Abu Dhabi-based environmental technology company Nabat is using artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous drones to reduce mangrove restoration costs by three to five times compared with conventional methods, while significantly increasing the scale of restoration and environmental monitoring. In partnership with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Nabat deployed 10 million mangrove seeds this year, contributing to the UAE's broader ambition to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030.
The company reported that a single team can survey approximately 800 hectares of land daily using high-resolution drone imagery—equivalent to more than 1,100 football pitches in one day—while autonomous drones can disperse mangrove seeds across 50 to 60 hectares per day, roughly the size of 70 to 84 football pitches daily. Speaking to Arabian Business, Mehdi Ajana, Vice President of Strategy at Nabat, explained that AI allows teams to analyze entire sites rather than relying on limited sampling, noting that the AI can detect tiny mangrove seedlings down to the millimetre.
Ajana emphasized that the volume of seeds planted does not equal the number of established trees. In the UAE, mangrove establishment rates of approximately 40 to 50 percent have been observed when sites are chosen using scientific criteria such as soil conditions, elevation, and tidal exposure. To aid site selection, Nabat developed an AI-powered restoration site suitability model covering the GCC coastline. Ajana noted that the technology also identifies areas undergoing natural regeneration, where reducing external pressures rather than active planting may be the appropriate solution.
Ajana also acknowledged that the environmental impact of AI itself must be evaluated, explaining that using AI for environmental purposes does not automatically guarantee ecological benefits. While Nabat accounts for computing, imagery, and field operations when assessing its footprint, the company has not yet completed a quantified net-impact assessment. Ajana stressed that true restoration success must ultimately be measured by long-term ecological outcomes and thriving trees rather than planting figures.
