When Laila Mostafa Abdullatif first joined Emirates Nature WWF in 2008, the environmental movement in the UAE was still in its infancy.
Now, 16 years later, she leads the organisation as director general, overseeing a mission that's grown from niche think tank into one of the region's most influential conservation actors. This year also marks a milestone: the organisation's 25th anniversary.
"It's incredible," Ms Abdullatif reflects in an exclusive interview with The National. "I've been here for 16 our of those 25 years. We've evolved so much – from research and policy to rolling up our sleeves and implementing projects on the ground."
Founded in 2001, Emirates Nature-WWF has become a crucial bridge between government, private sector, and civil society. It has mobilised more than 5,000 volunteers through citizen science initiatives, supported sustainable farming and fishing practices, and pioneered nature-based solutions that link ecological protection with economic opportunity.
"We've built trust with communities and institutions," said Ms Abdullatif. "That institutional knowledge-across a quarter of a century-means we're not just reacting, we're co-creating long-term change."
A post-Cop28 turning point
Much of that change, she explains, has accelerated since the UAE hosted Cop28 in 2023. It was, in her words, "a game changer".
"There was this push across all sectors- government, private sector, youth, academia. Climate and nature became embedded in the national agenda," Ms Abdullatif said. "It shifted the perception of biodiversity from being a soft issue to a strategic priority."
Ahead of Dubai hosting the international climate conference, at Cop27, Emirates Nature-WWF launched the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a platform designed to help organisations align with national Net Zero goals. One flagship project, dubbed Road 2.0, brings together government and commercial actors to accelerate the transition to zero-emission fleets across the country.
"It's bottom-up, consultative, and impact driven," she said. "We're not just about awareness – we're about real transition."
From mangroves to market: showcasing value
Yet, conservation in the UAE still faces challenges. One, Ms Abdullatif noted, is the need to demonstrate the economic value of preserving ecosystems – especially in arid landscapes often perceived as less biodiverse.
"If you don't show the added value of conservation, whether through ecosystem services or income streams-it's hard to sustain interest," she said.
To address this, Emirates Nature-WWF is scaling up nature-based solution, including climate-resilient crops like Salicornia, and eco-tourism initiative in coastal lagoons as well as across terrestrial ecosystems.
"The goal is to look at the development of eco-tourism master plans for key priority biodiversity hotspot areas, but also the development of business plans associated with those eco-tourism master plans and to drive investment into the area." she said.
These projects aim to generate revenue while restoring ecosystems, bringing local communities into the fold.
"These aren't just environmental wins," the WWF chief insisted. "They're economic solutions that make conservation tangible."
The NGO's work also extends to species protection. A decade-long marine turtle monitoring initiative, for instance, has mapped migratory routes and informed marine protected area strategies. "It's science feeding into policy," she said.
Conservation meets capital
Another frontier for the organisation is climate finance. Ms Abdullatif describes a persistent global gap between funding and action. That's where innovation comes in.
Emirates Nature-WWF has been developing blended finance models, including the Global Islamic Finance Impact Programme, which is in the pipeline to be launched in partnership with HSBC, WWF International, amongst others.
The goal is ambitious: to use Islamic finance to back climate and nature projects and global clean tech advancements.
"Some projects are bankable, some aren't," she said. "This fund will help bridge that gap and bring capital where it's most needed."
Local roots, global reach
Despite this international scope, Ms Abdullatif was quick to stress the organisation's heartbeat remained local.
"Everything starts here, on the ground," she said. "We're working with Emirati farmers on native crops, engaging with fisherman on sustainable practices, and connecting thousands of citizens with conservation through our Leaders of Change programme."
The dual lens-local implementation, global impact-has also seen Ms Abdullatif lead WWF's Asia Pacific operations, spanning more than 30 countries. One of her most meaningful projects involves a partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to address climate vulnerability in high risk nations like Fiji and the Philippines.
"These communities face increasing hazards-cyclones, saltwater intrusion, drought," she says. "We're integrating nature-based adaptation into disaster risk reduction. That's the future."
A field for the future
Looking ahead, Emirates Nature-WWF is focused on scaling impact, testing new models, and pushing the boundaries of innovation. But Ms Abdullatif's message to the next generation is perhaps the most powerful.
"You don't have to be a conservation scientist," she said. "This field needs communicators, engineers, financiers-people from all disciplines who want to make a difference."
Her advice to young Emirati's? "Protect what your forefathers depended on. Be bold. Be creative. And challenge yourself to do more."
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
