![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F356J7JVGXEGFCHNXMRUS4KIH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad0ae292c7dd7ec6a0329cc9dc8edd0c7497450248891ac673d170b06b85498f&width=400&height=225)
Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXTYGEWZVAP6Y2UYMGG7ANFOI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee59b8e71629c1c8394798de7288989d1e7a8412e37b58de6ecae9af6ed4454b&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen wade in the water off Shoab beach on Yemen's Socotra Island. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y43DXZMJDXEHCBY3T25CVG57IU.jpg?smart=true&auth=23aac666bd1d14b3d0c5f028e375b9ec5f3f7701fa34b2fb97d000dfe2e02824&width=400&height=225)
A flowering bottle tree, or desert rose, at Homhil in the northeast of the Yemeni island of Socotra, part of the flora found only in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWB7GX6F7V46MKWW2MVH7235FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a6bc2b66dabedfbe6f7d5f54ae6c0e82767209297ff3aaed3c9d102bda5848cb&width=400&height=225)
A lagoon is pictured outside Hadibo, the main city on Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GI3DIWL44XRYYVS7FN2OM6Y7F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1311ab8f91bbf92598065b32eaf72845ea5dc124ecce0b6fb4579b5ff824c58d&width=400&height=225)
Detwah Lagoon, on the far west of Socotra island, is listed as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z62OPB3XDOS73OSDXIMHDYNBYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ec5188c7f763a8dcd7ab625141a281f189d65b4690f7d375f7996bd929e684d&width=400&height=225)
A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain, Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CTSHNICHL4MG5N5XCDAFSL2CCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad3d8e4ea847996f008dfd2c80e990d41c37b601e4c848b4df45349ccdfdb8d8&width=400&height=225)
Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BV55MDUBYA3DRKKGEO4NI73TOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8198e4abeb703088cf2f20d8dacf81dac5c995fcebf5282a5013dbe7f96b6567&width=400&height=225)
Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain on Socotra Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKQCGMAHU6VT3AFEUEC5RU44F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6650bd0e25d0716f582737da006a530defd1320e5f7c7f13aecc0a04119e398f&width=400&height=225)
A Dragon’s Blood Tree provides shade on the Diksam Plateau in the centre of Socotra island, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3YJV4QIN66HAMP26JJHNN4XGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d29ede54b86eac2e61ad028a0b9b96efd83d0cef7eeeed2d10d69612a353846c&width=400&height=225)
An endangered Egyptian Vulture perches on the dead branches of a Dragon’s Blood Tree in Socotra.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XM3JZ3W6SXBDEQGVJ4N6TTI5TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4543176a6264e34621c7488596935a15b1c33b92f7c849e0e0f6b163e083f518&width=400&height=225)
Socotra boasts an abundance of Frankincense trees and fresh water springs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F356J7JVGXEGFCHNXMRUS4KIH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad0ae292c7dd7ec6a0329cc9dc8edd0c7497450248891ac673d170b06b85498f&width=400&height=225)
Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXTYGEWZVAP6Y2UYMGG7ANFOI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee59b8e71629c1c8394798de7288989d1e7a8412e37b58de6ecae9af6ed4454b&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen wade in the water off Shoab beach on Yemen's Socotra Island. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y43DXZMJDXEHCBY3T25CVG57IU.jpg?smart=true&auth=23aac666bd1d14b3d0c5f028e375b9ec5f3f7701fa34b2fb97d000dfe2e02824&width=400&height=225)
A flowering bottle tree, or desert rose, at Homhil in the northeast of the Yemeni island of Socotra, part of the flora found only in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWB7GX6F7V46MKWW2MVH7235FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a6bc2b66dabedfbe6f7d5f54ae6c0e82767209297ff3aaed3c9d102bda5848cb&width=400&height=225)
A lagoon is pictured outside Hadibo, the main city on Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GI3DIWL44XRYYVS7FN2OM6Y7F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1311ab8f91bbf92598065b32eaf72845ea5dc124ecce0b6fb4579b5ff824c58d&width=400&height=225)
Detwah Lagoon, on the far west of Socotra island, is listed as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z62OPB3XDOS73OSDXIMHDYNBYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ec5188c7f763a8dcd7ab625141a281f189d65b4690f7d375f7996bd929e684d&width=400&height=225)
A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain, Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CTSHNICHL4MG5N5XCDAFSL2CCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad3d8e4ea847996f008dfd2c80e990d41c37b601e4c848b4df45349ccdfdb8d8&width=400&height=225)
Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BV55MDUBYA3DRKKGEO4NI73TOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8198e4abeb703088cf2f20d8dacf81dac5c995fcebf5282a5013dbe7f96b6567&width=400&height=225)
Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain on Socotra Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKQCGMAHU6VT3AFEUEC5RU44F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6650bd0e25d0716f582737da006a530defd1320e5f7c7f13aecc0a04119e398f&width=400&height=225)
A Dragon’s Blood Tree provides shade on the Diksam Plateau in the centre of Socotra island, a species found only on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3YJV4QIN66HAMP26JJHNN4XGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d29ede54b86eac2e61ad028a0b9b96efd83d0cef7eeeed2d10d69612a353846c&width=400&height=225)
An endangered Egyptian Vulture perches on the dead branches of a Dragon’s Blood Tree in Socotra.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XM3JZ3W6SXBDEQGVJ4N6TTI5TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4543176a6264e34621c7488596935a15b1c33b92f7c849e0e0f6b163e083f518&width=400&height=225)
Socotra boasts an abundance of Frankincense trees and fresh water springs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F356J7JVGXEGFCHNXMRUS4KIH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad0ae292c7dd7ec6a0329cc9dc8edd0c7497450248891ac673d170b06b85498f&width=400&height=225)
Dragon Blood Trees can be viewed as far as the eye can see on Socotra Island, Yemen.
UAE has pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid to Socotra since 2015
Significant investment in key services has helped improve the lives of people living on the island
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The National
31 July, 2021
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