#ForCoral Pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

SHAMS, in collaboration with ICRI, has secured a medium sized #ForCoral pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, taking place 9–13 October 2025 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

This dedicated pavilion offers a prestigious platform to showcase the global leadership, innovation, and partnerships of the #ForCoral community. SHAMS and ICRI warmly invite ICRI members and partners to submit proposals for side events to be featured at the #ForCoral Pavilion.

Pavilion Programming: Overview

A total of up to 37 time slots are available for side events over the course of the Congress. These include:

• Standard sessions (30–45 minutes) – ideal for interactive presentations, panel discussions, or pitches.
• One extended session (60–90 minutes) per day – ideal for in-depth workshops, launches, or screenings.
• Social and cultural events (receptions, networking, etc.) – allowed in the evenings (from 19:00, except Sunday from 17:30), for up to 3 hours.

Events will take place within the SHAMS/ICRI Pavilion, offering high visibility and professional AV support (live streaming, interpretation, etc.). For more information, see a detailed program below.

Submission Instructions

Please submit your proposal by Wednesday, 31 July 2025, including:

1. Title of your proposed event

2. Type of session (exhibition event, extended event, or social/cultural event)

3. Why attend? (short motivation and target audience)

4. Brief description of the session

5. Congress theme(s) it aligns with

6. Preferred date/time (per programming below)

7. Co-organizers (if any)

8. List of proposed speakers or presenters

9. Intended audience or expected outcomes

Send submissions or inquiries to: Vincent Kneefel - vincent.kneefel@shams.gov.sa

Speaker Registration & Permit Requirement

All speakers (including moderators, presenters, and facilitators) must be:

• Registered for the Congress, and
• Issued an official UAE Speaker Permit via the Congress Virtual Platform.

Without this permit, the speaker’s participation cannot be included in the official programme. We will provide detailed guidance to all selected event organizers on how to complete this process. Please plan ahead.

Guidelines & Themes

All events must align with at least one of the five Congress Themes:

1. Scaling up resilient conservation action

2. Reducing climate overshoot risks

3. Delivering on equity

4. Transitioning to nature-positive economies and societies

5. Disruptive innovation and leadership for conservation

Event designs should be inclusive, encourage interactive participation, and reflect the Forum’s Guiding Principles (including gender and youth representation). Events must also respect IUCN’s sustainability requirements – printed materials and giveaways are discouraged.

This is a unique opportunity to highlight your work at the world’s premier conservation gathering. SHAMS and ICRI look forward to receiving your ideas and co-creating a compelling programme that advances global coral reef action.