AE009
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (Khor Dubai)


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 non-breeding (2014–2017) 1,500–6,000 birds A4, B3a
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC non-breeding (2014–2017) 700–4,000 birds A4, B3a
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC winter (2014–2017) 2,000–10,000 birds B3a
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU winter (2014–2017) 20–30 birds A1
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (2014–2017) 8,150–27,800 birds B3b

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 very poor high high
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 3,750 / 3,750 (birds) 100 good
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 400 / 440 (birds) 91 good
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 2,350 / 1,300 (birds) 100 good
Charadrius mongolus 700 / 1,900 (birds) 37 very poor
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 50 / 250 (birds) 20 very poor
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 350 / 1,000 (birds) 35 very poor
Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus 200 / 530 (birds) 38 very poor
Dunlin Calidris alpina 3,000 / 2,000 (birds) 100 good
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 100 / 460 (birds) 22 very poor
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 6,000 / 2,500 (birds) 100 good
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga 25 / 8 (birds) 100 good
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 18,000 / 19,000 (birds) 95 good

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Human intrusions and disturbance likely in long term (>4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution likely in long term (>4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Residential and commercial development likely in long term (>4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented high

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Ras Al Khawr Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife Sanctuary (-) 100
2007 Ras Al Khor Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (IV) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest 7 Subtropical & tropical mangrove
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic minor (<10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100
urban/industrial/transport minor (<10)

Land ownership
Dubai Municipality.



Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (Khor Dubai) (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ras-al-khor-wildlife-sanctuary-(khor-dubai)-iba-united-arab-emirates on 23/12/2024.