Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri serves as the Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the largest environmental regulator in the Middle East. Since her appointment in 2019, she has been a driving force in advancing environmental conservation and promoting sustainable development in the Emirate.
Under Dr. Al Dhaheri’s leadership, EAD has undertaken several transformative initiatives, including the successful reintroduction of endangered antelope species in Chad and the restoration of Abu Dhabi’s fisheries. She has also championed large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts, focusing on mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass habitats. She also led the development of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy to achieve Net Zero and the development of single-use plastic policy.
Dr. Dhaheri currently serves as an IUCN Councillor from the West Asia region. She has been involved with the IUCN since 2008, supporting the work of the Species Survival Commission (SSC), and is globally recognized for her efforts in species conservation and ecosystem restoration.
She holds number of prestigious positions, including being on the board for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Vice Chair of UN SDG 14. Locally, she is on the board of Emirates Nature, International Fund for Houbara Conservation, United Arab Emirates University, and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Security Authority, among many others.
Dr. Dhaheri’s contributions have earned her several awards, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management and the Arab Woman Award for “Distinguished Contribution.” She is also a recipient of the Abu Dhabi Medal for “Distinguished Government Performance” in 2015.