ESA – Earth from House: Dubai

This false-colour picture acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission exhibits the town of Dubai and its environment within the United Arab Emirates.

Zoom in to discover this picture at its full 10 m decision or click on on the circles to study extra. 

Dubai is likely one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Positioned southeast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai lies inside the Arabian Desert. Recognized as one of many quickest rising cities, Dubai has grown from masking solely 54 sq km in 1975 to 977 sq km in 2015.  

Dubai’s synthetic islands alongside the coast are clear to see. Essentially the most iconic are the 2 huge palm-shaped islands, Palm Jebel Ali, which is the bigger, and Palm Jumeirah, about 15 km east. Additional north are the World Islands – a group of 300 islets formed into the continents of the world and surrounded by an oval-shaped breakwater. 

The fork-shaped construction adjoining to Palm Jebel Ali is the busy industrial port of Jebel Ali, which is itself synthetic and seemingly the most important human-made harbour on the earth.

The community of synthetic islands that has reshaped this phase of the Gulf coast is the world’s largest land reclamation effort. The comparatively shallow depth of the Gulf and the extensive continental shelf off the Dubai coast made the development of those wonders doable. 

On this picture, which was captured on 23 January 2024, data from Copernicus Sentinel-2’s near-infrared channel has been used to spotlight vegetation in vibrant crimson and water our bodies in numerous shades of blue.

Deeper water our bodies, such because the Gulf and Dubai Creek – the pure saltwater inlet snaking via Downtown Dubai – are seen in darkish blue, whereas lakes and lagoons seem in electrical blue.

The crimson vegetated areas dotted all through primarily denote golf programs, gardens, parks and agricultural fields. These fields use conventional and centre-pivot irrigation methods which are straightforward to identify from their round form.

Color variations within the picture characterize various kinds of floor. Sand dunes in shades of yellow are prevalent within the centre whereas rugged terrain and mountainous rims unfold out in brown throughout the fitting of the picture.