The UAE Ministry of Energy, represented by Mr. Khalid Al Hosani, Director of the Geology and Mineral Resources Department, and the Geology Department at United Arab Emirates (UAEU), represented by Dr. Khalid Al Boloushi, Head of UAEU Geology Department, participated in Second Regional Meeting on ‘Planning the establishment of UNESCO Global GEOPARK in the Arab region’, held in Amman, Jordan.

The meeting aimed to discuss the 2018-2020 work plan of establishing Global Georpak in the Arab World and strengthen the capacity of Arab countries to promote the establishment of UNESCO Global Geoparks in the region. It also aimed to mobilize efforts at the governance level as well as research and education levels to promote the concept and approaches of UNESCO Global Geoparks in the Arab region, promote the designation of UNESCO Global Geopark in the Arab Region and set the mode to mobilize effort for geological heritage conservation and management.

At the time being, there are 127 UNISCO Global Geoparks in 35 countries worldwide, mainly in Europe and China. Although the Arab World has natural heritage of International significance, Global Geoparks did not receive appropriate attention in the Arab World, as there is only one, M'Goun Geopark, in Morocco.