Data Zone
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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key 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 individuals | A4, B3a |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | LC | non-breeding (2014–2017) | 700–4,000 individuals | A4, B3a |
| Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus | LC | winter (2014–2017) | 2,000–10,000 individuals | B3a |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | VU | winter (2014–2017) | 20–30 individuals | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2014–2017) | 8,150–27,800 individuals | B3b |
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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2017 | very unfavourable | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | 3,750 / 3,750 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | 400 / 440 (individuals) | 91 | favourable | ||
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | 2,350 / 1,300 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Charadrius mongolus | 700 / 1,900 (individuals) | 37 | very unfavourable | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 50 / 250 (individuals) | 20 | very unfavourable | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 350 / 1,000 (individuals) | 35 | very unfavourable | ||
| Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus | 200 / 530 (individuals) | 38 | very unfavourable | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 3,000 / 2,000 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 100 / 460 (individuals) | 22 | very unfavourable | ||
| Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus | 6,000 / 2,500 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | 25 / 8 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 18,000 / 19,000 (individuals) | 95 | favourable | ||
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Intertidal | good (>90%) | poor (40–69%) | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| urban/industrial/transport | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) 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 17/01/2025.