Published
4 minutes ago
on
February 21, 2026
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By
Cody Good
Graphics & Design
- Jennifer West
The following content is sponsored by Dubai Future Forum
Beyond the Depths: Exploring the Ocean’s Future
Key Takeaways
- Exploring the ocean is key to identifying the 0% of marine species estimated yet to be discovered, holding immense scientific and commercial potential.
- Ocean investment opportunities are projected to exceed $3 trillion as new technologies and solutions emerge.
The ocean has long been a frontier of mystery and untapped promise. Covering over 70% of the planet, it plays a critical role in climate regulation, biodiversity, and global trade. Despite this, much of the ocean remains unexplored, creating both risks and opportunities as humanity looks to the future.
In partnership with Dubai Future Forum, this graphic shows how exploration, investment, and innovation are converging to transform our understanding of the ocean.
It’s one of four dimensions—Ocean, Mind, Space, and Land—within the Forum’s larger theme, Exploring the Unknown. The data comes from these sources:
- Seabed 2030
- World Register of Marine Species
- OECD
- UNCTAD
- Morgan Stanley
- The Global 50 Report by Dubai Future Foundation.
Exploring the Ocean
The ocean’s seafloor remains largely uncharted, with just over 27% mapped to modern standards. Strikingly, the remaining 73% of unmapped seafloor is larger than all Earth’s landmass combined.
Without detailed ocean maps, humanity remains blind to features that may influence everything from tectonic activity to biodiversity hotspots.
Biodiversity: Discovering Ocean Life
Every year, ocean scientists identify and catalog thousands of new marine species, yet they estimate that 91% of ocean life remains unidentified.
Here is a table that shows known cumulative discovered marine species over time:
| Year | Cumulative Discovered Marine Species |
|---|---|
| 1760 | 1,477 |
| 1780 | 3,646 |
| 1800 | 8,094 |
| 1820 | 15,299 |
| 1840 | 30,492 |
| 1860 | 59,687 |
| 1880 | 88,253 |
| 1900 | 121,236 |
| 1920 | 157,149 |
| 1940 | 188,913 |
| 1960 | 213,705 |
| 1980 | 252,738 |
| 2000 | 293,526 |
| 2020 | 338,584 |
| 2025 | 347,360 |
Each discovery made while exploring the oceans adds to our scientific understanding and may unlock potential for breakthroughs in medicine and technology.
The Blue Economy’s Rising Tide
Financial commitments to ocean-related initiatives doubled between 2010 and 2023. Morgan Stanley projects even greater potential for the future with over $3 trillion in ocean investment opportunities to add to the global economy.
Here is a table that shows ocean funding by sector, comparing 2010 to 2023:
| Sector | 2010 ($ Millions) | 2023 ($ Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Maritime Transport | 1,052 | 2,418 |
| Marine Fisheries & Other Industries | 392 | 743 |
| Marine Protection | 372 | 990 |
| Other | 115 | 515 |
| Health & Rehabilitation | 400 | 101 |
| Ocean Policy & Management | 180 | 138 |
| Energy & Minerals | 5 | 138 |
The largest opportunity is in decarbonizing marine transportation valued at $1,200B, followed by marine ecosystem protection ($1,100B), renewable energy ($840B), and sustainable aquaculture ($225B).
Looking Ahead: The Future of Oceans
The ocean’s future is being driven by rapid advances in pollution remediation and energy developments.
To continue exploring the ocean and its biggest emerging opportunities shaping the future with the Dubai Future Foundation’s Global 50 report.
Learn more about the Dubai Future Forum.
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