Abstract

Global warming induced eustatic rise in sea level is mainly by thermal expansion and addition of ice-melt water, respectively. Sea-level rise in Arabian Gulf which is a consequence of global warming will affect almost all the emirates in UAE. Although IPCC (2019) estimated a maximum possible sea-level rise of 1.1 m, other estimates shows a rise of ≥ 1m by the 2100 AD. The low-lying coastal zones are more vulnerable to rising sea levels as they face submergence or saltwater intrusion which affects different land use/land cover features. Geomatics based models on the possible impact of the predicted sea level rise on coastal Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) features are necessary to initiate appropriate mitigation plans. The present study is an attempt in this direction taking the UAE coast as an example. The LULC of the UAE coast was mapped through the interpretation of the Sentinnel-2 imagery from 2019. SRTM digital elevation models coupled with landform evidences have been used to interpolate contours at 1m interval, although vastly approximate, for the entire UAE coastal region. If the sea level rise by 1m, about 571 km2 area including present intertidal wetlands and shrubs, mangroves, built-up residential and under development areas would be effected along the study area of 500-km long UAE coast displacing about 85% inhabitants and their economic activities. The coastal areas of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah would be the worst hit areas in the region.