This investigation was produced with the support of Journalismfund Europe and Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU)

The United Arab Emirates is home to 49 protected areas encompassing wetland, marine, and desert ecosystems. These areas host several endangered species, most notably the greater flamingo. Distinguished by its long neck and legs and its downward-curved bill, the greater flamingo is the largest and palest of all flamingo species. Its light pink color comes from its diet, which mainly consists of shrimp, algae, and crustaceans, according to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

This bird is known to be monogamous and lays only one egg per breeding season. Its main threats stem from habitat loss and direct human interference.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi is the only site in the Arabian Gulf where the greater flamingo has been breeding regularly since 2011. During some seasons, the reserve hosts around 4,000 flamingos and shelters more than 55% of the bird species recorded in the UAE. Despite efforts to contain risks and protect this reserve, as well as other sites such as Mangrove National Park and Bul Syayeef Marine Reserve, the greater flamingo and other species continue to face increasing threats.

Although Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is listed under international agreements such as the Ramsar Convention, pressures on it and on more than 15 other protected areas, including Marawah Island, are growing due to the overlap between oil and gas company licenses and the boundaries of these ecologically significant sites. This overlap makes the protection of these species and ecosystems both urgent and increasingly complex.

As for the second most endangered species at risk, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is the dugong, also known as the sea cow, which is primarily found around Marawah Island.

The journalistic project “Environmental Genocide,” led by the Environmental Investigation Foundation (EIF) and the European Investigative Collaborations network (EIC), reveals that oil and gas licenses overlap with more than 7,000 protected areas worldwide, covering a total overlapping area of 690,000 square kilometers, an area larger than France. This is occurring despite existing laws and ongoing efforts to protect key biodiversity areas.

Major oil and gas companies such as TotalEnergies, Shell, ENI, BP, and Exxon repeatedly appear among companies holding operating licenses in environmentally sensitive areas, covering more than one million square kilometers, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Egypt or South Africa.

According to the project’s data, there are 16 active oil and gas licenses in the UAE, covering an area of approximately 14,300 square kilometers and overlapping with 31 protected areas. The UAE is among the top 20 countries, based on the project’s database, where oil and gas company licenses overlap with officially protected areas. The United Arab Emirates ranks fifth among countries with oil and gas licenses located within internationally recognized protected areas, covering an area of nearly 14,000 square kilometers, with 12 licenses overlapping with 17 protected areas.

Protected areas in the United Arab Emirates have received increasing attention; however, around 30 nature reserves are affected by active oil and gas licenses. The UAE includes 49 protected areas classified under various IUCN categories, some of which are internationally recognized, such as UNESCO-designated sites or those listed under the Ramsar Convention. Collectively, these areas account for more than 18% of the country’s land area and nearly 14% of its marine waters. According to the IUCN, these reserves support fragile ecosystems and rare, endangered species and are essential to environmental health at both the regional and global levels.

Most affected protected areas

Among the most affected protected areas, where oil and gas company activities overlap with reserve boundaries, is Marawah Island.

Marawah Island is one of the protected areas most heavily impacted by oil and gas activities. It is a key site for marine conservation in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Marawah is the largest marine protected area in the country and in the Gulf, encompassing several islands and more than 120 kilometers of coastline, with a total area exceeding 4,200 square kilometers, roughly 120 times the size of the city of Dubai.

Marawah Island hosts extensive seagrass meadows that support one of the largest remaining populations of endangered dugongs in the world. Approximately 3,500 dugongs are found in Abu Dhabi waters, and their presence is closely linked to the Marawah Reserve, according to the IUCN. The reserve also includes coral reefs, mangrove forests, and blue carbon ecosystems that play a critical role in mitigating climate change and supporting the marine environment of the Arabian Gulf.

According to UNESCO, the reserve is distinguished by its nationally and regionally significant habitats and shelters several globally threatened species, including the hawksbill sea turtle, the green sea turtle (the only herbivorous marine turtle), and dugongs. These habitats include seagrass meadows (three species), coral reef assemblages (more than 18 species), large algal outcrops, and mangrove vegetation. Marawah Reserve is also of global importance as a refuge and feeding ground for the endangered dugong (Dugong dugon).

Oil and gas licenses cover vast areas of Marawah Island, particularly as the offshore Hail and Ghasha fields fall within the boundaries of the reserve. Oil and gas extraction activities continue to expand and are expected to peak in 2033 in the Hail field, while gas production from the Ghasha field is expected to begin this year. In July 2022, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) began awarding contracts worth USD 2.7 billion for drilling and technological support as part of its oil and gas development project. According to the Leave It in the Ground Initiative (LINGO), ADNOC expects gas extraction from the Ghasha field to start this year.

