UAE: Sheikh Mohammed renames tunnel to honour endangered bird

A cycling underpass in Dubai is being renamed in honour of one of the UAE's most endangered birds — the houbara bustard.

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the cycling underpass at Seih Assalam Road in Al Qudra, near the Last Exit Al Qudra, has been designated as Houbara Tunnel.

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the cycling underpass at Seih Assalam Road in Al Qudra, near the Last Exit Al Qudra, has been designated as Houbara Tunnel. pic.twitter.com/2KutPnETjL

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 11, 2021

The move highlights Dubai’s and the UAE’s extensive efforts to protect endangered animal species and promote nature conservation.

The designation of the underpass highlights the special status that houbara bustards have in Emirati culture and its environment.

In a touching gesture that reflected His Highness’s concern for the wellbeing of humans and animals alike, Sheikh Mohammed, during a tour of construction works in 2017, had directed rerouting the cycling underpass at Seih Assalam Road to avoid disturbing the nesting settlement of houbara bustards in the area.

The construction of the Houbara Tunnel also highlights another Dubai achievement — the creation of an extensive cycling track network built as part of its efforts to become one of the world’s most cycling-friendly cities.

An important element of the cycling track at Seih Assalam and Al Qudra Road, the new underpass facilitates free movement of cyclists in both directions under Seih Assalam Road and links the cycling track parallel to Seih Assalam Road with the cycling track parallel to Al Qudra Road.

The track features public amenities, bike-rental outlets, cycling gear and a fully equipped medical clinic.

The total length of cycling tracks constructed in Dubai is 425 km as of 2020. RTA plans to build more cycling tracks that will increase the length of the network to 668 km by 2025.