Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
A flat island, 12 km × 1 km, situated 2 km north-east of Umm al Quwain town, and mainly composed of low sand-dunes, saltflats and some shallow hollows, with sparse salt-tolerant scrub. The sheltered inland side is much dissected by tidal inlets, with associated mudflats; apart from some mangrove
Avicennia the island is tree-less. Tidal amplitude is 1 m. Khor al Beidah (site 005) lies opposite on the mainland.
See box for key species. The site is of global importance as one of the largest remaining colonies of
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis in the world; numbers fluctuate annually and the site has never been aerially surveyed, so the cumulative breeding population over an entire season may be much higher.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: gazelles Gazella have been introduced, and there are now c.50-100 on the island, mostly G. gazella (V) with some G. dorcas arabica (V).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The owner of the island has been advised of the importance of the island's
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis colony, and has given assurance of its protection, but no formal measures are known to have been taken. A track between a royal palace at the south end of the island and a fishing cottage at the north end was built through the middle of the
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis colony site in 1990. Fortunately the birds appear tenacious and moved their colony north beyond the buildings. Other ongoing disturbance by humans during the breeding season, e.g. over-flights by microlight aircraft or boats visiting from the mainland, causes havoc amongst nesting birds, exposing eggs to predation by gulls
Larus spp. and risking desertion. The introduction of non-indigenous mammals, especially predators such as feral cats
Felis, is a constant and critical potential threat. Overgrazing is a local problem.
Data-sheet compiled by Colin Richardson.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Siniyah Island (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/siniyah-island-iba-united-arab-emirates on 25/12/2024.
