Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
A large bay c.15 km long with extensive intertidal mudflats, sandbars and islets, lying c.10 km south of Ras al Khaimah town. High (30 m) sand-dunes guard the bay to the south-east. Above the tideline there is salt-tolerant scrub, and mature
Prosopis trees on the dunes, heavily grazed by camels and goats. The whole area is very scenic and is much frequented by picnicers at weekends.
See box for key species. The site has been little investigated but holds at least c.3,500 waterbirds in autumn (based on a single survey). About 100
Egretta gularis have been counted in winter.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There is no legal protection. Dumping of sewage and solid waste is occurring and there is construction development on the dunes. The vegetation is overgrazed.
Data-sheet compiled by Colin Richardson.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khor Al Jazirah (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khor-al-jazirah-iba-united-arab-emirates on 23/11/2024.
