Under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi has launched the Abu Dhabi Coral Garden project, the largest of its kind in the Middle East [2, 3, 4]. This ambitious initiative aims to protect the marine environment and enhance biodiversity in the region [2, 5].
The project, which began in 2025 and will continue until 2030, involves deploying 40,000 artificial reef modules across 1,200 square kilometers of Abu Dhabi's coastal and deep waters [2, 4, 5]. These modules are made from environmentally durable materials and designed to support the growth and reproduction of marine organisms [2, 4].
Selected fragments of resilient coral species, raised in Abu Dhabi's coral reef nursery and tolerant to high marine water temperatures, will be implanted in several artificial reef modules [2, 5]. These gardens will also serve as safe havens for local farmed fish species, promoting their natural growth and reproduction, and are projected to produce over 5 million kg of fish annually [2, 4, 5].