Rouba ABOU ATIEH

Rouba Abou-Atieh is the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Office – Abu Dhabi. In this role, she heads the Office, which leads two key UNEP-CMS international agreements: the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU). She oversees their implementation and advancement in collaboration with governments, partners, and stakeholders across regions and globally.

Rouba, together with her team, has also spearheaded global initiatives under CMS, including collaborating with the UN High-Level Climate Champions to launch the 2030 Seagrass Breakthrough, announced at UNFCCC COP28. This landmark initiative sets an ambitious global target to accelerate the conservation and restoration of seagrass ecosystems by 2030, recognizing their vital role in biodiversity protection, coastal resilience, food security, and climate change mitigation. Through this effort, she is working to elevate seagrass conservation on the international agenda, mobilize multi-stakeholder action, and foster innovative partnerships linking nature and climate commitments.

Before joining the United Nations, Rouba served as Regional Environmental and Climate Change Practice Lead and Technical Director at an international consultancy, bringing over 17 years of experience supporting international financial institutions, governments, and the private sector. She has led high-profile projects and policy developments, focusing on identifying and managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Her work has delivered positive environmental and social outcomes, from developing action plans to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage to addressing climate impacts, child labour, and labour rights.

She has extensive experience directing Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) in line with international standards, including the Equator Principles, World Bank/IFC, and multilateral lender requirements. She has also worked closely with ministries in the Middle East and GCC, as well as with communities, and is fluent in both Arabic and English.

Rouba holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, with a focus on strategy, change management, and leadership. She has also been a champion of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), reflecting her commitment to inclusive leadership and cross-cultural collaboration.