The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has unveiled a sweeping new plan to revive and protect the emirate’s marine ecosystems through the largest coral restoration effort in the Middle East.
Dubbed the Abu Dhabi Coral Gardens project, the five-year initiative was launched under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the agency’s board. The program aims to boost marine biodiversity and promote sustainable fishing by deploying 40,000 eco-friendly artificial corals across 1,200 square kilometers of Abu Dhabi’s coastal and deep waters.
The artificial “gardens,” designed in various shapes and sizes, are expected to withstand the region’s high water temperatures—offering a much-needed refuge for coral-dependent marine species and improving fish habitats.
Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that the initiative “embodies our commitment to innovative, nature-based solutions” and aims to strike a balance between ecological preservation and urban development. Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, secretary general of the Environment Agency, added that artificial reefs have already demonstrated their potential to triple marine life density compared to natural reefs and support annual fish yields exceeding five million kilograms.
Similar projects in the UAE, such as the REEFrame initiative off Fujairah, have shown promising outcomes. Since its 2021 launch, it has developed a one-hectare reef and is now working on expanding the area tenfold. Freestyle Divers’ founder Darryl Owen noted in a The National report that artificial reefs are vital in regions where seabeds are mostly barren sand, stating, “Coral needs something solid to attach to… we are creating an ecosystem where there wasn’t anything before.”
