0:00:25 > 0:00:29The wild places of Arabia are so hot and dry
0:00:29 > 0:00:30that they were virtually
0:00:30 > 0:00:33untouched by people for thousands of years.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41But that ancient balance has shifted
0:00:41 > 0:00:44in the wake of one dramatic discovery.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Oil and the wealth it has brought have transformed this land,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54bringing the 21st century to the desert.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Arabia's animals now live in a hi-tech world...
0:01:17 > 0:01:19..but Arabia's people
0:01:19 > 0:01:23are beginning to use their technology to protect nature.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54Dawn at the Al Wathba camel racetrack
0:01:54 > 0:01:57on the outskirts of the city of Abu Dhabi.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10For centuries, the Arabs held camel races to celebrate special occasions,
0:02:14 > 0:02:19But in the last 50 years camel-racing has been transformed,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23echoing changes that have swept all across Arabia.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Now this is one of the richest sports in the world.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37The winner of this race stands to win a million dollars.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48The prize money at stake means that 21st century camel racing
0:02:48 > 0:02:50has moved far beyond anything
0:02:50 > 0:02:54these camel handlers' grandparents could have imagined.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19In today's camel races,
0:03:19 > 0:03:24modern technology is in the driving seat...
0:03:24 > 0:03:26literally.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33To save on weight,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37jockeys have been replaced by robots weighing no more than a laptop.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46CAR HORN BEEPS
0:03:48 > 0:03:50The camel trainers drive alongside.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59They scream instructions to their camels
0:03:59 > 0:04:04through a speaker on the robot.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06EXCITED CHATTER
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The frenzy is added to by the fevered excitement of the race commentator,
0:04:14 > 0:04:16broadcasting live to the nation.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19HE SPEAKS ARABIC
0:04:28 > 0:04:30When an extra burst of speed is needed,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32each robot carries a whip
0:04:32 > 0:04:35which the trainer operates by remote control.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16In today's Arabia,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20camel training has become a sophisticated business.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Scientific breeding and state-of-the-art training
0:05:26 > 0:05:30have turned these camels into elite racing machines.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35The average speed of a race horse in Europe
0:05:35 > 0:05:38hasn't changed in half a century,
0:05:38 > 0:05:45while the average speed of a racing camel has increased by 30%.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56To understand the vast changes
0:05:56 > 0:05:59that have swept across Arabia in recent decades,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02you have to go back millions of years.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08Then, most of the Arabian Peninsula was under water,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11forming the seabed of a vast ocean...
0:06:14 > 0:06:17..the Tethys Sea.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22The waters were rich in tiny plants and animals
0:06:22 > 0:06:25which sank to the bottom when they died.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Over millennia, the decaying bodies
0:06:29 > 0:06:34of billions of these tiny life forms turned to oil.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Oil was first discovered
0:06:39 > 0:06:44in the offshore waters of the Gulf and the Arabian desert in the 1920s.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52It was during the Second World War and the boom years that followed
0:06:52 > 0:06:55that the global demand for oil started to skyrocket.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Arabia had struck it rich.
0:07:01 > 0:07:07All across Arabia, the oil men found new supplies of black gold.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Today, close to a third of the world's oil
0:07:21 > 0:07:24is supplied by the countries of the Gulf -
0:07:24 > 0:07:27that's about three billion litres per day.
0:07:29 > 0:07:3425 major oil terminals line Arabia's Gulf coast.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45Every year, some 5,000 tankers pass through these waters.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It certainly doesn't look wildlife-friendly...
0:07:52 > 0:07:55..but in places, the impact on nature
0:07:55 > 0:07:58is not as negative as you might think.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07The divers who service the platforms
0:08:07 > 0:08:11get an exclusive view of some very exotic animals.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18The legs of the platforms become encrusted with corals.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23These, and the tiny animals associated with them,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26in turn provide food for fish.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41The rigs are home to dozens of beautiful species...
0:08:44 > 0:08:46..like the long fin pennant fish...
