The Sharjah Marine Observatory: A New Marine Station-Based Ocean Observing Platform in the Gulf of Oman, UAE

The Sharjah Marine Observatory (SMO), led by the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre (SMSRC) at the University of Khorfakkan, is a newly established ocean observing initiative in the Gulf of Oman, United Arab Emirates. Located within the Al Qalqali Marine Protected Area — the UAE’s newest Marine Protected Area — the Observatory is being developed within one of the world’s most environmentally extreme and understudied marine regions to support interdisciplinary marine research, long-term environmental monitoring, education, and evidence-based ocean management. The SMO integrates weekly vessel-based field surveys with emerging autonomous and remote observing technologies, including planned smart data buoys, autonomous surface and underwater vehicles (ASVs/AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), scientific diving, seabed monitoring systems, and satellite observations. Initial observatory operations are already underway and include CTD profiling, plankton sampling, eDNA water sampling, sediment sampling, biodiversity monitoring, and coastal ecosystem surveys. As a marine station-based observing network, the SMO contributes to the growing role of marine stations as distributed global research infrastructures supporting scientific collaboration, education, and policy development. The Observatory is closely integrated with the UAE’s first BSc programme in Marine Biology, providing field-based training and capacity building opportunities for future marine scientists in the region. This presentation will outline the conceptual framework, infrastructure, and phased operational development of the SMO, including planned expansion to cover larger parts of the UAE east coast. Emphasis will be placed on the opportunities and challenges associated with establishing long-term marine observatory infrastructure in a rapidly changing ocean environment, and the emerging opportunities for engagement with the SMO by visiting researchers and students.