Dubai Launches ‘BioVault’ to Preserve Endangered Species, Backed by UAE and Colossal Biosciences
Dubai, UAE – In a landmark initiative unveiled at the World Governments Summit, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Colossal Biosciences have partnered to establish the world’s first Colossal BioVault and World Preservation Lab. Permanently housed at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, the facility aims to safeguard Earth’s biodiversity by cryogenically storing living cell lines, tissue samples, and genetic data from endangered species.
The project represents a nine-figure investment from the UAE and is intended to serve as the foundation for a distributed global network focused on biodiversity preservation. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, directed that a laboratory and the BioVault be established at the Museum of the Future, according to a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter).
“Within the activities of the World Governments Summit 2026, we present to our guests an innovative scientific experience through the ‘Life and Biodiversity Laboratory’ in collaboration with the American Colossal Biosciences,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote. “We have directed that the Museum of the Future be a permanent headquarters for this laboratory, to make this experience available to everyone to learn about innovations and advanced technologies that will contribute to changing our view of the environment and biodiversity and support efforts to protect living organisms from extinction… Our goal is deeper knowledge, and more conscious generations, as a new idea may emerge from here to create a better future for generations to come.”
The initiative was previewed at the World Governments Summit, offering attendees an early look at the project. The Colossal BioVault will utilize robotics and AI-powered monitoring systems to manage biological material at scale, creating what some are calling a “modern-day Noah’s Ark.”
According to Majed Al Mansoori, Executive Director of the Museum of the Future, the initiative reflects a long-standing commitment to environmental protection and scientific progress. The first year of the project will focus on fieldwork and DNA research across various species, laying the groundwork for future biodiversity protection efforts.
The urgency of the project stems from the escalating biodiversity crisis. Scientists estimate that nearly half of Earth’s species could face extinction by 2050. Experts estimate that since 1500, 30 percent of all species have been threatened with extinction or driven extinct, a figure projected to reach 37 percent by 2100.
Colossal Biosciences, known for its work in de-extinction – including the successful management of dire wolf de-extinction in 2025 – is partnering with the UAE to address this crisis. The BioVault will initially bank tissue samples from 100 of the most vulnerable species.
The collaboration positions the UAE as a global leader in conservation, driving pioneering initiatives in science, biodiversity, and the safeguarding of life on Earth. The partnership underscores both the UAE’s and Colossal’s commitment to advancing science, sustainability, and ecological resilience across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
The announcement took place on , with a $60 million investment from the UAE confirmed. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, visited the World Preservation Lab and BioVault at the World Governments Summit 2026 on .