0:08:51 > 0:08:55..and the half moon angel fish.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03It's not just reef dwellers that are found here.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Fish from the open sea also gather,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13perhaps because the rigs offer shelter from predatory sharks.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Also, fishing near the rigs is banned,
0:09:16 > 0:09:21allowing shoals to grow larger than anywhere else in the Gulf.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29This is a popular spawning ground.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34The female Queen fish swims on her side as she distributes her eggs.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Males jostle behind her to be the first to fertilise them.
0:09:42 > 0:09:49In summertime, the water is thick with eggs, a feast for jellyfish.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55This cauliflower jelly is a metre across...
0:09:57 > 0:09:58..but it's a tiddler
0:09:58 > 0:10:02next to some of the diners attracted to this egg soup.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12A whale shark.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17At 12 metres plus in length,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21it's the biggest fish in the world.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47A sight to take your breath away.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54The diver needn't worry.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57whale sharks only have tiny teeth,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and don't eat anything more than a few centimetres long.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Whale sharks feed by filtering food particles from the water,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16though jellyfish are not on the menu.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Every shark is accompanied by a cloud of remoras or suckerfish,
0:11:36 > 0:11:41which are thought to feed largely on the shark's faeces.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58For most of their lives - which can be 70 years long -
0:11:58 > 0:12:01whale sharks are solitary.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08But there is so much food here,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12that groups of over 100 sharks can gather together.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35These sharks are only in Arabian waters for the summer.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Where they go for the rest of the year is unknown.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Even in these waters, much of their life remains a mystery.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51They feed for just a few hours every day,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54then disappear back into the depths.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59What they get up to down there, nobody knows.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10The fish life around the oil platforms
0:13:10 > 0:13:13also provides food for seabirds.
0:13:22 > 0:13:2590% of the world's Socotra cormorants
0:13:25 > 0:13:27breed on low-lying islands in the Gulf.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36During the breeding season - from March to November -
0:13:36 > 0:13:41temperatures on the ground can reach a scorching 70 degrees centigrade.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The cormorants flutter their throats to keep cool.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Despite the heat, successful colonies -
0:14:04 > 0:14:06like this one off the coast of Bahrain -
0:14:06 > 0:14:09can be tens of thousands strong.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21But appearances can be deceptive.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Although some large colonies do remain,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28over half have disappeared in the last 50 years
0:14:28 > 0:14:32and oil pollution is thought to have played a large role.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38The oil industry is a lot cleaner than it was,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41but parts of the Gulf remain polluted
0:14:41 > 0:14:44because of the legacy of large spills in the past.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52This was the site of the world's largest ever oil spill.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03During the Gulf War in 1991,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07the Iraqi army set fire to huge numbers of oil wells
0:15:07 > 0:15:12and nearly two billion litres of oil were lost.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17No-one knows just how many fish and seabirds were killed,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20but it certainly had a dramatic impact.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Oil does eventually break down naturally,
0:15:26 > 0:15:31but it can take many years for all the toxic chemicals to disperse.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35The risk of further oil spills will remain a threat to wildlife
0:15:35 > 0:15:38while so much oil passes through the Gulf.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Along the Gulf coast,
0:15:48 > 0:15:53the seabed is kept fertile by dust blowing in from the desert.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57That means these shallow waters
0:15:57 > 0:16:01are every bit as important for wildlife as the deep seas.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15But to exploit the food that's on offer here,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17you need the right equipment.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25The beak of the Lesser Flamingo
0:16:25 > 0:16:29is the only beak that's built to be used upside down.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38It's lined with bristles
0:16:38 > 0:16:41which filter out prawns and algae from the water.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58It's the pigment in this food that turns flamingos pink.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05Young birds start white and become pinker with age.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15The rhythmic feeding and swallowing looks like a graceful ballet,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20but the flamingos aren't above using those beautiful beaks
0:17:20 > 0:17:23as weapons to fight over personal space.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36And space is a key issue for the Gulf's flamingos.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Many of the lagoons they rely on
0:17:40 > 0:17:44have been swallowed up by Arabia's fast-growing cities.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07This city-centre wetland has been protected
0:18:07 > 0:18:13by an edict from the very top - Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18But the pressure on many other wild places continues to increase.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24The population of the United Arab Emirates alone
0:18:24 > 0:18:29has risen by nearly 10,000 per cent since the 1960s,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33leading to an explosion in construction and trade.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07The most extreme expression of the wealth of the Gulf cities
0:19:07 > 0:19:09is in Dubai...
