Bani Yas Island

United Arab Emirates has a fruitful history since it’s founding as one nation. This nation was originally composed of tribal groups along the territory within the Gulf of Persian the Oman Gulf. This country was converted into Islam in the year 600 A. D. Long before that, there were archaeological evidences that Christianity thrived in this Muslim nation, as shown by many relics proving that claim. One particular island named Bani Yas possesses some of these artifacts that were discovered by many scientists exploring for ancient traces.

Moreover, they found out the natural beauty of the island and explored its abundant possibilities to become one of the beautiful tourist spots in the world. After that discovery, many investors were invited to see the potential of the Bani Yas Island. They market the place in its bounty with regards to wildlife and natural resources. According to these people, Bani Yas Island has one of the greatest potential in ecological tourism. The Bani Yas Island can be located approximately 270 miles west of Abu Dhabi. It was highly regarded as one of the most prominent and greatly honored tribes in the southern part of Arabia.

Its place in history began when a person named Yas Bin allowed other tribes to join their clan in order to establish more security and power. Those tribes joined Yas Bin’s tribe to secure their corresponding clans since Yas Bin’s tribe was so powerful then in term s of its military force. Because of that, Bani Yas became the largest tribe in the emirates nation. They made up of approximately 20 clans. They settled on Abu Dhabi on the year 1793. Form this tribe came the present leaders of Abu Dhabi. These people usually spent their summer with other members of the tribe by hunting pearls using boats.
When winter comes, they spent their time in the desert with their camels. In addition to this, this tribe was the first to acquire valuable lands that eventually became one of the causes of many disputes of other states. In the year 1833, a prominent faction of the Bani Yas tribe went to Dubai and eventually became the ruler of that place. This leadership lineage continued up to the present day. With respect with the other subsections of the Bani Yas tribe, some clan thrived by fishing and hunting of pearls while others ventured on planting crops. Some tribes focused on the camel business or rearing goats and sheep for living.
Other subsections focused on trading goods with other foreign tribes. After a certain period, many archaeologists made an exploration on the supposed location of the former tribe Bani Yas. This exploration was executed in the year 1992 where those who led the site investigation found several discoveries. They found relics of the tools used by the people of the Bani Yas tribe and other important things related to their way of living during their existence. In the year 1993, another excavation was initiated and found more relevant information about the Bani Yas people.
They made more than thirty site divisions during the whole exploration process. In some of the sites they explored, they discovered that long before Islam captured the tribe’s religious association, there are traces of a Christian church built in that area. They found relics of a monastery, a clear indication that a church was established before Bani Yas embraced the Islam religion. Furthermore, they also acquired evidences of other cultures in other key sites that might have affected the norms of the people who are living in that era. The rich history of the Bani Yas can also be associated with its natural resources.
In terms of its reserves, the place can be said to have plenty of such gifts from nature. The island is proliferated by mountains, which resembles the shape of a cone. Slightly inclined plains along with numerous mangroves on the sides then surround these mountains. With these, a small wharf can be found along the shoreline of the island. The leaders that have this jurisdiction over this territory developed these beautiful sights further. The island also possesses a lot of wildlife diversity within its region. Various species of animals and birds can be found thriving in the island of Bani Yas.
Animals like gazelle and Oryx can be found roaming freely in that area. Before, these animals were supposed to be endangered but because of the efforts of the people responsible in the development of the area, these species has grown in number. Other species originated form other countries can also be found living in the Bani Yas island. Moreover, the island eventually became one of the homes of various migratory birds coming form other places on the planet. Birds like flamingos take their shelter in the mangroves that can be found in the island.
Others thrive in lagoons and other places that these birds nests. An artificial lake was constructed also and became the primary attraction for numerous types of ducks in the area. Other species of birds also thrives in the region, making a clear indication of its natural beauty and habitat for wildlife. Pastures are being dominated by many species of deer and other fowls like peacock and others. Attractive insects can also be found in the region enjoying the trees planted in the island of Bani Yas. Such attractive insects are responsible for more beauty in the nature and the balance in the ecosystem.
