The Marine and Coastal Environment Sector Paper provides a synthesis of the knowledge on the marine and coastal environment of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Descriptions of the biota, habitats, economic activities and key management issues are provided. The report also details the institutional structure, policy, regulation, legislation and existing conservation and management initiatives that collectively represent the system of governance. At the same time as indicating what is known, the paper also highlights the technical information gaps that exist so as to provide a guide for future research. The work forms part of a suite of updated sector papers that are intended to contribute to the second edition OF THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT as part of the second phase of the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI).