Khalifa Port Breakwaters and Protection of Coral Reefs

Chapter A2.3

The Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi, constructed between 2009 and 2012 is one of the Worlds’ largest Ports, based on an offshore island. The project is located adjacent to the Ras Ghanada reef the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) and Gulf’s largest coral reef some 35 sq. km in size, home to 8 million corals. This paper will look at the design of the environmental breakwater and discuss the forms of construction used as well as briefly discussing the complex Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Marine Infrastructure Impact Assessment (MIIA) modelling undertaken to inform the environmental monitoring requirements.

In 2006 Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) retained the planning and engineering services of Halcrow to prepare a Master Plan for the development of a new port as part of the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) development at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. The function of the new port facilities is to accommodate the current and future marine traffic served by Mina Zayed and to create a gateway for the import and export of raw materials and finished products which are associated with the adjacent Industrial Zone. The general location of the KPIZ development is illustrated in Figure 1. The objective of the Port Master Plan was to provide direction and guidance regarding the development priorities of the new port facilities.