UAE Native Species & The place to Have Animal Encounters in Dubai

Dubai Native Animals

There’s an enormous vary of native species that may be present in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Chances are you’ll be fortunate to come back throughout a few of these mammals within the Dubai desert setting and mountains (sure, the UAE has mountains!):

• Arabian Oryx (susceptible)
• Arabian Tahr (endangered)
• The Arabian Leopard (critically endangered)
• Arabian Sand Gazelle (threatened)
• Mountain Gazelle (susceptible)
• Striped Hyena (near-threatened)
• Sand Cat

Native to the waters of Dubai, along with over 500 species of fish, you’ll discover:

• Hawksbill turtles (critically endangered)
• Inexperienced Turtles (endangered)
• Humpback dolphins
• Sea snakes
• Dugongs
• Whale sharks

That is along with an enormous variety of migratory birds, bats, reptiles and bugs.

For those who want extra on-line info on Dubai native animals, you’ll be able to strive the UAE Ministry of Local weather Change and Surroundings. Emirates Nature WWF is one other good useful resource.

The place to Expertise Camels in Dubai

Camels are almost definitely the animal that first involves thoughts when imagining a visit to Dubai. A domesticated quite than wild animal, these “Ships of the Desert” are much-revered creatures within the UAE; Emiratis are proud and captivated with their camels, which have been launched into the Arabian Peninsula over 2000 years in the past.

An vital a part of conventional Bedouin life, camels have traditionally not solely been a supply of meals for his or her milk and meat but additionally a type of transportation; their hair will be woven for shelter, and they’re a type of foreign money and standing. Camels discovered within the Arabian Peninsula are dromedaries – single-humped camels.

The simplest and most sensible approach to see a camel in Dubai and even choose into camel rides is to take a desert safari throughout your keep in Dubai (we’ll clarify extra under). Alternatively, you may additionally look to:

• Attend a camel race at Al Marmoom camel race observe – wake early to catch the trackside motion with robotic jockeys, and a variety of sound color and 4×4’s too!
• Go to the Camel Farm and interact in some camel hug remedy! Longer treks and different hands-on experiences can be found at this devoted camel expertise location, simply exterior of the town.
• Take a camel experience alongside the seaside at JBR – sure, it’s touristy, but when time is restricted, that is your finest probability to catch a camel experience near city.

You’ll be able to see our full information on the place to experience a camel in Dubai right here

The place to Expertise Falconry in Dubai

If there’s one animal presumably much more revered than the camel in Dubai, it’s the falcon. Falconry was an important a part of Bedouin life, and the tradition lives on with falconry nonetheless being seen as a a lot sought-after ability, even with the youthful technology.

There are a couple of methods to have a falcon encounter close to Dubai. Near the town, search for the occasion program with Wild Flight Dubai, an organization that actively does pest management utilizing falcons; additionally they present vacationer demonstrations and cater to company teams.

Wild Flight also can commonly be seen within the heritage experiences program at The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert. You’ll catch camel rides and an enormous vary of wildlife experiences whereas staying on this unbelievable nook of the desert. Al Wadi in Ras Al Khaimah is simply round 40 minutes from DXB. If time permits, undoubtedly add an in a single day cease to the desert in RAK to your itinerary!

It appears like one other common vacation spot the place you’ll discover their demonstrations is at JA The Resort, so look them up in the event you’re in search of a novel resort expertise in Dubai close to the seaside.

One other prime instructional place to go to is The Falcon Hospital in Abu Dhabi. It’s an extended approach to journey only for their tour (a beautiful two-hour expertise), however you may simply mix it with a full-day tour to Abu Dhabi, together with the Grand Mosque, for an incredible time out.

Alternatively, many desert camp experiences will embody falconry as a part of their providing on a desert safari. Some desert excursions we’re conscious of that additionally provide a falconry show as a part of their heritage providing embody:

Outside Sanctuaries in Dubai & the UAE

One of the best ways to expertise wildlife in Dubai is, in fact, to get out into the “wild”. You don’t should journey so far as you could suppose, although, for wildlife experiences in Dubai.

