United Arab Emirates - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

UAE’s particular environment – hot and dry – greatly limits the country’s biodiversity richness. UAE has 3 major varieties of ecosystem: 1) desert ecosystem (80% of the country’s area); 2) mountain ecosystem (2.6% of the country’s area); and 3) coastal and marine ecosystem (2390 km of which belong to the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman)... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The lack of arable land, invasive alien species, climate change, red tide occurrences, overgrazing, over use of marine resources, water desalination, waste water and tourism are severely limiting the efforts to protect biodiversity... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The new (and first) Biodiversity Strategy of the United Arab Emirates (2014-2021) includes a series of main orientations and national goals in line with the “Emirates vision 2021”, in addition to the Emirates' Strategy for Green Development, the National Strategy for Coastal and Marine Environment, the Biosafety Strategy and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

According to national records, forest areas increased from 245 ha in 1990 to 317 ha in 2010, and protected areas are increasingly implemented in line with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Huge efforts are paid by the UAE to conserve biodiversity. Several official decrees have been produced locally or at the federal level by the UAE to conserve biodiversity and its habitats... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation