Wildlife in the UAE: from the oryx and the tahr to the dugong and the whale shark

Some people imagine the UAE's desert and sea are empty of life, but the truth is very different: mountains with rare animals, dunes where gazelles live, and coasts and islands that shelter turtles and sea cows. Here is a quick tour.

In the mountains: the Arabian tahr

The Arabian tahr is a rare, endangered mountain animal. All of those left in the wild live in the Hajar mountains between the UAE and Oman, and the mountain area of Hatta in Dubai is one of its homes.^[1][2]

In the desert: the oryx and the gazelles

The Arabian oryx is a white desert animal with two long horns. It can be seen on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, which is also home to the Arabian gazelle of the mountains and plains.^[3]

The Arabian sand gazelle lives in the sand dunes and coastal plains and avoids rocky areas. It is the only gazelle in the region that gives birth to twins.^[4]

At sea: dugongs, turtles and whale sharks

Abu Dhabi's coast is home to the second-largest population of dugongs in the world — the «sea cow».^[5]

The green turtle is the only plant-eating sea turtle: it eats seagrass and stays close to coasts and islands, and about 6,700 of them feed in Abu Dhabi's waters. The hawksbill turtle is named after its beak-like mouth. It is the sea turtle that lays its eggs in the UAE, and it is protected by the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve in Abu Dhabi.^[6][7]

Our waters are also visited by the whale shark, the largest known fish in the world. It can grow to 40 feet or more, yet it feeds by filtering plankton and fish eggs from the water.^[8]

Reserves worth a visit

• Al Zorah Nature Reserve, Ajman: set up in 2004, known for its mangroves, with about 60 bird species including flamingos.
• Khor Kalba, Sharjah: home to the oldest mangrove forest in the UAE and to the rare white-collared kingfisher. Sharjah is the emirate with the most nature reserves in the country.
• Al Sinniyah Island, Umm Al Quwain: the emirate's largest island, home to Arabian gazelles, falcons and turtles.