UAE dolphin project

09/10/2026

A multidisciplinary approach to conserving UAE cetaceans

On 30 September, Dr. Ada Natoli of the UAE Dolphin Project Initiative (UAEDP) visited Atlantis Dubai to meet with the Marine Animal Operations team, sharing the latest data, research and updates from the project, which is supported through the Atlantis Atlas Project.

The session, “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Support the Conservation of UAE Cetaceans,” provided an opportunity to explore how different approaches, including field surveys, photo-identification, acoustic monitoring, genetics and citizen science, come together to build a better understanding of whales, dolphins and porpoises in UAE waters.

Beyond science, sharing research with the Marine Animal Operations team is an important part of conservation. Keeping the team up to date with the latest findings strengthens their knowledge and enables them to confidently share accurate and engaging information with guests about UAE marine mammals, their environment, and the importance of ocean conservation.

Thank you to Atlantis for welcoming us once again and for your continued support of our public awareness programme.

Science, knowledge, and collaboration can help turn curiosity into conservation.

02/10/2026

21/09/2026

YOU are our eyes on the water!

In these uncertain times, our best surveyors aren’t always on a boat, they’re YOU, our citizen scientists!

While we hope to restart our regular UAE Dolphin Project surveys soon, your sightings are currently one of the most important ways we can keep track of the UAE’s local resident dolphins and porpoises, as well as any visiting whales.

SPOTTED A DOLPHIN, PORPOISE OR WHALE? TELL US!

Every sighting matters. Whether you’re out on the water, at the beach, or simply happen to spot marine wildlife, please keep your reports coming! Every sighting you report makes a difference.

NEW: Scan our QR code to report your sighting quickly and easily.

You can also continue to report sightings through:
WhatsApp: +971 56 671 7164

Email: [email protected]

Become part of the team — no boat, equipment or scientific background required. Just keep your eyes open and share what you see!

And don’t forget to follow us for updates, activities and future volunteer opportunities!

🌐 uaedolphinproject.org

📘 Facebook: UAE Dolphin Project

📸 Instagram: UAE Dolphin Project

09/09/2026

The first DECE 2026 is over. But for us, this is where the real work continues.

Behind every conversation about dolphins, whales, and porpoises is a bigger question: how well do we know the marine environment around us, and what can we do to protect it?

The past two days brought new questions, new ideas, and new people into that conversation. They reminded us that conservation starts with curiosity and grows through participation.

Thank you, DECE 2026, for bringing so many people together around the environment and for giving the UAE Dolphin Project Initiative a place in that conversation.

A very special thank you to our amazing volunteers, especially the Zayed University students, whose energy and commitment made these two days possible.

And thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, shared ideas or simply wanted to learn more. We hope you’ll stay involved.

The UAE’s cetaceans need people who care and people who act.

04/09/2026

Dubai’s first Environment Conference & Exhibition is launching — and we’ll be there!

The UAE Dolphin Project Initiative is excited to be part of this important new event, bringing together people, ideas, and initiatives working to protect our natural
environment.

Come visit us at Booth K07 and discover our work to understand and protect the dolphins, whales and porpoises of UAE waters.

Join us for two days of science, conservation, inspiration and enthusiasm for our environment!

When: 7–8 September 2026

Where: Baniyas Ballroom, Grand Hyatt Dubai

Come say hello — and discover how you can help protect our marine wildlife.

01/09/2026

Beneath the waves, dolphin society is anything but simple. From playful contact to complex alliances, our resident bottlenose dolphins are giving us a rare look at how social bonds, rivalry, and family support shape life in the sea. Between 2021 and 2024, bottlenose dolphins were observed actively socializing during six sightings, approximately 10% of the total time observed throughout this period. We define “actively socializing” as individuals engaging with each other in constant physical contact. This can be observed as playing, possibly showing signs of aggressiveness to reinforce social standing or possible mating interactions. Possible mating was noted in all six of these sightings.

Male dolphins form alliances in pairs or trios, sometimes bonding with other alliances to create multitied alliances, they use these coalitions to coerce and herd females in order to perform these mating interactions. They can be quite aggressive, hence the many scars and notches on their fins and bodies. Female dolphins have sophisticated memories and social tracking abilities which they use to avoid aggressive partners. They also form long-lasting bonds, especially with their offspring, but also with other adult females who can be known as babysitters. It certainly takes a village to raise children, and dolphins are no different than humans needing a strong support system.

Every fin, scar, splash, and interaction tells part of a bigger story, and we’re here to decode it one sighting at a time. Follow our research group for field updates, dolphin ID stories, behind-the-scenes science, and new discoveries from the water.

