Fujairah wants to build world's largest coral garden

The move aims to improve biodiversity and boost tourism

The coral garden will be built off the coast of Fujairah. Jaime Puebla / The National

Fujairah wants to cultivate the world's largest coral garden to encourage biodiversity, boost tourism and attract divers and nature enthusiasts.

The move was revealed on Thursday by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Fujairah Centre for Adventures who signed a memorandum of understanding to build it.

Details on when the garden would be finished were not immediately available, but the deal stipulated that the ministry will provide grown corals of various sizes and types. It will also provide technical support and logistics services to the onsite team.

Saeed Al Muamari is director of the Fujairah Centre for Adventures.

“Such agreements are important to help preserve the pristine natural beauty of the region and its precious marine environment," he said.

"The project is the largest in the world and will help boost local and international interest in the coral reef and the marine environment."

The ceremony was also attended by Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

Fujairah Centre for Adventures, meanwhile, will determine the best geographical location for the garden. It will also ensure it is easily accessible, within a protected area, on rocky ground and at less than one nautical mile from the shore.

The center will also monitor the development of the coral garden and the area’s biodiversity every three months.

The move follows an announcement in March that coral gardens are to be built along the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman.

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