EAD and ENEC to Cultivate 500,000 Coral Reefs Around Barakah Nuclear Plant

In a landmark initiative to boost marine biodiversity, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) have partnered to cultivate 500,000 coral reefs around the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra Region.

The partnership, announced during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, aligns with the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan to cultivate four million coral colonies by 2030. The project will establish coral nurseries, introduce heat-resilient coral species, and implement integrated monitoring programmes over the next three years.

EAD will oversee project execution and scientific reporting, while ENEC will provide financial and technical support. Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, said the collaboration demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s leadership in environmental innovation and marine conservation, highlighting how science-driven initiatives can protect ecosystems and support climate resilience.

ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi noted that protecting the marine environment is central to the company’s sustainability agenda, with this project showcasing how industry and environmental institutions can work together to tackle climate challenges.

EAD is already a regional leader in coral reef restoration, having cultivated over 1.45 million corals since 2021 with a 95% survival rate, laying a strong foundation for this ambitious new phase in Abu Dhabi’s sustainability journey.

500,000 coral reefs around Barakah plus contribution to the 4-million-coral-colony-by-2030 initiative reflects the coordinated coral-restoration architecture that biodiversity outcomes require at meaningful scale. Heat-resilient coral species selection combined with integrated monitoring addresses the climate-adaptation challenge that traditional coral restoration approaches have struggled with.

The 1.45 million corals cultivated since 2021 with 95 percent survival rate demonstrates operational credibility. Coral-restoration survival rates globally have been substantially lower than 95 percent; EAD's performance suggests genuine competence rather than headline-numbers alone. Industry partnership (ENEC financial-and-technical support) provides sustainable funding architecture.

For infrastructure operators near sensitive marine areas, tourism-and-hospitality companies, financial institutions with Gulf marine-ecosystem portfolio exposure and consultancies, Cognitud's nature-based solutions, impact assessment and sustainability due diligence teams help clients evaluate coral-restoration-linked partnership opportunities, structure long-term ecosystem-partnership programmes, and prepare disclosures aligned with TNFD, SBTN, GBF, ISSB and jurisdictional marine-biodiversity frameworks.