Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Completes Phase One of National Ecotourism Project

Dubai UAE 

Sallam Mohamed 

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has launched an ecotourism microsite, app and e-book, marking the completion of phase one of the National Ecotourism Project, a multi-phase initiative that seeks to position the UAE as a global ecotourism hub

Held at Al Suwaidi Pearl Farm at Al Rams area in Ras Al Khaimah, the high-profile launch event drew the participation of Dr Saif Al Ghais, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Environmental Protection and Development Authority, Haitham Mattar, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Saleh Mohammed Al Jaziri, Director-General of the Department of Tourism Development in Ajman, and Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director of Tourism Development and Investments, Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing – Dubai, in addition to several consuls, representatives of travel agencies and members of the media

The agenda included the screening of promotional footage of the country’s protected areas as well as a presentation that explained the features of the ecotourism app in detail. Furthermore, MOCCAE organized a tour of the pearl farm for government officials and travel agency representatives

The ecotourism microsite is accessible via MOCCAE’s portal, www.moccae.gov.ae. The Ecotourism UAE app and the supporting e-book that is available for download in PDF format on the Ministry’s website contain a wealth of information, images and videos related to the UAE’s 43 protected areas, titled ‘The UAE’s Natural Wonders’. To compile the material, MOCCAE teams travelled across 2,700 km and shot 380 hours of footage on the ground, as well as 350 hours using drones

In his speech, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Our country possesses all the key ingredients to become an ecotourism destination of choice. While protected areas, distributed over 130 countries as per the United Nations, constitute only five percent of the total surface of the earth, in the UAE, they make up 14 percent of the territory. Through our work at the Ministry, the country has established a comprehensive legal framework that ensures conservation of the environment and sustainability of natural resources”

He added: “The National Ecotourism Project aspires to promote the UAE’s environmental attractions to the local and international audience with the objective of establishing the UAE as one of the leading ecotourism destinations in the world within the next few years”

MOCCAE launched the National Ecotourism Project in July 2018. The Ministry will now commence phase two of the initiative that entails compiling information, images and footage related to all environmentally significant areas in the UAE to be added to the app and microsite. The phase is scheduled for completion by end-2018