The Marine Connection acts upon and follows the progress of proposed and existing captive dolphin and whale facilities worldwide.

One area in particular which has seen a massive expansion of proposed developments is the Middle East. This area has seen rapid development of all tourist facilities but worryingly, within Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, several captive dolphin facilities have been opened with others in the pipeline.

Tourism in Dubai is an important part of the government's strategy to maintain the flow of money into the emirate. Construction on a large scale has turned Dubai into one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. One of the largest facilities in the area that holds captive dolphins is the Palm Atlantis, built on the Palm Jumeirah. The dolphin area of this facility has an 11-acre lagoon featuring three coves, where the animals are part of an interactive program for resort guests. The Palm Atlantis development imported 28 wild caught dolphins, taken from the population in waters surrouding the Solomon Islands. Despite concerns raised by the Marine Connection and other groups worldwide, these captures were authorised even although no scientific surveys had been undertaken to assess the status of the wild dolphin population. This is illegal under CITES law, which states that no captures should be allowed until a NDF (Non-Detriment Finding) has been issued by the exporting country.

Another facility in the area holding captive dolphins is the Dubai Dolphinarium at Marine World (Creek Park), which holds dolphins imported from Ukraine and also dolphins taken from the notorious annual drive hunts in Taiji, Japan.

In view of this expansion in facilities housing captive cetaceans, the charity also launched a campaign in the United Arab Emirates to raise public awareness about the issues surrounding keeping cetaceans in captivity.

Wild whales and dolphins in the Middle East

With all the development of captive marine mammal facilities within the Middle East, it would seem as though perhaps there was no other opportunity to view dolphins and whales. On the contrary, it is possible to see a massive range of dolphins and whales year round in United Arab Emirates waters including the Risso's dolphin, sperm whale (bottom right), blue whale (top right) and the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. For more information on whale and dolphin watching in the Middle East please click here