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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2017 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	non-breeding	2005-2016	uncommon	A3
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor	LC	breeding	2005-2016	present	A3
Pharaoh Eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus	LC	resident	2005-2017	3 breeding pairs	A3
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos	EN	non-breeding	2005-2016	10-47 individuals	A1
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis	LC	resident	2005-2016	frequent	A3
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes	LC	resident	2005-2016	frequent	A3
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps	LC	resident	2005-2016	frequent	A3
Arabian Babbler Argya squamiceps	LC	resident	2005-2016	frequent	A3, B2a

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2017).

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Desert	Hot	0	0	good (> 90%)	poor (40-69%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - named species	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	other ecosystem modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Nazwa Mountain	Protected Area	106	protected area contained by site	106
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Al Maha)	Protected Area	22,589	protected area contained by site	22,589

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Desert	Hot	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dubai Desert. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dubai-desert-iba-united-arab-emirates on 01/10/2023.