Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | non-breeding | 2014-2017 | 1,500-6,000 individuals | A4, B3a |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | LC | non-breeding | 2014-2017 | 700-4,000 individuals | A4, B3a |
| Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus | LC | winter | 2014-2017 | 2,000-10,000 individuals | B3a |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | VU | winter | 2014-2017 | 20-30 individuals | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2014-2017 | 8,150-27,800 individuals | B3b |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2017).
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | very unfavourable | high | high |
| Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
| Phoenicopterus roseus | Greater Flamingo | 3750 | 3750 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Pluvialis squatarola | Grey Plover | 440 | 400 | individuals | 91 | favourable |
| Charadrius alexandrinus | Kentish Plover | 1300 | 2350 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Charadrius mongolus | Lesser Sandplover | 1900 | 700 | individuals | 37 | very unfavourable |
| Numenius arquata | Eurasian Curlew | 250 | 50 | individuals | 20 | very unfavourable |
| Limosa lapponica | Bar-tailed Godwit | 1000 | 350 | individuals | 35 | very unfavourable |
| Calidris falcinellus | Broad-billed Sandpiper | 530 | 200 | individuals | 38 | very unfavourable |
| Calidris alpina | Dunlin | 2000 | 3000 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Tringa totanus | Common Redshank | 460 | 100 | individuals | 22 | very unfavourable |
| Larus ridibundus | Black-headed Gull | 2500 | 6000 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Clanga clanga | Greater Spotted Eagle | 8 | 25 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Species group - waterbirds | A4iii | 19000 | 18000 | individuals | 95 | favourable |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Habitat detail | Reference area (ha) | Actual area (ha) | Habitat quantity (% remaining) | Habitat quality (carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Intertidal | 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 |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | work and other activities | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | medium |
| Natural system modifications | other ecosystem modifications | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Pollution | domestic & urban waste water - sewage | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | commercial and industrial development | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid 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 management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ras Al Khor | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 1,013 | is identical to site | 620 |
| Ras Al Khawr Wildlife Sanctuary | Wildlife Sanctuary | 620 | is identical to site | 620 |
| Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | - | |
| Marine Intertidal | - | |
| Forest | Subtropical & tropical mangrove | - |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - |
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (Khor Dubai). Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ras-al-khor-wildlife-sanctuary-(khor-dubai)-iba-united-arab-emirates on 07/12/2023.