According to a report prepared by a group of organizations for the COP28 climate conference, held in Dubai in December 2023, new gas drilling operations off the coast of the United Arab Emirates are destroying dugong habitats. Dugongs feed on seagrass that grows on the seabed and thrives only in highly specific environmental conditions. In the past, dugongs were hunted for their meat and hides, but this practice was legally banned around thirty years ago. Nevertheless, dugongs in Marawah remain under threat, as gas production in the Hail field damages their habitat, while the massive Ghasha project lies partially within the boundaries of Marawah Reserve, placing additional pressure on it. The report describes Ghasha as the world’s largest offshore sour gas project. ADNOC holds the largest stake in the project, alongside its international partners ENI, Wintershall Dea, OMV, and LUKOIL. As a result, “the ADNOC project and its international partners pose a direct threat to the reserve,” according to the report.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is considered one of the most important biodiversity areas in Abu Dhabi, comprising a complex of natural and artificial water bodies located southeast of the city. Established in 1998, it was the first officially designated protected area in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In 2013, it received international recognition as a Ramsar site, becoming the first wetland of international importance in the emirate.

Al Wathba represents the only refuge in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf where the greater flamingo breeds regularly. During the spring and autumn seasons, authorities have documented the presence of up to 4,000 flamingos, along with more than 250 species of migratory and resident birds, 11 species of mammals, 10 reptile species, and more than 35 plant species, according to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. The area also hosts five globally threatened bird and reptile species and serves as a key habitat for nearly 55% of all bird species recorded in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Union of Protected Areas.

In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added Al Wathba to its Green List, making it the first protected area in the Gulf region to receive this recognition. At present, oil and gas licenses held by Inpex Corporation overlap with only a small portion of this protected area. However, concerns remain about the potential expansion of this overlap and the possibility of increased encroachment in the future.

The Japan-based Inpex Corporation states that, under its policies and commitments to biodiversity conservation, it “does not operate within the boundaries of UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites.” The company also affirms: “We have verified that as of 31 December 2024, none of our operating projects are located within areas we have designated as ‘exclusion zones.’” The company did not respond to questions from Daraj at the time of publication.

Arabian Oryx Protected Area

Following the declaration of the Arabian oryx’s extinction in the 1970s, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan launched a reintroduction program for the species. As a result, the UAE has become home to the world’s largest population of Arabian oryx, numbering more than 6,900 individuals. The Arabian Oryx Protected Area is considered one of the UAE’s most significant conservation achievements, covering a total area of approximately 5,975 square kilometers.

According to the data reviewed for this investigation, four oil and gas licenses overlap with the Arabian Oryx Protected Area. One of these licenses intersects with more than 2,800 square kilometers of the reserve, threatening a significant portion of its unique desert environment and placing additional pressure on its fragile ecosystems.

It is worth noting that the “30×30” initiative, adopted under the Global Biodiversity Framework, represents the largest international commitment to nature protection to date. The initiative aims to halt biodiversity loss by establishing effective and equitably managed networks through ecosystem connectivity, sound governance, and the expansion of protected areas, thereby ensuring species sustainability and enhancing the resilience of natural habitats in the face of climate change.

Key Companies

Among the oil and gas companies whose projects overlap with protected areas in the UAE are the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the Italian company ENI, and the US-based Occidental Petroleum.

According to our data, ADNOC is among the world’s top 50 operators whose licenses overlap with at least one protected area. Six of its licenses overlap with approximately 4,700 square kilometers across eight protected areas. One of ADNOC’s most significant licenses is ADNOC Onshore, which overlaps with eight protected areas covering around 3,500 square kilometers. It is worth noting that the French company TotalEnergies holds a 10% stake in the ADNOC Onshore license and a 20% stake in another oil and gas license alongside ADNOC (57%) and OMV (also 20%), among others. These licenses overlap with the Marawah protected area.

ADNOC ranks fourth in our assessment. The Ghasha project, considered one of the largest hydrocarbon projects in the world, covers roughly a quarter of the Marawah Marine Protected Area. This massive project, still under construction, includes 11 artificial islands, wells, pipelines, and shipping terminals. In response to our inquiries, ADNOC stated: “We operate under strict environmental controls and have a proven track record in protecting nature and biodiversity. This includes planting mangroves and seagrass, deploying more than 200 artificial coral reef structures, and implementing comprehensive protection measures for species such as the hawksbill turtle, osprey, houbara bustard, and dugong. These long-standing programs have helped save the Arabian oryx from extinction and remove it from the endangered species list. We are fully committed to minimizing our environmental impact and protecting the natural ecosystems in which we operate, including planting 10 million mangrove trees by 2030.”

