The Anatomy of Sabkhas

The sabkha, or salt flat, has long played an important role in earth sciences and continues to develop current ecological discourse. As cities in the UAE and across the world become increasingly more urbanized, The Anatomy of Sabkhas demonstrates that wetlands are a cause worth presenting and preserving – as a solution to climate change, and more importantly, as a resource to be studied for sustainable urban development.

A publication titled The Anatomy of Sabkhas, written by urban researchers Rashid and Ahmed bin Shabib and co-edited by Wael Al Awar and Kenichi Teramoto, accompanies the exhibition, and explores the ecological and socio-economic significance of these natural phenomena in detail based on case studies, personal essays, and photography.

The publication attempts to anatomize sabkhas. The term anatomy suggests that sabkhas (or salt flats) are living: Sabkhas, which form part of wetlands, are an essential part of our ecological order. This publication will seek to illustrate their importance to both the region and across the globe and that, without sabkhas, our natural environment would be severely disrupted. These complex natural phenomena are essential to plants, animal migration, and carbon sequestration, yet our understanding of them is still in its early stages.

The book presents  two major themes: Rural Sabkhas and Urban Sabkhas. The chapter on rural sabkhas explores the ecological foundations of sabkhas, including geology, geography, plants, animals, and arthropods. These rural sabkhas can occur inland— on deserts, lakes, and mountains—and in coastal locations, forming vast seafronts. The second chapter explores urban sabkhas, placing them in an anthropocentric context. The book explores humankind’s historic relationship to sabkhas, and discusses the ways in which builders, architects, and cities have used them as a resource for material and economical gain. A significant part of this research is dedicated to the United Arab Emirates and the broader Gulf region.