Razan Al Mubarak: A Powerful Voice for Nature

Razan Al Mubarak is an Emirati environmental leader known for protecting wildlife, supporting climate action, and guiding major conservation organisations.

As of July 2026, she serves as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, commonly called IUCN. She is also a senior leader at the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Nature–WWF.

Her work connects nature protection, climate policy, responsible finance, and sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates and around the world.

Who Is Razan Al Mubarak?

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak is a conservation expert and environmental executive from the UAE.

She is widely recognised for helping governments, businesses, scientists, and communities work together to protect nature. Her responsibilities cover endangered species, environmental policy, climate action, oceans, and nature-related financial risks.

She became internationally known after being elected President of IUCN in 2021. In October 2025, IUCN members elected her for a second four-year term.

This made her one of the most important environmental leaders from the Arab world.

What Is Razan Al Mubarak Known For?

Razan Al Mubarak is mainly known for her leadership in international conservation.

She works to protect animals, plants, oceans, forests, and natural habitats. She also encourages businesses and financial institutions to understand how their decisions affect nature.

Her major areas of work include:

• Protecting threatened animal and plant species
• Supporting environmental laws and policies
• Connecting climate action with nature protection
• Funding conservation projects around the world
• Helping companies report nature-related risks
• Supporting sustainable ocean management
• Encouraging public and private organisations to cooperate

Her career shows how environmental protection can become part of government planning, business decisions, and international development.

Razan Al Mubarak’s Current Roles

As of July 2026, Razan Al Mubarak holds several important positions.

President of IUCN

Razan Al Mubarak is the President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

IUCN is a global organisation that brings together governments, experts, charities, and environmental groups. It is widely known for producing the IUCN Red List, which measures the risk of extinction faced by animal and plant species.

Al Mubarak was first elected IUCN President in September 2021. She became the organisation’s second female president and its first president from West Asia.

She was elected again in October 2025 for another four-year term.

Readers can learn more through her official IUCN leadership profile.

Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Al Mubarak is the founding Executive Managing Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

The organisation supports people working directly to save threatened species. Its grants help researchers and conservation teams protect animals, plants, and fungi in many countries.

By 2026, the Fund had supported more than 3,000 projects involving nearly 1,800 species.

Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi

She also serves as Managing Director of the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi.

The agency works on environmental regulation and nature protection across Abu Dhabi. Its responsibilities include air quality, marine life, wildlife, climate policy, protected areas, and the careful use of natural resources.

Her role places her among the leading figures shaping environmental policy in the UAE.

Emirates Nature–WWF

Al Mubarak helped establish Emirates Nature–WWF in 2001 and remains its Managing Director.

The organisation works with individuals, schools, companies, and government bodies to protect nature and promote sustainable living.

Its projects have included coral protection, turtle conservation, mountain habitats, climate awareness, and community participation.

Her work also supports the wider growth of sustainable business in the UAE, where companies are increasingly expected to consider their environmental impact.

Nature-Related Financial Disclosures

Razan Al Mubarak is a Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, also known as TNFD.

TNFD helps businesses and financial organisations understand their relationship with nature.

For example, a company may depend on clean water, healthy soil, forests, or stable weather. It may also damage nature through pollution, land use, or waste.

TNFD provides guidance that helps organisations identify and report these risks more clearly.

Early Career and Education

Razan Al Mubarak studied Environmental Studies and International Relations at Tufts University in the United States.

She later completed a master’s degree in Public Understanding of Environmental Change at University College London.

Her studies gave her knowledge of both environmental science and international policy.

She began her professional conservation career in 2001 by helping to establish Emirates Nature–WWF.

This early work allowed her to gain experience in wildlife protection, environmental education, partnerships, and public policy.

Major Career Achievements

Razan Al Mubarak has achieved several important milestones during her career.

Building Conservation Organisations

She helped establish Emirates Nature–WWF and became the founding Managing Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

These organisations support conservation at different levels. Emirates Nature–WWF focuses strongly on the UAE, while the Fund supports species protection projects across the world.

Leading an Abu Dhabi Government Agency

In 2010, Al Mubarak became Managing Director of the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi.

