His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has ordered a major expansion of protected natural areas across Abu Dhabi, increasing their total coverage to 20 percent of the emirate’s land area.
The initiative is set to add more than 4,500 square kilometres of new reserves, bringing the total number of designated sites to 26, including both land and marine areas under the Zayed Protected Areas Network. The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi will oversee their management.
The expansion coincides with the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which the UAE is hosting for the first time in the region, underscoring the nation’s commitment to global sustainability and biodiversity preservation.
Newly designated areas include the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve, Liwa Groundwater Reservoir Reserve, and Ghaf Natural Reserve. Meanwhile, the Qasr Al Sarab Reserve and Ras Ghanada Marine Reserve will see significant expansion, alongside the creation of two new marine reserves: Abu Al Abyad Marine Reserve and Sir Bani Yas and Desert Islands Marine Reserve.