Country/territory: United Arab Emirates
IBA criteria met: A4, B2a, B3a (2017)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,000 hectares (50.00 km2)
IBA conservation status | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
2017 | moderate | high | very low |
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here |
Site description (1994 baseline)
A sheltered lagoon north-east of Umm al Quwain, containing intertidal mudflats (up to 400 m wide), islands and sparse mangrove Avicennia bounded inland by sabkhah and rolling dunes with salt-tolerant scrub. The area is difficult of access. Siniyah island (site 003) lies offshore. The site is used for small-scale fishing and for recreation.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. The site has been little investigated but held c.10,000 waterbirds in October-November 1986. The wintering Dromas ardeola are believed to breed on Abu al Abyadh island (site 017). At least 30 pairs of Egretta gularis breed on the adjacent island of Ghubbah.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Colin Richardson.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khor Al Beidah (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khor-al-beidah-iba-united-arab-emirates on 27/12/2024.