President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed a rise within the space of nature reserves in Abu Dhabi to achieve 20% of the emirate’s complete land space.
The initiative aligns with the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 programme and reinforces the UAE’s dedication to world management in sustainability and environmental preservation.
The Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi will handle the newly designated reserves, which is able to cowl 4,581 sq. kilometres. These will likely be added to the Zayed Protected Areas Community, which at the moment contains 13 terrestrial and 6 marine reserves. The overall variety of protected areas will rise to 26, spanning 22,821 sq. kilometres.
The announcement coincides with the UAE’s historic internet hosting of the IUCN World Conservation Congress for the primary time within the area. The occasion is organised by the Ministry of Local weather Change and Surroundings, the Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi, and the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and has taken place from 9-15 October 2025 at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The growth contains the designation of three new terrestrial reserves: Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve, Liwa Groundwater Reservoir Reserve and Ghaf Pure Reserve. It additionally contains the growth of the Qasr Al Sarab Reserve, and the institution of two new marine reserves: Abu Al Abyad Marine Reserve and Sir Bani Yas and Desert Islands Marine Reserve. Moreover, the Ras Ghanada Marine Reserve will likely be expanded.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Consultant in Al Dhafra Area and Chairman of the Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi Board of Administrators, stated: “The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan replicate our clever management’s imaginative and prescient for environmental safety and sustainability. This growth will safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems for future generations and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s world standing as a mannequin for environmental stewardship, persevering with the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”
Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of the Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi, stated: “These directives reaffirm the UAE’s unwavering dedication to biodiversity conservation and defending wildlife throughout the emirate. Increasing nature reserves will help modern programmes for wildlife preservation and make sure the sustainability of our pure surroundings.”
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary Common of the Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi, stated: “This marks a transformative milestone in Abu Dhabi’s environmental journey and displays the UAE’s dedication to reaching the World Biodiversity Framework 2030 targets, together with the 30×30 initiative. It reinforces the management’s imaginative and prescient of balancing sustainable growth with pure heritage conservation, positioning Abu Dhabi as a worldwide mannequin in environmental motion.”
The Surroundings Company – Abu Dhabi affirmed that this resolution helps the Nationwide Biodiversity Technique 2031, which presents a complete imaginative and prescient for nature conservation and local weather motion. The technique focuses on six key pillars, together with the safety and monitoring of important biodiversity areas, the rehabilitation of degraded terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and minimising the affect of local weather change and catastrophe dangers on biodiversity whereas enhancing its resilience.
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