Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of Frontier25, has delivered a keynote address at the 10th edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform, co-hosted by Frontier25 and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).
The Ocean Innovators Platform was launched in 2022 by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to spotlight and elevate breakthrough solutions that can help accelerate the sustainable transition of ocean-related sectors, including the waste management, seafood, and maritime industries.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said: “The growth of the blue economy does not rely on how much more we can gain but rests on how much more we can give. So much of the world below remains unknown, and yet our lives depend on it. To thrive on the surface, we must take care of what lies beneath.”
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan also paid tribute to the UAE’s proud history as a pearl diving community, decades before it became a thriving hub of business, technology, and tourism.
Today, the UAE’s maritime industries contribute around US$37billion to the UAE’s annual GDP. Globally, the blue economy surpasses US$2.2trillion, more than doubling in the last 30 years. Reports suggest that this could rise to US$3trillion by 2030. However, recent research suggests that human impact on marine environments could double by 2050, with pollution, overfishing, and the effects of climate change are all putting pressure on marine ecosystems.
The event also saw Frontier25 and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation sign a Memorandum of Understanding committing to working together to promote and develop their sustainability goals, including but not limited to promoting and developing impact investment, ocean innovation, and blue finance.
Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation said: “Ocean innovation sits at the crossroads of environmental responsibility and economic opportunity. This 10th Ocean Innovators Platform in Abu Dhabi highlights the maturity of the blue economy and the strong regional appetite for solutions that accelerate low-carbon transition and sustainable shipping. The United Arab Emirates’ dynamism in this field reinforces the Foundation’s plan to open a branch in the region to scale impactful initiatives.”
