Emirati Razan Al Mubarak re-elected as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has been re-elected for a second presidential term during the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, becoming the second woman to hold the presidency of the Union and the first president from the West Asia region in its 77-year history.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the oldest and largest environmental network in the world, with a membership of more than 1,400 organizations from 160 countries, in addition to more than 19,000 experts in the fields of environment and nature conservation, from governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples’ organizations.

Razan Al-Mubarak’s re-election as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was a confirmation of the great confidence placed in her by the Union’s members, who number more than 1,400 organizations from 160 countries around the world.

Her previous presidency was characterized by strengthening the governance approach and establishing trust within the Union, in addition to raising the place of nature at the heart of global climate and biodiversity agendas.

Razan Al-Mubarak’s re-election as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) coincides with the Union’s launch of its new work program for the next four years, which is the last before 2030, the scheduled date for achieving global goals for biodiversity, climate and land restoration.

Under her leadership, the Union will continue to work to implement its twenty-year vision, by transforming ambitions into measurable achievements, and ensuring its continued leadership role in uniting global efforts to protect nature, address climate challenges, and enhance human well-being around the world.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, said: “Thanks to her dedicated, creative and decisive leadership, the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund has become a global model to be emulated, proving that simple and focused field interventions are capable of making a tangible impact in protecting endangered species. We are confident that Razan Al Mubarak will continue, in the spirit The same level of commitment, creativity and cooperation, its effective contribution within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as the Union plays its role in shaping the global agenda for the next crucial decade in efforts to conserve nature and protect biodiversity.”

Razan Al-Mubarak said: “I am truly honored to be re-elected as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, especially at a moment that requires bringing nature, climate and people together in joint action.”

She added: “Over the past four years, I have witnessed the extraordinary power of IUCN – our members, committees and partners – working together across borders and disciplines. I remain grateful and proud to support the leadership of the UAE and its institutions, whose belief in environmental conservation has inspired me. This new mandate represents both an honor and a responsibility, to continue turning ambition into action for nature and humanity.”

Her Excellency Al Mubarak began her career in nature conservation in 2001 when she helped establish the Emirates Nature Society, an NGO associated with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Under her leadership of the Society, she led initiatives to protect the UAE’s coral reefs, conducted research that led to the creation of the country’s first mountain national park, and developed a framework to protect sea turtles during nesting and migration.

In 2010, Al Mubarak became the youngest person to lead a government entity in Abu Dhabi with her appointment as Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the organization for which she now serves as Managing Director. In her role leading a government body with more than 1,000 employees, the agency has been pivotal to the successful reintroduction of the Arabian Oryx in the UAE and Oryx Oryx in Chad.

Al Mubarak also contributed to the development of the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ Fund) into one of the largest global charitable funds supporting direct species conservation. Since its establishment in 2009, the Fund has supported more than 3,100 projects around the world, contributing to the rediscovery, protection and reintroduction of more than 1,900 species. Under her leadership, the Fund has evolved from a small grant program into a platform that supports broader nature conservation initiatives linking biodiversity, sustainability and human well-being.

In addition to her national roles, Razan Al Mubarak is the UAE’s Senior Representative to the Sherpa Supreme Committee for the Sustainable Ocean Economy, Co-Chair of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and a World Economic Forum Nature Leader.

She previously served as the UN Climate Lead for COP28 in the UAE, where she played a key role in strengthening the role of nature within global climate action.

Al-Mubarak holds a Master’s degree in Understanding General Environmental Change from University College London (UCL), and a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Environmental Studies and International Relations from Tufts University, USA.

She also holds seats on the boards of directors of the Panthera Foundation and the Rewild Foundation and is the UAE representative in the Partnership for Forests and Climate.

She is one of the prominent global leaders in the field of nature conservation and climate action, and currently serves as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and previously held the position of United Nations Climate Leader for the COP28 Conference of the Parties in the United Arab Emirates. She is also the first president of the federation from West Asia, and the second woman to hold this position.

Over two decades, Razan Al Mubarak has contributed to shaping environmental policies in the United Arab Emirates and beyond, advocating for the protection of animal and plant species and enhancing the ability to confront climate change.

She is also the founding director of the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which has supported more than 3,000 projects around the world.

She also holds the position of Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Nature Society in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature.

At the global level, she is the UAE’s Diplomatic Envoy to the Higher Committee for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, in addition to co-chair of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.