Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Nabat, a pioneering climate tech startup launched by VentureOne, part of the Advanced Technology Research Council, uses AI and robotics to conserve and restore ecosystems.
It restores thousands of hectares of mangroves by utilising drones, AI-powered software, as well as flexible seeding techniques. This approach ensures precise seed planting and supports healthy growth through continuous monitoring.
At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025, Reda Nidhakou, Acting CEO of VentureOne, discussed the company’s mission and goals to Aletihad, highlighting how Nabat’s work aligns with the event’s focus on sustainability.
“Nabat is dedicated to using advanced technology to restore ecosystems, which aligns well with ADSW’s goals to advance sustainability solutions. Our first project, restoring mangrove ecosystems, is powering nature-based solutions to climate change. Mangroves are the ‘kings of carbon storage’, with enormous potential to reduce carbon emissions.”
At the World Future Energy Summit 2025, part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Nabat aims to connect with like-minded people.
“We want to have conversations with potential partners, clients, and talent. We are also very interested in educating visitors about the vital role mangroves play in addressing climate change, and how we are restoring mangroves and other ecosystems using our technology," Nidhakou said.
Nabat, powered by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) technology, utilises AI and autonomous robotics solutions like drones and sensors for precision mapping, seeding, and monitoring.
"Drones are valuable in ecosystem restoration because they allow us to touch the earth as lightly as possible, without causing inadvertent damage, and they allow us to reach hard-to-reach areas. We use customised, flexible seeding mechanisms to ensure planting is precisely what the habitat needs,” Nidhakou said.
Nabat's advanced seeding mechanism, created by top researchers at TII, ensures efficient seed placement by using optimised trajectories and adaptable patterns, preventing waste and over-planting.
In addition, their mapping technology delivers highly detailed, data-driven insights into the ecosystems being restored.
He noted that Nabat, launched a month ago, has already partnered with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) to restore thousands of hectares of mangroves in the UAE.
"As part of this collaboration, we have completed a pilot project on 100 hectares of mangroves. We are looking forward to scaling up this work and making a valuable contribution to the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative. By next year, we hope to expand to other ecosystems such as forests, farms, and eventually coral reefs. We also plan to expand beyond the UAE,” Nidhakou said.
He added that Nabat develops its solutions in collaboration with ecologists and tech researchers to address the needs of different ecosystems, working closely with EAD to ensure their restoration efforts are evidence-based and effective.
Nidhakou explained that mangroves are crucial for combating climate change, as they can store five to ten times more carbon than terrestrial trees.
He added that Nabat’s collaboration with EAD will sequester thousands of tonnes of carbon, supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals.