0:19:15 > 0:19:19..home to more skyscrapers per square mile
0:19:19 > 0:19:21than anywhere else on Earth.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44This forest of concrete, glass and steel
0:19:44 > 0:19:48is towered over by the Burj Khalifa.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54At half a mile high, it's 300 metres higher
0:19:54 > 0:19:57than any other building on Earth.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11As well as going up, the Gulf cities are spreading out.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14This is the Palm.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20It's an extraordinary feat of engineering,
0:20:20 > 0:20:25but each frond was created by dredging sand from the seabed.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31And on the seabed is a grassland as rich as the plains of Africa.
0:20:35 > 0:20:41The warm, sun-drenched waters are perfect for sea grass,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44the only flowering plant in the sea.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Just like the African grasslands, these underwater plains
0:20:51 > 0:20:54are home to many predators and prey.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59A blue-spotted ribbon tail ray hunts for buried shellfish.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09A blue triggerfish has the same quarry in mind.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Small fish, like this blenny, have to lie low.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23An annulated sea snake, two metres long
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and one of the most venomous in the world.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30The snake can hunt for up to two hours on one breath.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Hole-dwelling blennies are a favourite prey.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Not all the reptiles here are voracious hunters.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04Unlike most sea turtles, green turtles prefer a vegetarian diet.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Like the whale sharks, many turtles are accompanied by remoras.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22These ones are squabbling over access.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Each remora has a suction pad on its head
0:22:26 > 0:22:29which it can stick to animals to get a free ride.
0:22:29 > 0:22:35A turtle shell is easy stick to and worth fighting over.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42The growth of the Gulf's cities threatens the sea grass plains...
0:22:44 > 0:22:48..and all the weird and wonderful animals that depend on them.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54A dugong.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Closest relative, the elephant.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Dugongs eat almost nothing but sea grass,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10using their flexible lips
0:23:10 > 0:23:14to pull up both the stalk and the nutritious roots beneath.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23A group of remoras are trying to hitch a ride on this dugong,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25but he's not tolerating the hangers-on.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Every spring the Gulf's dugongs gather together
0:23:52 > 0:23:56in what are thought to be mass migrations between feeding grounds.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Protecting those feeding grounds from development
0:24:02 > 0:24:05would go a long way towards protecting the dugongs,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08but nobody yet knows where they are.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Luckily, help is at hand.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21This is a project run by the Abu Dhabi Government
0:24:21 > 0:24:24that aims to find out where the Gulf's dugongs are going
0:24:24 > 0:24:27by fitting them with satellite transmitters.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33They've called in some assistance from the far side of the world.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Ah, to the other boats, can you guys keep on our starboard side?
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Australian scientist Richard Campbell
0:24:39 > 0:24:42works with two Aboriginal Australians.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47Dwayne and Philip grew up hunting dugongs for food...
0:24:49 > 0:24:51..and now put their skills to a different use.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02Even for an expert, finding a dugong isn't easy.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05They only take a breath every five minutes or so
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and barely break the surface.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10The team need eyes in the sky.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12HELICOPTER WHIRRS
0:25:19 > 0:25:21CHATTER OVER RADIO
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Once the dugong's been spotted,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Dwayne and Philip use their expertise
0:25:51 > 0:25:55to approach with as little disturbance to the animal as possible.
0:26:03 > 0:26:09Dwayne speared his first dugong from an open boat at the age of 12,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13but today he's going to have to grab the dugong,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16a third of a ton of slippery muscle.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20It's not for the faint-hearted.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Going to catch him, Dwayne?- Yep.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Dwayne gets a loop around the tail...
0:26:46 > 0:26:47..and the team work fast
0:26:47 > 0:26:52to secure the dugong safely to the side of the boat.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Protecting the Gulf's dugongs
0:26:57 > 0:27:00means that a few will have to carry satellite transmitters
0:27:00 > 0:27:03but each one weighs just half a kilo
0:27:03 > 0:27:07and tied around the tail, they do no harm.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14This is a chance to take some useful measurements.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23- Get it on there, Yussef.- OK?
