About Us

About Us

Juma Bin Thalith Al Humairi

Chairman

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the World of the Emirates Diving Association – EDA.

As a nation of seafarers and pearl divers, we are historically and socially indebted to our seas. Our timeless heritage and traditions as people dependent on fisheries and seaborne trade have contributed enormously towards our regional prosperity and development.

From the earliest times, our pearl diving history allowed us to develop an intimate relationship with our natural world. Many of our seafarers, divers and fishermen had the instinctive ability to read every wave, to hear the wind and to feel the forces of nature. In today’s world, instinct has largely been replaced by academics. The old ways make way for the new and our quest for prosperity makes way for a desire of further knowledge and understanding. As more and more scientists and divers explore the boundaries of our coastline, the information they unveil will become paramount to our government’s efforts towards ensuring the survival of our seas.

Divers are generally very aware of the fragility of the oceans, and we want to encourage the diving community to use their knowledge in helping others to understand the need for our marine world. The simplest way this can be achieved is through passing on acquired knowledge to others. EDA is fully committed to creating a harmonious and healthy diving environment so that future generations will continue to enjoy the same marine life and experiences that we have.

EDA is a non-profit organisation consisting of a handful of volunteers sharing a common goal – a love for the ocean. We have set our goals with the best intentions in mind. Nevertheless, we understand the controversy surrounding any environmental subject and are willing to listen to and share your thoughts. Therefore, we call on those concerned individuals, organisations and agencies with a similar or common interest, to come forward, suggest an improvement, prepare an idea, share a thought, or even lend a hand. We need your help and you can definitely make a difference.

Yours Sincerely,
Juma Khalifa Bin Thalith
Chairman

OUR MISSION

EDA’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore the UAE’s marine resources by emphasising and promoting the underwater environment and environmental diving.

Our Responsibilities

EDA is a non-profit NGO registered with the Ministry of Community Development as per the Ministerial Decree No. 149.

The Decree stipulates the following responsibilities for EDA:

Board Members

Board Members

Juma Khalifa Bin Thalith

Chairman 

He Major General Khalifan Khalfan Quaraiban Al-Mehairi

Financial Director 

Jamal Abdullah Buhannad

Secretary General

Major Dr.Juma Khalifa Alrahommi

Head of the Technical Committee

Maitha Al Qader

Head of the women’s Committiee

Abdullah Salem Al Ruwaihy

Board Member 

He Talib Alduhuhoori

Board Member 

Ahmed Sultan Al Hasawi Al Tamimi

Board Member 

The Executive Team

The Executive Team

Ibrahim Al Zu'bi

Co-Founder 

Ally Landes

Project Director

Layla Nouilati

Project Coordinator 

Rainia Shawki Mostafa

Reef Check Trainer 

BOARD MEMBERS

Board Members

Juma Bin Thalith Al Humairi

Chairman 

HE Major General Khalfan Khalfan Quaraiban Al-Mehairi

Financial Director 

Jamal Abdullah Buhannad

Secretary General

Jamal is an avid diver descended from a family of seafarers and sea merchants. Jamal has a strong commercial background due to his involvement in various businesses in the country. He has good organisational and leadership skills which prove to be extremely valuable for a non-profit organisation such as the Emirates Diving Association. 

HE Brigadier Expert Dr.Juma Khalifa Alrahommi

Head of the Technical Committee

Maitha Al Qader

Head of the women’s Committiee

HE Essa Abdullah Al Ghurair

Board Member 

Abdullah Salem Al Ruwaihy

Board Member 

Talib Albeli Alduhuhoori

Board Member 

Ahmed Sultan Al Hasawi Al Tamimi

Board Member 

Mohamed Faraj Abudulla Jaber

Board Member 

The Executive Team

THE EXECUTIVE TEAM

Ibrahim Al Zu'bi

Co-Founder 

Ibrahim is an Environmental/Civil Engineer with many experiences in environmental issues. He has worked closely with NGO’s having coordinated lots of environmental projects and campaigns in the UAE and West Asia. He is the driving force behind EDA, having placed the association in the public eye, and building up a team of volunteers to achieve EDA’s goals. He works closely with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Civil Society, Youth, Sports and Sustainable Development issues as the UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange Project – West Asia Coordinator. 

Ally Landes

Project Director 

Ally joined EDA in December 2004 when she created and introduced the organisation’s quarterly magazine, “Divers for the Environment”.

She played a central role in the development of Digital Online – EDA’s Underwater Photography and Film Competition from its launch in 2009, as well as introducing the film category as an extension in 2012 to share our underwater world through motion pictures, and has managed the event since inception. Today, Ally continues to oversee the EDA team and develop the brand, manages design and production of the magazine, handles photography, and runs the organisation’s events and social media, all in the name of ocean conservation.

Layla Nouilati

Project Coordinator  

Layla is originally from the North Eastern coast of America, also recognised as a maritime hub for marine life, including our beloved whales. Stemming from this coastal culture, her care and passion to conserve and advocate for the ocean’s population has been ever growing. She recently started to dive to get a better understanding of how to help what we cannot see above the surface, and participate in underwater clean-ups. 

Rainia Shawki Mostafa

Reef Check Trainer  

Rania is an avid diving instructor and People & Culture leader with a passion for marine conservation and underwater photography. Having lived, dived and worked in different parts of the world, Rania, who is originally from Egypt, recently relocated back to Dubai and is excited to restart the Reef Check programme with EDA.