The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

52°E

52°30'E

53°E

53°30'E

54°E

123

C OASTAL L ANDFORMS T IDAL I NFLUENCED

25°30'N

25°30'N

The dramatic and largely barren coastline of Abu Dhabi extends for more than 400 kilometres. The coastal sector, characterised by a low-lying area of extensive tidal flats, lagoons, and sand dunes, declines gradually into the offshore waters of the Arabian Gulf. Along this gradient, several notable landforms occur as a result of tidal action, wave action and long-shore currents moving eastward in

the Arabian Gulf. Some of these landforms include coastal terraces, wave-formed bars, flood deltas, zeugen and ooid shoals. Some sections of the coastline are protected from wind generated waves and currents by offshore patch coral reefs and groups of islands.

Flood Deltas Deltas are usually associated with large river systems. However, offshore flood deltas related to tidal range, wave energy and sediment supply occur in some areas of the Gulf, in particular immediately east and west of Abu Dhabi Island. Flood deltas are formed by deposited sand.

Coastal Terraces Coastal terraces are prominent landforms along the Abu Dhabi coastline. Terraces are developed by wave erosion or coral formation. Wave erosion terraces are associated with shoreline retreat while coral formation terraces are associated with shoreline advance. Coastal terraces are highly influenced by sea levels. Many of Abu Dhabi’s terraces are erosional, resulting in a gradually retreating coastline.

Ooid Shoals Ooids are spherical carbonate grains that form in shallow marine environments where the seawater is agitated and supersaturated in calcium carbonate. Masses of ooid grains form shoals or bars on the shallow sea floor and they form deltas between Abu Dhabi’s coastal islands.

25°N

25°N

A r a b i a n G u l f

Multiple Landforms This image depicts multiple near-shore coastal landforms, including intertidal hardgrounds, tidal channels, intertidal zones, mud flats, microbial mat belts, and ancient beach ridges.

Wave-formed Bars Bars or sandbanks are elongate ridges and mounds of sand or gravel deposited beyond the shoreline by currents and waves. Wave-formed bars develop where currents promote deposition of sediments, leading to localised shallowing (shoaling) of the water. Bars may be submerged or occur as emergent islands referred to as barrier islands. The Abu Dhabi coastline contains a complex of these barrier islands.

Intertidal Zone

Tidal Channels

Microbial Mat Belt

Intertidal Hardgrounds

Mud Flats

Dhabi Abu

Ancient Beach Ridges

Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve

24°30'N

24°30'N

Ooid Shoals

Bul Syayeef

AlYasat MPA

Dhanna Jebel

Flood Deltas

Intertidal Zone

Microbial Mat Belt

Tidal Channels

Mud Flats

Intertidal Hardgrounds

Coastal Terraces

Ancient Beach Ridges

Ruwais

Tarif

Towns

Large/Medium Towns Small Towns

Wave Formed Bars

Administrative Boundaries

24°N

24°N

Regions

Roads

Dual Carriageway Single Carriageway

Protected Areas Marine

10

0

10

20

30 Kilometres

Habshan

Ghayathi

52°E

52°30'E

53°E

53°30'E

54°E