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Yeah, yeah, OK.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- 2.72.- 2.72.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Nearly 3 metres, a good size.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34This would have made for quite a feast in Philip's youth.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41The team also take skin samples for genetic analysis.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44The hairs on the body are a clue
0:27:44 > 0:27:48to the fact that dugongs' ancestors used to live on land.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Yeah, just DNA, mate. We don't need much.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59After just a few minutes, the dugong is released.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Mission accomplished for the team.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Success! Good job!
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Information about this dugong's movements
0:28:15 > 0:28:18will help determine which regions of the Gulf
0:28:18 > 0:28:21need to be protected from future development.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36In the great desert heartland of Arabia,
0:28:36 > 0:28:41the relationship between people and nature goes back a long way.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47The Arabs survived here by hunting the desert's animals
0:28:47 > 0:28:51and for 4,000 years, one very special predator
0:28:51 > 0:28:53has helped them catch their prey...
0:28:58 > 0:29:00..the falcon.
0:29:08 > 0:29:15For many Arabs, falconry remains a passion bordering on obsession.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Mohammed Al-Kaabi comes out from the city
0:29:40 > 0:29:42to fly his birds every weekend.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54This is Haty.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02Pedigree falcons like her can cost as much as 100,000.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Haty's trained to return to Mohammed
0:30:07 > 0:30:09using a lure that simulates her quarry.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16It's a workout that keeps her agile and in top condition.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Mohammed is showing his sons, Salem and Saif,
0:30:24 > 0:30:25how to put Haty through her paces.
0:30:39 > 0:30:40LAUGHTER
0:30:42 > 0:30:46MOHAMED ISSUES COMMANDS IN ARABIC
0:30:46 > 0:30:47This is a rite of passage
0:30:47 > 0:30:50that Arab boys have enjoyed for thousands of years.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59MOHAMED ISSUES COMMANDS IN ARABIC
0:31:16 > 0:31:19It's time for the boys to get hands-on.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49It's crucial to keep calm.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53A falcon must learn to trust its handler
0:31:53 > 0:31:55or it will never fly back to him.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05In the morning, the boys will move on to the next lesson.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12Traditionally, that's hunting live prey.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22Sadly, the Arab love of hunting with rifle, dog and falcon
0:32:22 > 0:32:26has pushed some desert animals - like the houbara bustard -
0:32:26 > 0:32:27to the brink of extinction.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31But with the appliance of science,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34there is now a solution that can keep everyone happy.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53With a lure attached to the back of a remote-controlled plane,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Mohammed can stretch the falcon to its limits.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27No wild animals will die today,
0:33:27 > 0:33:31but the thrill of the hunt is just as strong.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44Mohammed's sons are growing up in a world that's increasingly aware
0:33:44 > 0:33:47of the need to look after our natural resources.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53That's particularly challenging here
0:33:53 > 0:33:55because of the difficulties of living
0:33:55 > 0:33:58in one of the hottest, driest places on Earth.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12For much of the year, Arabia is so hot
0:34:12 > 0:34:17that many people are at their most active after sunset.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Even at night, the heat can be unbearable,
0:34:26 > 0:34:31so much of people's time is spent indoors in air-conditioned spaces.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Dubai is home to the world's largest shopping mall,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38kept cool all-year round -
0:34:38 > 0:34:42good for the ski slope and the ice rink.
0:34:54 > 0:35:00Dubai by night is a vision of the most energy-hungry society on Earth.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15The richest Arab countries
0:35:15 > 0:35:19use more energy per person than anywhere else,
0:35:19 > 0:35:24and virtually all of it comes from burning fossil fuels.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30As well as contributing to climate change,
0:35:30 > 0:35:33that makes these countries very reliant on oil.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40And the Gulf oil wells will start to run dry within the next few decades.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23But there's an even more pressing problem for Arabia
0:36:23 > 0:36:26than its huge demand for power.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29FIREWORKS CRACKLE
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Every night of the year,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44Dubai puts on the biggest water show on Earth.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55The fountains reach as high as a 50-storey building.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06Perhaps because it's a desert, Arabia is addicted to water.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12The Gulf States consume more water per person
0:37:12 > 0:37:15than anywhere else in the world.
