From Dives to National Impact
- Fouad Lamgahri
- Nov 30, 2025
- 2 min read
A Journey With Engr. Ahmed Nabil
Collaboration is rarely a straight line. It grows, evolves, and tests your endurance. My journey with Engr. Ahmed Nabil, an IUCN expert and one of the most respected marine specialists in the region, is exactly that kind of story — a mix of ambition, persistence, and shared purpose.
It all began with something simple:A few dives.Two people in the water, assessing reefs, observing the silent world beneath Fujairah’s coastline, and exchanging ideas about what could be possible.
Those early dives opened the door to something bigger. What started as fieldwork quickly expanded into coral restoration, hands-on experiments, site evaluations, nursery work, and community engagement. We saw the potential for rebuilding ecosystems, not just documenting their decline.
But let’s be honest:Nothing about this journey has been easy.
Hard Realities Behind the Work
Mobilising funds for environmental projects is always a challenge. It's easier for corporate to fund PR actions than real work under water!
Underwater tasks demand precision, physical strength, and constant risk assessment — the ocean never gives you an easy day.
Volunteers need training, guidance, and supervision before they can contribute safely and effectively.• And most importantly,
Ecosystems don’t recover overnight. They require patience, science, long-term monitoring, and consistent effort.
Yet we kept going.
From Local Efforts to Complex National Projects
Today, what began between two people underwater has grown into large-scale, multidisciplinary initiatives that integrate research, innovation, community engagement, and environmental restoration.
We are now leading complex collaborative projects that bring together universities, government authorities, fishermen cooperatives, and young Emirati researchers. Our work sits at the intersection of science, policy, and national priorities — and it’s moving the UAE’s Blue Economy vision forward, step by step.
The Honour of Collaboration
Working alongside Engr. Ahmed Nabil has been a privilege. His experience, discipline, and scientific rigor have helped shape our direction. Together, we’ve turned ideas into plans, plans into fieldwork, and fieldwork into real environmental results.
This is the kind of collaboration that defines the UAE —ambitious, resilient, and built on trust.A place where people with a shared mission can transform challenges into impact.
I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and even more motivated for what’s ahead.
Great efforts towards environmental conservation and restoration of the corals by Engr. Ahmed Nabil and the Fujairah Research Institute.
It has been a privilege to work with you, your “go getter” and energy were true torch and power for our work . Thank you for your inspiring leadership. hand in hand , let’s save our oceans .