Canon’s World Unseen 2.0 Expands to UAE with Project REEFrame to Restore Coral Reefs
Canon’s acclaimed World Unseen 2.0 campaign — dedicated to revealing the hidden beauty and urgency of ocean conservation — has officially made its Middle East debut in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE chapter, launched in partnership with Freestyle Divers, marks the next phase of Canon’s broader EMEA coral restoration mission, uniting technology, art, and science to protect marine biodiversity.
Following Canon’s collaboration with Nature Seychelles and Coral Spawning International to establish the first coral breeding facility in the Western Indian Ocean, World Unseen 2.0 now extends its reach through Project REEFrame — a large-scale community-driven restoration programme focused on rebuilding coral reefs and connected coastal ecosystems.
Protecting the Hidden World Beneath the Waves
The UAE launch offered an immersive ocean experience featuring interactive installations, underwater imagery, and educational exhibits designed to reconnect people with the fragile ecosystems beneath the surface. The initiative highlights how climate change, coral bleaching, and pollution are transforming marine habitats, while showcasing local restoration efforts led by Freestyle Divers and supported by Canon’s imaging technology.
Science and Sustainability Through Imaging Innovation
Anchored in Canon’s philosophy of Kyosei — “living and working together for the common good” — the partnership provides imaging tools, research funding, and technical support to accelerate reef recovery. Canon will sponsor coral nursery infrastructure, supply high-resolution cameras and underwater housings, and back scientific monitoring over two years to track coral growth and survival.
Venkatasubramanian (Subbu) Hariharan, Managing Director, Canon Middle East & Türkiye, said:
“Coral reefs are vital to the UAE’s coastal protection, fisheries, and blue economy. Through advanced imaging and data-driven conservation, we aim to enable effective restoration strategies and support a sustainable marine future.”
A Living Laboratory for Restoration
Operating across a 40,000 m² site in Dibba, Al Fujairah, under a renewable permit from the Fujairah Environment Authority, Project REEFrame integrates coral reefs with seagrass, oysters, mussels, and mangroves — a Whole Site Restoration model that rebuilds entire coastal ecosystems. The initiative, supported by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, also trains communities and divers in marine science, creating long-term conservation capacity.
Darryl Owen, Co-owner of Freestyle Divers, emphasized:
“Canon’s imaging systems are essential to documenting coral recovery and scaling our restoration efforts. This partnership combines science, technology, and community action to deliver measurable marine impact.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean Stewards
Beyond restoration, Canon will engage the community through volunteer dives, coral analyst training, and underwater photography workshops via Canon Academy. The goal: to inspire the next generation to see — and save — the unseen world beneath the waves.
As rising sea temperatures continue to endanger coral ecosystems across the UAE’s coastlines, Canon’s World Unseen 2.0 expansion represents a vital regional step in a global mission — to turn visual storytelling into real-world conservation.