As a result, more beautiful flowers blooms around the island, and fruits are also abundant in the region. From being a desert, the leader occupying the island made wondrous make over on the island, making it more attractive to both animals and even humans who visited the place. He made plantations and fruit bearing trees thriving in the island because of his consistent efforts to develop the area. With regards to the potential of the island as a tourist spot, more consistency the maintenance of the island is needed, knowing that the island was a desert before.
Ecotourism is not usual for regions particularly in the Middle East region but with this island, it would be possible to have a good resort within the region. As far as the implications are concerned, authorities should be alarmed that since the Bani Yas was a desolate place before, they should put more efforts in maintaining the ecosystem they established in the region. As far as the potentials of the island is concerned, there are a lot of prospective in the island of Bani Yas. One of its great features is that it offers tourists with the opportunities to experience safari adventures, and snorkeling.
The visitors of this island can experience full recreation with nature and its benefit of full relaxation. Since its development is a clear breakthrough in the field of establishing ecosystems out of a desolated island, this place will surely catch a lot of interests for many people and scholars as well. Another key feature of the island is its richness in cultural heritage with those who once lived there in the island of Bani Yas. As discussed on the previous statements above, people who lived in this island possessed interesting details on their way of living and their circumstances in life.
Relics found on this island would surely catch more attentions on people who are inclined with digging ancient things from the people of the past. The discovery of traces resembling Christian institution in a Muslim-dominated region is another mystery that will attract more scholars and ordinary people in finding facts about the history of the Bani Yas tribe. With regards to its ambience, Bani Yas Island can offer a new outlook for those who lived in the desert for a long time. They will experience living with nature, which is not available on people thriving in the Arabian region.
This will definitely give an embrace of new culture in nature’s aspect for people who would like to try living in a serene island with a sustained ecosystem in its surroundings. The developers of this island constructed different establishments, which will provide more relaxation and recreation on the part of the prospective visitors. One particular structure that was built in the island to cater its visitors is the resort spa. The structure is intended for those who would like to avail of spa services and hotel accommodations.
The building consists of more than 60 rooms for tourists who would like to stay in the island. This would offer visitors to avail of this good service while in the island, making it more exciting for many tourists that will be visiting the site. For those who want to conduct camps, group dynamics and other activities, the island can arranged these features in a better setting which is inside nature landscapes and other beautiful sites in the region. For those who love experiencing wildlife adventures, Bani Yas offers this authentic approach in dealing with these demands.
Tourists can experience this interaction with animals similar to other safari sites. The developers of the island made a sanctuary for plants and animals to maintain the balance in the ecosystem. Such endangered species already found their homes in the island, a clear indication of the island’s readiness to be a wildlife sanctuary for diversified animal species. The people responsible for the development of this island also built specialized centers that focus on taking care of the plants and animals within the region.
This center also conducts researches on how to improve further the current setting of nature in the island. Sustained development is also vital in the work being conducted in the center because this will ensure the good setting of the structures that were built in the island. For birds, they continually place mangroves and other habitats that can attract many species of birds to live in the island. Because of these efforts, many migratory birds have found home on this strategic place. They also established waterways, which are critical in maintaining the presence of various animal and bird species in the island.
Another big project being established in the Bani Yas Island is the continuous research and development on building structures that will utilize renewable energies as the primary source of energy in the island. This exploration will surely provide more sustainability in the island since the power source will not depend on coals and petrochemicals. It is a given fact that utilizing these as fuels will degrade the air quality of a particular place, making it hazardous to anyone that will be exposed into it.
The island developers realize the relevance of maintaining a good ecosystem by utilizing renewable fuels like solar and wind energies. Putting up solar panels in strategic locations and windmills in the island are the priorities of the developers of the island with regards to the power plant constructions are concerned. Once these renewable energy factories are established in the region, there will be a lot more people who will be interested in visiting the place. This would also take its place in the history as one of the beautiful places in the world utilizing green energies.