Listed here are three of the important thing places we advocate you hunt down in Dubai for true wildlife recognizing experiences:

1. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

This protected desert space to the south of Dubai covers an expanse of 225 sq. kilometres – about 5% of the Emirate. Solely a restricted variety of licensed tour and hospitality firms can function inside this nationwide park of sand dunes and gravel plains, managed by Emirates.

This contains common premium Dubai tour firm Platinum Heritage, newcomers 57 Safari, and ultra-luxurious glamping choices, together with Sonara Camp and Al Maha – A Luxurious Assortment Desert Resort and Spa.

Inside DDCR, you’ll be able to spot mammals such because the Arabian Oryx, Arabian Gazelle and Arabian Purple Fox. Additionally, you will see a number of species of geckos and sand lizards, sand snakes and the a lot bigger Desert Monitor and Lappet-faced Vulture.

The DDCR additionally has a superb customer centre the place you’ll be able to be taught rather more in regards to the UAE’s native wildlife. You’ll be able to pop into the customer centre (accessible by taxi or any 2WD automobile) from 10:00 AM to six:00 PM each day.

One factor to notice about “Desert Safaris” in Dubai; most are usually not animal-focused safaris in any respect. One can find the emphasis is on the favored sport of dune bashing in 4WDs and quite a lot of sand sports activities, with presumably a camel experience thrown in.

So, nature lovers, listen when reserving. Learn the high quality print, do they are saying you’ll be visiting the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve or DDCR within the tour description? If not, there’s a good probability your animal expertise in Dubai will solely be cursory.

That can assist you slim down some extra nature-focused experiences by way of common reserving platforms, these excursions offers you one of the best probabilities of seeing native animals in Dubai:

• It is a common in a single day tour for animal lovers, operated by Platinum Heritage and Balloon Journey Emirates; With pick-ups from the town, the excursions happen in classic Land Rovers to provide the finest open-air expertise with skilled guides. You’ll keep in a standard Bedouin stone hut and wake for a dawn tour over the DDCR.
• Alternatively, additionally they run morning-only heritage excursions with transfers from Dubai and a falconry show.

• One other wonderful choice to be at one along with your environment and luxuriate in a nighttime nature stroll is with Sand Sherpa. You’ll get to camp in rooftop tents, all of your tenting gear is supplied, and help given all through, or in the event you’re extra skilled campers, you’ll be able to merely rent the gear from them.

• 57 Safari additionally function in a separate a part of DDCR with a small fleet of classic Land Rovers. Their morning program, Breakfast with Oryx, is a well-liked alternative, with a falconry show included.

We’ve got a extra detailed information to all of the excursions you’ll be able to take pleasure in at DDCR over right here.

2. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Sitting remarkably near the town, a part of the Dubai Creek estuary, the sanctuary is residence to an enormous variety of migratory birds. Finest recognized for its flamingoes, however as much as 180 species both completely reside within the waters or move by way of. Not simply birds, there are quite a few crustaceans, fish and reptiles that reside on this designated nature reserve.

It’s free for the general public to go and use the hides in Ras Al Khor for chicken recognizing however you need to now guide upfront and convey your personal binoculars.

3. Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve

One other giant, unfenced reserve inside Dubai Emirate is the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. Masking over 10% of Dubai Emirate, this space incorporates the Al Qudra Lake system, which incorporates the totally instagrammable “Love Lakes.” While on the floor, it might appear gimmicky, the lakes are, in actual fact, an extremely vital a part of the Emirate’s conservation effort.

Though the lakes themselves are man-made, they’re now residence to over 170 species of migratory birds and reptiles.

It’s doable to camp free of charge at Al Qudra Lakes, although be warned, as a result of ease of accessibility to those campgrounds, they are often quite noisy and busy, particularly at winter weekends. Most different occasions, although, you need to be capable of park up on the lakes and luxuriate in a serene expertise surrounded by nature.

