For the first time in the region, researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi are undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of the Arabian Gulf coral reefs.
With more than half of the global population residing within 100km of a coastline, the data and insights will help scientists and policymakers make better-informed decisions on preserving these fragile coastal environments in a time of rapid urbanization.
The researchers are working closely with national and regional stakeholders to validate findings. The resulting classification will not only inform UAE conservation strategies and national biodiversity reports but also contribute to global efforts to catalogue and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
Supported by Mubadala ACCESS, this assessment is a landmark step for coral reef science in the region. The team systematically identifies which reef systems are at risk and why. The results aim to evaluate the risk of ecosystem collapse due to stressors such as warming seas, bleaching events, and coastal development. Decades of ecological data are being compiled and analyzed, including long-term monitoring records, habitat maps, and coral health records.
Using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems, a globally recognized framework, Professor of Biology John Burt, Research Associate Dr. Rita Bento, and Kawader Research Assistant Amal Al-Gergawi are performing evidence-based analyses to determine the risk of ecosystem collapse and changes in reef distribution.