The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has unveiled the Hamdan bin Zayed: The World's Richest Seas initiative, an ambitious programme to significantly increase fish stocks in the emirate. The goal: make Abu Dhabi one of the regions with the highest fish density globally by 2030.
Abu Dhabi Reaches 100% on the Sustainable Fishing Index
The announcement coincided with the UAE's National Environment Day and marked a landmark moment for the emirate's marine sustainability drive. By the end of 2025, Abu Dhabi achieved 100 per cent on the Sustainable Fishing Index — a remarkable leap from just 8 per cent in 2018.
That progress reflects years of science-led management, tighter fishing regulations, and sustained investment in marine ecosystem health.
World Governments Summit 2026 Spotlight
The initiative was highlighted during the meeting of the Global Councils for Sustainable Development Goals, held on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026. The session was chaired by Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, and Chair of the Global Councils for Sustainable Development Goals.
A Global Benchmark in Marine Conservation
The Hamdan bin Zayed initiative underlines Abu Dhabi's commitment to safeguarding marine biodiversity, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and positioning the emirate as a global benchmark in marine conservation.
Complementary projects supporting the programme include a Coral Rehabilitation Project targeting four million coral colonies and the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, which aims to plant 50 million mangrove trees by 2030. Advanced technologies and artificial intelligence will be used to monitor progress and maximise environmental impact.
The programme builds on an integrated regulatory and scientific approach to marine management that has already delivered one of the fastest improvements in sustainable fisheries performance anywhere in the world.
