Khor Al Jazirah (8314)
United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, D1a

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Khor Al Jazirah

Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.7283, Longitude: 55.8650

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 5

Area of KBA (km²): 8.5732

Protected area coverage (%): 34.90

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A large bay c.15 km long with extensive intertidal mudflats, sandbars and islets, lying c.10 km south of Ras al Khaimah town. High (30 m) sand-dunes guard the bay to the south-east. Above the tideline there is salt-tolerant scrub, and mature Prosopis trees on the dunes, heavily grazed by camels and goats. The whole area is very scenic and is much frequented by picnicers at weekends.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.

Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. The site has been little investigated but holds at least c.3,500 waterbirds in autumn (based on a single survey). About 100 Egretta gularis have been counted in winter. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	5
Desert	5
Marine Neritic	30
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	30
Marine Intertidal	30

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is no legal protection. Dumping of sewage and solid waste is occurring and there is construction development on the dunes. The vegetation is overgrazed.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing

Additional information