Steppe Eagle in the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates · Birding

Birds of the UAE

Where Europe, Asia and Africa meet. Wetlands, mangroves, mountains and desert, full of resident and migrating birds.

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Steppe Eagle · Aquila nipalensis

MigrationStopover & wintering

12 spotsPhotographed

Coast to peaksHabitats

7 raptorsBirds of prey

Where we photograph

Birding spots across the Emirates

Twelve places we return to, each with its own photo collection. The photo shows one bird you can find there.

Cream-coloured Courser photographed at Al Qudra Lake, Dubai

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

DubaiEurasian Spoonbill

Black Drongo photographed at Mushrif Park, Dubai

Beach Side

Umm Al QuwainCrab-plover

All birdwatching sites →

Why the UAE matters

A stopover for millions

The UAE sits on several migration flyways, so it is a key place for birds to rest, refuel and spend the winter.

Migration

Crossroads of three continents

Millions of migratory birds stop over or spend the winter here on their way between Europe, Asia and Africa. Wetlands, coastline, mangroves and desert oases give them places to rest and feed.

Wetlands
Coastline
Mangroves
Desert oases

Conservation

Protected places

Protected areas and restored habitats keep these stopovers alive, from Ras Al Khor in Dubai, with its flamingos and waders, to the Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi and Al Qudra Lake in the Al Marmoom reserve.