Marawah Marine Protected Area was declared in 2001 with a total area of 4255 km², and is the largest MPA in the region. The island hosts 60 per cent of the population of dugongs in the world.

The protected areas is a good representative example for the gulf region that it contains coastal areas, sabkhas, shallow waters and shallow islands as well as sea grass habitats. Also the protected area contains scattered mangrove patches (Avicennia marina) which considered important habitats for many of terrestrial and marine species.

The island has great cultural and archaeological significance with the presence of more than 20 sites dating back to the Stone Age. Houses as old as 7,000 years from Stone Age were unearthed a few years back along with the remains of the oldest inhabitants of the island.
Archaeological sites identified on the island date back to the Bronze Age, Iron Age the late pre Islamic period as well as Islamic period. A large Islamic graveyard, with over 60 burials, and an important fragment of pottery from the Late Stone Age were found.
Biodiversity

Four species of marine turtles, 70 species of fish and coral reefs, and kilometers of mangrove make up the unique environment of Marawah.
Resident and migratory bird species, such as ospreys, sooty falcons and several tern species, are also part of the ecosystem, making the area important because of its biodiversity.

Bottlenose and humpback dolphins are also found in the surrounding waters. Preserving the natural diversity and quality of coastal and marine environment is what the management of the island aims at. A 12-member Marine ranger force carries out the surveillance and control programme here.
Marawah is, however, just one island of the whole protected area that includes 20 islands. It is surrounded by Abu Al Abyad island in the east, Sir Baniyas in the west, a coastal line in the south and Jarnain Island in the north.
The agency has carried out several fishery studies and detailed surveys to facilitate the setting up of a fish stock database that can eventually lead to a better management regime for fisheries.

Interestingly, the island inhabits more than 107 families who have lived here for several years. Some families hold the license to fish issued by EAD but many have moved on to the city or are not completely settled here.

Marawah Becomes a Biosphere Reserve
Marawah Protected Area was added to UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program global network of biosphere reserves making it the first declared Marine Biosphere Reserve in the UAE and the region.

Essential infrastructures for MPAs management were procured and maintained. Rehabilitation activities commenced in order to rehabilitate a mangrove site at Marawah Island. An experimental artificial reef project was established at Al Bazm Island to evaluate the suitable artificial structure to replenish fisheries stock and to set guidelines for the artificial reefs in Abu Dhabi.