0:37:27 > 0:37:28In Saudi Arabia and Jordan,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32water is pumped from hundreds of metres under ground
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and brings life to the desert.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48Huge fields of crops, each one several hundred metres across,
0:37:48 > 0:37:52dot the landscape over huge areas -
0:37:52 > 0:37:57clearly visible from space.
0:38:20 > 0:38:26These man-made oases have had a huge impact on nature.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Songbirds now flock into the desert.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39This is a perfect place to drink and grab a well-needed shower.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46The fields are also rich in food, like grubs and worms.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56They even have their own public transport system.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Thousands of birds have changed their migration routes
0:39:19 > 0:39:21to visit these fields
0:39:21 > 0:39:25on their journey between Europe and Africa every year.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Some species - like the pied wagtail and the wheatear -
0:39:52 > 0:39:54are familiar in the UK.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Others, like the hoopoe and the bluethroat,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01usually spend their summers further east,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05in northern Russia or eastern Europe.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14But the songbirds who stop off here don't have things all their own way.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20Birds of prey also migrate
0:40:20 > 0:40:25and they too gather here in huge numbers.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35These aerial predators aren't just here for a shower and a drink.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41All that flying builds up a healthy appetite.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03Of all the songbird hunters to gather here,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05perhaps the most graceful
0:41:05 > 0:41:08is one that might be seen on the Scottish moors -
0:41:08 > 0:41:11a hen harrier.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24The harrier has a dish-shaped face like an owl.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27This helps catch sound,
0:41:27 > 0:41:31enabling it to hear the slightest rustle of a hidden bird.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40And the long, narrow wings can turn on a sixpence.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52It's pied wagtail for dinner.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02In the short term, this type of agriculture
0:42:02 > 0:42:09is good news for the birds and provides jobs for local people
0:42:09 > 0:42:13but it uses water at a staggering rate.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24The underground reservoirs will begin to run dry
0:42:24 > 0:42:26within the next ten years.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30The land will be desert once again
0:42:30 > 0:42:33and the people who work here will lose their livelihood.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41The fields sum up a problem that faces all of us -
0:42:41 > 0:42:45how to meet people's needs in a world of limited resources.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04But the immense wealth
0:43:04 > 0:43:07that's made Arabia a world leader in energy and water consumption
0:43:07 > 0:43:12is now being used to try and find solutions to those same problems.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22This is the solar power plant
0:43:22 > 0:43:28for the most futuristic town on Earth - Masdar.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42Lying on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi,
0:43:42 > 0:43:45Masdar is a prototype for the cities of the future.
0:43:48 > 0:43:54100 per cent carbon neutral, but with all mod-cons.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58Some features are simple ideas
0:43:58 > 0:44:01borrowed from traditional Arab architecture.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04The overhang from the floor above shades those below
0:44:12 > 0:44:14and the streets are narrow
0:44:14 > 0:44:17so that they are shaded from the intense heat of the sun.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Any breeze is captured in a wind tower
0:44:24 > 0:44:26and channelled down to the street.
0:44:31 > 0:44:33Combined with a light spray of water,
0:44:33 > 0:44:36this can lower the temperature at ground level
0:44:36 > 0:44:38by 15 degrees centigrade.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42Simple solutions like this
0:44:42 > 0:44:47create a cool outdoor space, even in midsummer.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11In Masdar's vision of tomorrow,
0:45:11 > 0:45:15transport will be underground in unmanned pods.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23'Doors opening.'
0:45:27 > 0:45:30'Welcome to Masdar City.'
0:45:32 > 0:45:35Here, in the heart of oil country,
0:45:35 > 0:45:37are the designers of Masdar,
0:45:37 > 0:45:41taking us on a journey into the post-oil future.
0:46:06 > 0:46:11Arabia's cities are already world leaders in design and architecture.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18If the concepts from Masdar can be expanded here,
0:46:18 > 0:46:20then maybe they can also lead the way
0:46:20 > 0:46:24in reducing our impact on the world around us.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53Arabia is a place where people and animals
0:46:53 > 0:46:56have lived alongside each other for thousands of years.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04Oil money has changed Arabia...
