The MENA Oceans Initiative by Goumbook will host the MENA Oceans Summit 2025 under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and in partnership with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), from 8–11 October 2025. Now in its third year, the Summit has evolved into a cornerstone platform for advancing ocean and coastal sustainability in the region.
Formally embedded within the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) 2025 programme, the 3rd Edition brings together leading stakeholders from governance and policy, industry and finance, research and academia, and community across the Middle East and North Africa.
MENA Ocean Action Agenda: A Transformative Roadmap
The MENA Ocean Action Agenda will anchor high level discussions across blue governance, blue science, blue economy and blue finance. Emerging from extensive cross-sectoral consultations by the Initiative, the Agenda sets out an actionable roadmap for strengthening ocean and coastal resilience, catalysing regenerative blue economies, and enabling transboundary cooperation across one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime regions.
“Goumbook is honoured to host the MENA Oceans Summit 2025 under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment for the third time, and alongside our valued partners, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and IUCN,” said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook. “This year, the MENA Oceans Initiative will present the MENA Ocean Action Agenda, shaped through months of consultation and engagement. Through this, we aim to advance pathways and partnerships to channel the region’s collective ambition towards delivering measurable outcomes for the stewardship, resilience, and long-term health of our shared seas.”
Summit Highlights: From Dialogue to Delivery
Leading regional voices from across the public and private sectors and community will also feature across key sessions, including;
- Summit Main Plenary Cross-sectoral panel discussions across Blue Governance, Blue Science, Blue Economy, and Blue Science, focusing on Delivering A Regional Ocean Action Agenda and bringing to the forefront key initiatives that are accelerating governance, sustainable ocean management and blue economy efforts across 12 countries in the MENA region.
- MENA High-Level Regional Consultation: Governance and Policy High-level consultation convening senior representatives from regional government and policymaking bodies and inter-governmental organisations to explore collaborative mechanisms and thematic priorities aimed at supporting and guiding national and regional efforts towards sustainable ocean management across our shared seas.
- Deepdive Sessions In-depth discussions bringing together MENA Oceans Network Members and key regional stakeholders across priority themes including MENA Marine Protected Areas, the Regenerative Fisheries Majlis – UAE Edit, MENA Desalination and Water Management, MENA Regenerative Coastal Tourism, and Mobilising the Ocean Breakthroughs.
- Panel Discussions Interactive sessions announcing strategic partnerships and programmes to advance maritime decarbonisation and biodiversity conservation in the region.
The MENA Oceans Summit 2025 aims to set a clear trajectory for strengthening the MENA region’s leadership in ocean governance, and towards delivering measurable and long-lasting progress toward sustainable coastal and marine systems.