The single biggest problem that the UAE is facing is the major pollution that is caused by plastic. This has become a huge concern for Nicola Liddell who made the claim. She is a Padi course director with Divers Down UAE and says that, “The amount of plastics being found on local shores is causing mayhem for the local environment.”

She actively organizes cleanups at the beach and at the shorelines and mentions that the majority of the waste that is collected is nothing but plastic bottles, bags and other plastic objects which causes untold damage to the environment.

She says, “People are in the habit of taking the fast and easy option of just throwing out plastic bottles and bags and do not realize the damage it is causing. We are noticing an extraordinary increase in the levels of plastic bags and bottles.”

Another person to agree that plastic was a problem was Simon Meade, head of operations at desert safari company Arabian Adventures. He says, “We are working to limit waste and recycling at all our desert camps along with a new project to reduce the purchase of single-use plastic, which has led to a reduction of 59 percent in the past 12 months.”

“It is a question of education. We speak to children regularly and many of them are not even aware there is a problem. That seems incredible and is worrying, given there is a global push to educate people about the damage plastic is doing.”, Ms. Liddell said.

Adding on to it Mr. Meade says, “In recent years, there has been a drive from the sustainable tourism sector and the Middle East is starting to see the dividends of that now. Sustainability and ecotourism continue to be sought after by our customers because it is valued and adhered to at Arabian Adventures. Most of our safaris take place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which is the biggest piece of land Dubai has dedicated to a single conservation project and led the way in boosting the population of the Arabian oryx.”