The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a partnership with HaejooX for the design and construction of Dubai Reef’s purpose-built reef modules.
Yousuf Lootah, CEO of strategy and corporate performance at DET, and Ryan Paik, CEO of HaejooX, signed the agreement which encompasses the design, construction and deployment of of 20,000 purpose-built reef modules over a three-year period.
Korea’s HaejooX has taken part in the Dubai Reef project since its initial proof of concept in 2021. The Dubai Reef pilot stage began in April 2024, and the deployment of the first 1,000 purpose-built reef modules will likely commence in late November 2024.
“Since the initial proof of concept in 2021, HaejooX has been analyzing the effectiveness of purpose-built reefs in Dubai and we are delighted to support the emirate’s long-term objectives for ocean sustainability. Dubai Reef is a milestone project and we look forward to continuing working with the strategic partners and stakeholders to ensure its success,” noted Paik.
Safeguarding Dubai’s coastal, marine habitats
“Dubai Reef brings together multi-industry stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to advance Dubai’s environmental goals,” stated Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, chairman of the regulatory committee on fishing of living aquatic resources in Dubai and director general of DECCA.
A citywide collaboration of key partners across the public and private sectors, Dubai Reef aligns with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. The project’s strategic partners include DET, DECCA, DP World, Dubai Chambers, Nakheel, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), and Emirates.
“Partnerships and collaborations play a crucial role in achieving Dubai’s wider sustainability objectives, and HaejooX will bring its expertise to support the project’s long-term aim to enhance biodiversity and safeguard Dubai’s coastal and marine habitats,” added Lootah.
Advancing ocean sustainability efforts
Dubai Reef is the second major project under the citywide Dubai Can sustainability initiative. Since its launch in February 2022, Dubai Can, through its ‘Refill for Life’ campaign, has seen a sharp decline in the usage of single-use plastic. The campaign reduced the use of more than 24 million 500ml single-use plastic water bottles. Moreover, it reported dispensing 12 million liters of water via 50 water fountains across the city.
Leveraging its expertise in marine biology and environmental engineering, HaejooX has previously assisted in the design and deployment of purpose-built reefs for development projects both in the Gulf region and globally.
“After working with HaejooX since the project’s initial proof of concept, the promising findings from this initial phase highlighted the potential for significant positive impacts of purpose-built reefs to bolster marine biodiversity and support sustainable fishing practices,” added bin Thani.
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