By José Pereira Leal
To the memory of Gordon Hisashi Sato (1927–2017),
Scientist extraordinaire who inspired me, and many others, to imagine new rivers through the desert. Like many of his generation who witnessed the horrors of World War II, he dedicated his science and life to the service of humanity
Image created with ChatGPT
Big Picture
This proposal outlines a scalable framework to transform arid, saline lands in the United Arab Emirates into thriving regenerative ecosystems through a single organizing principle: building a several kilometers long saltwater-fed canal that supports a living infrastructure. Along its banks, dense mangrove forests will be cultivated, serving as a foundation for brackish aquaculture (shellfish and finned fish), while also enabling adjacent halophyte agriculture (salt-tolerant crops). The system generates cooler microclimates, supports real estate development along new waterfronts, and creates permanent, local jobs. The project – the Salty River – aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050, National Food Security Strategy 2051, and 100 Million Mangroves Initiative. offering a replicable model for climate-resilient land transformation across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. By leveraging the UAE’s proven capacity for visionary infrastructure and environmental stewardship, as well as ample experience in implementing several components of this idea, the Salty Rivers project aims to deliver food security, climate resilience, and new economic opportunities, offering a replicable model for climate-resilient land transformation across the Arabian Peninsula and arid regions worldwide.
Inspiration and motivation
My inspiration for this concept traces back to the early experiments in Eritrea during the 1990s, where coastal aquaculture and saline agriculture were trialed against daunting odds. I had the good fortune to first hear about this approach from Dr. Gordon Sato himself, the visionary behind the Manzanar Project, which brought nutrition to the poorest of the poor in Eritrea. Dr. Sato was invited to a retreat for my graduate program and spent a few days with us: young, idealistic students at the very start of our scientific journeys. I vividly recall our conversations and, above all, his conviction that scientists have a responsibility to the world: to bring scientific knowledge and training to the service of humanity. I understand this ethos was not uncommon among a generation that witnessed the horrors of WWII and saw science used to end it in the most terrible way, but it was an idea that shone especially brightly in him.
Over the years, I continued to read about projects using salt water for agriculture, including the contemporary Seawater Farms Eritrea (SFE) project promoted by Carl Hodges. As my career in a completely unrelated field has recently taken me to Dubai a few times, I witnessed firsthand the country’s drive and vision, which brought all these ideas back to the forefront of my mind. With the help of new AI tools, I was finally able to shape them into a (hopefully) coherent whole.
Witnessing the UAE’s rapid progress in engineering, environmental restoration, and food innovation convinced me that such ideas could not only succeed but truly flourish here. The country’s commitment to “making the impossible possible” is clearly more than a slogan, as demonstrated by its space program, renewable energy investments, and world-class infrastructure—and, of course, in my own area of work, Precision Medicine. This proposal is offered in the same spirit: as a challenge, an invitation, and a call to action for all who believe in the power of regeneration.
The Arid World’s Food-Climate Nexus
Across the globe, the crises of food insecurity and climate change are converging with unprecedented force. Forty percent of the Earth’s land surface is classified as arid or semi-arid, yet these regions are home to over three billion people (!) and are expected to bear the brunt of future population growth. Traditional agriculture in these zones is constrained by chronic water scarcity, poor soils, and rising temperatures, while global demand for food, in particular animal protein, continues to climb. Meanwhile, the world’s mangrove forests, which sequester up to four times more carbon than terrestrial rainforests and serve as nurseries for countless marine species, are disappearing at a rate of 1–2% per year, largely due to coastal development and pollution (1,2).
The Gulf region, and the UAE in particular, is a god example of these challenges. The UAE imports roughly 80% of its food, spending over $23 billion annually and exposing itself to volatile global supply chains (3). More than 40% of its potable water comes from energy-intensive desalination, and the country’s average summer temperatures are projected to rise by 2-3°C by 2050, threatening both human health and existing agricultural systems (4). But I chose to focus on the UAE as while in many other countries facing he same challenges, action has been slow, the UAE has somehow turned this dark scenario into an(almost) opportunity. Through a combination of visionary leadership, technological capability, and a willingness to invest in the future (such a rare trait in most of the world!), the country has launched some of the world’s most ambitious environmental and food security initiatives. I’ll list just a few notable ones, like the Dubai Water Canal, which demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale saltwater engineering in an urban desert context (5); Khalifa University’s Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SEAS Project), which proved that integrated aquaculture and halophyte agriculture can thrive in saline desert soils (6); and the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Project, which has provided robust data on the carbon sequestration potential of restored mangrove ecosystems (2). These initiatives, along with the National Aquaculture Plan 2030 and the 100 Million Mangroves Initiative, create a uniquely fertile ground, both literally and figuratively, for the next leap in regenerative infrastructure (1,4,7).
