The Kayak4Kuwait expedition, comprising adventurers Bashar Al Huneidi, Mansour Al Safran and Colin Wong, set out from the north of Kuwait on November 10, 2016, continuing through Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. Their journey will conclude on the Musandam Peninsula in Oman. Covering nearly 2,000 kilometers in 70 days on kayaks, which are normally used to travel short distances, the team takes stops at important marine environmental sites in each country.

Expressing his pride at the unprecedented achievement of the Kayak4Kuwait trio, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said: “Not even three-meter-high waves could stop the brave kayakers from spreading their message of environmental awareness. They have truly proven their merit, excellence and determination in achieving the noble objectives of their trip.”

He added: “The expedition stresses the importance of preserving our marine environment and adopting a sustainable way of life. In addition, it sheds light on wrong practices and environmental abuse that have led to the depletion of marine resources in the region over the past several years.”

Sheikh Saeed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Chairman of the Ruler’s Office in Khorfakkan, Her Excellency Hana Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), and His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chairman of Kalba Municipal Council, were also present at the ceremony.

For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaabi noted that Kalba has a wide variety of archaeological and environmental sites of interest on land and sea. In this context, he emphasized the importance of the Kalba Eco-tourism Project – the largest initiative of its kind in the region – that the Sharjah Authority for Investment and Development (Shurooq) implemented in collaboration with EPAA.

He also praised the role of the Kayak4Kuwait team in bringing public attention to the environmental significance of the areas enroute and wished the kayakers success on the remaining stage of their journey.

Bashar Al Huneidi, captain of the three-member team, said: “The UAE has achieved impressive progress in the field of marine environment protection, especially with regard to implementing stringent laws and regulations.”

In closing, Al Huneidi stressed the need to unify efforts in the area of environmental conservation, and strike a balance between economic development and preserving the environment for future generations.