Official professional profiles have described her as the youngest person at that time to lead an Abu Dhabi government organisation.

Her leadership has supported conservation programmes, environmental research, stronger regulations, and species restoration.

Supporting the Return of the Scimitar-Horned Oryx

One important conservation achievement linked to the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi is the return of the scimitar-horned oryx to the wild in Chad.

The animal had once disappeared from the wild.

A long-term breeding and reintroduction programme involving Abu Dhabi and international partners helped restore wild populations. In 2023, the species moved from “Extinct in the Wild” to “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

This was a major international success involving many organisations, scientists, governments, and conservation workers.

COP28 Climate Leadership

In 2023, Razan Al Mubarak served as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 UAE.

Her role was to encourage businesses, investors, cities, civil society groups, and other non-government participants to take stronger climate action.

She frequently explained that climate change and biodiversity loss must be addressed together.

Healthy forests, wetlands, oceans, and natural habitats can store carbon, protect communities, support food systems, and reduce climate risks.

How Does Razan Al Mubarak Help Businesses?

Razan Al Mubarak’s work is not limited to wildlife and government agencies.

She also promotes better environmental decision-making in the business and financial sectors.

Companies depend on natural resources in many ways. Farming depends on soil and water. Tourism may depend on beaches, wildlife, or beautiful landscapes. Construction companies need raw materials. Food businesses depend on healthy ecosystems.

When nature is damaged, companies may face higher costs, supply problems, legal risks, and public criticism.

Through TNFD and her wider leadership, Al Mubarak encourages organisations to measure these risks and explain how they affect the environment.

This approach is especially relevant to UAE business leaders who want to grow while meeting modern environmental expectations.

Is Razan Al Mubarak Married?

Razan Al Mubarak is married to Emirati business leader and philanthropist Badr Jafar.

The couple joined the Giving Pledge in 2017.

Through this public commitment, they promised to give most of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetimes or through future estate planning.

Their public pledge focuses on strategic giving, cooperation, transparency, and the development of stronger charitable networks in the Arab region.

Private family details that have not been clearly confirmed by reliable sources should not be treated as fact.

Why Is Her Work Important?

Razan Al Mubarak’s work is important because nature supports human life.

People need clean air, safe water, healthy soil, food, plants, animals, and stable weather. When natural systems become weak, communities and economies also face greater risks.

Her leadership brings together several groups that do not always work closely:

• Governments
• Environmental organisations
• Scientists
• Companies
• Investors
• Local communities
• International institutions

She promotes the idea that protecting nature is not separate from economic progress.

Responsible development can create jobs and business growth while also protecting important natural resources.

Interesting Facts About Razan Al Mubarak

• She began working in conservation in 2001.
• She studied both environmental issues and international relations.
• Her master’s research examined traditional laws connected to the sea in the UAE region.
• She was selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2018.
• She became IUCN’s first president from West Asia.
• She was elected for a second IUCN presidential term in 2025.
• She has worked in government, international conservation, charitable funding, climate action, and sustainable finance.
• She co-authored a scientific paper published in the journal Current Biology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Razan Al Mubarak do?

She is an environmental leader who manages conservation organisations, supports wildlife protection, helps shape environmental policy, and promotes responsible business practices.

Is Razan Al Mubarak the President of IUCN?

Yes. She was first elected in 2021 and elected for a second four-year term in October 2025.

Where is Razan Al Mubarak from?

She is from the United Arab Emirates.

What organisations does she lead?

Her major roles include IUCN, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, Emirates Nature–WWF, and TNFD.

What did she do at COP28?

She served as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 UAE. She encouraged companies, investors, cities, and civil society groups to take stronger climate action.

Final Thoughts

Razan Al Mubarak is one of the UAE’s most recognised environmental leaders.

Her career combines wildlife protection, government policy, international cooperation, philanthropy, climate action, and responsible finance.

Her second term as IUCN President gives her an important role in global discussions about biodiversity, endangered species, natural resources, and sustainable development.

Her work also sends a simple message: people, businesses, and governments can build a stronger future only when they protect the natural systems that support life.