Frontier25 ​inks sustainability MoU with Monaco Foundation

Frontier25 has formalized a new partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, signing a Memorandum of Understanding that targets impact investment, ocean innovation, and blue finance. The agreement builds on momentum from a September 2025 meeting in Monaco between Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, who leads Frontier25 and The Climate Tribe, and Prince Albert II, focused on scaling conservation and climate solutions.

The collaboration links a UAE-based climate advisory with a long-standing conservation foundation, aiming to mobilize capital and expertise toward projects that safeguard marine ecosystems while accelerating the decarbonization of ocean-linked industries. Practical priorities include advancing low-carbon shipping, supporting circular waste systems, promoting sustainable seafood, and catalyzing coastal resilience initiatives.

The announcement coincided with the 10th Ocean Innovators Platform, co-hosted during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Launched in 2022 by the Monaco foundation, the platform showcases promising technologies and business models with the potential to speed the sustainable transition across ocean-related sectors—from waste management to maritime logistics.

Why this alliance matters

As an emerging hub for the blue economy, the United Arab Emirates’ maritime industries contribute roughly $37 billion to the national GDP. Globally, the ocean economy is valued at more than $2.2 trillion—over twice what it was three decades ago—and is expected to reach around $3 trillion by 2030. Yet these gains are shadowed by mounting risks: pollution, overfishing, and climate change continue to erode marine health, with pressures on ocean ecosystems projected to double by mid-century without decisive action.

Blue finance—directing capital to projects that both protect the ocean and deliver economic value—has emerged as a pivotal lever. By pairing the foundation’s conservation expertise with Frontier25’s advisory capabilities, the MoU aims to create a pipeline of investable initiatives and help de-risk early-stage innovation. The partners plan to advance blended finance structures, support entrepreneurs, and align scientific insight with market deployment.

Signals from Abu Dhabi

The milestone 10th edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform underscores the growing maturity of the blue economy and the region’s appetite for solutions that cut emissions, reduce waste, and restore habitats. Frontier25 and the Monaco foundation outlined plans for deeper cooperation across knowledge exchange, venture support, and convening stakeholders who can translate pilots into scalable outcomes.

Leaders from the foundation emphasized that ocean innovation sits at the intersection of environmental responsibility and economic opportunity. Reflecting the strong pace of activity in the Gulf, the foundation is preparing to strengthen its presence in the region to accelerate high-impact programs and partnerships.

From ambition to impact

The partnership framework is expected to prioritize measurable results by 2030, aligning with global climate and biodiversity goals. Focus areas include:

• Decarbonizing shipping and port operations through efficiency, alternative fuels, and digital optimization.
• Scaling circular solutions for marine plastics and portside waste streams.
• Advancing sustainable aquaculture and traceable seafood to reduce pressure on wild stocks.
• Restoring critical blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes.

Stewardship is central to the partnership’s ethos: prosperity on land depends on the health of the ocean below. The vision articulated by the partners emphasizes giving back to the seas that sustain economies and communities, translating ambition into on-the-water benefits for biodiversity and livelihoods alike.

Outlook

With the blue economy poised for continued growth, the true test of this MoU will be the velocity of real-world deployment—projects financed, emissions abated, habitats restored, and jobs created in future-proof maritime sectors. By combining conservation leadership with advisory and investment know-how, Frontier25 and the Monaco foundation are positioning this collaboration as a regional springboard for globally relevant solutions.

If executed at pace, the partnership could help chart a course where ocean health and economic resilience advance together—an imperative as the window to secure a livable climate and thriving seas narrows toward 2030 and beyond.