Unseen Journey

About the Book

UNSEEN JOURNEY Beneath every empty cup, every torn bag, every vanished thing, a story waits. Unseen Journey is a whispered trail into the shadows we leave behind: shoes washed up on lonely shores, drifting islands of forgotten plastic, secret rivers of trash slipping quietly across borders by night. Aaesha Al Shehyari guides you through this hidden world, part warning and part wonder, revealing how what we discard binds us in unseen ways to distant lives, silent oceans, and futures yet unwritten. Step inside and you may find that what we throw away has been haunting us all along, and that in its quiet echo lies our chance to begin again.

About the Author

Aaesha Al Shehyari is an environmental strategist, storyteller, and changemaker whose work bridges sustainability, governance, and the power of public dialogue. Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Aaesha has dedicated her life to answering one urgent question: How can we live in harmony with our land while building a future that leaves no one behind? As a recognised UAE Nature Ambassador, Aaesha works at the forefront of community action with Emirates Nature-WWF and the Connect with Nature programme, inspiring youth and communities to rediscover their bond with the natural world and take tangible steps to protect it. Her work empowers the next generation to stand up for the UAE’s unique landscapes and precious biodiversity, building a culture of stewardship rooted in pride and responsibility. Before stepping into the worlds of policy and advocacy, Aaesha spent years working as a professional tour guide, sharing the hidden stories, cultural heritage, and ecological treasures of the UAE with visitors from around the globe. From desert dunes to mangrove forests, she used her voice to connect people with place, sparking curiosity and respect for the fragile environments that shape the nation’s identity. This grounding in tourism shaped her deep understanding of sustainable development, and she now channels that experience into crafting policies that protect both the UAE’s natural wonders and its cultural legacy. Her professional journey has spanned influential roles in tourism policy creation, sustainable urban development, and occupational health and safety, all guided by her unwavering belief that policy must serve both people and planet. She has represented Abu Dhabi at global sustainability summits, advised on governance frameworks that balance economic growth with environmental care, and helped nurture partnerships that place climate action at the heart of national progress. Aaesha is also the creator and host of EnvironmentFull, a podcast that speaks directly to the region’s next generation, tackling climate grief, biodiversity loss, greenwashing, and the psychology of sustainability through raw, compelling conversations that resonate far beyond the UAE’s borders. Her voice has become a spark for dialogue and collective action, inviting listeners to see that real change starts with the choices we make every day. This book is the natural continuation of her mission, weaving narrative, research, and policy insight into a powerful exploration of the hidden journeys of waste and the promise of circular living. Every page invites readers to see the invisible trail behind what we discard and to imagine the footprints we can choose instead - footprints that honour nature, heritage, and our shared future.