0:47:08 > 0:47:12..but there is still a deep affinity for the natural world.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Even today's ultra hi-tech camel racing
0:47:18 > 0:47:22still has the Arab love of camels at its heart.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29At the end of each race, after the robots are dismounted
0:47:29 > 0:47:32and the prizes distributed,
0:47:32 > 0:47:37the camels are pampered like beloved family pets...
0:47:40 > 0:47:43..hand-fed alfalfa and dates.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54The Arab people have never forgotten
0:47:54 > 0:47:57that it was their relationship with the camel
0:47:57 > 0:48:02that enabled them to survive the inhospitable deserts of Arabia in the first place.
0:48:11 > 0:48:16If that deep connection with wildlife can be maintained...
0:48:18 > 0:48:24..then there will always be a place for nature in the heart of Arabia.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54Spectacular gatherings of whale sharks
0:48:54 > 0:48:57appear every year off the coast of Arabia,
0:48:57 > 0:48:59but getting close to the biggest fish in the sea
0:48:59 > 0:49:02proved a challenge for the Wild Arabia team.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Director Liz White and cameraman Hugh Miller
0:49:16 > 0:49:18are travelling out to the middle of the Gulf,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21midway between Qatar and Iran.
0:49:21 > 0:49:26They've joined up with a team of whale shark scientists.
0:49:27 > 0:49:32- Have you changed any of them? - Yeah.- Good.- What were they on?
0:49:34 > 0:49:36The scientists want to understand more
0:49:36 > 0:49:39about the mysteries of the Gulf's whale sharks,
0:49:39 > 0:49:45but they know that getting close to them will be particularly difficult.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47The sharks here are quite different from elsewhere
0:49:47 > 0:49:49because they swim quite fast,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52so getting all of the data that we need from one shark here
0:49:52 > 0:49:53will be a challenge.
0:49:53 > 0:49:57Hugh has been tipped off about these high-speed sharks
0:49:57 > 0:49:59so he's brought a secret weapon.
0:49:59 > 0:50:04So this thing on the back here with the propeller
0:50:04 > 0:50:07is going to drive me through the water in a stable manner.
0:50:07 > 0:50:12But before Hugh's had time to prepare his kit,
0:50:12 > 0:50:14word comes from the bridge.
0:50:14 > 0:50:16HE SPEAKS ARABIC
0:50:16 > 0:50:20The boat crew have spotted a group of whale sharks.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29We can just about make out the fins if they turn the right way.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31We're just going to see how many are there.
0:50:31 > 0:50:35Got to watch out, there's one right in front of us.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Yeah, one right in front of us now.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41With only his snorkel and his fins, Hugh goes into action.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44We've definitely got three sharks here.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Hugh and Dave are in the water, but they move pretty fast.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49The guys will be swimming pretty hard to keep up with them.
0:50:49 > 0:50:54Sure enough, under water, Hugh is struggling.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Whale sharks look like slow movers,
0:50:57 > 0:50:59but every stroke of that massive tail
0:50:59 > 0:51:01pushes them forward at great speed.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04Hugh can barely keep up
0:51:04 > 0:51:07and keeping a steady shot while kicking so hard
0:51:07 > 0:51:09is nearly impossible.
0:51:12 > 0:51:17Not much filming success, but an amazing experience for Hugh.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21I mean, you don't appreciate how many sharks there are.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24I mean, the visibility means I can only see so far,
0:51:24 > 0:51:29and it's incredible just to come up here
0:51:29 > 0:51:32and there's just black fins everywhere.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36The scientists have also been pursuing the sharks with cameras.
0:51:36 > 0:51:43They want to get ID photographs of as many individuals as possible.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53The team uses specially adapted spear guns
0:51:53 > 0:51:55to attach the satellite transmitters.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59Whale shark skin is over ten centimetres thick
0:51:59 > 0:52:01so the sharks never feel a thing.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10The scientists have collected seawater samples
0:52:10 > 0:52:13that show why the sharks are here in the first place.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16I've got four pots here full of fish eggs,
0:52:16 > 0:52:21so we can kind of say that the sharks were certainly there
0:52:21 > 0:52:22to consume the fish eggs.
