Arab Environment Watch: Oman

Three Gulf states target gas flaring to combat climate change

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:00:22 GMT

Three Gulf states - Qatar, Kuwait and Oman - are expected to sign up soon to a World Bank programme aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by finding commercial uses for natural gas that is still burned, or flared, as a by-product of oil production. Amid growing awareness of climate change and the need to conserve resources for their expanding water and power needs, the Gulf states are seeking... [read more]

Brave new world: Gulf seeks bold science initiatives

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:06:00 GMT

This is a very well written analytical article about the efforts conducted by Gulf states in developing cutting edge research and innovation practices. The article is originally published by Science Devnet By: Waleed Al-Shobakky Farouk El-Baz routinely shifts between two views of the Gulf countries. One day the Egyptian-American geologist will be in his Boston office poring over detailed... [read more]

A Negative Record: Arabian Oryx Sanctuary Removed from World Heritage List

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:56:53 GMT

For the first time in its history, UNESCO World Heritage Programme had to take the bad decision of removing one site from its glamorous list of global natural wonders, and the site in question is an Arabian Oryx sanctuary in Oman. No bad feelings in politics, however. The Omani government was the one asking for removal of the site from the list and both UNESCO and IUCN had to comply, according... [read more]

Omani sees date palms as future fuel

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:08:00 GMT

Source: Reuters The date palms that have provided nourishment to desert caravans across the centuries could soon be fuelling cars. Omani entrepreneur Mohammed bin Saif al-Harthy and his associates at the Oman Green Energy Company have come up with a way to transform extracts from the region's ubiquitous date palm into biofuel. He knows it works, because he has been using the fuel to run... [read more]

Gonu's Message to Oman: Environmental Investment a Must

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:13:41 GMT

(MENAFN - Arab News) Dr. Mohamed A. Ramady It became obvious that tackling global climate change was one of the key issues of the recent G-8 summit in Germany with talk of emission targets and new global treaties, although the final agreement fell short of expectations. The issue of environmental control is no longer a subject that affects far away people and countries as the recent devastating... [read more]

Omani company set to launch region's first bio-refinery

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:29:00 GMT

Source: Khaleej Times BY RAVINDRA NATH June 22, 2007 Work on the Arab region's first 'bio-refinery', that will produce ethanol mainly from date palms for use in motor vehicles as a substitute for petrol and diesel, is due to start in Oman's Batinah region town of Sohar soon. The 11 million riyal plant, to be imported from Brazil, will immediately create 4,000 jobs for nationals,... [read more]

Oman and the Gulf States taking note of the impacts of Climate Change

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:02:00 GMT

Source: Arabian Business By Conrad Egbert 16 June 2007 With global warming showing no signs of abating, this month's Cyclone Gonu in Oman has reinforced the need for waterfront and offshore construction projects to account for severe weather conditions and the possibility of drastic environmental changes in the near future. One such example is The Wave, Muscat, a mixed-use development... [read more]

Arabian leopards exist in Oman, says survey team

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:53:00 GMT

From: Gulf News By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief Muscat: Fresh pugmarks and hearing of a big cat's calls have given an Omani Biosphere Expeditions survey concrete evidence of the existence of the endangered Arabian Leopard in Oman's Musandam region. "The entire team is elated and we have set up camera traps at promising sites hoping to catch a glimpse of the Arabian Leopard," said... [read more]

UAE Marine Conservation Forum

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:07:07 GMT

The first EWS-WWF Marine Conservation Forum took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on September 11-14, 2006. The Forum provided an opportunity for the region’s environmentalists to share concerns about the region’s coral reef and marine turtle populations and collaborate on potential solutions. Representatives from Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and... [read more]

New Book warns of water scarcity in the Gulf

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:21:00 GMT

By Arvind Nair- Gulf News Published in 4-12-2006 WATER crisis in Qatar, as indeed in the Gulf and the rest of the world, threatens future progress and impedes efforts to alleviate poverty. To drive this point home, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Doha office has brought out a book called Policy Perspectives for Ecosystem and Water Management... [read more]

Gulf Eco Exhibition opens in Oman

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 01:39:48 GMT

Source: Times of Oman Organised by the Oman International Trade and Exhibition (OITE), under the patronage of Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources, the exhibition will run until September 14 and provide an important networking platform for professionals related to the environmental sector locally, in the AGCC, the Middle East and internationally. The event... [read more]