Project Blueprint: From Desert to Integrated Ecosystem
A disclaimer: while the main ideas for this project are mine, inspired by a seminar a subsequent conversation I had with Gordon Sato, about 30 years ago, and obviously some study about this topic, I am a scientist working in a completely different field (Precision Medicine). I relied heavily on Perplexity.ai to test arguments, formulate solutions and quantify impacts. If you are reading this text and already found technical errors, great(!) – it got you thinking and that is its only goal. Please think how to make it better, how to make it more feasible, take it forward.
Vision and Scope
The central idea is to engineer a network of solar-powered saltwater canals extending inland from the Arabian Gulf, transforming otherwise non-productive desert and sabkha (salt flat) landscapes into vibrant, multi-functional corridors. A project’s unique feature is the creation of a main canal – a long salty river – from which multiple branches will emerge. These branches are not arbitrary: their placement and development are guided by functional priorities. Food production through aquaculture, halophyte agriculture, and mangrove takes precedence; feasibility assessments (hydrology, soil, and topography); optimization of real estate value (monetary and societal!) and eco-tourism potential. This branching, adaptive approach ensures that the canal network is both efficient and responsive to evolving national needs.
Canal Design and Water Management
The proposed canal network would span up to 40 kilometers, with main channels approximately 3 meters deep and lined with geosynthetic clay to prevent seepage and protect underlying freshwater aquifers (5). Water would be supplied through a combination of tidal inflow and solar-powered pumps, ensuring circulation and water quality while minimizing fossil fuel use. Gravity-fed gradients (≤0.5%) would be prioritized to reduce energy requirements, and advanced monitoring systems would track salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other key parameters in real time (6).
Mangrove Afforestation
Along the canal banks, 20-meter-wide buffer strips would be planted with Avicennia marina, the native grey mangrove species, at densities of around 2,000 trees per hectare (1). Drone-assisted planting and eDNA biodiversity monitoring would ensure high survival rates and rapid ecosystem establishment. Each hectare of mangroves is expected to sequester 5-10 tonnes of CO₂ per year, provide critical habitat for birds and marine life, and reduce local temperatures by 1-2°C through evaporative cooling and shade (1,2).
Brackish Aquaculture
Within the canal system and adjacent ponds, integrated aquaculture operations would raise native Penaeus semisulcatus shrimp (5–7 tonnes/ha/year), Sobaity bream (Sparidentex hasta) in floating cages (8–10 tonnes/ha/year), and Crassostrea gigas oysters on longlines (200,000 units/ha/year) (6,7,8). These species are well-adapted to local salinity and temperature regimes and have established market demand in the Gulf. Wastewater from aquaculture would be used to fertilize halophyte crops, closing nutrient loops and enhancing overall productivity (6).
Halophyte and Algae Agriculture
On the canal margins and in purpose-designed beds, salt-tolerant crops such as Salicornia (sea asparagus) and/or Suaeda vermiculata would be cultivated for gourmet food markets and animal feed, respectively. Additionally, Dunaliella salina algae could be grown in shallow ponds for high-value beta-carotene extraction (6). These crops require no freshwater and can thrive in the brackish effluent from aquaculture, further increasing the land’s productivity.
I was not able to validate the possibility of extending the impact to adjacent lands, through brackish water irrigation, to produce salt tolerant grasses that could serve as forage to support grazing livestock, thus support production of yet more protein, so I’ll leave it out of the rest of this discussion.
Real Estate and Eco-Tourism
Perhaps most transformative is the potential to convert previously low-value desert land into highly desirable waterfront property. Canal-side plots, once valued at $50/m², could command $300–500/m² after development, supporting eco-lodges, research centers, and residential communities. Boardwalks, observation towers, and interpretive trails would attract eco-tourists and educational groups, modelled after the success of Dubai Safari Park and the Al Zorah Natural Reserve (9).