0:52:22 > 0:52:26If you looked to the density, that's two good-sized fillet steaks
0:52:26 > 0:52:29in around about three minutes
0:52:29 > 0:52:31and these sharks were feeding with us for five hours
0:52:31 > 0:52:33and after we left the water, they were still feeding.
0:52:33 > 0:52:38Scientists and film crew are happy with the way things have started,
0:52:38 > 0:52:41but as evening falls, the wind starts to pick up
0:52:41 > 0:52:45and the morning brings heavy seas and bad news.
0:52:45 > 0:52:49I'm standing here with the weather forecast for the next ten days
0:52:49 > 0:52:51and it looks like we're going to have
0:52:51 > 0:52:55anywhere from 20 to 40 knots winds
0:52:55 > 0:53:00and there's no end to it. It's just wind, wind, waves.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04and the likelihood of seeing sharks in this kind of weather,
0:53:04 > 0:53:06is close to zero.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10The dreaded Shamal winds blow from the north east,
0:53:10 > 0:53:14bringing clouds of dust from the Iranian desert
0:53:14 > 0:53:15and churning up the sea.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18Even if they could see the sharks,
0:53:18 > 0:53:22it would be too dangerous to launch the dive boats in this weather.
0:53:22 > 0:53:27The Shamal can blow for weeks at a time.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30All the crew can do is wait.
0:53:32 > 0:53:38The science team take the chance to look over some of their ID photos.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43They have a programme to help them recognise individual sharks
0:53:43 > 0:53:45by the pattern of their spots.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51Every pattern is unique, like human fingerprints.
0:53:55 > 0:53:59To everyone's relief, the weather improves sooner than expected.
0:54:02 > 0:54:04Soon, signs of life are spotted from the bridge.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11A school of bottlenose dolphins, but no whale sharks.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15Strong winds disperse the fish eggs
0:54:15 > 0:54:17which the whales are here to feed on
0:54:17 > 0:54:21and the groups of sharks often break up as a consequence.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27Liz makes use of a drilling platform as a vantage point.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38Whale sharks are often seen near the platforms
0:54:38 > 0:54:40because fish gather to spawn here.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48Watching the spawning fish
0:54:48 > 0:54:51is a popular pastime for the platform workers,
0:54:51 > 0:54:55some of whom take notes on any whale sharks they spot,
0:54:55 > 0:54:57to help the research project.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01While the crew are on board, there's an encouraging sighting.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03Whale shark!
0:55:03 > 0:55:05Where is it?
0:55:05 > 0:55:07- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.- A big one.
0:55:07 > 0:55:12Could this finally be Hugh's chance to try out his new toy?
0:55:14 > 0:55:15Are you ready?
0:55:17 > 0:55:21But just when it seems that everything is going smoothly...
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Very unfortunate timing.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27What's happening is we have an aggregation straight ahead of us
0:55:27 > 0:55:30and now we have a big tanker coming in,
0:55:30 > 0:55:33so we cannot launch any boats.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35We don't know what's going to happen with the aggregation,
0:55:35 > 0:55:37if they're going to disperse and dive,
0:55:37 > 0:55:41Sure, they'll dive because the tanker's heading right towards them.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46These are anxious moments for the film crew and the scientists.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50But the tanker takes a detour,
0:55:50 > 0:55:53leaving the whale sharks undisturbed.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00Now, everything is good to go.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Immediately, the propeller starts to deliver on its promise,
0:56:07 > 0:56:12giving Hugh a smooth ride alongside these gentle giants.
0:57:05 > 0:57:10After his magical encounter, Hugh does his bit for science.
0:57:10 > 0:57:14He's frozen a few shots from his video camera
0:57:14 > 0:57:16to see if he can help ID any of the sharks.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Yeah, I think, Hugh, we have actually got
0:57:19 > 0:57:22a completely new individual, looking at this side of it.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26So you have to add it to the database, maybe we'll call him Hugh.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29Brilliant, I'd love that.
0:57:29 > 0:57:31I think Hugh's a good name for a whale shark.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34I think it's a very good name for a whale shark.
0:57:38 > 0:57:42Out at sea, having given film crew and scientists
0:57:42 > 0:57:45a glimpse into his life...
0:57:47 > 0:57:50..Hugh the Shark swims off into the depths.
0:58:03 > 0:58:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd