At first glance, desert terrains like the UAE might look too dry for any form of wildlife to survive. However, in reality, the Gulf nation is a natural home to a variety of wild animals.
Although modern urban development led many species to the brink of extinction, the results of early initiatives put in place by the UAE’s late president and founding father Sheikh Zayed to preserve wildlife can be seen across the Emirates today.
Here are just a few examples of the country’s wildlife:
1. The Arabian Oryx
This desert antelope almost reached extinction when rapid development began across the UAE. Now, however, the nation is home to over 10,000 gazelles. Highly adapted to the tough desert environment, they have survived and thrived throughout this region prior to the growing number of population.
With a bright white coat that can reflect the sun and splayed hooves to walk on the sand, this animal can even outlive humans in the desert if its environment and grazing areas are properly protected.
2. Dolphins
Residents across the UAE have increasingly been spotting sharks and dolphins in the Gulf waters. A few decades ago, dolphins were a common sight only amongst Emirati fishermen and pearl divers.
However, with the growing human population and flourishing developments on the shorelines, dolphins became less common in the Gulf waters.
The UAE Dolphin Project has been carrying out surveys of the dolphin and whale populations in the Arabian Gulf waters in an attempt to preserve the region's marine life.
3. Flamingos
Less than a decade ago, a swarm of migratory birds used to flood Dubai’s parks and lakes in the winter.
While these have drastically decreased, with birds settling towards the Emirate’s more isolated areas, the charming flamingos continued to be a popular spectacle.
They are often found in large numbers around lagoons and shallow mudflats on the coast. Also, there are several thousands of elegant bird stops at Dubai's Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.
4. Turtles
Because of our love for the beach and sunbathing, turtles have become some of the most inconvenienced creatures in the world.
Unable to lay their eggs in the water, they are forced to haul themselves up on the beach, dig a hall, lay the eggs, and safely bury them before heading back to the water.
In the recent past, their nesting grounds have become home to a number of hotels and high-rise towers. As a result, their task of safely laying eggs on shores has also become a lot more challenging.
Luckily, there are a couple of places in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that facilitate this process for the turtles as well as rehabilitate the injured ones.
5. Dugong
Just a few months ago, Abu Dhabi hosted a series of events to focus global attention on protecting the threatened dugongs, more commonly known as Sea Cows.
Last March, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) reported that one of their teams saved a Dugong after it became entangled in an illegal fishing net off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
The country is home to almost 3,000 dugongs and the Dugong Conservation Project aims to increase the availability of critical knowledge for conservation action for dugongs.
6. Camels
The UAE is home to a large number of wild camels. You must have seen them on your trip from Dubai to the other Emirates or when driving to Oman.
Obviously, you can also enjoy watching them anywhere around the city. Try the beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence, for example.
However, seeing wild camels roaming around their natural habitat is definitely a must.
7. Killer Whales
Believe it or not, Orcas, otherwise known as killer whales, have been spotted numerous times across the Emirates.
One was spotted in March near Ras Gharab Island in Abu Dhabi and another in April, off the coast of the UAE, near the Musandam Peninsula.