The Realist Idealist

I just saw these photos (and the accompanying request to send more) from Gulf News.

Rain.  In the Persian Gulf.

I’ve spent at least two weeks worth of time (usually more) in the United Arab Emirates every year since 2000, and I’ve seen it rain 4 times in all those years. I’ve actually got a few photos from those days I could send to Gulf News, but instead I find myself reacting with another thought.

Having had an on-the-ground knowledge of the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi before and after 9/11 - as well as watching their insane levels of development over 8 years - has greatly affected my outlook on the world’s state of affairs - both positively and negatively.

Specifically related to our world’s environmental “state,” I’ve found it fascinating to watch the spread of the ever-increasing number of date palms (and soaker hose) that now cover the once completely arid landscape in the UAE.  Though it seems benign, the reason for the palms is not for the harvest of their tasty fruit, but rather for their ability to serve as natural climate change agents.

The date palms, among other efforts - including a revolutionary irrigation system that pulls salt water from the Gulf - are all part of an intentional process that began decades ago under the visionary leadership of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan. The gist is that the Emirates have sought to turn their desert green, and now its working. At an increasing rate.

The natural growth potential of Abu Dhabi and/or Dubai (the two largest of the 7 “united” emirates) is zero. Quite literally, nothing green grew there on its own.

While several years ago it was (no exaggeration) shocking for Emiratis to see rain as it only fell once every few years, it is not uncommon now for it to rain 3-4 times per year and for thick clouds and fog to form over the cities in the winter.

The changing climate brings new opportunities to the Emirates, certainly, but I think it also likely brings an amount of peril. As a perfunctory look at the photos from Gulf News suggests, the cities are not built or prepared to deal with even the smallest amount of rain.

Think “snow days” for those of you from the American south when we got out of school for a prediction of snow … only 3x worse.

Beyond the basics of dealing with a half inch of rain here and there, though, I am concerned about how altering the climate in one area so dramatically and in such a short period of time, can have far reaching impacts we can’t possibly predict now.

Thoughts?