Cooperation to cultivate 500,000 coral colonies in the vicinity of Barakah stations

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company signed a cooperation agreement to implement a pioneering project aimed at cultivating 500,000 coral reefs in the vicinity of the Barakah nuclear power plants in the Al Dhafra region, during the activities of the World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. This agreement comes within the framework of supporting the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, to farm four million coral colonies by 2030.

The project aims to establish coral incubators, cultivate types of coral capable of withstanding high temperatures, in addition to implementing integrated environmental monitoring programs and cultivating 500,000 coral colonies over the next three years, which will contribute to enhancing marine biodiversity and preserving marine ecosystems in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Under the agreement, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi will supervise the project implementation stages and prepare scientific reports, while the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company will provide the necessary financing and resources.

The Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, said: “This project represents an important step in the emirate’s efforts to protect marine ecosystems and support regional and global initiatives to preserve coral reefs, by applying the best environmental practices and promoting specialized scientific research. Its importance is highlighted in the fact that it is the result of strategic cooperation between the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company, as it combines our scientific and technical expertise in preserving marine ecosystems, with the support provided by the company, which ensures that the project is implemented in accordance with the highest international standards. This cooperation also constitutes a practical model for enhancing sustainability efforts, consolidating Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the field of environmental innovation and protecting its natural resources for future generations. “.

For his part, the Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and its group of companies, Mohammed Al Hammadi, said: “The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability and ensuring energy security in the UAE through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plants, as preserving the marine environment and its natural resources is one of the company’s most important priorities. This project comes within the framework of our commitment to integrating sustainability into all our operations and projects. Cooperation with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi represents an opportunity to unify efforts between the scientific and technical expertise of the Authority and the company in order to achieve common environmental goals. This initiative is a major contribution to enhancing the resilience of coral reefs in the face of climate change, and supporting Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the global capitals in the field of marine environment protection..«

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is one of the leading authorities in the region in the field of coral reef restoration, as it has succeeded in cultivating more than 1,450,000 coral colonies as part of the largest coral reef rehabilitation project of its kind in the region, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, in 2021, with the aim of cultivating four million coral colonies. By 2030, by developing modern technologies for coral incubators and using innovative methods to enhance coral’s ability to resist climate change and rising temperatures, the project has achieved great success, as the survival rate of farmed coral has reached 95% after the summer seasons, and an increase in fish biomass has been recorded by 50%.