On its website, ADNOC acknowledges that the Hail and Ghasha fields are located within the boundaries of the UNESCO-designated Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve and reiterates its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The company highlights the implementation of one of the largest baseline marine environmental studies in the UAE, conducted in cooperation with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, to develop an integrated biodiversity monitoring program. ADNOC also cites policies such as zero discharge at sea, the creation of artificial fish habitats, marine turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs, and nesting platforms for ospreys.

The company’s name has also been linked to a series of incidents involving illegal waste dumping, often occurring near marginalized communities and, in some cases, within environmentally protected areas.

In a public response to Mediapart, Daraj’s partner in the project, TotalEnergies argued that the project’s data, in general and not specific to the UAE alone, “does not reflect on-the-ground realities.” The company stated that the data calculates the “theoretical overlap” between exploration and production licenses and protected areas, whereas only a small portion of any license area is actually occupied by existing facilities. It added that “oil and gas exploration or production licenses concern reserves located underground, while protected areas are defined at the surface… In practice, interactions with protected areas mainly arise from the physical footprint of installations and their zone of influence.” On this basis, TotalEnergies said it measures and reports its data not on the full licensed area, but on the actual operational footprint.

“In the context of the climate emergency, protecting the planet’s biodiversity has become more critical than ever, as most species and ecosystems worldwide are already under severe pressure… Protected areas should remain free from any fossil fuel exploration and extraction,” according to the Protected Carbon Project, which documented fossil fuel activities in 913 protected areas across 95 countries.

Oil and gas extraction poses a direct threat to these fragile ecosystems. At the 2016 World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the union called on governments to “prohibit environmentally destructive industrial activities and infrastructure development in all categories of protected areas.”

A report prepared by a group of organizations for the COP28 climate conference, held in Dubai, revealed the presence of vast fossil fuel reserves beneath protected areas in the UAE, estimated at around 7 billion barrels of oil equivalent. ADNOC controls approximately 30% of these reserves (2.036 billion barrels of oil equivalent). Burning these reserves would result in potential carbon emissions equivalent to 852 tons of carbon dioxide, four times the UAE’s current emissions. Major investors in these reserves include the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s ENI, and South Korea’s KNOC. To protect biodiversity in the UAE and safeguard the climate, these companies must write off these oil and gas assets now.

According to our data, Italy’s ENI operates three oil and gas licenses in the UAE (Offshore Block 3, Sharjah Block A, and Sharjah Block C), with an estimated overlap exceeding 3,000 square kilometers across 12 protected areas, including Marawah Reserve. ENI also holds stakes in several additional licenses beyond those it operates, including 25% shares in both Ghasha and Sharjah Block B.

In this context, ENI told the project team: “For the Offshore Block 3 license in the UAE, an environmental impact assessment must be conducted prior to any oil or gas activity. If operations take place within a protected area, this assessment must be submitted to the competent environmental authority for approval, and all mitigation and monitoring measures specified must be complied with.” ENI also noted that “the Ghasha field is not operated by ENI,” clarifying that it is operated by ADNOC.

As for the US-based Occidental Petroleum, it operates two licenses that overlap with an area of approximately 1,400 square kilometers across three protected areas, including the Arabian Oryx Protected Area.

According to Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 on the Protection and Development of the Environment, activities within protected areas are permitted only under specific conditions. These include obtaining prior authorization from the competent authorities, conducting environmental impact assessments, and complying with the requirements set by the Federal Environment Authority.

This piece is part of the “Fueling Ecocide” investigative series, conducted by 13 international media platforms, coordinated by the Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF) and the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) network. Media Platforms: Mediapart (France), Reporters United (Greece), Domani (Italy), Daraj (Lebanon), InfoAmazonia (Brazil), InfoCongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Der Standard (Austria), The Bureau of Investigative Journalism/TBIJ (United Kingdom), El Espectador (Colombia), 24.hu (Hungary), Le Soir (Belgium), Expresso (Portugal), and InfoLibre (Spain). This investigation was supported by Journalismfund Europe and IJ4EU (Investigative Journalism for Europe). Data and geodata analysis by Leopold Salzenstein (EIF), Dafni Karavola (Reporters United), Alexandre Brutelle (EIF), and Yann Philippin (Mediapart). Graphic design and illustrations by Simon Toupet (Mediapart).