Under water The United Arab Emirates is running a series of programs to protect dugongs from extinction, which is implemented by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Total United Arab Emirates. According to classification by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, dugongs are currently listed as an internationally endangered animals.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said "A large proportion of dugongs, world-wide, cruise the waters of the Arabian Gulf. About 40% of these communities live in the waters of Abu Dhabi."
Studies of the already completed first phase of protection lasted for four years and focused on gathering information on the location and distribution of this species in the territorial waters of the UAE. During this first phase risks and causes of habitat damage to dugongs were identified using satellite tracking.