The world’s recognition will also be given to the island for its effort in utilizing clean energy sources and being one of the few tourist destinations that implemented such policies in the field of energy utilization. Furthermore, there are far more expansion that should be emphasized as far as the Bani Yas Island is concerned. One particular highlight in the island is its continuing expansion in its beach resorts. This would open more spaces available for people who would want to enjoy the scenery of the beachfronts.
Another development that must be underlined is its continuous expansion on the wildlife parks that will provide more rooms for other animals to roam around the area. Such expansion would encourage proliferation of more animals as well as on other species. Another highlight on the island is the establishment of its own safari park where various animals can interact with people who wish them to see these creatures in motion. A farm was also established and will continue to expand this structure for a more sustainable energy source for the island.
In addition to that, the development of more hotel buildings which can be classified as one of the best in the Asian region are being prioritized to accommodate the needs of the tourists and even other Arab people. These would also attract prominent individuals to visit the island because of the best hotels that are being established in the Bani Yas island. Commercial establishments are also being developed and expanded like shopping malls, fine dining restaurants, campsites, and other amenities that they can offer to the people.
Putting up of residential homes is also being developed in the region to provide for those who would like to stay near the beautiful expanse of the island. Such townhouses, condominiums will surely add more attraction to other prominent people who would choose to stay in the region. For those who are fond with the excavation and explorations of ancient articles, the island also continue to increase its archaeological sites to serve the needs of those who are venturing with the study of the island’s heritage.
Current development in the Bani Yas Island includes the start of wind turbine system that provides power in the area. Even though this may not be enough to shoulder the whole energy needs of the island, the developers are looking for more of these implementation to fulfill their target of having a one hundred percent dependence on the renewable energy factories. Another recent development is that the island will be open to daily visitors for them to witness the beauty of this island by the year 2009(Gulfnews, 2008). Up to now, the island is open only for hotel guests and not for just spectators or island visits only.
The development of the island of Bani Yas will also generate more than 60,000 employment opportunities once the operation started in full. The corresponding groups are also prioritizing coastal development in the island by carefully examining the topography of the area. This group of people provided a scale model which simulates the actual scenario of what would it be once the developed coastal shorelines are placed. They made physical modeling and wave simulation in studying the appropriate construction of the coastal lines around the island.
The groups are placing a mixture of soil and textile material in putting up developments in the shorelines. According to the concerned group, this mixture of materials is better than using pure concrete in the coastal line construction in terms of its flexibility in the waves being thrown by the bodies of water surrounding the Bani Yas island. With regards to the evaluation of the benefits of the island as a future destination of many nature lovers and prominent people, it can be said that Bani Yas has the full potential in terms of its nature expanse and established structures.
Benefits can be enumerated in several ways. One of the benefits that can be provided by this island is the fact that they made a legacy for the next Arab generation. With the sustained development of the region, Bani Yas will continue to inspire other people to venture on creating their own plantation and wildlife park in the middle of a desert. Before, it was impossible to put up diversified species of plants and animals to thrive in a desert island because of its limitation in terms of water availability and soil composition.
Bani Yas project made the impossible to be possible and created a lot of avenues in research about taking care of nature and its resources. Another great benefit of this project is on the tourism industry of the country. With the beauty being shown in the islands, there will be high demand for local and foreign visitors to go to Bani Yas Island. The investments done by the leader of the region will surely bring good returns in the future considering the high potential in tourism and real state.
In addition to that, the advantage of having revenues in tourism industry will open more jobs for local residents and other nationalities as well. In the near future, more profits will be enjoyed through sustained development of the island. More than pecuniary matters, the island will contribute a lot to the advocacies of many nations today to use clean energies in supplying power in their respective states. Bani Yas can serve as a role model for other communities in implementing such actions to initiate the usage of renewable sources of energy like solar and wind energy.