Scaling Investment: The Mangrove Breakthrough
Contributed by Ignace Beguin Billecocq, Executive Director, Mangrove Breakthrough; Advisory Board Member – MENA Oceans
The MENA Oceans Initiative
forges strategic regional collaborations, that bring diverse stakeholder groups out of their silos to accelerate the pace of ocean action.
Our Approach: Addressing Regional Priorities
The MENA Oceans Initiative by Goumbook, brings regional ocean priorities to the forefront, to drive tangible outcomes for SDG 14, ensuring sustainable management of our seas while fostering a sustainable blue economy.
By bridging the gap between academia, the private and public sectors, youth and civil society; our collaborative frameworks are aimed at prioritising science-based decision making, facilitating knowledge exchange and catalysing resources.
Our four collaborative frameworks include:
Summit
The leading regional convening of cross-sectoral ocean stakeholders, to shape solutions bridging science, policy, industry and financing.
Network
A multi-stakeholder collaborative platform to catalyse resources and ocean solutions towards critical regional priorities. Learn more about the Network and how to join
Global Programmes
Integrate regional stakeholder priorities into global frameworks and initiatives, through strategic outreach and evidence based research.
Knowledge Hub
A digital repository of scientific evidence, research, insights and case studies to advance regional data sharing
H.E. Ms. Razan Al Mubarak
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP28
As the planet’s greatest carbon sink, a healthy ocean is absolutely crucial to our survival. It can protect against the worst impacts of climate change, ensures the survival of rich marine biodiversity and is vital to the livelihoods for billions of people. The MENA Oceans initiative offers a valuable and regional framework with science-based actions that work towards a healthier ocean and limiting global warming. 
Advisory Board
Tatiana Antonelli Abella
Founder, Goumbook Chair, MENA Oceans
Ashok Adicéam
Deputy Special Envoy to President of Republic of France, UN Ocean Conference 2025
Thomas Sberna
Ocean Lead
UN Climate Champions Team
Abdul Rahim Sultan Al Qassimi
Director General,
World Green Economy Organisation
Ignace Beguin Billecocq
Nature Head, Ocean and Coastal Zones Lead, UN Climate Change High Level Champion's Team
Katherine Lester
Head of Office, UN UAE
Carlos Duarte
Executive Director, G20 CORDAP; Distinguished Professor, KAUST
John A. Burt
Associate Professor, Head of Environmental Studies, NYUAD; Co-director, Mubadala ACCESS Center
Dr. Ameer Eweida
CEO’s Senior Advisor, Saudi Red Sea Authority; Deputy Vice-Chair, West Asia, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
Rumaitha Al Busaidi
Vice President,
Environment Society Oman
Suaad Al Harthi
Executive Director,
Environment Society Oman
Dr. Sergey Dobretsov
UNESCO Chair, Director, Center of Excellence - Marine Biotechnology, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Dr. Radhouan ben Hamadou
Director, Research & Policy Development, Earthna, Qatar Foundation
Rym Benzina
President, La Saison Bleue
Jamila El Mir
Advisor, Dubai Environment & Climate Change Authority; Insights & Activations Lead, WAVE Global
Dr. Reem Al Mealla
Founder, NUWAT Research Bahrain
Ibrahim Al Zu'bi
Co-founder, Emirates Diving Association Chair, Global Council SDG13
Knowledge Partners
Insights & News
Red Sea Reveals Hidden Oases of Life
Contributed by Ms. Taiba Alamoudi, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Domain Specialist –
Coral Reefs at Risk: Global Call to Protect Coral Reefs
Contributed by International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Founding Member – MENA Oceans Network A major