ADNOC Al Nouf Mangrove Forest Initiative

The ADNOC Al Nouf Mangrove Forest: Where Little Hands Grow Big Futures As ADNOC surpasses the halfway mark in its ambition to plant 10 million mangroves by 2030, schoolchildren are discovering how muddy fingers and award-winning drones are shaping science and sustainability in the UAE

Year 6 students from the Pearl British Academy planted almost 100 seedlings on their trip to the ADNOC Al Nouf mangrove forest in Abu Dhabi

26 Oct 2026・7 min read Squelching through the mud while planting seedlings in the ADNOC Al Nouf mangrove forest in Abu Dhabi with his classmates, 10-year-old Laith Qaimi declares: “Guys, this is the best school trip ever!” The joy and laughter echoing through the mangrove forest confirm that Laith’s 27 classmates in Year 6 of the Pearl British Academy couldn’t agree more. Mira Sargin, aged 11, adds: “I was in a group with all my friends, and I loved planting mangroves. I got very dirty and muddy and it was so much fun.” The school planted almost 100 seedlings on their trip, which took place in early 2026, sharing the data with ADNOC’s sustainability team.

ADNOC's drone-enabled mangrove restoration initiative won first place at this year's Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award

Community engagement is a core pillar of the “insanely cool” ADNOC program, says Jane Glavan, co-owner of Distant Imagery Solutions, a company that has worked with ADNOC since the mangrove planting initiative launched more than three years ago. The program reached a milestone at the beginning of the year when His Excellency, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, planted ADNOC’s five millionth mangrove seedling. He joined more than 6,000 people, including school children, community groups and ADNOC employees, who have played their part in ADNOC’s goal to plant 10 million mangroves by 2030. It is an important part of the wider UAE effort, where the nation has pledged to plant 100 million mangroves by the end of the decade.

Dr. Hind Al Ameri Section Head, Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) How do mangroves store carbon beneath our feet? What keeps it there? Mangroves are among the world’s most effective natural carbon sinks because they store carbon both above and below ground. While carbon is captured and stored in the trunks, branches, and leaves, a much larger proportion is stored in their extensive root systems and the sediments beneath them. These sediments are waterlogged and low in oxygen, which slows the decomposition of organic matter. As a result, carbon can remain trapped in the soil for decades, centuries, or even longer instead of being released back into the atmosphere. This is also why mangrove soils are often darker in color, reflecting the accumulation of carbon-rich organic material over time. How does a mangrove forest help marine life thrive while protecting the UAE shoreline? Mangrove forests provide a wide range of benefits for both people and wildlife. Their dense root systems help stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, and buffer coastal areas from wave action. At the same time, they create important habitats for many species. Juvenile fish use mangroves as nursery grounds where they can grow in relative safety before moving into open waters. Mangroves also support crabs and other invertebrates and provide feeding and resting areas for migratory birds. By supporting biodiversity while protecting coastlines, mangroves play a vital role in maintaining the health and resilience of Abu Dhabi’s marine environment.

Beyond that, what the children have done is “leave a legacy for science,” says Jane. Rooted in the conservational legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, mangroves – “a nature superpower” – are essential coastal ecosystems. Abundant across the UAE, they act as natural, high-efficiency buffers against climate change and severe weather, protecting shorelines from erosion, surges, and flooding, while serving as critical, biodiversity-rich nurseries for marine life and birds. Mangroves are blue carbon sinks that lock away carbon in coastal soils and sediments for centuries.

Jane Glavan (far left) is co-owner of Distant Imagery Solutions, which has supported ADNOC's mangrove planting initiative since its launch more than three years ago

“Land-based forests eventually level off, but blue carbon habitats can continue accumulating and storing carbon in their sediments over generations,” adds Jane. And while traditional planting techniques allow the children to connect directly with nature, another key lesson was learning about modern restoration methods. With a whirr and a burst of speed that draws excited “oohs” from the children, they witness the technology behind ADNOC’s drone-enabled mangrove restoration, which claimed first place at this year’s Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award. The award recognizes outstanding corporate programs that advance sustainability and environmental responsibility. Made in the UAE and aligned with ADNOC’s Make it in the Emirates initiatives, the drones are built from wood and recyclable materials. Each drone carries some 6,000 Avicennia marina seeds, with a release system firing them into tidal mud to successfully propagate. Around 40% of the seeds grow into trees, Jane explains, and once established, survival rates are more than 90%, “a very stable system that leads to mangrove forests”. Jane says there are several things that make the ADNOC mangrove program “incredibly special and unique”. Among them, that it is “purposely very diverse”, consisting of youngsters from Emirati, international expat, and People of Determination (the official term in the UAE for disabilities) communities, who sometimes camp overnight on site.

“It’s not a ‘one and done’ experience where you plant a mangrove and never see it again,” Jane adds. Across the next few months, the Pearl British Academy children, and other youth and community members who have participated in the program this year, will return to the ADNOC Al Nouf mangrove forest. They will collect seeds, germinate them, load them into drones and help with the next wave of mangrove planting. “It is taking them through the whole scientific process; it’s a real STEM activity,” says Jane. “And when they go and plant their own seeds, it's with their fingers direct to soil. “When you’re looking at something, touching it and putting it into the ground – feeling the connection because you’ve named it – that makes a difference. “It’s a personal touch we try to amplify. And if the site isn’t disturbed, that little tree will be there 50 years from now as a natural habitat.” On a beautiful, sunny morning in 2076, Laith may return to the ADNOC Al Nouf mangrove forest to visit his tree, “Duncan”, named after one of the ADNOC team members on the trip. Mira may visit the mangrove named after her too. And so might the other children who “left a legacy for science,” bringing their families back to plant more trees where they once stood. Because as the children depart the forest to return to class, the day is best captured in Mira’s words: “I feel like it was a childhood memory I will always remember.”

School children from the Pearl British Academy plant mangroves in Abu Dhabi

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