Prince William watches Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port tackle illegal wildlife trade

Duke observes customs officers at work as a shipping container is inspected for contraband

As it happened: Prince William's visit to the UAE

Prince William stepped out dockside at Jebel Ali Port just after midday on Thursday as part of his landmark tour of the Emirates.

About 10 per cent of the world’s global container traffic passes through the vast Dubai port and trying to establish which one harbours illegal goods can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

It is a sprawling complex of cranes, docks, and rows and rows of shipping containers as far as the eye can see.

The Duke of Cambridge visited to see how customs officers tackle the illegal trade in wildlife, which is among the world’s five most lucrative crimes and is often run by highly organised criminal gangs.

First, a container was taken off the stacks to be X-rayed. Officers demonstrated how the port’s artificial intelligence systems – known as “cargoes” – are used to identify suspicious shipments.

How long do you have to scan the container, Prince William asked. Just a few minutes was the answer.

Prince William visits UAE - in pictures

Prince William plants mangrove seedlings with pupils. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. After the tour, they were due to hold a private bilateral meeting. Getty

Prince William visits the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors outside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William greets Expo visitors outside the UK Pavilion. Victor Besa / The National

The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Prince William chat inside the UAE pavilion. Getty

Prince William watches a display inside the UAE Pavilion, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Noura Al Kaabi. Getty

The Duke of Cambridge signs the pavilion guestbook. Getty

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William, centre, visits Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. AFP

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, speaks to the prince about work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Getty

The duke’s visit to the port is part of a busy tour of the UAE. Getty

Prince William's visit will build on the strong bond between the UK and the UAE. Getty

The duke travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to visit one of the world’s busiest ports. John Dennehy / The National

Prince William sees how goods are monitored in and out of the port. John Dennehy / The National

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visits Jubail Mangrove Park with the prince. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Prince William at the mangrove park in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William and pupils at Jubail Mangrove Park. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The prince and companies in the UAE are working together to protect flora and fauna. Victor Besa / The National

Children tend to seedlings after meeting Prince William. Victor Besa / The National

The seedlings were planted at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Lilly-Rose Mayall and Amaan Haider of the British School Al Khubairat plant mangrove seedlings. Victor Besa / The National

The view from Prince William's plane as he arrives in Dubai. Photo: Kensington Royal

Prince William during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last year. The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the UAE for his first official trip to the Emirates. Getty

Pupils at Victory Heights Primary school thought of some burning questions for Prince William before his visit to Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Prince William visited Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

The container was taken for a further check, with papers examined before the hold was searched for contraband. The Duke of Cambridge watched on as eagle-eyed officers discovered trafficked tusks hidden in the container.

Their demonstration showed the scale of the task facing officers for a cause dear to Prince William’s heart.

United for Wildlife, which he established in 2014, has been working in the region to help stop the illegal wildlife trade. DP World, the operator of Jebel Ali Port, is an important United for Wildlife task force member and seeks to raise awareness about the issue.

“We are taking extensive measures to tackle the issue including collaboration with United for Wildlife and technology companies to … improve detection of illegal wildlife cargo,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World.

“We are deeply honoured by Prince William’s visit and his unwavering support to this cause, and hope that organisations, governments, transport companies and influencers mobilise to raise awareness of the devastation such trade causes around the world.”

Efforts are increasing in the UAE and the region to counter the trade. Dubai International Airport has joined the United for Wildlife “transport taskforce” and the organisation has launched a Middle East and North Africa chapter.

Rules that have already been introduced are also making an impact. Conservationists said in December that a ban on unregulated private zoos and the illegal sale of wildlife was making an impact five years on from its introduction.