H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, recently conducted an inspection tour across the dams in the UAE’s eastern and central regions, accompanied by H.E. Eng. Mariam Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Assistant Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs Department, and a number of consultants and engineers specializing in the management of Ministry-related dams. Two days after the downpour that hit the country, a total of 24 dams were filled with an estimated three million cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to 660 million gallons. The tour aimed to check on the rain-affected areas and ensure the efficiency and safety of the dams which the country has built in accordance with highest standards and best practices.
The tour started with a visit to Wadi Shawka Dam which collected a large amount of rainwater. H.E. Al Zeyoudi was briefed by dam engineers on the modern hydrological monitoring systems and electric operation techniques of gates and water exits. They also followed up on the progress of the development project being carried out by the Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and local authorities in Ras al Khaimah to provide visitors with an integrated and safe environment which will allow them to enjoy ultimate environmental tourism in the dam area.
The tour continued towards the Al Munai and Al Qur basin in Ras al Khaimah whose mountains and valleys were covered with heavy snow for the first time in its history. This clearly demonstrates the effect of climate change which the UAE Ministries prioritize in their agendas to combat and find suitable solutions for.
H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi and the accompanying delegation continued their tour to Wadi Al Helo and Ghail-Kalba basins in Sharjah, passing through the high mountains where they were introduced to the new project site where three dams, barriers, lakes and two canals are being built as part of the initiatives launched by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
The tour continued to Sakamkam area in Al Fujairah where they inspected the dams and barriers which were completed in March 2015 as part of the initiatives of H.H. President of the UAE, including the Al Aeem Dam which was filled for the third time. H.E. Al Zeyoudi activated the dam by opening the gate for water to flow into the valley on a par with the highest practices in integrated management of water resources. Opening the dam gate allows the water to spread into the widest possible areas behind the dams, thereby effectively nurturing and improving the quality of groundwater-bearing layers of the earth.
At the end of the tour, H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi commended the efforts made across these vital projects which were implemented in accordance with the best and highest standards which the UAE adopts in dam projects. This was particularly notable in the integrated management of water harvesting, which was based on the standard criteria and evidence in the study, design, operation, monitoring and inspection of the safety and maintenance of dams.