Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
To the untrained eye, the UAE's desert might seem nothing more than just a dry, still collection of sand. But to a young Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, it was a living, breathing ecosystem that she, like generations of her ancestors, considered an equal member of the community. After studying environmental science and international relations, she decided to turn her passion into global impact, a move that felt less like a career choice and more like a responsibility.
"My motivation was very personal. Growing up in the Emirates, the desert and the sea were not distant places - they were part of everyday life. That closeness to nature made me want to protect it. What drives me today, more than 20 years later, is that same feeling but with greater urgency," Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak said in an interview with Aletihad.
Today, in her roles as a first-term President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Executive Managing Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZF), and Managing Director of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), H.E. Al Mubarak is actively working to reorient the global conversation around conservation towards the symbiosis of humanity and nature.
"I've seen how much nature matters, not just for wildlife but for people's wellbeing and resilience. That belief - that when we take care of nature, we take care of ourselves - is what continues to guide me," Her Excellency added.
Local Mission, Global Voice
When H.E. Al Mubarak became Managing Director of EAD in 2010, she was the youngest person and one of the only women to lead a major government entity in the emirate. During her tenure there, EAD became an IUCN Framework Donor, convened the first-ever IUCN Species Survival Commission Leaders' meeting, and secured long-term hosting of UNEP's Convention on Migratory Species secretariats for raptors and dugong. In partnership with UNEP, EAD has also established the Eye on Earth community to ensure standardised, free, and open access to global environment data.
Through her work at Emirates Nature-WWF, meanwhile, Her Excellency has helped lead efforts to protect reefs, wilderness, and sea turtles in the UAE. Combined, these large-scale initiatives earned her international recognition - in 2018, the World Economic Forum named her as one of its 100 Young Global Leaders, and in 2023, she supported the COP28 UAE Presidency as a UN Climate Change High-Level Champion.
Her influence at home set the stage for the next chapter, when she was named the first Arab woman to lead the IUCN - the world's oldest and most diverse global environmental network, comprising more than 1,400 members and 18,000 experts. She now brings the Emirati philosophy learned back home to the world's most pressing environmental discussions: when you care for nature, you care for people.
"In the UAE, nature has never been something 'out there' - it's part of who we are. The sea, the desert, the falcon, the ghaf tree - they are inseparable from our identity. For generations, our communities depended on them for survival, and that created a culture of respect and responsibility," H.E. Al Mubarak explained.
"When we carry that philosophy into global conversations, it shifts the focus: protecting ecosystems isn't optional, it's essential. If ecosystems thrive, communities thrive - and that is the kind of perspective the world urgently needs."
MBZF: Conservation with a Human Face
If the IUCN presidency anchors one side of Her Excellency's work, the MBZF anchors the other. Created in 2008 as an initiative of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Fund operates as a microphilanthropy, providing small, targeted grants directly to individuals and organisations on the frontlines of conservation.
An initial endowment of €25 million set the pace for broader action. MBZF has since supported projects in more than 160 countries, covering almost two thousand species and subspecies. By 2024, it had channelled $27,143,809 into 2,894 projects, helping conserve 1,789 species and bringing many back from the brink of extinction.
"What makes the MBZ Fund different is its simplicity. We provide small, direct grants to the people who are actually out there protecting species - and to date, that has meant thousands of projects across nearly every country in the world," H.E. Al Mubarak said.
Unlike most large initiatives, the Fund has leaned into agility and trust. Its approach is deliberately light on bureaucracy, allowing for quick decisions and immediate support. For example, it enables someone working to protect a little-known turtle in Australia or a forgotten manatee in Africa to get the resources they need without delay.
"Large-scale initiatives are important, but they often can't reach that level of immediacy. Our model shows that sometimes the smallest grant can make the biggest difference - both for the species and for the community that depends on it," she explained.
The Fund's non-discriminatory ethos means it supports all kinds of species, from plants and fungi to animals, based purely on conservation need. This has allowed it to shine a light on neglected creatures that are often overlooked by larger funding streams.
For H.E. Al Mubarak, however, it is difficult to choose just one project as an example. But she often thinks of the African manatee, a species many had never heard of, but which is deeply connected to local culture. Another project she often revisits is the one supporting the Mary River turtle in Australia, a species that was once on the brink but has now become a symbol of community pride and action.
"These projects remind me that conservation is never just about wildlife - it's about people, heritage, and the ecosystems that bind them together."
Emirati Women's Day: Promise to Continue Nation's Legacy
As the first Emirati and Arab woman to head IUCN, and the youngest woman to lead a major Abu Dhabi government environmental entity at the time of her appointment, H.E. Al Mubarak describes Emirati Women's Day as an occasion that connects her personal journey to the vision of the UAE's leadership.
"Emirati Women's Day is very meaningful to me because it reflects the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, whose leadership has empowered women across every field. It also builds on the legacy of our late founding father, Sheikh Zayed, who believed that women's full participation was essential to our country's progress," she said.
That legacy, Her Excellency added, also steers her commitment to serving both people and nature through her work in conservation, today and in the future.
"For me, this day is a reminder of this legacy we've inherited and an opportunity to continue building on it through innovation, stewardship and service - whether for people or for nature. It's part of who we are as Emiratis."
Her Excellency believes that Emirati women carry these values with them into leadership roles abroad, offering a perspective rooted in community, identity, and respect for the environment.
"Emirati women bring with them a perspective shaped by our shared values and history. We come from a culture that has always seen nature as part of our identity, not something apart from us. That sense of responsibility influences how we lead - with dialogue, inclusivity, and stewardship at the core," she said.
H.E. Al Mubarak's focus now is on turning promises into practice, ensuring that global commitments on biodiversity and climate translate into real results on the ground. She believes the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, to be held from October 9-15, serves as a great channel for demonstrating the strength of the UAE's own commitment to conservation and inspiring broader multilateral cooperation.
"Hosting the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025 will be a milestone - not just for IUCN but for the UAE. It demonstrates the UAE's commitment to nature and people, and its steadfast belief in the importance of multilateralism. It will be a moment where the world comes together here in the Emirates to advance conservation, cooperation and plan for a post-2030 world," she said.
And beyond that milestone, she wants Emirati youth, and women in particular, to see conservation as a field where they can build careers and influence global agendas for the betterment of humanity.
"I hope the next generation of Emiratis sees conservation as a viable, relevant, and exciting field - one that can shape careers, inspire innovation, and strengthen our country's role in the world. If young Emiratis, especially women, embrace that vision, then I think the future will be in very good hands."
