Spatial Planning Legal and Geopolitical Consequences in Coastal Areas (Case study: UAE Artificial Islands)

Document Type : مقالات علمی پژوهشی

Abstract
It is notable that the legal and geopolitical aspects are considered as critical dimensions of spatial planning because they are the political aspects of spatial planning. The width the Persian Gulf and human structures as artificial islands, legal and geopolitical dimension and political nature. In this paper, we analyze the legal and geopolitical consequences of the UAE's artificial islands. This research is objective, fundamental and in terms of nature and method, descriptive-analytical and content analysis. To this end, the maritime laws of the UAE and other international documents have been investigated. In this way, we categorize the consequences of the construction of UAE artificial islands into three sub-topics: Environmental legal issues, borderline delineation, and coastal advancement toward the sea. There are no legal prohibitions on the construction of artificial islands by the UAE. Therefore, the erosion and sedimentation of the UAE’s coastal environment may make the country a displacement of maritime boundary lines. However, it is not acceptable due to several reasons, e.g., multilateralism of the international treaties, confliction with international laws such as the Convention of 1969, incompatibility with international norms, special conditions of the Gulf, the UAE's destructive and unilateral performance, and the impact of human factors. Therefore, the UAE needs to assess the environmental impact of the construction of artificial islands and bring awareness to the countries of the region. Additionally, they need to cooperate with neighboring countries to protect the sea environment. It should be mentioned that the construction of artificial islands has several geopolitical consequences such as possibility of military usage of these structures by third countries, destabilizing regional security due to the presence of foreign troops, promotion of Iran phobia, the intensification of the territorial and territorial divisions of Iran with the UAE, and the involvement of third countries.

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