Abu Al Sayayif


IBA Justification

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

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC winter (2009–2017) 3,000–18,000 birds A4, B3a
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC breeding (2009) 2,000 pairs A4, B3a
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis LC breeding (2009–2017) 50–100 pairs B3a
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis LC non-breeding (2009–2017) 20–300 birds B3a
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NT passage (2009–2017) 300–1,300 birds B1a, B3a

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2017. The most recent assessment (2017) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2017 poor low low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 4,000 / 6,150 (birds) 66 poor
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis 250 / 170 (birds) 100 good
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 400 / 1,200 (birds) 34 not assessed

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) low
Biological resource use happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Residential and commercial development likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
2016 Bul Syayeef Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (IV) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Forest minor (<10) Subtropical & tropical mangrove

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Abu Al Sayayif (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abu-al-sayayif-iba-united-arab-emirates on 23/12/2024.