Terra, Expo City Dubai, has convened the UAE’s first Urban Biodiversity Coalition, a pioneering alliance of over 20 leading organisations from government, academia, industry, hospitality, attractions and non-governmental organisations.

As the nation goes through increasing urbanization, the need to maximize biodiversity is even more crucial. This can only happen through continuous learning, collaboration and knowledge sharing and the coalition is the answer to that.

The Coalition will work through joint projects focused on species and habitats in arid and coastal zones, showing how cities in these environments can integrate biodiversity into urban life. By expanding and connecting green and blue spaces, the aim is to generate tangible benefits for nature, people’s wellbeing, and climate resilience.

The Coalition marks a significant step in advancing the UAE’s commitment to embedding biodiversity into urban development. This is aligned with the National Biodiversity Strategy 2031goal of ensuring a sustainable and resilient natural ecosystem supporting wellbeing and prosperity and builds on the recent launch of the Green Innovation District at Expo City Dubai to support the UAE’s wider climate action goals.

The Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA) was a key partner in the inauguration of the Coalition. Opening remarks were delivered by Muna Matar Bilal Musabih, Manager of the Natural Reserves Section, together with Marjan Faraidooni from Expo City Dubai, Chief of Education & Culture at Expo City Dubai, affirming the shared vision to position biodiversity at the heart of Dubai’s sustainable development.

As urban areas are projected to house two-thirds of the world’s population by 2050, Dubai is uniquely positioned to pioneer models of urban biodiversity tailored to arid and coastal environments reframing cities not as extractive, but as habitats that regenerate nature and strengthen resilience.

HE Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, Director General, DECCA, said: “This coalition represents an important step for Dubai in embedding biodiversity at the heart of our city’s growth. By connecting knowledge across disciplines, we can shape communities that are not only innovative and ambitious, but also resilient and driven by nature. Our role is to ensure that biodiversity is recognised as fundamental to Dubai’s future, and that the city develops as a model for how urban environments and natural systems can thrive together.”

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education & Culture at Expo City Dubai, said: “By bringing together diverse expertise from ecologists and conservationists to industry leaders and educators, we are advancing the vision for cities that are liveable, inclusive, and nature positive. Terra is honoured to serve as the home of this Coalition, ensuring that Dubai and the UAE continue to lead globally in shaping sustainable urban futures. When nature thrives, our cities thrive.”

The coalition identified several shared priorities: mainstreaming native plants in urban landscapes, recognising soil and fungi as the hidden foundation of ecosystems, and expanding wildlife-friendly habitats that improve quality of life for people as well as nature. These priorities directly align with the National Strategy to Combat Desertificationto protect the ecosystems by improving the landscape.

The Coalition also signals a shift in how cities are imagined: from nature-extractive to nature-centric. The Urban Biodiversity Coalition will reconvene in early 2026 to advance a shared action plan and accelerate collective projects. Organisations, researchers, and innovators committed to shaping the future of Dubai as a global model for nature-positive urbanism are invited to join this effort through Terra – a leading example of sustainable best practice in action, located at the UAE’s first Green Innovation District: Expo City Dubai.

The recently announced Green Innovation District is a landmark initiative that will serve as a powerful catalyst for sustainable industrial growth, seamlessly integrating economic prosperity with environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Supporting eco-conscious businesses – specifically those committed to clean energy, circular economy and green tech – as they decarbonise and grow, the District will actively accelerate the nation’s ambitious economic diversification and climate action goals, as set out in the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, Centennial 2071 Plan and National Investment Strategy 2031.

The initiatives are supported by the Expo City master plan, which aims to set new benchmarks in global urban excellence, balancing human needs with environmental stewardship and societal advancement. The master plans is being implemented in line with specific targets across areas including: protecting and increasing biodiversity; reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of clean energy; reducing water consumption and increasing the use of alternative water sources; increasing the use of sustainable, lower carbon public transport options and creating spaces that encourage walking, cycling and micromobility; and facilitating economic opportunity and creating a quality work environment.

Participants of the Urban Biodiversity Coalition

·       Dubai Environment & Climate Change Authority (DECCA)

·       Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

·       Plant Genetics Resource Centre – Al Ain

·       Mleiha National Park / Sharjah Investment Authority

·       UAE University

·       Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

·       Atlantis Dubai

·       Jumeirah Group

·       Emirates Global Aluminium

·       Dubai Safari Park

·       Emirates Park Zoo & Resort

·       The Green Planet

·       Dubai Reef

·       Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

·       Emirates Nature–WWF

·       Be:Wild

·       Goumbook

·       Nature Wave and Jebel Ali School

·       Wilden