On the outskirts of Dubai, just a few kilometers from the vibrant heart of the city, lies the special game reserve Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The fenced wetland reserve is located in the northeast of the city, on the banks of the Dubai Creek between Dubai Design District and Dubai Festival City.
The wetland reserve, also known as the Cape of the Creek, has an area of 6.2 square kilometers. It includes an alternation of mudflats, lagoons, mud pools, mangroves and salt flats. The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary reserve is under the protection of the city of Dubai and is home to tens of thousands of birds. The reserve is also a popular breeding ground for birds, crustaceans and fish. In the winter months there are mainly pink flamingos in the reserve.
The place to experience the beauty of Dubai in a different way. You can spot birds that have found their natural habitat here. It’s nice that this area takes place so close to the heart of the city. It shows that the beauty of nature and the busy city life can coexist well. The birds can be spotted in the water in their thousands. Next to flamingos, many other birds live in the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. During a visit you can see gray herons, reef herons, egrets, cormorants, stilts, sandpipers, snipe and many more types of birds.
Three bird watching spots
In the game reserve there are three places where visitors can come to admire the birds up close. The birdwatching locations are free to visit, but you must register your visit. For more information, visit the reserve’s website.
The Mangrove Hide
Here you can see the mangroves up close. In the mangroves live ducks, snipe, greenshank, cormorants, Eurasian spoonbills and if you are lucky even storks during the winter period.
Click here for the location of the Mangrove Hide
The Flamingo Hide
As the name suggests, you can admire the special pink flamingos up close. The Flamingo will stay here all year round.
Click here for the location of the Flamingo Hide
The Lagoon Hide
The Lagoon Hide is the ideal place for bird watchers. From the hide you have a wide view over the water of the creek and you can spot all kinds of birds. From waders to birds of prey and everything in between.
