of the species of fish that were close to the shores of Dubai. Research conducted by marine biologists on this phenomenon showed that the newly born fish could not survive in conditions along the shores of Dubai due to constant construction and environmental alterations (e.g. shifting of sand, moving boulders and the effects of the vibrations). There is a loss of coastal shape along the seashore of Dubai. Obstacles after the island construction Installation of utilities and pipelines was very difficult and took a lot of labour. Risk mitigation To counteract the waves and constant motion of the sea, breakwaters were built around the island. They are 3 meters high and 160 kilometres in total length. Expanded over a length of about 11.5 kilometres, the base of these breakwaters and the island itself were constantly monitored during the construction process with the help of deep-sea divers. The divers checked the alignment and placement of the rocks beneath the surface to ensure their stability. The shape of the island was monitored using the global positioning system. The sand on top of the island was sprayed by a technique called rain-bowing. The whole island was planned to have no stagnant water between the island and the breakwaters. To achieve this, small structural modifications were made to the breakwaters surrounding the island, allowing the seawater to move through the breakers without causing any damage to the island. To prevent erosion of the sand from the island, maintenance systems spray material along the coast of the island and also along the Dubai coast. Coastal ecology was recovered with the help of nature itself. These changes began attracting newer species of fish and also reef formations. Every 6 weeks sea-divers go down underwater to check the marine life as part of their monitoring process. Precautions were also taken to prevent liquefaction of the sand on the island (below the upper surface). Liquefaction is caused by the movement of the rocks, sand, and the underwater erosion before and after construction. A Vibro-compaction technique was used to prevent the process of liquefaction. This was carried out in order to hold the island's base together and to make a strong foundation for further construction. Construction effects and repercussions The construction of the Palm islands along the coast of Dubai has caused several significant environmental changes: A reduction in the area's aquatic life Erosion of the coastal soil Irregular