Abu Dhabi Launches World’s Largest Coral Reef Restoration Project
Abu Dhabi has unveiled the world’s largest coral reef restoration project, with plans to plant more than four million coral colonies off its coast by 2030. Spanning over 900 hectares, this initiative marks a major step in marine conservation, building on the emirate’s success in restoring one million corals since 2021—with an impressive survival rate exceeding 95%.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, emphasized the program’s expansion as a critical move to protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable ecosystems. “After successfully planting one million corals, we are scaling up our efforts to ensure long-term environmental resilience,” she said. The restored areas have already seen a remarkable surge in marine life, with fish populations increasing by more than 50%. Notably, the nursery-grown corals have thrived even during extreme summer heat, demonstrating their adaptability.
In early May, authorities introduced another pioneering effort—the Abu Dhabi Coral Garden. Over the next five years, this project will deploy 40,000 artificial reef structures of varying shapes and sizes, designed to foster marine growth. Once completed, these ecosystems will cover up to 1,200 square kilometers of coastal and deep-water zones.
The UAE’s other emirates are also taking significant steps to safeguard marine habitats. Sharjah is testing artificial reef caves in Khor Fakkan, while Dubai has begun the first phase of its Dubai Reef program, aiming to install 20,000 reef modules across 600 square kilometers within three years. Coral gardens have already been successfully established in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ajman. Additionally, in collaboration with Fujairah Adventures, a separate initiative is underway to plant 1.5 million coral colonies along the UAE’s eastern coast.
With these ambitious projects, the UAE is positioning itself as a global leader in marine conservation, proving that large-scale ecological restoration is not only possible but already in progress.
Source: The National
