A marine mega-project is turning Abu Dhabi’s waters into thriving coral gardens like never before
The Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi just launched the Middle East’s largest underwater coral garden. Get ready to dive into something spectacular: Abu Dhabi is building an underwater world like no other.
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In a move that’s as bold as it is beautiful, the emirate has launched the Abu Dhabi Coral Gardens — a massive marine biodiversity initiative that will see 40,000 artificial reef modules dropped into the sea, creating one of the largest coral restoration projects in the entire Middle East.
Think of it as rewilding — but underwater.
These coral gardens will stretch across a jaw-dropping 1,200 square kilometres, transforming empty seabeds into thriving marine habitats. That’s roughly the size of 200,000 football pitches teeming with marine life.
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Crafted from eco-friendly materials and designed to attract marine species, the artificial reefs will also be seeded with resilient, live coral fragments raised in Abu Dhabi’s own coral nursery.
These corals have been selected for their ability to withstand the region’s warm sea temperatures — making this project not just massive, but future-proof.
And it’s not just about coral.
These gardens will also act as safe havens for farmed fish species, potentially producing more than five million kilograms of fish every year, while protecting coastlines from erosion and climate impacts.
It’s a bold step toward blue carbon ecosystems, eco-tourism, and food security, all rolled into one.
Behind it all?
The vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who’s steering the project with a clear message: sustainability is not optional — it’s essential.
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Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, called the initiative a “regional model in innovative environmental solutions” and noted that reef studies show these artificial ecosystems can support marine life at three times the rate of natural coral reefs.
Abu Dhabi isn’t just protecting the environment — it’s rebuilding it, smarter and stronger than ever. And the next time you go diving off the coast? You could be swimming through a whole new world.
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