UAE President Welcomes Delegates at Global Nature Conservation Summit 2025

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with participants from the World Conservation Congress 2025 at his Abu Dhabi palace, as the Emirates prepares to host one of the world's most significant environmental gatherings this October. The meeting signals the UAE's growing role in global conservation efforts and its push to position itself as a leader in environmental diplomacy.

The World Conservation Congress, organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will take place in the UAE from October 9-15, 2025. This marks a major diplomatic win for the Emirates, which has been actively courting international environmental organizations since hosting COP28 in Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the delegates and expressed hopes that the congress would create effective mechanisms for nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and raising awareness about global environmental challenges. The guest list included Prince Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, regent of Malaysia's Pahang state, along with representatives from various participating institutions.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, who serves as IUCN President and the UAE Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Nature, accompanied the delegation. Her dual role highlights how the UAE has strategically placed its officials in key international positions to advance its environmental agenda.

The timing of this congress is significant for the UAE's broader economic strategy. As the country works to diversify its economy away from oil dependence, environmental leadership offers new opportunities for green finance, sustainable technology investments, and eco-tourism. The Emirates has already committed billions to renewable energy projects and nature-based solutions.

For global conservation efforts, having the congress in the Middle East represents an important shift. The region faces unique environmental challenges, from water scarcity to desert expansion, but also holds potential solutions through solar energy and innovative conservation techniques developed in harsh climates.

The delegates praised the UAE's environmental protection approach and its support for international collective action on sustainability. This diplomatic goodwill could translate into concrete partnerships and funding commitments when the congress convenes later this year.