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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
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

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
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system 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 areas	Management plan	Other 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

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
2001	Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Al Maha)	Protected Area	100
2014	Nazwa Mountain	Protected Area	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Desert	Hot	100

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100
tourism/recreation	major (>10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dubai Desert (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dubai-desert-iba-united-arab-emirates on 23/11/2024.