Suggested Implementation Sites in the UAE
Several regions within the UAE offer particularly strong potential for this integrated canal and mangrove system:
- The western part of Abu Dhabi, especially around the vast Sabkhat Matti sabkha, is a prime candidate due to its extensive saline, non-arable land and impermeable substrata, which minimize risks to freshwater aquifers (2).
- The interior corridors between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain also present excellent opportunities, featuring under-utilized desert, saline soils, and strong government support for mangrove restoration and biosaline agriculture (1).
- Coastal sabkhas in the northern Emirates, such as those near Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, provide natural tidal inlets and saline flats that can be leveraged for large-scale afforestation and aquaculture, as demonstrated by projects like the Al Zorah Natural Reserve (9).
These regions combine the necessary environmental conditions: saline soils, low population density, and minimal existing agricultural value, with logistical advantages, such as proximity to the Arabian Gulf for seawater supply and alignment with national strategies for land rehabilitation, food security, and climate resilience (1,2,4).
Impact of Salty Rivers: Food, Climate, Economy, and Land
A disclaimer: Same as above! I identified the nature of the potential benefits, and asked Perplexity.ai to validate and compute potential impact. As before, take it as an inspiration to make it better and take it forward.
Food Security and Nutrition
At full scale (by 2035), the project is expected to produce 8,000–12,000 tonnes of animal protein annually, including shrimp, bream, and oysters, representing 15% of the UAE’s 2030 aquaculture target (7,8). Halophyte crops could yield 8,000 tonnes per year, reducing dependence on imported animal feed and supporting local livestock production (6). Algae cultivation would add a further layer of nutritional and economic value, supplying both food and nutraceutical markets (6).
Climate and Environmental Benefits
The mangrove corridors are projected to sequester 15,000-25,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to removing 3,200-5,300 gasoline-powered cars from the road (2). The system would also restore up to 1,000 hectares of degraded land, increase local biodiversity (supporting 200+ new species), and create microclimates that reduce urban heat island effects (1,2). By using seawater and brackish water exclusively, the project eliminates competition with freshwater resources and reduces the ecological footprint of food production (6,4).
Arable Land and Real Estate Value
Transforming 1,000 hectares of saline desert into productive, waterfront land would represent a 0.3% increase in the UAE’s total agricultural area, a significant achievement given current constraints (4). The real estate angle is particularly compelling: canal-side development could generate $1.2 billion in added land value, supporting new residential, commercial, and tourism ventures while creating 2,000+ long-term jobs (5,9).
Negative Impacts and Mitigation
Potential negative impacts include brine discharge, as on-site desalination units will certainly be required to provide freshwater for workers, residents, nurseries, or sensitive crops, but such discharges can be mitigated by integrating solar-powered reverse osmosis systems and using brine for additional salt-tolerant agriculture (6). Habitat disruption is minimized by establishing 500-meter exclusion zones around existing natural mangroves, in compliance with Federal Law No. 12 (1). Overall, the project is designed to deliver net-positive outcomes for both people and nature, firmly aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 and Food Security 2051 strategies (1,4).
Implementation: Phased, Scalable, and Collaborative
A disclaimer: Same as above! I broke the implementation in three stages (study, pilot, full scale) and aimed at involving private sector as early as possible. After that, I asked Perplexity.ai to propose budgets and details of implementation.
Phase 1: Validation and Feasibility (2025–2027)
This initial phase focuses on detailed hydrological modeling, site selection, and stakeholder engagement. Working with Khalifa University’s SEAS team and Emirates Nature-WWF, the project will identify optimal corridors in Al Dhafra, Sharjah-Umm Al Quwain, and the northern Emirates (1,6). The budget for this phase is estimated at $60 million, sourced from a mix of government grants, private sector contributions, and blue carbon credits (10).
Phase 2: Pilot Canal and Ecosystem Establishment (2028–2030)
The pilot will construct a 5-kilometer main canal with 50 hectares of mangroves, 5 hectares of shrimp ponds, and initial halophyte and algae beds (1,6). From this main canal, multiple branches will be developed strategically, prioritizing food production needs first, followed by feasibility considerations and real estate value optimization. This phased branching approach allows for adaptive scaling and targeted development of aquaculture, agriculture, and eco-tourism zones. This phase aims to demonstrate technical feasibility, monitor environmental impacts, and refine operational protocols. The budget is projected at $350 million, with funding from the National Food Security Strategy, aquaculture companies, and real estate developers seeking early-mover advantages (5,7,4). This phase, also serves the purpose of testing the financial sustainability of the whole concept, as well as de-risking the subsequent stages to facilitate future private sector investments.
