The opening ceremony of the IUCN's World Conservation Congress takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec). All photos: Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at the congress
Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco speaking at the event, which aims to raise awareness of pressing environmental challenges and threats to biodiversity
IUCN President Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak
Attendees include leaders from government, science, business and indigenous communities
Surangel S Whipps, President of Palau
Participants in the opening ceremony. Organisers expect the congress, from October 9-15, to draw 10,000 visitors
Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr Amna Al Dahak
Visitors to the congress have travelled from as far afield as Colombia and Peru
The UAE has set up a pavilion at the World Conservation Congress
The Russian pavilion at the event in Abu Dhabi
Visitors from Kenya and India at the conservation event
