Hamdan bin Zayed Meets Organizers of 2025 World Conservation Congress

The UAE is doubling down on its environmental commitments after hosting a major global conservation conference that drew over 10,000 experts from 189 countries. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who leads Abu Dhabi's Environment Authority, met with the organizing team to discuss expanding the emirate's protected areas to 20% of its total land mass - a significant jump that puts the country among the world's conservation leaders.

The Nature Conservation Conference 2025, held in Abu Dhabi last October, wasn't just another environmental gathering. Participants reviewed and voted on more than 200 proposals aimed at protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. The event produced concrete outcomes, including new strategic initiatives to support the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework and accelerate global conservation efforts toward 2030 targets.

One standout result was the re-election of Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak as president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for a second consecutive term. Her leadership role reinforces the UAE's growing influence in global environmental policy-making circles.

The conference launched several nature-based initiatives, with the "Abu Dhabi X for Nature" program taking center stage. This initiative focuses on using advanced technology to protect species and natural habitats, creating opportunities for sustainable investments and innovative conservation solutions.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that expanding Abu Dhabi's protected areas aligns with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's directives to strengthen the emirate's conservation network. The plan includes adding new terrestrial and marine reserves under the "Zayed Natural Reserves Network" - a move that signals serious long-term commitment to biodiversity protection.

For investors and environmental technology companies, this expansion creates new market opportunities in conservation tech, sustainable tourism, and green infrastructure. The UAE's approach combines government backing with private sector engagement, making it an attractive destination for environmental investments.

The conference's success reflects broader cooperation between local and federal institutions in the UAE. This coordinated approach helps the country present a unified environmental strategy on the global stage, while Abu Dhabi's Environment Authority takes the lead on implementing innovative conservation solutions.

The focus now shifts to turning conference outcomes into real-world impact. Sheikh Hamdan stressed the importance of building on the event's achievements and converting proposals into actionable initiatives that deliver measurable results in nature protection and sustainable development.