Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Ras Al Khor is the mudflat and mangrove at the landward end of Dubai Creek, protected since 1998 and now a Ramsar site enclosed on all sides by the city. Greater flamingos are the birds people come for, several thousand of them at the winter peak, feeding on the flats with the Burj Khalifa in the background, and some 470 species of animal - birds, crabs, fish and small mammals - along with 47 kinds of plant use the lagoon. Three hides on the perimeter are the only public access.

Background

Ras Al Khor, Arabic for head of the creek, was the end of Dubai Creek before the Dubai Canal was dug, and it is one of the few urban protected areas in the world, about 10.13 km² of wetland declared protected on 1 March 1998. Dubai Municipality has fenced it off and built three birding hides on its edge, set up with the WWF UAE Project Office and sponsored by the National Bank of Dubai, and entry is free. Besides birds it holds many crustaceans, small mammals and fish, and it has drawn more than 90,000 visitors from over 100 countries.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ras Al Khor"

What's there

• The flamingos - thousands wintering on the mudflats, fed at set times near one hide.
• The three hides - the flamingo, mangrove and lagoon hides on the perimeter.
• The city backdrop - waders feeding with the Dubai skyline directly behind.
• The mangrove stand - the planted and natural mangrove at the creek head.

When to go

November to March is the season for numbers; many birds leave in summer. Early morning gives the best light and activity. The hides open in the morning and close in the early evening.

Before you go

Access is limited to three small hides and the reserve itself cannot be entered. There is no public transport and the hides are far apart. Numbers drop sharply outside the winter months.

Nearby

Dubai Creek runs northwest, and Al Fahidi is beyond it.

Key facts