Nature and ecosystems | The Official Platform of the UAE Government

Topography

The UAE is largely an arid land with vast sand deserts, but is also characterised by sand dunes, oases, rock mountains, valleys, marshes and mangroves and salt plains.

The oases are mostly of date palms; most oases are located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Along the eastern borders are the Hajjar Mountains that run north-south. These mountains are complemented by valleys. The valleys are usually dry. However, in cooler months when it rains, they flourish with brooks and pools.

Mangroves form an integral part of the marine ecosystem. Abu Dhabi’s coastal areas are richly lined with mangrove forests. They occupy approximately 70 square km across the emirate.

The southwest region of Abu Dhabi is a coastal salt plain, which extends more than 1.5 kilometres inland in some places.

Ecosystems

The UAE's natural environment is diverse with four major varieties of ecosystems as follows:

desert
mountains
coastal and marine
wetlands.

Source: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

The desert ecosystem

Desert is the dominating landscape, stretching from the southern coast of Arabian Gulf to the uninhabited sands of the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali). To the east are the gravel plains bordering the Hajjar Mountains

The mountains ecosystem

Most of the UAE’s mountains are part of the Hajjar Mountain range, which stretches across the south-eastern Arabian Peninsula. Most of the range lies in the eastern and northern parts of the UAE, extending across the emirates of Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, as well as the Hatta area of Dubai.

The highest mountains in the UAE reach almost 2,000 metres above sea level.

The mountains cover around 2.6 per cent of the UAE’s total land area and extend for about 155 kilometres. They form a natural boundary between the Gulf of Oman to the east and the sand dunes of the Arabian Gulf to the west.

Key mountains in the UAE

Some of the most important mountains of the UAE are:

Jebel Jais: Located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Jais is the highest mountain in the UAE, rising to almost 2,000 metres above sea level.

Jebel Al Mebrah: Located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Al Mebrah reaches 1,527 metres above sea level.
Jebel Hafeet: Located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Jebel Hafeet rises to 1,240 metres. At its summit is Jebel Hafeet Desert Park, one of the first sites in the UAE to be added to the UNESCO WorldHeritage List. The area also includes the Jebel Hafeet tombs, which date back around 5,000 years and were built from stones in beehive-shaped structures.
Hatta mountains: Located in the emirate of Dubai, the Hatta mountains feature high peaks, with Jebel Umm Al Nsur being the highest at around 1,300 metres.
Khorfakkan mountains: Located in the emirate of Sharjah, these mountains surround the city of Khorfakkan on three sides. The highest peak is Jebel Al Qadisiyah, which rises to around 1,535 metres above sea level.

Jebel Al Fayah: Located in the emirate of Sharjah, Jebel Al Fayah is a limestone mountain known for its rugged terrain. Archaeological discoveries at the site include tools dating from the Iron Age, Bronze Age, Neolithic and Palaeolithic periods.
Masfout mountains: Located in the emirate of Ajman, the Masfout mountain area includes Jebel Defta, Jebel Al Yashan and Al Jabal Al Abyad (the White Mountain).
Masafi mountains: Located on the border between the emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, the Masafi mountains cover much of the area around Masafi. The region is known for its diverse geological features, shaped over time by uplift, folding, faulting, sliding and rock intrusion.

The coastal and marine ecosystem

The UAE's coastal and marine ecosystems support a rich variety of marine life and habitats. Its waters include coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows, which provide shelter, feeding and nursery grounds for fish and other marine species. Seagrass beds are particularly important for dugongs and green turtles, while coral reefs support a wide range of marine life and include habitats for endangered species such as the hawksbill turtle.

Abu Dhabi has the world's second-largest dugong population, with around 3,000 dugongs, mainly found around the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve and Al Yasat Marine Protected Area. Its waters also support more than 700 dolphins, including the world's largest population of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins.

Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve is one of the UAE's most important marine areas. Its habitats include seagrass beds, coral reefs, mangroves, rocky and sandy shores and coastal sabkhas. The reserve provides shelter and feeding grounds for dugongs, nursery and spawning grounds for fish, and important foraging and nesting areas for green and hawksbill turtles.

In Dubai, Jabal Ali Wildlife Sanctuary contains extensive seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reefs. Its seagrass beds are important fish nurseries and feeding grounds for green turtles and dugongs, while its shallow waters support one of the most diverse coral reef areas in the southern Arabian Gulf. Three marine turtle species have been recorded there: green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.

Fujairah, on the Gulf of Oman, is known for its rich marine biodiversity and coral reefs, with around 130 coral species recorded. The emirate has designated marine protected areas along the coast of Dibba to protect coral reefs and marine species, while also supporting sustainable fishing and marine conservation programmes.

In Sharjah, Sir Bu Na'air island is an important marine biodiversity site. Its surrounding waters support more than 76 species of reef fish and 40 species of coral, while the island's beaches provide nesting grounds for hawksbill and green turtles. Khor Kalba, another important coastal area in Sharjah, is recognised for its mangrove ecosystem and rich biodiversity.

Umm Al Quwain is also home to important coastal and mangrove ecosystems. The Umm Al Quwain lagoon includes mangrove habitats that support coastal biodiversity, with restoration and monitoring work carried out to regenerate mangroves and associated coastal ecosystems.

These ecosystems also help protect coastlines, support biodiversity and contribute to climate change mitigation. Mangroves help stabilise coastal areas and store carbon, while seagrass meadows support marine species, improve water quality, help reduce erosion and store carbon.

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