logo
Dubai Reef project reveals incredible results

Dubai Reef project reveals incredible results

Time Out Dubai29-07-2025
If you thought Dubai was pretty on land, wait until you see what's now living in the waters around it.
Launching the Dubai Reef project in 2024, the city has now shown the incredible marine life that has grown as a result of it.
One of the largest reef development projects in the world, the mega project was designed to encourage fish populations and a healthy marine environment.
Aiming to lay 20,000 marine modules into the water by 2027, the materials cause reef to be formed which attracts a range of sea life.
After completing the first phase of the project, the Dubai Media Office shared some incredible footage of what is now living in Dubai's waters.
DUBAI REEF, a pioneering purpose-built reef development and one of the largest in the world, demonstrates significant progress in enhancing marine ecosystems within Dubai's waters, with abundant fish populations and habitats developing around the reef modules. pic.twitter.com/1dANDnhz00
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 28, 2025
According to surveys, there are now 15 native species of fish in the reef of 3,660 modules, including snappers, groupers and barracuda, with a potential ten percent increase in marine biodiversity.
By 2027, over 600 square kilometres will be covered with the modules, with the hope that ecosystems will continue to thrive for years.
Launched under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when the project was founded, he explained:
(Credit: Dubai Media Office)
'Dubai is strongly dedicated to making substantial contributions to global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change through initiatives that promote the sustainability of our natural environment, with particular emphasis on coral reefs.
'We will continue to pursue these strategic goals to ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come. We are committed to generating impactful solutions by initiating innovative projects to overcome challenges emerging from climate change.
'Dubai is dedicated to playing a positive role in global environmental preservation and supporting the UAE's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. We appreciate every contribution to our strategic objectives in this vital field.'
In other Dubai news
Malls in Dubai to be turned into huge running tracks this week
On your marks…
New Emirates flights from Dubai for 2025
Will you be jetting off soon?
5 Dubai changes coming in August that you need to know about
From sporty surprises to the final days of sales
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Naïa Island: Dubai announces new luxury development
Naïa Island: Dubai announces new luxury development

Time Out Dubai

timean hour ago

  • Time Out Dubai

Naïa Island: Dubai announces new luxury development

We've got Palm Jumeirah, Bluewaters, the World Islands and soon to be Palm Jebel Ali, but now there's a brand new island to add to the mix. Launched by Shamal Holding, the futuristic development, named Naïa Island, will be built in the water at Jumeirah beachfront. Located in between Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah 3, the sprawling low-rise project will host the region's first Cheval Blanc Maison, an exclusive set of residences, suites and private villas. If you like this: Here's what Dubai will look like in 2040: From flying taxis to new metro lines Sharing details about the new development, the Dubai Media Office shared that a limited number of branded beachfront residences and estate plots will be available. Each coming with its own private beach access, plans have shown the island to be all about lush greenery and stunning sea views, but the design for each villa is still under wraps. Featuring only low-rise buildings, the development will ensure that you can always see the city's landmarks no matter where on the island you are. An extremely luxe new neighbourhood, it's unclear if we can expect any new restaurants or beach clubs as of yet, but we'll be the first to let you know when that changes. Early works are now underway for the project, however a completion date is still to be confirmed. Shamal Holding unveils Naïa Island Dubai Dubai's New Jewel of Hospitality — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 6, 2025 Speaking about the project, Abdulla Binhabtoor, CEO of Shamal Holding said: 'This marks a defining chapter in our vision to create meaningful experiences, and an exciting step forward for Shamal as we continue to curate pioneering firsts that reinforce Dubai's position as a global benchmark for exceptional, world-class living. 'Naïa Island Dubai offers an enduring address, one that invites presence and lives beautifully overtime.' Want to know what else is next for Dubai? Check out all of the city's ongoing mega-projects that are going to change up the skyline. In other Dubai news GCC Railway Project: Route, launch date and all the latest What to know and what to expect How to dine at 190+ Dubai restaurants for just Dhs10 this August All participating restaurants revealed A brand-new luxury hotel is opening in Dubai And it's huge

10 major parking changes in Dubai you need to know about
10 major parking changes in Dubai you need to know about

