Abu Al Abyad Island (8330)
United Arab Emirates, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Abu Al Abyad Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.2500, Longitude: 53.7500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 367.77143
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large, low-lying island (20 km by 30 km, up to 10 m elevation) of calcareous sands and sabkhah, with very little natural vegetation; there are small areas of salt-tolerant scrub and irrigated cultivation. The coast is fringed with extensive intertidal sandflats and mature mangrove Avicennia woodland.
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 main interest lies in a breeding colony of Dromas ardeola (200-300 pairs, probably c.280); this population seems to winter at Khor al Beidah (site 005). Peak counts of passage waders exceed 6,000 at any one time, and other species include Pluvialis squatarola (200, March) and Arenaria interpres (370+, September). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: dolphins Tursiops truncatus and Sousa chinensis (K) are numerous, and Dugong dugon (V) probably occurs; there are large numbers of introduced ungulates (including Gazella gazella (V), G. dorcas (V) and G. thompsoni). Reptiles: Chelonia mydas (E) is numerous inshore, with occasional Eretmochelys imbricata (E), though no sea-turtles have yet been proved to breed.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 43 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 43 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The breeding site of Dromas ardeola is protected by the owner of the island as a private nature reserve (c.20 ha) and is fenced off, and there are presently no threats to the unprotected intertidal flats and mangrove. Artificial propagation of mangrove Avicennia marina is being carried out on unvegetated sabkhah (which has little or no intrinsic value to wildlife), and thus this activity is of net benefit to D. ardeola and other bird species of the mangrove community.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
Additional information
References: Morris (1992).