United Arab Emirates golf course has developed into a sanctuary

A golf club in the United Arab Emirates is making a name for itself for more than golf.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is celebrating momentous environmental milestones, positioning itself as a leader in enhancing, protecting, and nurturing the property and surrounding area.

These standout achievements have landed Saadiyat a nomination for the world’s best eco-friendly golf facility in the 2021 World Golf Awards.

Sustainability and environmental best practices have been at the forefront of Saadiyat’s strategy since opening, embracing its stewardship responsibility on the land it resides on. The club is now a thriving sanctuary for over 160 bird species, 250 plus mountain gazelles and a rejuvenation of native plants.

The Saadiyat team has also been supporting the efforts of Saadiyat Island’s hawksbill turtle conservation programme. Thanks to the collective efforts, hawksbill sea turtles continue to nest on this pristine island’s sweeping beachfront.

Master developer, Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) began its hawksbill turtle conservation programme – the only one of its kind in the Arabian Gulf – in early 2010. The nine-kilometre Saadiyat Beach is now home to several hawksbill turtle nests each year, with each nest containing around 90 to 100 eggs.

Shortly after achieving Audubon Certification in 2020, Saadiyat made impressive strides in environmental practices by converting to 100 percent treated effluent irrigation water.

Saadiyat is a 140-hectare facility, with 120 hectares being irrigated through an automatic system. The conversion of the irrigation water source is a major positive move for suitability on the island.

Producing year-round championship golf course conditions in the heat of Abu Dhabi is challenging and to have such a dramatic change in water quality has taken some adapting to.

Within the 160 bird species spotted at Saadiyat Beach, there was one extremely rare bird sighting: a juvenile steppe whimbrel was captured on camera. This caused worldwide excitement and showcased Saadiyat Island to the wildlife community.

The discovery of a steppe whimbrel in Abu Dhabi confirms the migration route of the sub-species passes through the Arabian Peninsula region. The sub-species was declared extinct in 1995 and it is the first-time ever, anywhere in the world, that a juvenile steppe whimbrel has been seen in the field.