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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') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	non-breeding	2014-2017	25 individuals	A3
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	breeding	2014-2017	50-300 breeding pairs	A3
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor	LC	breeding	2014-2017	100 breeding pairs	A3
Pharaoh Eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos	EN	non-breeding	2014-2017	10-20 individuals	A1
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter	2014-2017	5-10 individuals	A1
Arabian Green Bee-eater Merops cyanophrys	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps	LC	breeding	2014-2017	present	A3
Pale Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta	LC	breeding	2014-2017	present	A3
Arabian Babbler Argya squamiceps	LC	resident	2014-2017	present	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2017) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Desert	good (> 90%)	poor (40-69%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve	Protected Area	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Desert	Hot	major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Water-storage areas	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
tourism/recreation	major (>10)
energy production and mining	minor (<10)

Dubai Municipality.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al Marmoom Desert (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-marmoom-desert-iba-united-arab-emirates on 26/11/2024.