The UAE will host the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, spotlighting innovation, global leadership and urgent nature protection efforts.
ABU DHABI: The UAE will host the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 from 9 to 15 October in Abu Dhabi, reaffirming the nation’s position as a global force in biodiversity and environmental leadership. Co-hosted by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the event will welcome government leaders, scientists, indigenous communities, youth, NGOs, and private sector experts to chart a new path for global conservation.
Organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the congress will unveil landmark initiatives including updates to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the European Red List with focus on pollinators, and the World Heritage Outlook. It will also honour frontline conservationists with the International Ranger Awards and announce the next IUCN World Parks Congress host.
Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, said the UAE’s 49 nature reserves and expansive ecosystem restoration initiatives reflect its deep-rooted commitment to biodiversity. She highlighted innovations like the Nabat AI platform, the Jaywun research vessel, and national mangrove restoration goals as central to its conservation mission.
The congress will focus on themes including indigenous leadership, conservation in energy development, and ocean protection, building on UAE-led initiatives like the Clean Rivers Foundation and species reintroduction programmes. The goal is to drive urgent, science-based action aligned with the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and IUCN Councillor, added that hosting the congress cements Abu Dhabi’s role as a hub for collaborative and inclusive environmental action.
High-profile speakers include Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN President; Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General; Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama’s Environment Minister; and global figures such as Dr. David Obura and Eric Jing. The event will also feature the IUCN Members’ Assembly, where over 200 motions will shape the organisation’s global policy agenda.
This milestone gathering reflects the UAE’s legacy of conservation, inspired by the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed. The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 will unite science, policy, and people for a nature-positive future.
