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United Arab Emirates

Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi ©Dubi Shapiro Website

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East. Located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, it shares land borders with Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran. It covers just over 67,000 K² (26,000 square miles). The United Arab Emirates is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of about 10 million. Emirati citizens are estimated to form 11.6% of the population, with the remaining residents forming up to 88.4% of the UAE population composed of expatriates, the majority of whom are of South Asian descent. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. Abu Dhabi in the emirate of the same name, which covers 87 of UAE, is the country’s capital, while Dubai, the most populous city, is an international hub. The United Arab Emirates’ oil and natural gas reserves are the world’s sixth and seventh-largest, respectively.

Numerous islands are found in the Persian Gulf, and the ownership of some of them has been the subject of international disputes. Six of the emirates are situated along the Persian Gulf, and the seventh, Fujairah is on the eastern coast of the peninsula with direct access to the Gulf of Oman. Most of the coast consists of salt pans that extend 8 to 10 km inland. South and west of Abu Dhabi, vast, rolling sand dunes merge into the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of Saudi Arabia. The desert area of Abu Dhabi includes two important oases with adequate underground water for permanent settlements and cultivation. The extensive Liwa Oasis is in the south near the undefined border with Saudi Arabia. About 100 km (62 miles to the northeast of Liwa is the Al-Buraimi oasis, which extends on both sides of the Abu Dhabi-Oman border. Lake Zakher in Al Ain is a human-made lake near the border with Oman that was created from treated waste water.

The UAE contains the following terrestrial ecoregions: Al Hajar montane woodlands and shrublands, Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert, and Al-Hajar foothill xeric woodlands and shrublands. The oases grow date palms, acacia and introduced eucalyptus trees. In the desert, the flora is very sparse and consists of grasses and thorn bushes. Most indigenous fauna had come close to extinction because of intensive hunting, which has led to a conservation program on Sir Bani Yas Island initiated by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the 1970s, resulting in the survival of, for example, Arabian Oryx, Arabian camel and leopards. Coastal fish and mammals consist mainly of mackerel, perch, and tuna, as well as sharks and whales.

The climate of the UAE is subtropical-arid with hot summers and warm winters. The climate is categorised as desert climate. The hottest months are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach above 45 °C on the coastal plain. In the Hajar Mountains, temperatures are considerably lower, a result of increased elevation. Average minimum temperatures in January and February are between 10 & 14 °C. During the late summer months, a humid southeastern wind known as Sharqi makes the coastal region especially unpleasant. The average annual rainfall in the coastal area is less than 120 mm, but in some mountainous areas annual rainfall often reaches 350 mm. Rain in the coastal region falls in short, torrential bursts during the winter months, sometimes resulting in floods in ordinarily dry wadis. The region is prone to occasional, violent dust storms, which can severely reduce visibility.

Dubai Skyline the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) – ©Tim Reckmann CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Birding the United Arab Emirates

The topography of the country is relatively varied with large areas of sand and gravel desert, with high dunes inland and lower meandering dunes systems in the north and east (often with large shading ghaf trees) reaching the coast except where urban development has taken place and in western Abu Dhabi where extensive sabkha salt-flats prevail. The Hajar mountains are bounded to the west by a narrow Acacia savannah on a down-washed gravel plain, while the mountains themselves rise abruptly to 2000-3000 feet. Many wadis warrant exploration, especially those supporting permanent freshwater pools. Inter-tidal areas abound, with many khors (blind tidal inlets) vital for migratory waterfowl although not all necessarily easy to work. Accessible areas of mangrove are rather few although the habitat is widespread.

Khor Kalba – ©Angela Manthorpe, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Pre-eminent though is the drive-in site of Khor Kalba, straddling the border with Oman on the Gulf of Oman coast, with the resident endemic kalbaensis subspecies of White-collared Kingfisher readily found together with, in most months, Indian Pond Heron.

