Chairman

Mr. Faraj Butti Al Muhairbi is an established businessman and a dedicated pearl (as well as SCUBA) diver who has been involved with the sea for the last 45 years with positions ranging from dhow boy to pearling vessel captain. He started doing post pearling-era dive expeditions which he continues to do annually, mostly in the western coastal areas of the Emirates where oyster beds are found in abundance despite the offshore human and industrial activities. Faraj focuses his observation on the condition of oyster beds on which he is an expert. His message has always been, "If the oysters are healthy, the sea is healthy and we are all going to feel it. If the oysters are sick, the sea is sick and we are all going to feel it".

Vice Chairman

Mr. Essa Al Ghurair is a businessman who has been diving for many years. He is well known underwater by his unique 'yellow' fins. He is an experienced diver, a keen photographer, a PADI Divemaster and a CMAS instructor.

Secretary General

Mr. Jamal Bu Hannad 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 organizational and leadership skills which prove to be extremely valuable for a non-profit organization like the Emirates Diving Association.

Financial Director

Mr. Khalfan Khalfan Al Mohiari is a Law enforcement officer and experienced diver who cares greatly about the sea. Often in the EDA Office, he involves himself in the running of the Association.

Head of the Technical Committee

Mr. Omar Al Huraiz is an experienced PADI Divemaster and CMAS instructor, a computer enthusiast and an army officer who strongly believes in defending the seas.

Head of the Scientific Committee

Mr. Mohd Al Salfa is an experienced PADI Divemaster and CMAS instructor from a very well-known seafaring family. His good analytical and innovative skills and experiences are of the utmost value to EDA.

Technical Advisor

Mr. Ahmed Bin Byat is a scuba diving trainer, a rapid rescue and first aid instructor, a PADI Divemaster, a CMAS instructor, a Divers Alert Network oxygen instructor, a trainer for Basic Life support for professional EMP and an Automatic Defibrillator Instructor, EMP.

Executive Team

Ibrahim Al Zu’bi
Executive Director
Ibrahim is an Environmental/Civil Engineer with many experiences in environmental issues and working 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.

Reema Al Abbas
Projects Manager
Reema is a UAE national who has an insatiable passion for life. She paints, practices yoga and travels extensively in search of adventure. An enthusiastic diver; she quotes ‘Diving gives you a feeling of exhilaration as well as tranquility’. Her work with EDA as Projects Manager gives her a sense of fulfillment, knowing that she’s with like-minded people, working together for a positive cause.

Ally Landes
Events Coordinator, Graphic Designer, Photographer and Videographer
Ally has been working with EDA since December 2004 where she introduced, produced and created the magazine, ‘Divers for the Environment’. Ally keeps busy within her fields of passion always looking to fill gaps with new improvements, developing EDA’s brand and designs. She is also a PADI Instructor, using the experience within everyday life at EDA. Her love affair with the ocean started before she could walk and she has been diving in Omani and UAE waters since 1991.

Rita Bento
Marine Biologist
Rita has a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Azores and a Masters in Science of the Sea – Sea Resources from Porto University. Her first area of research was bioacoustics of baleen whales, working in the USA with Oregon State University and NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration). In the last few years, together with EDA, she has focused her research on Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Rita is also a Reef Check instructor and has already trained more than 50 EDA members. Besides her scientific career, she is also a CMAS diving instructor and has published the first Portuguese diving guide in 2007.

Juma’a Bin Thaleth
Heritage Department Manager
Juma’a is a dedicated young local pearl, as well as rescue diver. He is responsible for creating awareness in all schools, colleges and universities with regard to the Pearl Diving culture of the UAE. Juma'a is also responsible for EDA's Heritage Exhibition.

Kathleen Russell
Coordinator, Abu Dhabi Committee
Kathleen is Chinese Canadian and holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Canada. She is a PADI Master Instructor, Underwater Videographer and the Business Development Coordinator for Al Masaood's Marine and Engineering Division. Kathleen is also a member of the EDA Safety Committee. She hopes to go to Rangiaroa, Socorro Island, Coco's Island and Galapagos one day.

Diving Physician

Dr. Barbara Karin Vela
Dr. Barbara Karin Vela works as a general practitioner in the Dubai London Specialty Hospital but her passion for diving made her take up a special training and additional education at the Stellenbosch University to become a diving physician. Apart from diving for pleasure, she wants to raise the standards of safety during diving and her mission is to educate the divers in how to face all the health and physiological challenges of this wonderful sport.