Land Reclamation in a Coastal Metropolis of Saudi Arabia: Environmental Sustainability Implications

Coastal reclamation for residential, tourism, and commercial developments in the Arabian Peninsula other global regions has dramatically increased recent decades. This phenomenon is undoubtedly innovative novel; however, it disrupts natural balance of marine environments degrades coastal resources. Moreover, long-term sustainability such might be undermined by rising water levels, earthquakes, behavior filling material others. paper analyzed extent land Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) along eastern coast Saudi Arabia within last two decades its environmental impacts. The study used satellite images to compare boundary area from 2000 2020. five major projects found that a total 6081 hectares been reclaimed Gulf, thereby altering profile DMA significantly. implication these includes degradation loss ecosystem services habitat, urban sprawl, flood risk. Therefore, regulations, as strict prohibition reclamation, ecosystem-based planning, are needed sustainable development.