UAE Expands Protected Natural Areas to Boost Biodiversity and Sustainability

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the expansion of Abu Dhabi’s protected natural areas, increasing their coverage to 20% of the emirate’s total land area.

Managed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the new additions encompass 4,581 square kilometres and will form part of the Zayed Protected Areas Network, bringing the total to 26 reserves spanning over 22,821 square kilometres.

This initiative underscores the UAE’s commitment to sustainability and aligns with the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 and the National Biodiversity Strategy 2031.

The expansion includes the creation of three new terrestrial reserves - Al Wathba Fossil Dunes, Liwa Groundwater Reservoir, and Ghaf Natural Reserve - alongside two new marine reserves, Abu Al Abyad and Sir Bani Yas and Desert Islands. Additionally, the Qasr Al Sarab and Ras Ghanada reserves will be expanded.

The move aims to protect biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote environmental stewardship, reflecting the UAE’s dedication to achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework 2030 and the 30×30 conservation goal.

Leadership from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi emphasised that this step represents a transformative milestone in the emirate’s environmental journey, ensuring the sustainability of wildlife and natural habitats while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s global standing as a leader in environmental preservation.

Expanding Abu Dhabi protected areas to 20 percent of emirate land area with 26 reserves across 22,821 square kilometres represents substantial commitment to the global 30x30 conservation target under the Global Biodiversity Framework. Three new terrestrial reserves plus two marine reserves plus expansion of existing reserves reflects appropriate diversification across ecosystem types.

The Zayed Protected Areas Network structure enables integrated conservation management across multiple reserves rather than isolated site-by-site management. Landscape-scale conservation is substantially more effective for biodiversity outcomes than fragmented reserves; ecological connectivity across the network enables species movement, genetic flow and ecosystem resilience.

For corporates operating in Abu Dhabi, financial institutions with UAE portfolio exposure, ecotourism and hospitality operators and their sustainability advisors, Cognitud's nature-based solutions, sustainability due diligence and impact assessment teams help clients evaluate exposure under expanded protected-area framework, structure long-term biodiversity-partnership programmes aligned with National Biodiversity Strategy 2031, and prepare disclosures aligned with TNFD, SBTN, GBF, ISSB and jurisdictional biodiversity frameworks.