SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

Emirati sustainability expert and advocate Fatma Alhantoubi has spent more than two decades finding solutions to environmental issues – and even after years of research, her core belief has remained unchanged: the key to climate action is still the human spirit, and the will to change.

“Fixing our behaviour is the most important step in solving environmental problems,” she told Aletihad in an interview.  

Alhantoubi, a PhD researcher who has won multiple awards for her work and advocacy, specialises in water resource management, sustainable agriculture, and environmental project evaluation. She currently works with the Fujairah Environment Authority, allowing her to help build awareness in schools and communities.

“I believe the solution starts with awareness, followed by action and policy. That is why I focused on involving local people, especially students and women, because they are key to changing behaviours,” she said.

“True change starts at home, grows in schools, and blossoms in society.”
Alhantoubi’s passion for the environment is rooted in a childhood surrounded by greenery and an upbringing grounded in UAE values.

“I grew up in a family that loved farming… my father and grandfather taught us to respect the land. We used to plant seeds together, and I still remember how happy I felt when my grandfather told me: ‘Put three seeds in each hole’.”

However, it was when she personally saw the impact of groundwater drying up that she has found purpose.

“[I noticed how] the salty water was killing palm and mango trees. It made me sad, and I kept telling myself: ‘There must be a solution’. That was the start of my journey in research, education, and community awareness,” she said.

To this day, water remains at the centre of her studies. For her master’s, she studied groundwater management in Fujairah. She has also published a book on water resources and another on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), explaining how SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is connected to all others.

“Our water future depends on using clean energy to desalinate water, reusing treated water, and reducing water loss in networks. The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 is ambitious and realistic, but it needs public participation and behavioural change to succeed,” she said.

The Role of Technology and Education 

As an expert on the ground, Alhantoubi has seen firsthand how important technology is in environmental action. “We cannot achieve sustainability today without smart tools,” she said.

“At the Fujairah Environment Authority, we use devices to monitor marine and water environments. I am also researching how to manage groundwater using AI and smart technologies.”

Education, she added, holds equal importance but lessons should always go beyond the four walls of the classroom and reflect what’s happening on the ground.

“When we link education to local reality, we create smart minds who see environmental protection as a daily duty, not just a school lesson,” she said. 

Women Empowerment

Alhantoubi is equally passionate about highlighting women’s role in sustainability.
“Today, Emirati women are not just watching, they are leading. I am proud to be one of the first women managing protected areas and natural resources in Fujairah.”

Alhantoubi has received several awards for her work and advocacy. She has been acknowledged as an Emirati Woman Achiever by startAD, the startup accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). She has been named an “Outstanding Eco Warrior” and has earned the “Social Media Ambassador Award” from the Emirates Creative Association.

All these, she said, have been possible thanks to the UAE’s steadfast commitment to empowering women.

"Women have a deep sense of duty to future generations. That is why I focus on helping girls and young women become leaders in sustainability, especially in rural and mountain areas. This mission has become part of my identity," she added.

A Big Dream

Looking ahead, Alhantoubi envisions establishing a regional centre for water resource and disaster management in the UAE.

She imagines it as a hub that will “offer smart water solutions for blue water, black water, grey water, green water, and floodwater, as well as training programmes for other countries.”

Beyond this long-term ambition, her daily mission remains to share valuable knowledge and inspire as many people as possible.

“To children: Every tree you plant is like building a home for nature. To the youth: You are the generation that will bring balance between people and Earth. To families: Small habits matter. They can change the world. To the community: Protecting our environment starts with intention and grows with action.”