghaffarpasand, O., & Pope, F. D. (2024). Air pollution and economic growth in Dubai, a fast-growing Middle Eastern city. Atmospheric Environment: X, 100246.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2024.100246
Al-Dabbagh, R., Darwish, A. S., & Alnaser, N. W. (2020). Management Practices of Conventional and Non-Conventional Water Resources: Study case in Emirate of Sharjah, UAE. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 38(3).https://agjsr.agu.edu.bh/uploads/images/papers/pdfs/1c3c79a4d7ed07d307646e20180b89c7_61a4a8771ad71.pdf
Elmassah, S., James, R., & Bacheer, S. M. (2022). Ethnic entrepreneurial success factors: evidence from the United Arab Emirates. Heliyon, 8(6).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09639
Errichiello, G. (2023). The Transformation-Migration Nexus in the United Arab Emirates: A Historical Analysis. In Social Change in the Gulf Region: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 189-205). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7796-1
Jung, C., Ismail, M. A., Arar, M., & AlQassimi, N. (2024). Mitigating indoor air pollution in UAE’s high-rise apartment buildings: a study on eco-friendly materials and adsorbents. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/SASBE-09-2023-0269/full/html
Moetaz Elsergany, Athra Alkaabi, Amna Salah, Mohammad Aljaradin (2023). Risk Assessment Approach to Identify Possible Risks to the Marine Environment in the United Arab Emirates. Environment and Ecology Research, 11(4), 543 – 553. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110403
Munoz-Pizza, D. M., Villada-Canela, M., Rivera-Castaneda, P., Reyna-Carranza, M. A., Osornio-Vargas, A., & Martínez-Cruz, A. L. (2020). Stated benefits from air quality improvement through urban afforestation in an arid city–A contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Urban forestry & urban greening, 55, 126854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126854
Rosário Filho, N. A., Urrutia-Pereira, M., d’Amato, G., Cecchi, L., Ansotegui, I. J., Galán, C., … & Peden, D. B. (2021). Air pollution and indoor settings. World Allergy Organization Journal, 14(1), 100499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100499
World Health Organization (WHO) (2022) Ambient (outdoor) air pollution https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-r-vBhC-ARIsAGgUO2D68_qTZ7D0CIdcDmC6vfkYYsqrRIqDPs7Rww6Zo_TT62sC9n6y9K0aAo4xEALw_wcB
Yagoub, M. M., & Al Yammahi, A. A. (2022). Spatial distribution of natural hazards and their proximity to heritage sites: Case of the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 71, 102827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102827
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