Sabkha Measures

The rapid urbanization and development in the UAE over the past five decades have orchestrated an unprecedented transformation of its coastal landscape. The interplay between urban networks and infrastructures has reshaped the interface between the arid desert and the expansive coastline. Despite this, the environmental dimensions of this transformation are surprisingly absent from prevailing discourses. The UAE's natural environment is often oversimplified, with the prevailing trope of the desert eradicating any nuanced discussion around its coastal ecology.

The focal point of urban development in the UAE has predominantly been the intertidal coastal zones. Yet, the prevailing discussions on this transformation fail to recognize that these burgeoning cities are situated on one of the globe's most dynamic supratidal mudflats. Even though urbanization has  altered these landscapes over the last five decades, Sabkhas have been actively reshaping the region’s coastline for over 7000 years.

What urbanization and development brought is a stagnation of what was once a dynamically shifting morphology which blurred the line between land and sea. The Sabkha, once perceived as an ecological wasteland, now bears witness to significant alterations, marked by extensive filling, topsoiling, dredging, and fortification through construction. This research and exhibition proposal delves into the narrative of this coastal transformation, transcending traditional perceptions in a curated exploration of the intricate relationships between social histories, urban development, environmental shifts, and the ancient Sabkha ecosystem.

Shortlisted National Pavilion UAE Curatorial Proposal (Finalist)
La Biennale di Venezia 2021