The wetlands of the United Arab Emirates provide vital habitat for resident and migratory birds in a landscape otherwise dominated by arid environments. Freshwater lakes, marshes, lagoons, reedbeds and shallow pools attract a remarkable diversity of waterbirds, from Greater Flamingos and herons to kingfishers, ducks, waders and birds of prey.

Throughout the year, and particularly during migration and winter, these habitats become important feeding and resting areas for birds travelling through the Arabian Peninsula. This collection documents wetland and freshwater birds photographed in the field across the UAE, together with selected records from Lebanon that illustrate the wider diversity of wetland birdlife across the region.