Time Out Dubai

timean hour ago

  • Time Out Dubai

10 major parking changes in Dubai you need to know about

Parking in Dubai can be challenging with so many other drivers to compete with for a space. You may have a specific spot in mind, but it's often the case that someone else has got there first, and that means you'll need to find a new place to park. Parking has already changed a lot in 2025, with new rates, systems and zones introduced all across the city throughout the year. To allow you to keep on top of things and not get caught out when you're driving around, we've rounded up the big parking changes you need to know about this year in Dubai. 1) Salik payments available on 36,000 Dubai parking spaces (Credit: Dubai Media Office) Parkonic, a UAE-based smart parking solutions provider, and Salik, the city's toll gate operator, have partnered on 36,000 spaces across the emirate. The two companies will provide the region's first fully autonomous, AI-powered on-street and off-street parking solution at sites operated by Dubai Holding. It means that next time you park your car in Dubai, you may not even need a ticket or pay with cash. Payments will now be automatic and linked with your Salik account, so make sure you're topped up. The project aims to reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions, and directly support Dubai's Net Zero goals, while enhancing the overall customer experience. 2) Parkin to operate 29.6k new paid parking spaces (Credit: Dubai Media Office) Parkin, the leading provider of paid public parking facilities and services in Dubai, will start operating paid public parking facilities and services across several of Dubai Holding's master-planned communities. It means that 29.6k paid parking spaces will now be operated by Parkin in the city, following increading pressure on the availability of parking spaces across key destinations. The introduction of paid parking at these spaces aims to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and improve the experience for residents and visitors. 3) Paid parking to be introduced at mosques The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department and Parkin sign first-of-its-kind partnership to organize smart parking around mosques in Dubai. In phase one, Parkin will operate and manage approximately 2,100 parking spaces across 59 sites, providing free parking for… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 31, 2025 The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has entered a strategic partnership with Parkin. As part of the agreement, Parkin will operate and manage 2,100 parking spaces across 59 places of worship in Dubai. Paid parking will be rolled out by August at these sites and will be chargeable 24 hours a day, seven days a week outside of prayer hours. During prayer time, mosque visitors will be able to park free of charge for up to one hour. The agreement aims to make it easier for worshippers to find a parking space during prayer and improve access to mosques at all times. Parking spaces will be designated as Zone M for standard spaces and Zone MP for premium spaces, 41 sites will be located in Zone M and 18 in Zone MP. This means that tariffs will be Dhs2 for 30 minutes in Zone M sites and in MP at off-peak times, but will be Dhs3 in MP at peak times. For a full hour, tariffs will be Dhs4 in Zone M and in Zone MP at off-peak times. During peak times, Zone MP parking will be Dhs6 for an hour. 4) New public parking zones introduced in 2025 Credit: Parkin Several new parking zones have been launched throughout 2025 so be wary next time you're driving around. Public parking operator Parkin has launched new zones in major Dubai neighbourhoods. In July, a new 24/7 zone was launched at Al Khail Gate which introduced a flat Dhs30 for daily parking and an hourly tarrif of Dhs4 during both off-peak and peak hours. In May, two new zones were introduced in Mirdif which covers on-street and off-street parking. Off-peak parking was priced at Dhs2 per hour and during peak hours it was Dhs4 per hour. You may like: How mall parking *actually* works in Dubai 5) Salik launched ticketless parking in 18 locations Salik (Credit: CanvaPro) Tollgate operator Salik recently teamed up with Parkonic, the UAE's largest private parking operator, to bring parking solutions to numerous parking sites across Dubai. The initiative was first rolled out to 107 core locations across the UAE and now residents and visitors will soon be able to use its eWallet system across 18 new locations in Dubai. The new ticket-free and automatic parking payments using your Salik account will be available at these new locations. Locations include the Union Coops in Al Twar, Silicon Oasis, Al Quoz, Al Barsha, Mankhool and Nad Al Hamar. The Beach JBR, Park Islands, Heera Beach, Park Islands, Marina Walk, West Palm Beach, Opus Tower, Lulu Al Qusais and Azure Residence are also included in the new Salik/Parkonic locations. 6) Barrierless parking introduced at major Dubai malls Mall of the Emirates (Credit: Mall of the Emirates) In recent times, some of the city's biggest malls have removed parking barriers to make it quicker to get in and out of car parks. As long as your timing is right, you can make some major savings on parking at some of the city's biggest malls and focus, instead, on grabbing bargains. BurJuman has introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition to calculate fees. It means that there's no longer a need for a ticket but you'll still need to pay at a machine and rates have not changed. City Centre Deira, Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif all removed barriers in their respective parking zones. Rates have not changed as a result of the changes. 7) Parking to change at Dubai public parks (Credit: Supplied) The city's official parking operator, Parkin, is set to take over public parking facilities at some of the emirate's biggest and most popular public parks. An agreement between Parkin and Dubai Municipality means that the parking operator will now manage several select free public parking facilities that are owned by Dubai Municipality. The two parties will develop planning and regulatory standards, streamline permit procedures and enable data exchange to support services. It has not yet been revealed which sites Parkin will begin operating the parking facilities at. But Dubai Municipality do operate the likes of Al Safa Park, Dubai Frame and Quranic Park. 8) New parking rates across Dubai In 2025, new parking tariffs have been introduced across the city at Parkin-controlled on-street and off-street zones. Premium spaces across the city have been hiked up to Dhs6 per hour at several zones across the city. It also clarified the peak and off-peak parking hours in Dubai. The increase in tariffs was announced alongside a change to dynamic Salik toll gate pricing in November 2024, but came into effect on Friday April 5 in 2025. Peak pricing will apply to six out of the 14 chargeable hours per day – 8am to 10am plus 4pm to 8pm – but these prices will not be in place on Sundays or on public holidays. Tariffs during off-peak hours will be unchanged. This means that what you pay will not change between 10am and 4pm as well as between 8pm and 10pm. The updated tariffs applied to zones A, B, C and D and can be seen in full here. 9) Parking fee increases in Dubai (Credit: Canva) Since the introduction of new Parkin rates in Zones A, B, C and D, price hikes have been introduced in specific neighbourhoods. Parking during major events at Dubai World Trade Centre has seen a significant spike to Dhs25 per hour. The area surrounding DWTC is now known as a Grand Event Zone, with parking now priced at Dhs25 per hour during big conferences. In April, Parkin doubled fees in four of the emirate's biggest neighbourhoods. Rates increased in Al Karama, Al Qusais, Madinat Dubai Al Melaheyah and Al Kiraf. Previously, Zone W parking spots cost Dhs2, but this latest announcement means that the price is now double. In February, fees increased in the Al Sufouh 2 area, which meant a hike in hourly prices in Barsha Heights, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. 10) Teachers and students to get cheaper parking (Credit: Canva) The city's official parking operator, Parkin, just announced it is changing the rules around parking fees, offering certain individuals a budget subscription fee. Offering new public parking subscriptions, the fees will be available to students, as well as the staff of private education centres. There will also be a new subscription fee for anyone seeking multi-storey parking access across the city. For students, the fee will start at Dhs100 per month, allowing access to both roadside and plots parking with zone codes A, B, C and D within a 500m radius of their campus. Teachers and staff at private education centres will also be able to redeem the Dhs100 fee along with parking near their campus. Looking for things to do in Dubai? All the sports events in Dubai in 2025 to sign up for Make 2025 the year of your PBs 50 brilliant outdoor activities to try at least once in Dubai Let's take this outside The incredible Dubai hotels offering more than just a room Did someone say freebies?

