Reefs at Risk Revisited: Middle East

This WRI fact sheet provides a regional overview of the 'Reefs at Risk Revisited' analysis for the Middle East, detailing the extent of coral reefs, the human populations dependent on them, the prevalence of local and climate-driven threats, and the current state of conservation efforts.

• The Middle East contains approximately 14,000 sq km of coral reefs, representing about 6 percent of the global total. These reefs are primarily located on continental margins as platform, barrier, and fringing reefs. The Persian Gulf is characterized by shallow waters averaging 35 meters, high salinities, and wide temperature fluctuations, whereas the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden feature narrow shelves and nearby deep waters.
• Nearly two-thirds of the region's reefs are at risk from local threats, with overfishing being the most prevalent, affecting 55 percent of reefs. Other local threats include watershed-based pollution, marine-based pollution and damage, destructive fishing, and coastal development. The Persian Gulf is the most pressured area, with over 85 percent of reefs threatened, compared to just over 60 percent in the Red Sea.
• Climate change is projected to significantly increase reef vulnerability. Thermal stress and ocean acidification are expected to raise threat levels to nearly 90 percent by 2030. By 2050, the combination of climate change and current local impacts is projected to push all reefs in the region to threatened status.
• Conservation coverage is low, with only 12 percent of the region's reefs located within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and only 11 percent of those being partially or effectively protected. Egypt has a higher proportion of protection, with about 50 percent of its reefs inside MPAs, all of which are considered at least partially effective.
• Coastal development driven by tourism, immigration, and wealthy economies is causing significant habitat loss. In the Red Sea port of Jeddah and the southern Persian Gulf, filling in shallow waters for urban, industrial, and tourism infrastructure has led to direct ecosystem loss and indirect impacts on current patterns and sediment transport.

APA

World Resources Institute (2011). Reefs at Risk Revisited: Middle East. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_middle_east.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Reefs at Risk Revisited: Middle East. 2011. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_middle_east.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Reefs at Risk Revisited: Middle East |date=February 2011 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_middle_east.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2011reefs, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Reefs at Risk Revisited: Middle East}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2011}, month = feb, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_middle_east.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }