Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Dubai’s hidden gems and a haven for birdwatchers, has temporarily closed to make way for a stunning new upgrade, part of a Dh650-million development project set to transform the wetlands into a world-class eco-destination.

More Water, More Wildlife

The first phase of the redevelopment is already underway, with completion expected by the end of next year. It includes a massive 144% expansion of water bodies, boosting their total size to 74 hectares.

Alongside this, 10 hectares of new mudflats will be added, essential feeding grounds for migratory birds, supporting marine biodiversity and rare plant life.

Nature Gets a Boost

Phase two will focus on enhancing native vegetation and creating improved wildlife habitats to attract even more bird species. Visitor facilities are also set for an upgrade, giving nature lovers a better, more immersive experience.

The sanctuary is already known for its iconic pink flamingos in winter, as well as osprey, grey herons, and black-winged stilts. The reserve is fully fenced, offering safety for wildlife and serenity for guests.

Eco-Friendly Vision

Once complete, the new sanctuary is expected to increase carbon dioxide absorption by 60 per cent, giving a powerful green boost to Dubai’s environment.

Pakistan and Oman are moving closer to launching a direct ferry service between Gwadar and the Sultanate, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation, enhance trade, and build regional connectivity.

The developments came during a high-level meeting on Thursday between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and the Ambassador of Oman to Pakistan, Fahad bin Sulaiman bin Khalaf Al Kharusi.

Maritime Trade in Focus

Both sides reaffirmed their deep-rooted diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties and discussed plans to accelerate cooperation in the maritime sector. Minister Chaudhry highlighted that Pakistan’s exports to Oman via sea ports reached $224 million in 2024, but stressed the potential to significantly increase this figure through joint initiatives.

Gwadar-Oman Ferry Could Unlock Billions

A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal to launch a direct ferry service from Gwadar to Oman, which Chaudhry said could unlock $10–15 billion annually for Pakistan through trade expansion, transit revenue, and investment inflows.

Potential New Ferry Routes

• Based on current and past plans, potential ferry routes from Pakistan include:
  • Karachi to Gwadar
  • Gwadar to Muscat (Oman)
  • Karachi to Muscat (Oman)
  • Karachi to Chabahar (Iran)
  • Gwadar to Chabahar (Iran)
  • International excursion tours
  • Local city operation within Karachi 
  • Past Sea Routes that Were Proposed
• There have been past discussions and reports about ferry services between Pakistan and other regions but they have yet to become a reality:
  • Dubai-Karachi Ferry Service: A luxury ferry service between Karachi and Dubai was approved in 2006, with Gulf Dream Cruise being the first operator. This service was planned to take two days and cost $549 for a round trip. However, the feasibility of a regular ferry service for fast passenger transfers was questioned due to the affordability of flights.
  • India-Dubai: The Indian government had granted permission for the launch of a cruise ferry service connecting Kerala and Dubai in 2023. The ferry service operating on the Beypur-Kochi-Dubai route, would prvide connectivity between Dubai and Kochi, within just three days and enable expats in the UAE to carry 10 times more luggage and travel at a lower cost than airlines. The ticket was expected to cost at around Dh450.
    
  • Iran Ferry Service: There was a plan to launch a ferry service between Karachi/Gwadar and Chabahar in Iran, primarily to facilitate pilgrims and offer a safer alternative to road travel.

Maritime Training & Human Capital Development

Chaudhry also proposed offering specialised training and scholarships for Omani students at the Pakistan Marine Academy, which is being upgraded to university status. The goal: to foster long-term maritime collaboration and build shared human capital in marine sciences and navigation.

Strong Cultural Ties and Diaspora Links

Ambassador Al Kharusi welcomed the proposals and highlighted the strong cultural connections between the two nations. He noted that Urdu remains widely spoken and understood in Oman, reflecting historic social bonds, and praised the Pakistani community’s role in Oman’s development.

The ambassador also backed greater B2B (business-to-business) engagements to unlock new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

Flying taxis are one step closer to becoming a reality in the UAE. Archer Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has completed its first test flights in Abu Dhabi. The milestone flight took place at Al Bateen Executive Airport and marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to introduce air taxi services to the region.

The aircraft, called Midnight, was put through its paces in real UAE summer conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and dust, to evaluate how well it performs in a local environment. The test was observed by senior officials from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Abu Dhabi Airports, and Archer’s key regional partners.

“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” said Badr Al Olama, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. 

“We are enabling companies like Archer to test and scale next-gen mobility through the SAVI Cluster.”

Archer’s CEO and founder, Adam Goldstein, called the UAE test a “critical milestone” for the company’s commercial plans. “Testing our aircraft in the middle of summer gives us vital data to move forward in both the UAE and the US,” he added.

The test flight is part of Archer’s Launch Edition programme in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to bring electric air taxi services to the capital. The initiative builds on recent progress, including regulatory design approval for the UAE’s first hybrid heliport at Zayed Port’s Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal.

Abu Dhabi is the first market in Archer’s global rollout plan, reflecting the city’s ambitions to be a pioneer in futuristic and sustainable urban transport.