The best airlines in the world — according to you
The best airlines in the world — according to you

Times

timea day ago

  • Times

The best airlines in the world — according to you

Each year the Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards celebrate the very best of the business. But while editors decide on the shortlist, it's you, the readers, who choose the winners — based on the holiday companies and destinations that have impressed you over the past 12 months. Last year, more than 470,000 votes were cast for more than 100 companies and destinations. This year, for the first time, we have two different airline categories — breaking it down into best short-haul and best long-haul carriers to better reflect our travel habits. I've been writing about airlines and aviation for a decade, and have flown all over the world on scores of them, from Asia to America, so I know a thing or two about the best (and the worst). Now is the time to have your own say on the world's best airlines — and by voting you could win prizes ranging from a £1,600 mini-break in a pretty corner of Wales to a £45,000 itinerary around India's finest hotels. But before you click through to cast your vote, let's look at how you voted last year. Last year we had just one airline category, covering both short-haul and long-haul, which Emirates won. The Dubai-based carrier is one of the world's mega-connectors — each year it carries tens of millions of passengers, most of them transiting via its Gulf hub. British Airways came second and Singapore Airlines third. Emirates has always been a reader favourite. It may only have clinched the top spot in 2024, but in 2023 and 2022 it was in a solid second place after British Airways. Singapore Airlines, which flies to Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, has been in third place for the past three years. It's perhaps no surprise that British Airways lost out in 2024. In the latest Which? Travel report of short-haul airlines, it scored a middling 57 per cent for customer satisfaction score. • Have your say here — and be in with a chance of winning a great prize Singapore Airlines is regarded as one of the best airlines in the world, thanks to excellent customer service and a modern fleet, although it's likely readers don't fly it as often as our flag carrier. All three airlines, as well as Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, Tui Airways and Qantas, are shortlisted in the long-haul airline category. But this year, there is now also a best short-haul airline category, which means that budget carriers including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air are in with a chance of an award. Emirates is a highly regarded carrier, loved for its convenient home base of Dubai and for its fleet of Airbus A380s, some of the sky's most comfortable and roomy planes. The 'Gulfie', so-called for its base in the Gulf, is also one of the world's most-connected airlines, this year launching new routes to exciting cities including Siem Reap in Cambodia and Shenzhen in southern China. It serves eight airports in the UK, including smaller hubs such as Glasgow and Newcastle. I have flown many times with Emirates over the past few years — always in economy — and have been consistently impressed with the product, particularly on its spacious Airbus A380s. Children are well catered for with toys and Emirates merch, and the in-flight entertainment is one of the best in the sky (if you can forgive the editing out of swear words). The same can be said of its premium cabins — in business class there's even an airport chauffeur thrown in with the fare and in first you can have a shower at 37,000ft. Given how much you fly, we know you have opinions on airlines — both good and bad. We want to know the airlines that you think have gone above and beyond in the past year, whether that's through superb customer service, a world-leading product or exciting new destinations, and now's the time to let us know. Click here to vote — you'll need to choose one in each category in order to be entered for the prizes.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store