Empty Quarter (8236)
Oman, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Ar Rub al Khali

Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.7500, Longitude: 53.2500

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 300 to 460

Area of KBA (km²): 30665.06762

Protected area coverage (%): 81.62

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Sand desert of linear and crescent dunes up to 70 m high with broad swales between dunes, and gently undulating plains and low hills of sand and gravel along the margins. Dominant vegetation is a sparse, low shrubland of Prosopis cineraria; after good rains the dunes support a good cover of perennials such as Calligonum bushes, Tribulus, sedges Cyperus and grass Stipagrostis. There are no permanent settlements apart from artificial oases at Montasar (Montesar) (19°27'N 54°37'E) and Dawkah (Dauka) (18°40'N 54°04'E) which are fed by permanently flowing boreholes (the water is sulphurous and unsuitable for agriculture). Similar pools are also found at Fasad (South) and in the Muqshin area. Nomadic pastoralism is the dominant human activity. Major oilfields and important archaeological sites occur in the area.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.

Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. A representative desert bird community. The following species are known or presumed to breed in the area (counts in brackets refer to individuals unless stated otherwise): Buteo rufinus (30–34), Aquila chrysaetos (7–8), Pterocles coronatus (250+), P. senegallus (5,000–6,500), P. exustus (100, April) and Eremalauda dunni (8 pairs, March). There is a strong passage of Acrocephalus palustris in spring. There was an intensive ringing study of bird migration at Dawkah in spring 1992. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Gazella gazella (V) and G. subgutturosa (rare) occur; the latter is the more common.

Delineation rationale: 2010-01-18 (BL Secretariat): Coordinates and international site name adjusted to match the gazetteer in: Eriksen, J. and Sargeant, D. E. (2000) Oman bird list, edition 5. Muscat: Oman Bird Records Committee (privately published).

Habitats

Land use: rangeland/pastureland | urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Desert	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is a proposed National Resource Reserve.

Additional information