6th NENA Plenary meeting, 18 - 19 November 2020, virtual meeting Mrs. Bayan Mahmoud Athamneh

1. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Country presentation
(United Arab Emirates)
Eng. Bayan Athamneh
Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi / Soil Quality
Section Manager

2. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country under
Pillar 1 - Promote sustainable management of soil
resources
SOIL SALINITY MANAGEMENT PLAN
• EAD conducted a 3-year soil salinity survey between 2016-2018.
• The survey included more than 4000 farms and around 16,000 soil
samples assessed for soil salinity.
• The main outcome of this survey was the development of the soil salinity
management plan for managing and reclaiming of salt-affected farms.
ABU DHABI SOIL ARCHIVING FACILITY
• Established by EAD in 2016 to benchmark with international
standards and provide vital information about changes in soil quality
over time.
• The facility currently stocks 5,000 preserved soil samples
• Archive is managed through geospatial database and linked to EAD
soil database
• Facility has the capacity to store more than 25,000 soil samples
under controlled optimal conditions to preserve their scientific value
• Create the region’s first soil spectral library.

3. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country under Pillar
2- Encourage policy, education, awareness and extension
in soil.
EAD STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-2020
1.6 ENSURE SUSTAINABLE AND INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO
PROTECTING LAND AND SOIL
1. Strengthen policy and planning framework around soil
quality and effectively influence key stakeholder decisions.
2. Improve and enforce regulatory framework for soil quality.
3. Ensure comprehensive understanding, knowledge and
awareness building about soil quality in Abu Dhabi.
4. Play an effective role in ensuring land contamination
management and restoration.
2016:
• Developed Abu Dhabi Soil Contamination guidelines.
• Initial soil contamination investigation (Background Levels).
2017:
• Proficiency Testing Program with ADQCC.
• Soil Contamination Guidelines enforcement.
2018:
• TGD for assessing contaminated sites.
2020 - 2021:
Development of soil protection regulations and policies.
OUTREACH
• Using social media to spread awareness about importance
of soil.
• Participating in Abu Dhabi International Hunting and
Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX).
• ADIHEX is a government initiative that aims primarily to
promote Sustainable Hunting, Environmental and Cultural
heritage.

4. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
What will your country do on the World Soil Day?
EAD CELEBRATES WORLD SOIL DAY
ANNUALLY.
This year, EAD will celebrate by launching the UAE soil map
using WRB
This year’s event will be under the patronage of HE Minister
of Climate Change and Environment and will be used to
promote EAD’s efforts in protecting land and soil to its
attendees from the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

5. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country under Pillar
3- Targeted soil research and development
2009
Abu Dhabi Soil Survey
Project
2015
Soil Salinity Survey
Establish Soil Salinity Monitoring
2016
Developed Abu Dhabi Soil
Contamination guidelines
Initial soil contamination
investigation (Background Levels)
2017
Proficiency Testing Program with QCC
Assessment of level of contaminants
M35 Mussafah
2018
1st Round of Soil Quality Monitoring
Program
2019
2nd round of soil
Quality Monitoring
Program
2020
3rd round of soil Quality Monitoring
Program
Using Drones and AI for Soil quality
Assessment (pilot)

6. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country under Pillar
3- Targeted soil research and development
ABU DHABI SOIL QUALITY MONITORING
AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM 2018-2020
ISO 16133:2018
To assess the impact of man-made activities on land and soil
resources and provide the basis for future land management
plans, protection policies and soil related regulations.
278 sites are monitored with more than 600 samples collected
annually from industrial, residential and agricultural land uses.
SOIL QUALITY MAPPING USING DRONES, AI,
AND REMOTE SENSING
A project is being undertaken to greatly improve the accuracy and
efficiency of soil contamination monitoring and management using
the latest in remote sensing and AI technology,. The project uses
hyperspectral sensors mounted on drones or satellite
hyperspectral images to map the levels of contaminants using AI.

7. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 4 - Information and data
EAD Enviro portal - Soil
Database
Online information system was
developed in 2009 that links to
the comprehensive soil database
that resulted from survey
information collection activities.
The system displays all the maps
produced during EAD surveys,
with the powerful functionality of
allowing a user to view particular
locations of interest and extract
data related to all the map units
and observation sites described
during the survey.
https://enviroportal.ead.ae/map/

8. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 5 - Harmonization of methods
Lab Proficiency Testing Program
To ensure the proper implementation of soil contamination
guidelines a PT program was conducted in cooperation with
QCC. 17 laboratories participated.
ISO 16133:2018: SOIL QUALITY - GUIDANCE ON
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF
MONITORING PROGRAMMES
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is the first organization
in the MEA region to receive international certification for
the monitoring of soil quality programmes.

9. Classification: Restricted - ‫مقيدة‬
Thanks for
your attention