Ruler of Sharjah opens Al Dhaid Wildlife Museum

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, opened today in the city of Al Dhaid, the Al Dhaid Wildlife Museum in its new location next to the Shariat Al Dhaid Market, which is considered a qualitative addition to the system of environmental and educational destinations in the Emirate of Sharjah, and an integrated interactive platform that highlights the components of the desert environment and its natural and cultural richness.

His Highness unveiled the memorial plaque to mark the opening of the museum, which comes within the efforts of the Emirate of Sharjah and its future vision in preserving the natural environment, and targets families, students, researchers and those interested in nature, by developing interactive educational platforms that employ the latest technologies and educational practices, which contributes to building a generation aware of issues of sustainability and protection of wildlife, and makes environmental education an effective tool to support sustainable development paths.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah gave a speech on this occasion in which he blessed the opening of the museum. His Highness pointed out the importance of serious and continuous scientific work in order to preserve the environment and wildlife, and expressed his pleasure at the success of his projects in the desert, which include seeds, animals and plants.

His Highness discussed his efforts in collecting seeds by establishing a seed bank to preserve them. His Highness collected 5 million seeds in Sharjah, and the same number of seeds of plants and trees from the Arabian Peninsula region were preserved in the United Kingdom, under the supervision of specialized international research institutions, to propagate them and conduct scientific experiments on them, which reflects the level of efforts to preserve wildlife.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah reviewed the reasons for interest in natural reserves and the multiplication of animals and plants in them and their role in preserving and multiplying the natural type of living organisms, by providing life chains extending from animals and plants, pointing to animals that depend on other animals for food, which provides an integrated life chain for them.

His Highness gave an explanation of the types of plants and trees, their characteristics, how to contribute to their preservation, and the benefits of that on the environment in general and humans in particular, pointing out that the central region is unique in terms of nature, as it has become full of trees and animals, in addition to the success of the wheat projects, which witnessed a 10% increase in its production in the same area, while reducing water consumption to 10% of what is expected, as well as other projects in growing vegetables and fruits.

In his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah addressed the University of Al Dhaid, which represents a unique model of scientific institutions in accordance with its partnerships with prestigious universities and provides an educational and applied environment for it. It is based on studying the environment in an integrated manner and includes colleges specialized in the environment and wildlife, which makes young men and women fully aware of the importance of preserving the environment and knowing all its components, according to scientific studies.

His Highness stressed his interest in the privacy of the central region and his keenness to establish projects that take into account the privacy of the place and the person so that his identity is not affected and he remains preserving his nature, directing a number of advice to the youth of the region to preserve the environment and not bulldoze the land and cause its death.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah praised Al Wusta Channel from Al Dhaid, which works to consolidate and strengthen the national identity of its viewers, pointing out the necessity of taking pride in morals, religion, identity, and maintaining good morals in dealing with others or the environment, because that is the guarantee of a decent life and the preservation of society.

His Highness said: “We must be proud of our land, ourselves and our good morals, and raise our children well so that they will be useful youth in the future.”

His Highness pointed out that all the new projects contribute to providing jobs for the people of the region, and all of this is a gain for Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. At the end of his speech, His Highness touched on the near future projects in the region, which he stressed will bring abundant goodness to all the people of the region.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah toured the corridors and facilities of the museum, which has an area of ​​2,755 square metres, and includes a group of specialized halls that provide an integrated knowledge experience that sheds light on the characteristics of the Arabian desert, methods of adapting to its conditions, and the biodiversity it contains of various living organisms, which enhances awareness of the importance of protecting species and maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

His Highness visited the Desert Hall, which showcases the environmental characteristics of the Arabian Desert and means of adapting to its harsh conditions. It includes many ancient traditional methods and information, the model of the Bedouin tent as a symbol of desert heritage, and an introduction to methods for inferring the seasons from the stars, the types of sand dunes and the movement of sand, in addition to information about the minerals and rocks spread in the region.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah stopped at the Plant Hall and learned about its contents and models and the scientific and interactive content it provides about seasonal and perennial plants in the desert environment, and some endangered species.

The Plant Hall also includes explanations about the plant cell, the mechanism of photosynthesis, and methods for estimating the ages of trees in dry environments, through educational samples and models.

His Highness toured the insect hall, which includes a collection of rare butterflies gifted by His Highness to the museum, along with models of painted insects, supported by an electronic application that provides scientific information about classification, areas of spread, and degree of toxicity, as well as a virtual reality experience to learn about the “camel spider” and its life cycle.

His Highness visited the Desert Animal Hall and viewed its contents, which highlight the diversity of reptiles, mammals and other desert creatures, explaining their adaptation methods to the harsh environment, and highlighting some endangered species, in addition to an interactive experience about the camel, which includes displaying its anatomical structure through a three-dimensional model.

In the Bird Hall, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah learned about the types of resident and migratory birds in the desert environment, which include falcons and eagles, which have a special place in the UAE’s heritage, through displays on interactive screens that provide many specialized information that clarify behavioral differences, hunting methods, and diets, in addition to displaying nests and ways to distinguish them.

His Highness was introduced to the book halls that provide comprehensive knowledge content that highlights natural reserves, the Environment and Natural Reserves Authority’s publications and e-books, in addition to an interactive e-book about the city of Al Dhaid as an agricultural oasis of historical and environmental importance.

His Highness stopped on the tour in the Children’s Hall, where His Highness was briefed on the educational, safe and enjoyable environment for children visiting the museum, and learned about exploration, play, coloring and drawing activities, with the aim of enhancing love of nature, developing scientific curiosity, and consolidating environmental awareness in children from an early age.

His Highness concluded his tour by watching a performance presented by a group of school girls, in which they sang of their love for His Highness and the pioneering projects that His Highness presented to the city of Al Dhaid.

The “Al Dhaid Wildlife Museum” represents one of the strategic stations in the environmental awareness and education system in the Emirate of Sharjah, and embodies the emirate’s vision of establishing a balanced and sustainable relationship between humans and their natural environment.

The museum reflects the commitment of the Environment and Natural Reserves Authority to provide qualitative knowledge content that highlights the richness and importance of desert ecosystems, and enhances community awareness of their vital role in preserving biodiversity.

The museum is distinguished by a unique architectural design, and its main gate reflects the character of traditional Emirati architecture in the central region, through an arched entrance that recalls the arches of forts and heritage buildings, as a symbolic threshold for crossing into a cultural and cognitive space.

The earth-coloured facade blends in with the surrounding desert environment, while the hand-carved wooden gate, with its carvings inspired by Islamic motifs, adds a sense of authenticity and craftsmanship, presenting a contemporary model that celebrates Emirati identity and evokes the memory of the place.

The museum includes an integrated set of facilities that support its scientific and educational mission. It includes various administrative offices, two offices for scientific researchers, and a laboratory equipped to support research work, in addition to the technical support department, offices specialized in environmental education, the programs and activities department, and the guidance department, which is concerned with providing information and guidance to visitors and enhancing their experience inside the museum, in addition to visitor service facilities from parking lots and others.

The opening of the museum was attended, in addition to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, by Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Advisor in the Office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Suburbs Affairs Department, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al Owais, Minister of Federal National Council Affairs, and Abdullah Muhair Al Ketbi. Minister of Federal Supreme Council Affairs, and a number of senior officials and notables from the region.