First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has been named the Principal and Official Banking Partner for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15, 2025. The event is recognized as one of the world’s leading forums for environmental decision-making, bringing together representatives from governments, civil society, science, and business to discuss issues related to nature and sustainability.
As part of its partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), FAB will host a dedicated Pavilion at the Congress. The Pavilion will present FAB’s sustainability and nature strategies while engaging stakeholders from various sectors. It will also feature expert-led discussions on technology’s role in climate and nature agendas, showcase local small and medium-sized enterprises focused on these topics, and highlight youth involvement in conservation efforts.
The Congress is expected to attract prominent figures in global conservation including H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, President of IUCN; Dr. Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace; Rob Walton, Founder of the Rob Walton Foundation; as well as senior officials from government, finance, science, and civil society. The theme for this year’s event is “Powering Transformative Conservation,” with an agenda focusing on biodiversity solutions, climate resilience, sustainable development practices, Indigenous knowledge and equity issues, and conservation finance.
Hana Al Rostamani, Group Chief Executive Officer of First Abu Dhabi Bank said: “Our role as Principal and Official Banking Partner of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 underscores the financial sector’s critical responsibility in advancing tangible climate and nature-based outcomes. At FAB, we embed sustainability at the very heart of our business and mobilise capital towards solutions that drive both national climate ambitions and global biodiversity targets. As environmental and economic systems grow ever more interconnected, finance must take the lead in shaping a future that is more resilient, equitable, and sustainable.”
Razan Al Mubarak, President of IUCN commented: “Hosting the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi is a milestone for the global conservation community. With First Abu Dhabi Bank as a Principal and Official banking Partner, we are highlighting the UAE’s leadership in linking finance and sustainability and showcasing how regional innovation can drive global impact. This collaboration reflects the spirit of the Congress — bringing governments, science, civil society, and business together to power transformative conservation.”
FAB has played a significant role in promoting sustainable finance within its region over recent years by structuring green transition initiatives as well as sustainability-linked financing solutions. In 2017 it became the first bank in MENA to issue a green bond; more recently it was also first among GCC financial institutions to issue a blue bond supporting marine ecosystem protection. Earlier this year FAB published its inaugural nature report aligned with Taskforce on Nature-related Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is organized every four years by IUCN along with co-hosts such as UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment and Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. It serves as a major platform for setting environmental policy directions globally.
