Mineral Resources of Coastal Lands

The coasts of the United Arab Emirates are rich in salt-resources which can be exploited for commercial purpose. One of these salts is Sodium Chloride (NaCl) called halite. Halite has many uses like it can be used as table salt in foods, to make caustic soda, deicing roads when roads are full of snow like Europe.



The other important salt is anhydrite (CaSO4) which can be used to produce sulfuric acid, reclamation of sodium affected soils and making plasters for dressing patients in hospitals.

Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is another mineral which has many uses, like it is commonly used as construction material, setting cement, and to amend sodium affected soils.