Khor al-Udeid (8252)
Qatar, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Khor al-Udeid

Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.6333, Longitude: 51.2833

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 112.39614

Protected area coverage (%): 99.94

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A very large tidal inlet with sandy islands, in the south-east corner of Qatar.

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: Breeding species include Pandion haliaetus and Sterna caspia (1 pair, October 1981). In winter, large concentrations of Phoenicopterus ruber are reported to occur, and significant numbers of other waterbirds may also occur, including Phalacrocorax carbo, P. nigrogularis, waders and gulls Larus and terns Sterna. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: unidentified whales recorded, possibly Balaenoptera edeni (K). The area may be an important feeding ground for dolphins. Reptiles: the site may be an important feeding ground for sea-turtles (globally threatened).

Habitats

Land use: tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Neritic	50
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Commercial fishing was banned in 1993. The southern shores are now controlled by Saudi Arabia. There is some recreational disturbance by campers and four-wheel drive vehicles, but otherwise there are no obvious threats apart from major oil pollution.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing

Additional information