Phase 3: Network Scaling and Commercialization (2031–2035)
The final phase will expand the canal network to up to 40 kilometers, with a well-planned system of branches extending inland, potentially across emirates. These branches will be designed and implemented according to functional requirements, with food production as the primary driver, as as feasibility and real estate value considerations. The expanded network will support 1,000 hectares of mangroves, 200 hectares of aquaculture, and large-scale halophyte and algae agriculture (1,6,2). Real estate development, eco-tourism, and research centers will be integrated, generating $220 million in annual revenue and creating thousands of jobs. The total investment for this phase is estimated at $1.2 billion, with 60% from public sources, 30% from private investors, and 10% from international climate finance (5,10).
Funding Pathways and Investment Opportunities
The project’s blended financing model draws on several sources. Government support is expected via the National Food Security Strategy and climate adaptation funds, covering approximately 60% of costs (4). Private sector investment will be attracted through aquaculture concessions, real estate development rights, and agro-industrial partnerships, accounting for 30% (5,7,9). The remaining 10% will come from blue carbon credits, leveraging the Dubai Carbon Market and international climate finance mechanisms (10). Early-stage investors stand to benefit from land value appreciation, seafood and crop sales, and the creation of new eco-tourism and hospitality markets (5,7,9).
Scaling Across the Arabian Peninsula
The technology and know-how developed through this UAE initiative could serve as a transformative template for arid regions across the Arabian Peninsula. In Saudi Arabia, similar canal and mangrove systems could be implemented along the Red Sea coast between Jeddah and Yanbu, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative’s ambitious goal of planting 10 billion trees by 2030 and integrating aquaculture modules for native shrimp and bream (11). Oman’s Al Batinah coast, with its vast saline soils, is another promising candidate, where tidal inflows from the Gulf of Oman could support both mangrove expansion and oyster farming. In Kuwait, Bubiyan Island’s extensive sabkha could be converted into a climate buffer zone, combining mangroves with aquaculture to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported seafood. Qatar, facing high groundwater salinity, could prioritize halophyte crops and shrimp ponds, while Bahrain could deploy compact canal networks around the Hawar Islands to boost blue carbon stocks and ecotourism. By standardizing monitoring protocols such as drone-assisted planting and eDNA biodiversity tracking across the region, the Gulf Cooperation Council could create a unified restoration approach, turning the Arabian Peninsula into a global leader in climate-adaptive land and water management (1,6,2,11).
Sea Level Rise
Rising sea levels are among the most pressing challenges facing coastal and low-lying nations, with the UAE and the wider Arabian Gulf region particularly vulnerable to their impacts. As global temperatures increase, thermal expansion and melting ice sheets are projected to raise sea levels by several dozens of centimeters by the end of the century, with profound consequences for both natural and engineered environments (12). The effects are many: increased frequency and severity of coastal flooding, heightened erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, and the degradation of vital coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass beds (1,2,13).
For the Salty Rivers proposal, these dynamics present both risks but also opportunities. On one hand, rising sea levels could exacerbate saltwater intrusion into groundwater and increase the risk of flooding in low-lying canal corridors, potentially challenging the integrity of infrastructure and the salinity balance required for optimal aquaculture and agriculture (1,5,6,14). However, the Slaty River design directly addresses many of these risks by featuring impermeable canal linings, careful siting away from critical freshwater reserves, and adaptive water management. By engineering the canals to be resilient to fluctuating sea and groundwater levels, and by incorporating real-time monitoring and flexible pumping systems, the project can help manage and even harness the movement of saltwater rather than allowing it to become a destructive force (5,6,14).
Perhaps more important, the proposal’s emphasis on mangrove afforestation offers a powerful nature-based solution for sea level rise adaptation. Mangrove forests are extremely effective at trapping sediments with their complex root systems, effectively raising the soil surface and helping coastal land keep pace with gradual sea level rise (2,15). Mangroves can facilitate the accumulation of organic and mineral matter, increasing bed elevation by several millimeters per year, which is enough to buffer against moderate rates of sea level rise (15). In addition, mangroves dissipate wave energy, reduce erosion, and act as living barriers against storm surges and flooding, thus providing vital protection for both natural habitats and human infrastructure (2,15,16).
