The city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates will host in February2008 an international conference on coastal engineering that will bringtogether over 1000 marine engineers and scientists from around theworld to exchange know-how and experience. The conference, titled 7thinternational summit on Coastal and Port Engineering in DevelopingCountries (COPEDEC), comes at a significant time as the Arabian Gulfregion witnesses US$100 billion investments in waterfront developments.The event, which is jointly organised by Dubai Municipality and theBrussels-based International Navigation Association (PIANC), will beheld from 24 to 28 February 2008 at the Intercontinental Hotel in DubaiFestival City.
The main theme of the conference is “Best Practices inthe Coastal Environment” and it will discuss topics like coastal andport infrastructure engineering; ports and marina management andplanning; development of sea frontage and coastal stabilization;monitoring of beach movement; coastal areas and environment management;coastal areas risks management; and short-distance ship cargo andmarine navigation.
An International panel of renowned marine scientistshas already selected some 226 papers from 43 countries which displayscientific excellence and appropriateness to the conference themes.Several papers deal with the ambitious marine activities in the ArabianGulf. A concurrent exhibition of products and services, titledWaterfront 2008, will allow top companies working in the sector toshowcase the range, applicability and quality of their products andservices to organisations keen to develop and manage their waterfrontprojects.
The major coastline developments in Dubai include DubaiWaterfront, the largest man-made development in the world worth US$27billion; Dubailand, a US$5 billion theme park facility; The Palm, theworld’s largest three artificial islands; and Dubai Maritime City, theworld’s largest maritime development. Waterfront developments in othercountries of the Arabian Gulf include Bahrain’s US$1 billion FinancialHarbor in Mina Manama, US$110 million Tala Island, US$40 millionFloating City, and US$ 1 billion Durrat Khaleej, Kuwait’s US$53 millionAl Kout development at Fahaheel, Oman’s US$805 million The Wave atSeeb, and US$15 billion The Blue City, Qatar’s US$2.5 billion Pearl ofthe Gulf, and Saudi Arabia’s US $200 million City Fanar in Al Khobar.The event is supported by Sama Dubai, the premium real estate developerin the region, Dubai Roads & Transport Authority, and DubaiMaritime City, the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre. Formore information, please contact: enquiries@pianc-copedecdubai.com.
Earlier today an oil spill affected the eastern coastline of the United Arab Emirates, and local residents still await a decision from the government on which action should be taken.
