Mega Dunes Eco
Lodges - Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, located on the southeastern Arabian Peninsula along the Persian Gulf, has a hot climate and desert landscapes that are home to rich biodiversity. The native fauna includes a number of desert-dwelling species that can be found nowhere else on earth.

One such species is the Arabian Oryx, a medium-sized antelope with long, straight horns, a tufted tail and a distinct shoulder bump - the smallest member of the genus Oryx. The Arabian Oryx was considered extinct in the wild in the 1970s. Breeding programs in zoos and private reserves helped to increase the population of the species, and they were reintroduced into the wild from 1980. As of 2009, there are a number of Arabian Oryx living in Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

Despite a turnaround in the decline of the Arabian Oryx, the species is still listed as vulnerable. The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), an organization committed to maintaining a number of environmentally protected areas in the Emirates, has expressed interest in constructing approximately 25 sustainable “eco-lodges”, to garner stronger public interest in these amazing creatures by allowing visitors to view the animals up close.

This is the third Bee Breeders competition run in partnership with the EAD, following the Flamingo Observation Tower competition and the Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center challenge. The EAD will consider winning proposals for construction.

The jury sought creative, sustainable, and constructable proposals designed with sensitivity to this delicate natural environment. It is important that the visitor lodges be constructed with minimum impact to the protected site, while also providing an exciting and comfortable experience for visitors.

Bee Breeders would like to thank each of the participants for submitting their proposals.