Al Wathba Wetland Reserve lies about forty kilometres east of Abu Dhabi city, in an area of sabkha — salt flat — and low dunes. It was declared a protected area in 1998 and is also a Ramsar site.
Wildlife
The reserve's best-known feature is its colony of greater flamingos, which has bred there repeatedly — a notable occurrence, since flamingos breed in relatively few places in the region. The wetland also supports more than two hundred recorded bird species, including waders, ducks, terns and raptors, along with reptiles and small mammals. The vegetation is dominated by salt-tolerant plants.
Visiting
The reserve has walking trails, hides and a visitor centre, and is open to the public on designated days with free admission. Access is controlled to keep disturbance to the birds to a minimum, and the breeding season brings additional restrictions.
Why it is unusual
Al Wathba demonstrates that a functioning wetland can be established and maintained in an extremely arid setting when water and salinity are managed deliberately. Its management has become a reference point for wetland creation and bird conservation elsewhere in the Emirates.