DUBAI ESTH UPDATE: COASTAL DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FREE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUBAI 000100

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, RA AND OES
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD EAID PGOV AE
SUBJECT: DUBAI ESTH UPDATE: COASTAL DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FREE
ZONE; DUBAI HEALTHCARE CITY

REF: 07 ABU DHABI 1998

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(SBU) SENSATIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (SBU) Summary: Amman ESTH Hub officer and PolEconoff held
January 30-31 ESTH related meetings in Dubai. Meetings with
Nakheel, the developer of high profile Palms and World island
projects, highlighted their pioneering aspects as they reclaim
additional coastal land. While Nakheel is planning environmental
safeguards, the long-term impacts are not predictable. Visits
to the Harvard Medical Institute at the Dubai Healthcare city
revealed 'Dubai's plans to bolster its healthcare services and
research capabilities, but indicate considerable challenges
remain before Dubai can realize its ambition to become a medical
research destination. Enpark is a new free-zone positioned to
attract investments in environmental and energy efficient
businesses. Arab Science and Technology Foundation president
shared some of the difficulties of engaging with Gulf countries
to encourage greater R&D investments. End Summary.

Luxury Villas for the Rich. Condominiums for Ecology

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2. (U) Amman ESTH Hub officer and PolEconoff met Michael Nates,
Senior Manager for Environment, Health & Safety, and
Sustainability for Nakheel. Nakheel, part of the Dubai
government-owned "Dubai World" group of companies, is the
development company behind the three luxury "Palm Island"
projects and the "World". The Palm Jumeirah is nearing
completion, and the islands for the World (2-3 miles out from
the shoreline) have been reclaimed in waters running at 12-18
meters depth. The first residents of the Palm Jumeirah have
already moved, and an Atlantis hotel resort complex is heading
toward completion; still to come is Trump Tower/hotel. Land
reclamation for the two other committed Palm projects - the
larger Palm Jebel Ali and the larger still Palm Deira is well
underway, while, reclamation for the Dubai Waterfront project
(near the Palm Jebel Ali and slated to be the size of Manhattan
and housing 1.5 million inhabitants) is in its early stages.
Nates compared the new projects to be started to "building a new
London," but highlighted the difficulty in estimating final
capacity and peak infrastructure demands since many people are
buying the properties as investments or second/third holiday
homes. Recently, Nakheel announced yet another offshore project
for a 2015 timeframe, a series of new islands shaped like the
planes and Milky Way galaxy named the Dubai "Universe" project.


3. (SBU) Nates highlighted that Nakheel is "building things to
last," trying to build communities, not just fancy buildings.
Nakheel has hired international consultants as well as the
United Nations University - Institute of Water, Environment and
Health to provide consultancy services to understand the
scientific and engineering behavior of the reclaimed island
developments. Dutch expertise has supported Nakheel in land
reclamation and detailed hydrology and oceanographic modeling.
Nates lamented the frequent criticisms the projects are exposed
to noting that Nakheel purposefully keeps a low media profile
give the media focus on only the negative news. Nates
specifically referenced this strategy in conjunction with
Nakheel's new "Blue Communities" project, a large environmental
initiative targeted at developing standards for reclaimed land
development.


4. (SBU) Nates acknowledged the Palm and World projects would
not likely have received the necessary regulatory approvals in
the U.S. or Europe. However, with the backing of the ruler of
Dubai and the free zone authority, these ambitious projects have
made impressive headway. While Environmental Impact Analysis
have been approved for all the projects, Nates acknowledged the
long term environmental impacts potentially will not be known
for 20-30 years.


5. (U) Nates highlighted the strong water monitoring program, a
wastewater treatment and irrigation facility, and participation
in the Emirates Green Building Council and goal of achieving
Gold LEED certification. Recent water quality tests which
measure temperature, salinity, oxygen levels, and water
circulation speeds showed significantly positive oxygen levels
in the waters around the Palm Jumeirah. Treated wastewater is
being used for irrigating the plants. A desalination plant is
online and providing drinking water for the new developments.

