Abu Dhabi EAD Establishes Pioneering Partnership with IUCN

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has officially entered a Framework Partnership Agreement with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making it the first organization in West Asia to reach this esteemed level of partnership.

This significant milestone was achieved under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of EAD. The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of EAD’s Board of Directors, alongside Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of IUCN.

This partnership enhances the longstanding collaboration between EAD and IUCN, which has prioritized conservation science, endangered species protection, and global environmental efforts for nearly two decades.

As part of this new four-year agreement, EAD will directly support IUCN’s strategic programs and global conservation agenda, focusing on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, species recovery, and nature-positive development.

EAD has been an IUCN member since 2012 and has collaborated on numerous key conservation initiatives. Since 2008, they have hosted the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Leaders’ Meeting, a vital gathering within the world’s foremost conservation scientific networks.

Through this collaboration, significant projects have advanced, such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems. Both entities have also worked on identifying Key Biodiversity Areas and formulating the UAE National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan.

The agreement leverages momentum from the eighth IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Abu Dhabi in October 2025, which convened over 10,000 attendees from governmental agencies, civil society, indigenous communities, businesses, and universities worldwide.

This new alliance aligns with the Abu Dhabi Call to Action, a global conservation agenda established during the congress, which emphasizes five crucial priorities: recognizing nature's vital role in human well-being, enhancing international cooperation, fostering inclusive engagement, advancing scientific innovation, and increasing resources devoted to nature and climate action.

Additionally, this partnership embodies Abu Dhabi’s enduring environmental vision inspired by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Currently, around 20% of the emirate is protected under the Zayed Network of Protected Areas, which includes 18 terrestrial reserves and six marine reserves.

Recent conservation achievements in Abu Dhabi have been impressive, with the dugong population rising to roughly 3,500 and turtle numbers nearing 8,000. More than 51 million mangrove seedlings have been planted throughout the emirate.

Furthermore, Abu Dhabi has significantly contributed to the revival of the Scimitar-horned Oryx in Chad, aiding the species’ recovery from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered status—this initiative stands as a premier example of wildlife restoration success.

Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG14, remarked that this partnership exemplifies the environmental ethos of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed. She emphasized that this agreement will transform biodiversity commitments into tangible achievements, ensuring regional conservation efforts influence global environmental policymaking.

Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of IUCN, characterized this partnership as a testament to the UAE’s unwavering commitment to nature conservation and responsible development. She noted that the agreement aims to translate global conservation aspirations into real outcomes.

Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN, welcomed EAD as the newest Framework Partner and the inaugural representative from West Asia, emphasizing EAD’s scientific capabilities and effective leadership in environmental stewardship. She added that this collaboration will bolster efforts to combat biodiversity loss while delivering lasting benefits for both nature and human society.