Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project was a pioneering initiative led by the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) in partnership with international organizations to explore the role of coastal ecosystems in climate change mitigation. The project focused on “Blue Carbon,” which refers to the carbon captured and stored by marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes.  

The project assessed the ecological and economic importance of Abu Dhabi’s coastal habitats, particularly mangroves and seagrass meadows. While the UAE’s arid ecosystems store less carbon than tropical regions, the study found they still provide significant environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, shoreline protection, fisheries support, and water quality improvement. Seagrass meadows were identified as especially important due to their role as habitats for dugongs and sea turtles.  

A key outcome of the initiative was strengthening scientific research, technical expertise, and policy integration related to Blue Carbon in the UAE. The findings contributed to marine spatial planning and environmental strategies in Abu Dhabi, helping position the UAE as an early leader in Blue Carbon and nature-based climate solutions.  

Overall, the project demonstrated how coastal ecosystems can support climate action, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development simultaneously.  

The full report of the project is available through the following link: The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project