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The natural rocks that form the outer barrier for the Palms
project are proving to be fertile ground for marine life and new
coral formations -- one consultant terming them condominiums for
ecology. Nates joked that some Palm residents have complained
of the fish being too noisy. Nakheel will develop a
sustainability report over the coming year and also establish
targets for using renewable energy along the Dubai waterfront
projects.

ENPARK

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6. (U) Enpark (www.enpark.ae) is a unit of TECOM investments (a
member of 100 percent Dubai government-owned Dubai Holdings and
focused on knowledge industries). Director Ali bin Towaih is
positioning Enpark as a free zone destination for clean energy
and environmental technology companies with over 8 million
square feet of office, research centers, residential,
educational and leisure facilities. All the buildings in Enpark
(target population of 35,000) will be LEED certified at the Gold
level. Eight businesses have signed on to the based in Enpark
with another 42 in the pipeline. Bin Towaih urged U.S.
businesses to set-up premises in Dubai/Enpark and noted that the
current Dubai investment climate should be attracting U.S.
businesses to set-up showcase projects for the region. He is
keen to consider a regional GreenBuild conference being held in
Dubai.

Harvard Medical Institute at Dubai Healthcare City

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7. (SBU) Dr. Thurer, Chief Academic Officer at the Harvard
Medical Institute (HMI) in Dubai provided an update on HMI's
plans which include a fifteen year initial commitment to be
based in the Dubai Healthcare City (DHC). Noting that education
and healthcare were until recently neglected in Dubai, Thurer
believes that HMI has a key role in Dubai's vision of providing
world-class infrastructure, including health care services. HMI
has assisted Dubai with the development of regulatory and
licensing rules. Only 2 hospitals in Dubai currently have the
Joint Commission International accreditation, which Thurer
envisions increasing rapidly as healthcare standards rise.
However, Thurer does not envision Dubai becoming a destination
for medical tourism. Finding skilled medical sand support staff
is problematic given that only 40 doctors and 100 nurses
graduated from UAE institutions in 2007.


8. (SBU) HMI is currently providing continuing education
services for healthcare professionals. It has also started a
medical research grants program with a roughly USD 14 million
initial endowment. Thurer noted that medical research in the
Gulf and Middle East is very weak, but acknowledged King Faisal
Hospital in Saudi Arabia as being a "serious research facility"
with 90 PhDs and $50 million in annual research grants.


9. (SBU) Thurer highlighted the success of medical exchanges as
the best form of science diplomacy the USG could practice,
noting the high return of goodwill and knowledge transfer these
exchanges provide. He referenced recent exchanges where a group
of Iranian doctors (who had previously never left Iran) went to
the U.S. under the international visitor program and came back
with a strong appreciation for the U.S. Several follow on
projects have developed from that initial exchange.


10. (SBU) HMI and DHC are operating under the umbrella of
Tatweer - part of the parastatal Dubai Holdings. Thurer
applauded the excellent access HMI has to the ruler of Dubai -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also UAE PM and Vice
President. According to Thurer, the research projects are
currently under-funded if they are to achieve the Sheikh's
vision for becoming a world-class healthcare research facility.

Arab Science and Technology Foundation

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11.(SBU) Dr. Abdalla Alnajjar bemoaned the lack of governmental
support for R&D in the Arab world. He noted that the Arab
Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) in particular suffered

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because while the oil rich gulf countries support national R&D
efforts, pan-Arab efforts were viewed suspiciously. He
highlighted the many achievements of the ASTF since its
foundation 7 years back, including the research grants, the
capacity building programs and its database of over 10,000 Arab
scientists (reftel). Alnajjar believes that most of the foreign
S&T Arab diaspora is in Europe rather than the U.S. - with the
highest concentration at 70% in France. Alnajjar referenced a
previous request to the Department for a letter from the
Secretary which he could use in lobbying for support from other

SIPDIS
Gulf region governments. Alnajjar does not expect to continue
in his role after his current term expires in three years.

Premier of 11th Hour

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12. (U) On the occasion of the February 4 UAE National
Environment Day, Warner Bros. and the Ministry of Environment
and Water/Federal Environmental Agency held the UAE premiere of
Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental documentary - 11th Hour. This
splashy event served to encourage greater public awareness of
environmental issues (reftel).
SUTPHIN