MENA Oceans Summit & Exhibition 2025

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MENA Oceans Summit - 3, September 2025, UAE

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About The Summit

MENA Oceans Summit is the flagship convening under the MENA Oceans Initiative, dedicated to accelerating the pace of comprehensive ocean action to restore ocean ecosystems, tackle climate change and ensure sustainable development of blue economies through a collaborative, cross-sectoral framework. The Summit engages under four key streams – Blue Economy, Blue Governance, Blue Science and Blue Collective.

The inaugural MENA Oceans Summit in 2023, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in Dubai, UAE, hosted over 550 people from different stakeholder groups including policy makers, private sector, academia and researchers, community organizations and NGOs.

In 2024, the MENA Oceans Summit evolved to greater regional representation and 3 deep dives, developing the foundations for thematic working groups and the kick off of the MENA Oceans Network.

Summit Key Pillars

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Blue Economy

Billions of people depend on healthy oceans for their livelihoods, food security, health, and recreation. Under the Blue Economy stream, the focus lies on developing sustainable pathways for integrated development of sustainable ocean sectors, while prioritizing ocean health and marine resources management. This includes innovative Blue Finance schemes and strategies for mitigating the effects of unsustainable practices.
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Blue Governance

Policy and marine governance play a key role in fostering accountability amongst countries to ensure successful multilateral partnerships. This stream brings together leaders to discuss strengthening governance for an ocean conservation plan within and beyond national jurisdictions; promoting and facilitating joint scientific research; and establishing strict frameworks for blue economies.
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Blue Science

Advancing research and scientific innovations helps tackle the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on marine and coastal ecosystems. Under the Research and Science stream we discuss key challenges like biodiversity loss, climate change, ocean plastic pollution, dead zones, and food insecurity as well as the outcomes of evidence-based innovative projects to address them.
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Blue Collective

Engaging youth and communities through impact-driven awareness and educational sessions will prompt collective clean ocean action for ocean health. Take part in a curated masterclass, expand your knowledge by attending a Climate Fresk workshop – a gamified way to uncover the challenges, interlinkages, and solutions related to climate change -, or join us for a movie screening and a fireside chat with an inspiring clean oceans advocate!

Previous Speakers

HE Razan Al Mubarak
UN Climate Change High Level Champion, COP28
IUCN President

HE Marwan Abdulla Alzaabi
Assistant Undersecretary, Regions Sector
UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

HE Ahmed Esmaeil Alsayed Alhashmi
Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Sector
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

HE Ambassador Nicolas Niemtchinow

Ambassador of the French Republic to the UAE

Ignace Beguin Billecocq
Exective Director
Mangrove Breakthrough, Ambition Loop

Dr. Ahmed Al Ansari
Advisor, Environmental Protection and Regeneration
Red Sea Global

John Burt
Associate Professor, Head of Environmental Studies; Co-director, Mubadala ACCESS Center
NYUAD

Farid Al Awlaqi
Chief Executive Officer
Generation, TAQA

Ayla Bajwa
VP – Group Sustainability
DP World

Dr Reem Al Mealla
Founder
Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education

Prof. Mahmoud Hanafy
Scientific Consultant
HEPCA

Elayne Looker
Marine Consultant
5Oceans

Download insight papers from MENA Oceans Summit 2024

Sustainable Maritime Decarbonisation for Healthy Oceans

Young professionals for our oceans: Deep Dive outcomes and recommendations
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