Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary lies at the head of Dubai Creek, within the city, and covers a mixture of mangroves, mudflats, lagoons and salt flats. Despite its urban setting it is one of the most important wetlands on the Gulf coast and is recognised as a Ramsar site under the international convention on wetlands.
Wildlife
The sanctuary is best known for its wintering flock of greater flamingos, which feeds and roosts on the mudflats in numbers that reach into the hundreds. It also supports herons, egrets, terns, ospreys, gulls and a wide range of migrant waders, and the mangrove and lagoon habitats shelter fish and crustacean nursery populations. More than a hundred bird species have been recorded.
Visiting
There are hides at the edge of the reserve where visitors can watch without disturbing the birds, and admission is free. The hides are equipped with information panels and telescopes, and the best season is the winter, when the migrant population is at its peak. Access is on foot from designated points and the reserve itself is closed to entry.
Management
The sanctuary is managed by the Dubai municipality and is protected from development, which is unusual given its position between the creek and some of the most valuable real estate in the city. Water levels and salinity are managed to maintain the mudflat and mangrove conditions the birds depend on.