The Marmoom Reserve will be providing a sanctuary for 19 species of endangered animals and birds.

There will be at least 10 observation decks scattered around the reserve on completion, so visitors can see the animals in their natural habitat.

The decks will be built in the shape of Arabian Oryx heads, and will be designed to blend in with the surroundings.

There will also be a bird?s nest platform located on the edge of a lake, offering the perfect vantage point for birdwatching.

Several platforms will be erected to provide spaces for meditation and relaxation, as well as practice areas for yoga (including an air-conditioned yoga lounge).

For astronomy enthusiasts, there will be five star observation decks located in the middle of the desert, far away from the bright lights of the city.

The Marmoom Reserve will host a series of annual sporting events, which are expected to attract more than 20,000 people a year. It will also have the longest desert cycling tracks in the world.

There will also be an outdoor theatre that will seat 350 people and stage a variety of cultural performances.

It contains one of the richest Houbara Bustard colonies in the region, and is home to one of the largest Arabian gazelle herds in the UAE.

The Marmoom Reserve is also the site of the important Saruq Al Hadid archaeological site, which dates back over 3,000 years to the Iron Age.

The largest plant nursery in the UAE will preserve and protect local plant species and serve as a training and educational centre for school and university students, researchers and academics.

The Marmoom Biosphere Centre will mainly be dedicated to studying the sustainable development and management of the protected area. It will serve as a centre for sustainable ecotourism, and aim to be the main source of specialized ecosystem management practices in the region.

The Marmoom Reserve Protection Scouts will aim to develop young people?s outdoor skills and foster the spirit of connecting with the natural environment. The ultimate goal for the scout programme is to enhance conservation, wildlife and desert protection, and to instil positive values including self-exploration and problem solving in children.

This project is a step taken forward by the Dubai Government to fulfill their passion of leading UAE into a future driven by sustainability and clever use of resources. Merging tourism along with this proves the capability of the country's leaders to realize their dream and the dreams of a green future of the citizens.

LINKS-https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/shaikh-mohammad-launches-eco-tourism-project-1.2158212

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/dubai-ruler-launches-marmoom-desert-conservation-reserve-1.696015