Winds Accelerate Coastal Erosion in Qatar
More than 10% of the world’s population lives in low-lying coastal areas, exposed to the consequences of rising sea levels. In Qatar, a peninsula in the Arabian Gulf, rapid urbanization and economic development along the 563 kilometers of coastline have increased vulnerability to erosion. A recent analysis reveals that 32 sites are now classified as erosion hotspots, with shorelines receding by more than 3 meters per year in the Al Shamal region in the north of the country. This particularly low-lying and sandy area is repeatedly battered by prevailing winds from the north and northwest, which account for up to 74% of winds in winter. During storms, wave heights can exceed 3 meters, worsening the phenomenon.
The study shows that 18% of Qatar’s coastlines are retreating by more than 0.5 meters per year, while 56% are naturally expanding. However, human activities, such as the construction of dikes or artificial barriers, disrupt sediment transport. These developments create imbalances: some areas accumulate sediment, while others, deprived of this supply, erode faster. For example, in the northeast, a dike caused a retreat of 7.5 meters downstream of the coastal current, while upstream, the coastline gained 14.86 meters.
The Shamal winds, typical of the region, play a key role. In winter, they blow with such intensity that waves reach record heights, such as the 3.58 meters recorded in 2022. These storms, combined with rising sea levels, are expected to worsen erosion. Forecasts indicate a sea level rise of 0.38 meters by 2030, and 2 meters by 2100. Without adaptation, this could lead to the loss of 5% of Qatar’s coastal areas by 2030, and 10% by 2050.
To counter this phenomenon, nature-based solutions are being proposed. Among them, the installation of windbreaks made from local palm fronds, arranged parallel to the coast and spaced 8 to 10 meters apart. These structures, buried 80 centimeters in the sand, trap wind-blown sand, promoting the formation of embryonic dunes. Local plants, such as Traganum or Tamarix, which are resistant to heat and drought, would be planted to further stabilize these dunes. These plants, adapted to sandy and saline soils, strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems against storms.
These measures are part of a hybrid approach, combining artificial infrastructure and natural solutions. Mangroves, already present in areas like Al Khor or Al Thakhira, show encouraging results, with stable or slightly expanding coastlines. Their preservation and expansion could complement the windbreaks to protect the most exposed areas.
The urgency is real: without intervention, coastal infrastructure, marine ecosystems, and local populations would suffer irreversible losses. Natural solutions, in addition to limiting erosion, preserve biodiversity and blend harmoniously into the landscape. They offer a sustainable alternative to traditional methods, which are often costly and environmentally unfriendly.
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Cited Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-026-07766-8
Title: Novel shoreline retreat assessment considering wind dynamics and nature-based solutions
Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Abderraouf Hzami; Radhouan Ben-Hamadou; Azzam Abu-Rayash