In a world where nature is often treated as invisible, the UAE is charting a new path, one where environmental stewardship and economic resilience walk hand in hand. At the heart of this shift is the Natural Capital for Business Decision-Making: On the Path to Nature Positive and NetZero Flagship Programme, a joint initiative by the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG), the Capitals Coalition, and Sustainability to Action (STA), designed to embed natural capital thinking into the DNA of institutions across sectors.
We are delighted to share a reflection on the programme’s outcomes as captured in the recently released Capacity Building on Natural Capital for Business Decision-Making: On the Path to Nature Positive and Net-Zero Flagship Report. We are also sharing insights from two sessions held in Abu Dhabi around the IUCN activities. Both the programme and its public engagements speak to a growing ecosystem of leadership, knowledge, and practice emerging in the Gulf, one that is turning ambition into tangible action.
Launched in late 2024 and supported by Dolphin Energy and the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, the Flagship Programme was the first of its kind in the region. It introduced participants to the Capitals Coalition’s ACT-D framework (Assess, Commit, Transform, Disclose), enabling organisations to identify their dependencies on nature, analyse risks and opportunities, set strategic sustainability targets, and begin the disclosure process. Delivered through virtual modules, homework assignments, and expert feedback, the programme welcomed over 70 professionals from 34 organisations across multiple sectors, including energy, healthcare, finance, construction, and government. Through a mix of technical training and cross-sector dialogue, it provided not only a foundation for integrated thinking but also a shared platform to build future collaboration on natural capital.
The programme report illustrates the tangible progress participants made in integrating natural capital frameworks in their organisations’ decision-making processes. From baseline assessments to KPI development and supply chain engagement, the report highlights examples of innovation and readiness. Six Construct (BESIX), for example, is among the first construction firms in the Middle East to establish a natural capital baseline and propose measurable environmental targets, including a
≥40% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi broke new ground by addressing Scope 3 emissions through vendor engagement. First Abu Dhabi Bank is embedding nature into capital flows through instruments such as sustainability-linked loans and biodiversity-aligned investments. These outcomes reflect a critical mindset shift in the UAE: nature is no longer seen as an externality but as essential infrastructure for resilience, compliance, and value creation.
This is especially significant given the UAE’s evolving regulatory context, including the 2025 Climate Law and the growing relevance of frameworks like the TNFD. To complement the report’s release, two high-level sessions were convened in Abu Dhabi during the IUCN Regional Conservation Forum week. These events showcased the UAE’s growing leadership in natural capital integration. The UAE’s role in piloting the Flagship Programme and sharing its results on an international stage reflects a broader regional readiness to lead in nature-positive development. The programme’s insights now enrich the Capitals Coalition’s global case study library and will inform the refinement of the forthcoming Integrated Decision-Making Framework.
As the world moves toward delivering on nature-related disclosures and post-2020 biodiversity targets, these examples offer a grounded blueprint. They show that systems change doesn’t require perfection, it requires participation, commitment, and continuous learning. Acceleration around valuing nature in the UAE continues at pace, thanks to this flagship programme and the ecosystem it has helped nurture. The UAE’s commitment towards nature-positive growth is rapidly advancing, with the recently signed strategic MOU between the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC) and the TNFD, launching the new UAE TNFD consultation group, positioning the UAE to be very well equipped to move from ambition to action, from valuing nature in principle to embedding it in every decision.
This article was contributed by Yasmine Al-Shaghay, Sustainability Project Manager, Sustainability to Action, Capitals Coalition UAE Hub.
