20% of Abu Dhabi’s Land to Be Designated as Nature Reserves

Abu Dhabi will designate 20% of its land as nature reserves following an order by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The expansion adds 4,581 square kilometres to the emirate’s protected areas, bringing the network to 26 reserves spanning approximately 22,821 square kilometres.

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi will manage the newly designated zones within the national Zayed Protected Areas Network. The move establishes five new reserves and enlarges two existing ones across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. New terrestrial reserves are Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve, Liwa Groundwater Reservoir Reserve, and Ghaf Natural Reserve. New marine reserves are Abu Al Abyad Marine Reserve and Sir Bani Yas and Desert Islands Marine Reserve. Expanded sites are Qasr Al Sarab Reserve and Ras Ghanada Marine Reserve. Before this expansion, the network included 13 terrestrial and six marine reserves.

The development coincides with the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress 2025, held from October 9th to the 15th, 2025 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.