Numerous islands exist in the Gulf, although access is severely restricted. Apart from Red-billed Tropicbird, however, all species of nesting seabird can be readily observed on or from mainland beaches and headlands. Thus Socotra Cormorant, Sooty Gull, Swift, Lesser Crested, Bridled, White-cheeked Tern and Saunders’ Terns all generally feature on any trip list.

Over 475 species of bird have been recorded in the UAE in the last thirty years, yet of these only 125 or so breed regularly (with less than 60 resident and a further 30 or so naturalised exotics). Remarkably, over 100 species are listed as vagrants. Yet, increased birdwatcher activity in recent years has caused the record books to be rewritten: Blyth’s Pipit and Oriental Skylark are now regarded as regular passage and winter visitors; Crested Honey Buzzard, Olive-backed Pipit and Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler annual; Forest Wagtail virtually annual and so on.

The avifauna is an east meets west blend of Palaearctic and Oriental (Indo-Malayan) species, amongst the latter being ubiquitous Purple Sunbirds, Red-wattled Lapwings, Little Green Bee-eaters and Grey Francolins. Add to all these possibilities, depending on when you visit, the almost guaranteed attraction of migrant or wintering Grey Hypocolius, Red-tailed and Hume’s Wheatears, White-throated Robin, Upcher’s, Menetries’ and Plain Leaf Warblers, Pallid Scops Owl, Pintail Snipe, Cream-coloured Courser, Great Knot, Crab Plover and many other species and you can see why the UAE is such a popular destination.

The country is extremely modern, unrivalled in terms of security, free from health risks (characterising most similar tropical destinations) and with liberal attitudes expects to be visited. The road network is of the highest standard, if rather busy at times, but self-drive visitors should have no problems travelling about. The quality of hotel accommodation is very high, with most housing English style pubs. Convinced yet that you should visit?

Birding information: The website ‘UAE birding’ is run by Tommy Pedersen, the UAE Bird Recorder and EBRC member Ahmed Al Ali. Here you will find information on recent sightings, checklists, information on birdwatching sites, a forum etc. There is also a section on birding guides available, mostly restricted to Fridays & Saturdays.

Please remember to pass your records for inclusion in the bird database for the UAE and for the records of the Emirates Bird Records Committee ebrcuae[at]gmail.com

Top Sites

  • Khor Kalba

    InformationSatellite View
    The UAE's Indian Ocean coastline ends in an extensive mangrove marsh. Mangrove contrasts strongly with rocky mountains. White-collared kingfisher is a breeding resident here - and only here. Many others such as reef herons & booted warblers also nest.
Contributors

  • Simon Aspinall

    | phellyer@emirates.net.ae

  • Tommy Pedersen

    | 777sandman@gmail.com

County Recorder
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 479

    (As at July 2024)
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in United Arab Emirates , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • OSME

    Annotated and Illustrated Checklist
    This checklist was prepared from the UAE national records database that is maintained by the Emirates Bird Records Committee, EBRC

  • UAE Birding

    PDF Checklists
    The Annotated Bird Checklist is available for download from Dropbox.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in the United Arab Emirates. The avifauna of the United Arab Emirates include a total of 478 species, of which 17 have been introduced by humans.

  • eBird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • Birds of the Middle East

    | By Richard Porter, Oscar Campbell & AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan | Helm | 2024 | Edition 3 | Paperback | 400 pages, 180 colour plates, 636 colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781399401968 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Breeding Birds of the United Arab Emirates

    | By Simon Aspinall | Environment Agency Abu Dhabi | 2010 | Hardback | 241 pages, colour photos, distribution maps | Unavailable | ISBN: 9789948408222 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • The Birds of the United Arab Emirates

    | By Simon Aspinall & Richard Porter | Christopher Helm | 2020 | Paperback | 240 pages, 102 colour plates, colour distribution maps, colour & b/w maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781408152577 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • Birds of the Middle East

    Apple iOS | Android
    The eGuide to Birds of the Middle East is an interactive companion to the Birds of the Middle East field guide – the comprehensive guide for birdwatchers visiting the region. It covers Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, the Arabian peninsula and Socotra. This application has specific features that will enhance your birding experience.

