Emirates airline has signed up to sponsor ‘The Last Wilderness of the UAE’, a documentary series featuring the United Arab Emirates’ rich biodiversity. It will also provide insight into the natural adaptations that have enabled many species to survive in the Arabian Peninsula’s harsh and ever-changing habitats as well as showcase some of the most important conservation accomplishments over recent years.
The three part documentary will focus on the ecosystems of the mountains and wadis, the deserts, and the seas of the UAE. One such example to be covered by ‘The Last Wilderness of the UAE’ is the Arabian Oryx, which can go without ever drinking water, taking the moisture it needs from the plants it consumes as it only needs water equivalent to 2-4% of its body weight. Another adaptation is its white coat that helps protect it from the glare of the sun.  Perhaps the most amazing acclimatization of them all is its ability to lower its blood temperature by seven degrees during the hottest periods of the day.
Filming around the desert ecosystem and its wildlife will soon be commencing at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve supported by Al Maha Desert Resort, owned by Emirates.
Additionally, the stories of the wildlife featured in the films will be linked to the local knowledge of Bedouin and coastal inhabitants of the UAE, merging local knowledge with academic research methods and conservation practices.
The series is set to premiere on the Discovery Channel in Autumn 2016. It will also simultaneously air on ice, Emirates award winning in-flight entertainment system.
Emirates currently operates daily scheduled flights between Malta and Dubai via Larnaca, Cyprus.