12/08/2026

Introducing another resident dolphin: Ta178 or Zaina!

Zaina was first sighted in March 2021 and was seen a total of four times during the 2021-2024 survey season. This individual was not matched with the original catalogue, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t been around since the 2013-2014 survey. Individual dolphins are identified by fin nicks and notches, which can change over time, especially a period of close to 10 years.

Zaina is identified by the notches on the upper and middle training edge of the dorsal fin, with the upper notch considered a “fin cut” as the depth of the notch is significant. Secondary identifiable markers are the fin scars on both sides of the dorsal fin and body scars on both sides as well. Scars are not reliable markers over long periods of time but can be useful in the short term to identify an individual if the full dorsal fin isn’t visible.

Dolphins most commonly get these markers from social interactions amongst themselves, and as they age they only get more and more. Younger individuals generally have “clean” fins with only minimal or no identifiable markers. They can also get notches or scars from interactions with the natural environment as well as human-made causes like fishing gear and boat strikes.

Seen a dolphin? Send us your photos and let’s see if we can match them to our catalogue — you might just discover their name and story.

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04/08/2026

We are excited to share that we have now completed the first stage of processing the photo-identification (Photo-ID) data on bottlenose dolphin sightings collected during the 2023 OceanX expedition in the offshore waters of Abu Dhabi—a milestone marking the first dedicated offshore cetacean survey in UAE waters 🌊🐬

Photo-ID is a widely used, non-invasive research technique that identifies individual dolphins based on the unique nicks, notches, scars, and pigmentation patterns on their dorsal fins. By building a catalogue of identified individuals, we can apply mark–recapture analyses to estimate population size, investigate site fidelity and movement patterns, and improve our understanding of the spatial ecology of offshore bottlenose dolphins.

The first stage involved processing thousands of images to identify unique individual dolphins within each sighting. This step provides the basis for the next phase of the project where we'll compare individuals across encounters to assess re-sightings, estimate abundance, and explore connectivity in Abu Dhabi's offshore waters.

We're looking forward to sharing more updates and findings as the analysis progresses – Stay tuned!

29/07/2026

Are oil spills in the Gulf threatening local dolphin populations?

Recent events are adding negative environmental impacts in the Gulf. The Gulf’s waters are particularly vulnerable due to their narrow entrance, slow water exchange, high salinity, relatively shallow depths, and extreme summer temperatures. While local marine life has adapted to these specific conditions, it is also highly sensitive to any sudden changes.

The effects of oil on dolphins and whales have been studied to some extent following past oil spills. To date, the most comprehensive source of information comes from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Evidence from both historical research and findings from that event shows that cetaceans face a high risk of harm from oil exposure, with consequences at both individual and population levels.

Like most animals, cetaceans can be affected by oil pollution through respiratory, dermal, and oral pathways. Oil spills may have both direct and indirect impacts—from inhaling toxic vapors to suffering from declines in prey availability.

However, the full extent of damage to cetaceans is often difficult to determine as the majority of dead animals sink rather than wash ashore, limiting opportunities for examination. As a result, assessments typically occur only after the fact, relying on population studies and indirect evidence rather than clear cause-and-effect links.

More research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of oil exposure on cetaceans. Public reporting can play an important role in this effort—especially observations of live sightings and stranded animals, which provide valuable data for researchers.

20/07/2026

Dolphins Have Their Own Names!

At UAEDP, we give names to our resident dolphins because we don't know the names they use for themselves. But we do know that dolphins have their own unique personal names. In fact, they possess one of the most sophisticated naming systems in the animal kingdom.

Unlike humans, whose names are given by others, young dolphins appear to create their own names during their first year of life. They experiment with different sounds until they develop a unique signature whistle: a distinctive, frequency-modulated call that serves as their personal acoustic signature for life. This whistle is their primary means of identification and long-distance communication.

Dolphins use their signature whistles to announce their presence, introduce themselves to unfamiliar dolphins or pods, and stay in touch with friends, mothers with calves. Their whistles can also convey emotional information, allowing them to communicate whether they are playful, excited, frightened, or distressed.

Research has shown that dolphins can recognize and remember the signature whistles of dozens, and possibly even hundreds, of other individuals throughout their lives. This remarkable ability supports their complex social networks, enabling them to identify family members, friends, and even rivals by sound alone.

When separated from their pod, dolphins often repeat their signature whistle, essentially calling out their own name in an effort to reunite with their group. They can also imitate another dolphin's signature whistle to address a specific individual, much like humans call someone's name to get their attention.