    The eGuide to Birds of the Middle East is an interactive companion to the Birds of the Middle East field guide – the comprehensive guide for birdwatchers visiting the region. It covers Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, the Arabian peninsula and Socotra. This application has specific features that will enhance your birding experience.
Museums & Universities

  • Sharjah Natural History Museum

    Information
    The Natural History Museum and Desert Park is a venue that provides people with a chance to learn about the flora and fauna of the Arabian desert, while at the same time having a relaxing and fun time.
Organisations

  • Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency

    Website
    The Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency's (ERWDA) overall aim is to enhance the sustainable development of Abu Dhabi Emirate's environment and wildlife. The National Avian Research Center became fully operational in 1993 and so is the longest operational center in the Agency. Its mission is to promote bustard and falcon conservation and reconcile the trading of Arab falconry with a sustainable use of the resources throughout the bustard and falcons range. This is done through breeding, research, advice, international cooperation and habitat conservation, in order to preserve the natural and cutural heritage and to save species from extinction

  • UAE Birding

    Website
    This website is dedicated to birders interested UAE birds and wildlife, aiming to provide as much up-to-date information as possible. It was started in October 2005 and is updated regularly.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

    WebpageSatellite View
    Al Wathba Wetland Reserve covers a total area of five square kilometers, comprising wetlands, sabkhas (salt flats), fossilized sands and dunes. It was established in 1998 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was the first place in the Emirate to be designated for protection by law and was declared a Ramsar site in 2013. This means that the site has been recognized by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and joins a list of over 2,000 other internationally recognized wetlands around the world.

  • List of protected areas of the UAE

    InformationSatellite View
    National Parks, Nature Reserves, Wetlands etc

  • NP Wadi Wurayah

    InformationSatellite View
    A 12,700-hectare (31,000-acre) wadi between the towns of Masafi, Khor Fakkan, and Bidiyah in the United Arab Emirates. It has been designated as Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

  • NR Khor Kalba

    InformationSatellite View
    Khor Kalba - The dark green belt of almost impenetrable mangrove contrasts strongly with the brown and purple rocky mountains and the sparkling blue water. Young seedlings surrounded by air roots signal a healthy environment. The mud at low tide reveals myriads of pretty crabs, while in the shady canopy of the trees a unique small bird makes its home. The white-collared kingfisher is a breeding resident here - and only here. Many other birds like reef herons and booted warblers also nest here. Khor Kalba is a magical place, a place of exquisite beauty, a place worthy of protection. Happily, as Arabian Wildlife goes to press news has come through that Khor Kalba is to be officially designated as a Nature Reserve…

  • WS Ras Al Khor

    InformationSatellite View
    Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary represents an enclave of relative wilderness amidst traffic and sprawling urban infrastructure.

  • WS Sir Bani Yas

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The island nature reserve and experimental agricultural base of Sir Bani Yas has undergone a massive amount of land reclamation, planting, irrigation and wildlife husbandry creating a place that somehow defies all expectations in terms of what can grow and live in this southern Arabian Gulf region. Flourishing wildlife on the island probably reflects how the region once was, at a time of greater rainfall and greener pastures. Proposals were discussed with UNESCO during the year, concerning international recognition of this unique wildlife reserve with a view to enhancing its status as a wildlife conservation centre…
Sightings, News & Forums

  • UAE birding forum

    Sightings
    All reports of rare birds are subject to assessment by the EBRC and should not be considered formal records.

  • eBird

    Sightings
    eBirding This Month
Guides & Tour Operators

  • ABC Tours

    Local Guiding
    ABC Tours arrange tailor made bird watching programs for 4 hours on exclusive basis. Pick up is offered from all hotels in Dubai. A visit at the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary is a treat to the eyes for all bird lovers.