For those who don’t have your personal tenting gear, we’ve discovered these excursions that function in Al Marmoon Desert Conservation Reserve:

Zoos and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Dubai & the UAE

The most effective locations to view Dubai wildlife within the setting of safari parks, zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries embody:

Dubai Safari Park

After a couple of false begins, the Dubai Safari Park is now re-opened with a aware focus the general public are assured of placing animal conservation first. Dwelling to greater than 2,500 animals with a give attention to Arabian, Asian and African animal species that adapt to the new climates of the desert. Fingers-on experiences are supplied within the type of a youngsters’s interactive program, safari experience and feeding classes.

The Inexperienced Planet

A tropical rainforest eco dome discovered adjoining to Metropolis Stroll, The Inexperienced Planet brings an equatorial rainforest into the guts of the town. Unfold out over 4 layers of the forest, the dome is dominated by a self-sustaining synthetic tree. As you descend by way of the rainforest, meet birds, snakes, bugs and the beloved sloth on this unbelievable instructional expertise.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Discovered contained in the very center of Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is among the metropolis’s most spectacular indoor sights. The large suspended tank will be seen from exterior free of charge, or enterprise inside for the tunnel, boat experience and lots of extra hands-on experiences and marine encounters.

Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Mission

This one is usually a little bit of a hidden gem because it’s not broadly marketed. The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Mission sits inside the Jumeirah Al Naseem Lodge within the Madinat Jumeirah Complicated. Each Wednesday at 11:00 AM (often solely within the winter months) they run a feeding program for the turtles which are rehabilitating on the sanctuary.

At different occasions of the week, you’re free to wander to the resort lagoon and see these majestic endangered creatures float by. Solely injured animals are stored right here, it’s not a captive breeding program so there’s no assure on what number of turtles shall be there.

Dubai Butterfly Backyard

Located south of the town in an space often known as Dubailand is the Dubai Butterfly Backyard -the world’s largest lined butterfly backyard residence to over 15,000 inhabitants. It’s discovered adjoining to Dubai Miracle Backyard, so mostly guests pair these two actions collectively (although be aware they’ve separate entrance charges).

Al Ain Zoo & Safari

Sitting simply over the border into neighbouring Emirate Abu Dhabi, a couple of 90-minute drive from Dubai, you’ll discover the Al Ain Zoo & Safari.

The vast majority of animals listed below are stored to the desert theme and in giant enclosures. An open-top safari will be booked as an add-on expertise.

Arguably, the zoo is among the nation’s finest worth sights and likewise homes the Sheikh Zayed Desert Studying Centre residence to probably the most intensive historical past and geography shows within the nation. If time for a aspect journey to Al Ain will be present in your schedule, this one is not going to disappoint, particularly in case you are travelling with youngsters.

Kalba conservation areas

On the jap coast of the UAE, you’ll discover the Sharjah exclave of Kalba. It’s surrounded by the Emirate of Fujairah, past the Hajar Mountains, however not too long ago has been linked with a brand new freeway tunnel, making for straightforward entry from Dubai in simply over an hour.

Dwelling to a number of wildlife and conservation initiatives, right here you’ll be able to expertise the Kalba Birds of Prey Centre and the Al Hefaiyah Mountains Conservation Centre. The coastal mangrove space, like a lot of this exclave city at current, is beneath improvement works to enhance tourism infrastructure.

There are nonetheless loads of wadi walks and nature experiences to take pleasure in on this distant nook of the nation, bordering with Oman. Watch this area as Kalba continues to attempt in the direction of turning into one of many UAE’s most distinguished eco-tourism sights.

Wild Dolphins in Musandam

It’s essential to head up into the distant and mountainous Omani enclave of Musandam for this expertise. It’s properly definitely worth the drive and border crossing expertise for probably the most unbelievable nature experiences of a lifetime.

From the regional capital of Khasab, take a small boat out to the waters of Kumzar, virtually on the Strait of Hormuz and wild dolphins are virtually assured to pop alongside and be a part of your journey.