The Salty River system can also be designed to accommodate the landward migration of mangroves as sea levels rise, reserving buffer zones and using adaptive management to ensure that these ecosystems can shift and expand over time (2,15). By integrating mangroves with engineered channels and sediment management, the project enhances coastal resilience and provides a template for managed retreat and adaptation, key strategies recommended by climate scientists and coastal engineers (12,15,17).
Furthermore, the deliberate management of saltwater within the canal network could help reduce the risk of uncontrolled saltwater intrusion into aquifers, a problem that is likely to worsen with rising seas (1,5,6,14). Instead of relying solely on hard infrastructure such as seawalls, which can sometimes exacerbate inland flooding and groundwater emergence if not carefully designed (16), the Salty River approach combines engineered barriers with ecosystem-based adaptation, offering a more holistic and flexible response.
Feasibility: Lessons from Eritreia
The pioneering experiences in the 1990ies of the Manzanar Project and Seawater Farms Eritrea (SFE), on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea, provide a crucial foundation for understanding both the promise and the pitfalls of biosaline agriculture and integrated coastal aquaculture in arid environments. As the UAE accelerates its own regenerative landscape initiatives, these Eritrean projects offer not just technical proof-of-concept, but a set of practical and institutional lessons.
Manzanar’s Simplicity, Science, and Community Roots
The Manzanar Project, led by Dr. Gordon Sato, proved that low-cost, science-based interventions, such as targeted nutrient supplementation for mangroves, could transform barren saline mudflats into productive, biodiverse forests. Its success lay in its simplicity, adaptability, and deep engagement with local communities, who benefited directly from new sources of fodder, wood, and ecosystem services (18,22). This approach resonates strongly with the UAE’s current mangrove restoration efforts, which due to its technological development can prioritize scalable, science-driven methods, but also give emphasis to community involvement. For example, Emirates Nature-WWF and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) adopted drone-based mangrove planting and rigorous monitoring, enabling rapid, cost-effective afforestation while minimizing environmental footprint and maximizing survival rates (23,24,25,26).
SFE’s Ambition, Integration, and Economic Cautions
Seawater Farms Eritrea (SFE) demonstrated the technical feasibility of large-scale, integrated seawater farming, combining aquaculture, halophyte agriculture, and mangrove afforestation to create new productive landscapes and habitats (19,20,21). However, SFE’s economic and institutional challenges, such as high capital costs, the need for robust feasibility studies, and the importance of regulatory and technical support, are instructive for the UAE. Today, the UAE’s phased, adaptive approach to aquaculture development emphasizes careful feasibility analysis, local capacity-building, and sustainable practices, precisely to avoid the pitfalls that hindered SFE’s long-term viability (7,27).
Institutional Support and Research Partnerships
One of the clearest lessons from Eritrea is the necessity of strong institutional frameworks and research partnerships. The UAE is already addressing this by forging collaborations between the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), among others. These partnerships foster data sharing, seed exchange, research on drought-resistant species, and capacity-building in modern irrigation and biosaline agriculture (2,5,28). This institutional backbone ensures that new projects are grounded in rigorous science, benefit from global expertise, and are resilient to both environmental and economic shocks, aspects that failed the Eritrean projects.
Guidelines, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management
The UAE’s national Mangrove Restoration Guidelines already explicitly incorporate global best practices and lessons learned from projects like Manzanar and SFE. They call for science-based planning, intensive monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive management to maximize ecological, social, and economic benefits (7). This approach is evident in the UAE’s commitment to long-term monitoring of mangrove survival and ecosystem health, as well as in the integration of local communities and private sector partners in restoration and aquaculture ventures (18,7,25,26).
Biosaline Agriculture and Halophyte Innovation
Research at ICBA and other UAE institutions has built on the work begun in Eritrea, demonstrating that halophyte crops such as Salicornia can be successfully cultivated with seawater irrigation in the UAE’s sandy coastal soils. These efforts are now expanding into biofuel, food, and fodder production, supported by international seed exchanges and breeding programs (5). This not only advances food security and economic diversification, but also reduces pressure on scarce freshwater resources—a key lesson from both Manzanar and SFE.