  • BirdFinders

    Tour Operator
    The UAE is home to many Middle Eastern specialities including Socotra Cormorant, Crab Plover, Sooty Gull, Saunders’s and White-cheeked Terns, Pallid Scops-owl, Egyptian Nightjar, Collared Kingfisher of the endangered endemic subspecies kalbaensis, Arabian Babbler and Hume’s Wheatear. Covering a variety of habitats from mountains to deserts, oases and mudflats, we will also search for such sought-after winter visitors as Plain Leaf Warbler

  • Gary Burns

    Guide
    As of March 2024, we are happy to say that the UAE again have a full-time bird guide available. Gary hails from South Africa, living in Dubai since 2007, with a vast knowledge of the mammals, reptiles and birds of the UAE deserts. Owls of the UAE is Gary's speciality.

  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    Long and lanky, the Greater Hoopoe-Lark has a wonderful set of piping whistles in its song. It is one of many dapper desert birds possible on our UAE & Oman: Arabian Birding Adventure.
Trip Reports

  • 2016 [01 January] - Phil Gregory - Oman & UAE

    Report
    This was the sixth Field Guides trip to Arabia (and my ninth), and was again an exciting and varied experience, despite it being unusually dry in Oman, with relatively few passerine migrants about. We began in the rather astonishing city of Dubai, where this year we had a much better and more convenient hotel as our base, albeit with beer at an eye-watering $15 per pint! We covered a number of desert sites with Mark, our excellent local guide, before going to Abu Dhabi with its extraordinary architecture and horribly distant Hypocolius roost...

  • 2016 [11 November] - Mark Beevers

    PDF Report
    The first full day of the tour saw us heading north-east towards the Oman border where our destinationwas the excellent Wamm Farm. This site is famous amongst UAE birders and can be teeming with birds,although we chose a fairly quiet day to visit. En route we stopped at a wadi where I had previously seenStreaked Scrub-Warbler but on this occasion this species would have to wait until later in the trip to geton the checklist. Those that alighted from the bus first were rewarded with a brief look at a StriolatedBunting which very quickly departed and which proved to be the only one on the tour. We gave the wadihalf an hour, picking up species such as Green Bee-eater, Desert Lark, Lesser Whitethroat, PersianWheatear, Black Redstart, Indian Silverbill and perhaps best of all, a Menetries’s Warbler...

  • 2018 [04 April] - Pat & Judy Hayes - Seychelles & Dubai

    Report
    If you are looking for a full-on trip report of the Seychelles you would be advised to look elsewhere. This is a holiday/celebration with our passion for birds being indulged a little. Jude has always wanted to visit some of the coral islands found in the Indian Ocean, so this was the excuse we were looking for, more a holiday than a full-on bird trip. It includes a short stopover in Dubai.

  • 2018 [12 December] - Aladdin

    PDF Report
    Coming to United Arab Emirates and I wanted to take the chance for a few days of bird watching. I was hoping for some desert habitat after having been to Djibouti. I searched the internet for information and I found UAEBIRDING.COM. They have a “GUIDING” section and I think thye were in progress to update their web page when I used the page.

  • 2019 [05 May] - Julian Bell - Pelagic

    Report
    A six hour transit in a small boat out to the vessel I was joining produced several Bridled Tern and a few Greater Crested Terns. Once offshore I was, as so often the case, stuck inside. Towards the end of the trip I had some opportunities to pop out on deck. There was almost always a passerine on deck feeding on the huge number of grounded insects. The only species I managed to identify were Willow Warbler, Marsh Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail (the latter as I left the vessel).

  • 2023 [04 April] - Greg Roberts

    PDF Report
    Following a visited to Ghana, Bill Watson and I had two days in the United Arab Emirates to break the journey home, staying in Dubai...

  • 2023 [12 December] - Jeff Hopkins

    PDF Report
    This is a trip report for a trip to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates that I added on to a scheduled Rockjumper tour in Ethiopia. There were a couple reasons I chose to add these locations. The main reason I added Dubai was because while I could get a frequent flyer flight to Ethiopia I couldn’t get a return flight…but I could get one from Dubai. That gave me a chance to add more species, with a chance for Hypocolius.
Photographers & Artists

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