EAD of Abu Dhabi Partners with IUCN in Pioneering Conservation Agreement

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has proudly entered into a Framework Partnership Agreement with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), marking a milestone as the first organization from West Asia to engage at this institutional level.

Authorized by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of EAD, the agreement was penned with the presence of His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of EAD's Board of Directors, and Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, IUCN President.

This partnership is a pivotal development in the long-standing collaboration between EAD and IUCN, aimed at advancing conservation science, safeguarding endangered species, and supporting global environmental initiatives over the past nearly 20 years.

As part of this agreement, EAD is set to contribute to IUCN's international conservation agenda and strategic initiatives over the upcoming four years. This partnership will enhance biodiversity conservation, species recovery, ecosystem protection, and nature-positive growth through enduring institutional commitments.

Having been a member of IUCN since 2012, EAD has previously collaborated on various significant conservation programs. Since 2008, it has hosted the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Leaders’ Meeting, which is recognized as one of the largest conservation networks worldwide.

The collaboration has also played a crucial role in global initiatives such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems. Both EAD and IUCN have partnered in identifying Key Biodiversity Areas and have developed the UAE National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan.

This agreement builds upon the progress established during the eighth IUCN World Conservation Congress, which took place in Abu Dhabi in October 2025, attracting over 10,000 participants from diverse sectors including government and civil society.

The partnership directly contributes to the Global Conservation Framework unveiled at the Abu Dhabi Call to Action adopted during the congress. This framework outlines five essential priorities: acknowledging nature's importance to human wellbeing, strengthening international partnerships, fostering inclusive engagement, advancing scientific innovation, and boosting resources for climate action and nature.

It also reflects Abu Dhabi's enduring environmental vision, guided by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, with 20 percent of the emirate's land now protected under the Zayed Network of Protected Areas, encompassing 18 terrestrial reserves and six marine reserves.

Recently, Abu Dhabi has reached significant conservation milestones, with the dugong population soaring to approximately 3,500 and turtle numbers nearing 8,000, alongside the planting of over 51 million mangrove seedlings.

The emirate has also significantly aided in the recovery of the Scimitar-horned Oryx in Chad, with Abu Dhabi's conservation initiatives improving the species' status from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered—a spectacular wildlife restoration success story.

Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG14, noted that this partnership encapsulates the environmental vision set forth by the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed. She emphasized that this agreement will facilitate translating global biodiversity commitments into tangible outcomes, ensuring regional conservation priorities inform international environmental policies.

Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak shared that this partnership embodies the UAE's ongoing dedication to nature protection and sustainable development, stating that it will translate conservation aspirations into real, measurable outcomes.

Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN, welcomed EAD as the latest Framework Partner, the first from West Asia, emphasizing EAD's scientific capabilities and environmental leadership, and asserting that this partnership will bolster efforts to combat biodiversity loss while benefiting both nature and humanity.