Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center surpasses 800 animal rescues since opening in 2023

Three years since its opening in 2023, the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center has surpassed a major milestone with over 800 rescue intakes of animals across the Gulf. From guiding a stranded whale back to its migratory route, to rehabilitating flamingos injured in strong hailstorms and becoming one of the region’s largest sea snake rescue operations, the centre is redefining conservation in the Arabian Gulf.

Powered by science, rooted in community and driven by a passion for marine life, this is how the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center has become integral to the region. Dr Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said: "At Miral, we are dedicated to creating immersive and meaningful experiences that inspire, and educate, leaving a lasting impact on our guests and our community.

The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center brings this commitment to life, showing how science, education, and collaboration can come together to safeguard the unique marine-life of the Arabian Gulf. Since opening three years ago, the centre has advanced marine conservation, deepened public awareness, and nurtured a shared sense of environmental responsibility across the community.

Its achievements support Abu Dhabi's sustainability ambitions and reflect Miral's commitment to protecting our environment for generations to come. "

One of the first and most notable rehabilitation stories by the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is Malquot, a lost baby dugong that was rescued by EAD. He is currently one of only three dugongs under human care worldwide.

His rehabilitation story was followed by hundreds of rescue missions led by the centre’s dedicated team of 10 rescue professionals and over 40 rescue and rehabilitation experts. The team is on hand 24/7, 365 days a year, responding to calls via a dedicated rescue helpline and incidents phoned-in by key marine partners and the community.

They also have a fleet of highly equipped rescue vehicles and purpose-built vessels, such as the first ever marine wildlife rescue ambulances in the region, which can transport animals to the facility for specialist treatment.

Among their most notable efforts is the successful intervention to help a Bryde’s whale found disoriented near the Port of Fujairah in late 2024. Working in collaboration with the Fujairah Environment Authority and other local partners, the centre’s team conducted health assessments, monitored behaviour, and ensured the whale returned safely to open waters.

Another mission came in early 2024, when a flock of flamingos was found injured at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve following a hailstorm. The centre, again in collaboration with EAD, conducted a rescue operation for the birds and the unattended flamingo eggs which saw them rehabilitated at the centre’s world-class facility.

Following treatment, the healthy birds were returned into the wild, a testament to the team’s expertise, resilience, and care during crisis response. The centre’s rescue team also hosts regular workshops with the local community and businesses, including hotels along the beaches of Abu Dhabi, to share basic knowledge of how to act when spotting a distressed animal until expert support arrives.

Through hosting and participating in various events over the years, the centre has engaged with more than 7,500 people, increasing awareness across a wide range of topics, from the research initiatives currently led by the team to practical guidance on how individuals can help rescue injured or distressed animals.

The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center is the first facility of its kind in the region to be certified by Global Humane and is accredited by leading animal welfare organizations such as the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), Animal Trainer Development Programme (IMATA), Southeast Asian Zoos & Aquariums Association (SEAZA) and World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA), reflecting its expertise in animal care and unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare.

These accreditations cement the centre’s role as a regional hub for science and education, fostering partnerships with leading academic institutions to advance marine conservation and inspire future generations. Collaborations include joint maritime research with NYU Abu Dhabi, an innovative plankton-focused conference and workshops with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and the Community of the Future initiative with Khalifa University, which engaged high school students to envision a sustainable future for Abu Dhabi.

Dr Elise Marquis, Senior Director at the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, said: “In the past three years, we’ve made marine science accessible, not just to researchers but to the rest of the community. Whether through university partnerships or our monthly Science Talk series, we’re sparking curiosity and inspiring a new generation of marine advocates.

” These monthly Science Talks, open to the public free of charge, bring together zoological experts and scientists from across the region to discuss pressing topics in marine science, natural history, the Arabian Gulf region and its inhabitants.

Through the Science Talk series, the centre has inspired over 3,000 attendees since 2023, engaging them in conversations about the environment around us and how to protect it. Behind all this is a world-class team of seven marine scientists and a joint team of over 50 subject matter experts in research, rescue, animal care and education, operating out of a cutting-edge facility.

The centre recently hosted the first regional seagrass scientific workshop in collaboration with EAD and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Dugong-MOU Secretariat. With experts like Professor Emma Jackson of the World Seagrass Association in attendance, the workshop marked a major leap in understanding and protecting the Gulf’s underappreciated underwater grasslands.

Dr Marquis said: “This workshop represents an important step toward initiating a dynamic, collaborative effort to enhance seagrass research. We are entering a new era of opportunities for seagrass conservation, and we are immensely proud to be actively instigating it.

” Connecting with regional and global conservation is clearly high on the centre’s priority list too.

Building on the seagrass workshop led by the centre’s research team, the peer-reviewed work on seagrass has shared vital new findings with the international scientific community. These findings, along with other major insights, were shared in 2025 when the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center attended the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

The team engaged with other members of the scientific community, underscoring the centre’s commitment to protecting the environment and inspiring ocean advocacy, an effort that supports Abu Dhabi’s 2030 sustainability vision.

The centre also leads multiple research programmes, including the Marine Ecology Program, which encompasses more than 10 projects focused on understanding the resilience of critical habitats and species in extreme environments, including the Seagrass Research Program.

In parallel, the Sustainable Aquaculture Research Program advances sustainable practices through local species breeding and larval-rearing initiatives, nutrition innovation, and circular economy approaches, supporting food security while reducing fishing pressure on wild stocks.

The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center’s internship programme has also welcomed 61 high school and university students to date, providing hands-on learning in aquaculture and marine conservation across the Arabian region, while helping create career pathways for individuals passionate about marine conservation and research.

As the largest dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return facility in the region, the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center stands as a beacon of marine science and conservation in the UAE. Building on SeaWorld’s global legacy of more than 60 years in marine animal care and rescue, the centre brings world-class expertise and innovation to Abu Dhabi.

Led by a team of leading marine scientists, veterinarians, animal care professionals, and educators, the centre continues to shape the future of marine conservation, locally, regionally, and globally.