A beautiful mangrove boardwalk is opening soon near Abu Dhabi's Yas Island

The Mangrove Walk project will include kayaking facilities and a boardwalk, and is set to open in January 2020

The Mangrove boardwalk is close to Yas Island. Wam

The Mangrove Walk project, being developed by Modon Properties, is set to launch within the month.

The lifestyle destination, which aims to highlight the importance of mangrove trees, is being built on Al Jubail Island, which is in between Yas and Saadiyat islands in Abu Dhabi. A key feature of the attraction is a long boardwalk that will give residents and visitors the chance to walk through the beautiful natural habitat.

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The attraction also includes kayaking, a play area for children, viewing terraces and a visitor's centre.

The aim of the project is to raise awareness about the environmental significance of mangrove trees.

Abdulla Al Sahi, chief executive, of Modon, said that the area "aims to enhance Abu Dhabi's profile in ecotourism. The project, covering more than one million square metres filled with maritime mangroves trees, will be used for tourism, creative and educational purposes for both residents and tourists."

A map of the upcoming mangrove walk project. Wam

Mangroves are estimated to cover around 150 square kilometres of the UAE's coastline, and act as a 'green lung' for the cities. The woody plants inhabit the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts all around the world.

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The sunset over Al Reem Island is seen from the Eastern Mangroves area of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The dominant species in the Arabian Gulf region is the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina). The UAE's mangroves support six different types of crabs, 49 mollusc species and many migratory birds.

Mangroves also have the ability to sequester carbon, and so can reduce harmful greenhouse gases – a major culprit in climate change. Read more about the importance of the UAE's mangroves here.

Satellite mapping found that 80 per cent of the emirate’s mangroves are healthy, while 15 per cent are in moderate condition and 5 per cent are in deteriorating health. Ramon Peñas / The National