So… a call to action
To put it bluntly: the world is not getting easier. Climate systems are degrading. Sea levels are rising. Food security and even basic human health will demand solutions that didn’t exist a decade ago. And it’s not just the environment: geopolitics is shifting fast. The global networks of trade, cooperation, and stability that so many countries depend on are fragile and waning Disruptions are not hypothetical; they’re already underway. So let me be clear: if we want our own sons and daughters – not some future generation, but the ones we’re raising right now! – to grow up in a country that can sustain life, health, and opportunity, then we need to do something different.
The UAE faces especially acute risks, but it also has an extraordinary opportunity. By embracing the Salty River blueprint of using saltwater canals, mangrove forests, aquaculture, and smart land regeneration, the UAE can help secure its food future, lead the world in climate adaptation, and unlock new avenues of prosperity in places once thought uninhabitable. This isn’t a fantasy. It aligns with existing national strategies. It builds on projects already underway. And it’s only possible if researchers, investors, policymakers, and dreamers work together to refine and realize it.
This project is more than a technical proposal to me; it’s a dream shaped by mentors, chance encounters, and the belief that science can serve humanity in profound ways. If you feel the pull of bold ideas and the urge to make a tangible difference, I hope this vision resonates with you. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, investor, or simply someone who wants to see deserts bloom, your insight and initiative can help turn this concept into reality. Let’s work together to turn Salty Rivers into the Desert from a vision into a living, thriving reality. If you’d like to share thoughts, explore the idea further, or help build the community around it, please reach out through my Linkedin.
References
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, “Mangrove Restoration Guidelines,” 2024. MOCCAE
- Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, “Blue Carbon Project Dashboard.” EAD
- Statista, “UAE Food Imports 2024.” Statista
- National Food Security Strategy 2051 Progress Update. UAE Government
- Dubai Municipality, “Infrastructure Cost Benchmarking Report,” 2025. Dubai Municipality
- Khalifa University, “SEAS Project Final Report,” 2023. Khalifa University
- Emirates Aquaculture Society, “Production Statistics,” 2025. EAS
- FAO, “Aquaculture in the United Arab Emirates.” FAO
- Al Zorah Nature Reserve. Al Zorah
- Dubai Carbon Market. Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence
- Saudi Green Initiative. SGI
- Artelia Group, “Adapting maritime structures to rising sea levels.” Artelia
- RWB Group, “The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Drainage Systems,” 2024. RWB Group
- Tufts University, “The Effect of a One-Foot Sea Level Rise on Saltwater Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer,” 2013. PDF
- ScienceDaily/University of Southampton, “Mangroves help protect against sea level rise,” 2015. ScienceDaily
- NOAA, “Hardening Shorelines to Reduce Saltwater Intrusion and Coastal Flooding,” 2024. NOAA
- NOAA, “Understanding the Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coral Reef and Mangrove Interactions and the Resulting Coastal Flooding Hazards,” 2023. NOAA
- Gordon H. Sato – Wikipedia. Wikipedia
- Sustainable Aquaculture Development and its Role in Food Security and Economic Growth in Eritrea: Trends and Prospects (Annals of Aquaculture and Research). JSCIMEDCentral
- U.S. Biologists Use Red Sea to Turn Eritrean Desert Into Shrimp Farm (LA Times). LA Times
- Sustainable aquaculture development and its role (Eritrea Embassy Japan). Eritrea Embassy Japan
- Conservation and Management of Eritrea’s Coastal, Marine and Island Biodiversity (UNDP). UNDP
- Abu Dhabi plants one million mangrove seeds by drone (EAD). EAD
- Mangrove Restoration Guidelines for the United Arab Emirates (Emirates Nature-WWF). EN-WWF
- Restoring Mangrove Ecosystems In the UAE – Emirates Nature-WWF. EN-WWF
- Mangrove Restoration Guidelines for the United Arab Emirates (Emirates Nature-WWF). EN-WWF
- FAO, “Aquaculture in desert and arid lands: development constraints and opportunities.” FAO
- EAD and ICBA Sign Agreement to Ensure the Best Use of Abu Dhabi’s Natural Resources (EAD). EAD
(All links accessed May 2025)