Sir Bani Yas Island was originally conceived as a Wildlife Reserve, designed to ensure the survival of some of Arabia's most endangered species. Today it is celebrated as one of the great legacies of Sheikh Zayed, the late founder and ruler of the United Arab Emirates. What started as a vision for a single island 8 kilometres off the Western coast of Abu Dhabi has formed the basis and guiding principles for environmental conservation throughout and beyond the Desert Islands.

The planning of the Desert Islands is based on the principles of sustainability. A thriving land and marine ecology with sensitive wildlife habitats requires the careful management of land and coastal areas, while the production of fresh water and clean energy provides the resources needed to maintain a balanced ecology. Although it may take years to achieve, the Desert Islands aims to become a symbol of sustainability to the world, transforming Sir Bani Yas Island, Dalma Island, and the surrounding Discovery Islands into a world class international destination.

The preservation of natural landscapes, pristine waters, and existing habitats, has created a unique environment on Sir Bani Yas that hosts an impressive range of land, marine and avian wildlife. With warm, shallow waters, newly planted mangroves and restored habitats, the Desert Islands have become important feeding and breeding grounds for many species of birds, sea turtles, and other marine life. Furthermore, Sir Bani Yas Island - home to the majority of the flora on the Desert Islands - has almost 2.5 million trees, 18,000 date palms and 500,000 edible fruits, most of which were planted in the past two decades. The implementation of an extensive landscaping strategy is currently being undertaken across Sir Bani Yas Island, ensuring the most optimal balance between plants, wildlife and the harsh island environment. Specifically, this will ensure native plants and tree are given priority, and the most optimal use of water for irrigation.