MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)

From flamingo-filled salt flats on the edge of Abu Dhabi to mangrove forests sheltering endangered turtles along the east coast, the UAE is home to a network of protected wetlands teeming with biodiversity.

Their ecological importance comes into focus on World Wetlands Day observed on February 2 to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971. 

The international treaty promotes the conservation of wetlands through national action and global cooperation. Today, 172 countries are parties to the convention. 

This year, the occasion is being marked under the theme “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.”

“People have coexisted with wetlands since prehistory, making use of their beneficial services while averting unintended consequences,” Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, said in a statement marking the day. 

“Over time, a valuable depth of traditional knowledge has been deduced, shared and has subsequently evolved.”

The UAE has been a signatory to the convention since 2007, following the ratification of the treaty under Federal Decree No. (11). 

Since then, the country has designated 10 wetlands of international importance, spanning inland lakes, mangroves, wadis and marine ecosystems across seven emirates.

One of the country’s most prominent Ramsar sites is Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Abu Dhabi Island. 

Established in 1998 on what was once a coastal salt flat, Al Wathba has evolved into a mosaic of natural and man-made lakes that now support rich biodiversity.

Declared a Ramsar site in 2013, the reserve became the first protected area in the GCC to be placed on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas in 2018. 

It is also the only site in the region where migratory flamingos regularly breed, with seasonal populations reaching around 4,000 birds.

Despite being largely artificial, Al Wathba supports 262 bird species, hundreds of invertebrates, and a range of reptiles, mammals and plants. 

A salinity gradient created by treated wastewater inflow allows fresh, brackish and saline habitats to coexist, sustaining diverse ecosystems. 

Coastal Nurseries and Marine Refuges

Along Abu Dhabi’s coastline, Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area protects more than 145 sq. km. of shallow coastal waters west of Mussafah. 

Established in 2017, the site contains mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds and intertidal mudflats that function as nursery and spawning grounds for marine life.

More than 150 fish species have been recorded in the area, along with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and dozens of resident and migratory bird species. 

Seagrass and mangroves also play a critical role in shoreline protection and carbon storage, reinforcing the ecological value of the site.

Further offshore, Al Yasat Marine Protected Area encompasses four islands and surrounding waters at the western edge of Abu Dhabi. 

The reserve supports endangered dugongs, sea turtles and dolphins, as well as coral reefs with more than 18 hard coral species.

It is also an important breeding site for Socotra cormorants and a stopover for migratory birds such as flamingos.

Urban Wetlands in the Heart of Cities

In Dubai, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary stands out as a rare natural wetland embedded within a major urban centre. 

Located at the end of Dubai Creek, the sanctuary comprises lagoons, mudflats and mangroves that host more than 450 animal species and nearly 50 plant species.

During winter, the site supports over 20,000 waterbirds and serves as a critical stop along the East African-West Asian migratory flyway. 

Greater flamingos, eagles and globally threatened species are regularly recorded, while the sanctuary also functions as a conservation and education hub, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

Sharjah’s Al Wasit Wetland Centre, once a former waste site, is now a restored inland wetland spanning 86 hectares. 

Declared a national protected area in 2004, it supports more than 140 bird species, including several near-threatened migrants, and preserves evidence of the region’s historic coastline.

Mangroves, Mountains, and Memory

On the east coast, the Khor Kalba Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area contains the tallest and most extensive mangrove forests in the region. 

These mangroves provide breeding grounds for fish and invertebrates, protect the shoreline and support endangered hawksbill and green turtles. 

The area is also of major ornithological importance, hosting endemic and rare bird species.

In the mountains of Fujairah, Wadi Wurayah National Park protects a rare freshwater ecosystem in an otherwise arid environment. 

Natural springs, pools and waterfalls support endemic fish, newly discovered insects and threatened mammals such as the Arabian tahr. 

The park also contains archaeological sites dating back to the Iron Age, reflecting centuries of human interaction with the landscape.

Offshore sites such as Sir Abu Nuair Island and Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary further expand the UAE’s Ramsar network, protecting coral reefs, seagrass beds and critical nesting grounds for endangered turtles and seabirds.

In Ajman, Al Zorah Wetland Reserve safeguards the emirate’s largest mangrove area and serves as an important habitat for migratory and resident bird species, including flamingos and eagles.