IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
October 9 -15, 2025 - Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates
What is the IUCN World Conservation Congress?
Organised every four years by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of the largest gatherings of nature conservation experts, leaders and decision-makers from government, civil society, Indigenous people, business, and academia in the world.
The event is the democratic forum for the global conservation community to express its views and decide and act on the latest in conservation science, practice and policy - shaping the global conservation and sustainable development agendas for decades to come.
Why the UAE?
A Natural Host for Global Environmental Leadership
The United Arab Emirates stands at the intersection of innovation, ambition, and ecological responsibility. As the first nation in the MENA region to commit to Net Zero by 2050, the UAE has embedded sustainability into its national fabric—through policies like the UAE Green Agenda 2030, the National Climate Change Plan, the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2030, and the General Framework of the National Biodiversity Strategy 2031 which targets rehabilitating 80% of degraded ecosystems, conserving at least 21% of terrestrial and marine areas, and improving the status of native threatened species by 10%. The UAE’s leadership in global climate and nature action is exemplified by hosting COP28 in 2023, which delivered the historic “UAE Consensus” and advanced integration of climate and biodiversity agendas through a joint statement with China, setting a framework for coordinated action at UNFCCC COP30 and CBD COP16.
Hosting the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 reflects the UAE’s growing stature as a convenor of bold climate action and multilateral environmental dialogue. With its unique biodiversity, from desert ecosystems to marine habitats and wetlands—the UAE is home to an estimated 10,000 recorded and potential species of plants and animals, including invertebrates. The nation also maintains a network of 49 officially designated protected areas, covering 15.53% of its total area, including 17 marine reserves and 32 terrestrial reserves, with several recognized internationally under the Ramsar Convention. Furthermore, the UAE is updating its national Red List, which currently includes 1,167 assessed species, to monitor and protect those most at risk of extinction.
The UAE’s hosting of this Congress is more than symbolic — it is strategic. It underscores the country’s commitment to nature-positive development, to bridging North-South dialogue, and to creating inclusive spaces where policymakers, scientists, Indigenous voices, and youth can co-create solutions that work for both people and planet.
The 2025 Congress
This year’s Congress will serve as a key milestone toward the implementation of global biodiversity and climate targets. With hybrid participation options, and a sustainability focus, it aims to be the most accessible, inclusive, and green edition to date.
The Congress will feature several components, each playing a vital role in shaping the conservation agenda:
- Forum (9–12 October): The Forum addresses the economic, social, scientific and technical aspects of a wide range of issues related to nature conservation.
- Members’ Assembly (9 October, then 13–15 October): The highest decision-making body of IUCN where Members vote on motions that guide the Union's work and elect the next President.
- Exhibition (9–13 October): A dynamic space displaying cutting-edge conservation initiatives, projects and partnerships.
Congress themes
The Congress will tackle five critical themes, each driving the bold, transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future for both nature and humanity:
- Scaling Up Resilient Conservation Action
- Reducing Climate Overshoot Risks
- Delivering on Equity
- Transitioning to Nature-Positive Economies and Societies
- Disruptive Innovation and Leadership for Conservation
South dialogue, and to creating inclusive spaces where policymakers, scientists, Indigenous voices, and youth can co-create solutions that work for both people and planet.
To learn more, and the register for the Congress, please visit: