Our heritage

Welcome to Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

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Try your hand at falconry, ride a camel or simply hike through our unique desert surroundings

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Drop by our visitor centre to learn more about DDCR, our history, resident species and more

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ABOUT DDCR

At Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, we work to protect Dubai's last desert wilderness and its native plants and animals.

DDCR is the UAE’s first national park and part of Dubai's natural heritage. Through careful and effective management, we aim to rewild the desert habitat, ensuring that it becomes an environment where indigenous species thrive once again.

DDCR is an IUCN member and candidate for the Green List. The reserve is recognised as the premier destination for authentic and sustainable nature-based experiences in the UAE.

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THE CHARISMATIC TEN

The desert is teeming with life, and you’ll be amazed by how plants and animals have adapted to living in what can be a harsh environment at times.

Arabian Oryx

The Arabian Oryx is uniform white, while the flank stripe is absent or only an indistinct smudge. The lower limbs are a chocolate brown to black with the exception of pure white patterns. The face and nose have dark patches and there is often a dark stripe that runs under the neck to the forelegs. In summer dark patches are lighter and often absent altogether. Calves are a uniform brown colour.;

Arabian Gazelle

Of all gazelle species, the Arabian gazelle is the most slender. The coat is fawn to dark-brown on the back, neck and head, while the belly and buttocks are pure white, separated on the flanks by a dark narrow band. The coat is short, sleek and glossy in summer, reflecting much of the sun's radiation. In winter the pelage is much longer, dense, rainproof and not glossy. Desert subspecies show less seasonal variations in their pelage.;

Sand Gazelle

Unlike most gazelles, females of this species are mostly, although not always, hornless, while males boast long, elegantly curved, lyre-like, black horns that diverge outwards and turn back in at the tip. Interestingly, horn development in females increases from Mongolia and China, where they are almost completely hornless, to the Arabian Peninsula, where they have well-developed horns.;

Arabian Red Fox

The Arabian Red Fox is similar in colour to the common Red Fox. However, it is more adapted to desert life than its parent species and is a brownish pale red colour. The throat is black and abdomen white. The lower legs and ears are reddish, with a reddish-brown bushy tail, tipped in white. Its ears are much larger, and its body is much smaller than that of the Red Fox. It also has fur between its toes, to prevent burning of the feet on the hot desert sand.;

Leptiens Spiny-tailed Lizard

A large lizard that can live for up to 80 years and grow to 65cm in length, it has a spiny tail which it will use in its defence. They are able to changes their skin colour through the day. In the mornings, when they are cold, they are a dark grey. The dark colour absorbs the solar heat, which warms them up quickly. Once optimum body temperature is reached they turn light sandy beige which then reflects the sunlight and prevents them from over heating.;

Desert Monitor

The largest lizard in the UAE it grows to 120cm of which the majority is its tail. Sandy in colour with darker speckling, it blends in superbly in the desert environment. One of the most aggressive reptiles in the UAE: when threatened they will inflate their bodies with air and hiss loudly. It will then use its tail in a whip-like action for self defence as well as giving a painful bite which will often become infected. The monitor is an active hunter and will eat anything it can catch and overpower; this includes other reptiles, small mammals, birds and even carrion.;

Plain Tiger

Medium-sized (wingspan 60mm), with orange-brown wings, bordered with black. Apex of forewings black with white bar and spots. Hind wings with black spots. Male with four, female with three on each wing. Side of the thorax black with white spots. Antennae are clubbed.;

Zahar

Perennial, stems branching from base, up to 70cm high, with ascending and spreading stout greyish-green branches, woody at the base, densely hairy.;

Pharaoh Eagle Owl

The Pharaoh Eagle Owl is a fairly large owl, its body length is around 50 cm and can weigh up to 2.3kg. Females are large and heavier than males. When adult, their feathers are cinnamon or ginger in tone, with a lower breast and belly noticeably barred. Its eyes are yellow to deep orange.;

Lappet-faced Vulture

The Lappet-faced Vulture is one of the largest vultures in the world. These vultures weigh between 6 to 9Kgs, have body lengths of around 1 meter, and wingspans of about 2.5 meters. When adult, their feathers are overall blackish-brown and their feet and legs are white. As indicated in the name, their heads and forenecks are unfeathered with loose folds of pinkish-white skin.;

Discover our flora and fauna

Arabian Oryx

Vulnerable

NE
Not evaluated
DD
Deficient data
LC
Least concern
NT
Near threatened
VU
Vulnerable
EN
Endangered
CR
Critically endangered
EW
Extinct in wild
EX
Extinct

Scientific Name

Oryx leucoryx

Arabic Name

Al maha, al baqr, al barra

Tagged as

N/A

Description

The Arabian Oryx is uniform white, while the flank stripe is absent or only an indistinct smudge. The lower limbs are a chocolate brown to black with the exception of pure white patterns. The face and nose have dark patches and there is often a dark stripe that runs under the neck to the forelegs. In summer dark patches are lighter and often absent altogether. Calves are a uniform brown colour.

Among the many local names used to describe the Arabian Oryx is Al Maha. Female Oryx weigh about 80 kg and males about 90 kg. Occasionally males may reach 100 kg. In good grazing conditions Oryx may live to 20 years. In drought life expectancy is greatly reduced.

Range and Habitat

Arabian Oryx once occurred over all or most of the plains and deserts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Breeding

Female Oryx may conceive at just over 12 months old. Male Oryx may be mature by two years but in the face of competition from other males are unlikely to start breeding until at least three years. Oryx may calve in any month of the year but there is a general pattern of births in the winter period December to April. This is thought to be largely the consequence of winter rains influencing conception. Most female will calve annually, provided adequate food resources are present.

After 18 months of drought females are less likely to conceive and may be unable to suckle their calves. Births are usually single with only one case of twins since the reintroduction began in 1982. Birth sex ratio is usually 50:50 (male: female) and in the wild under normal conditions the sex ratio of the population is 50:50. Gestation Period is usually about 8.5 months.

Arabian Gazelle

Vulnerable

NE
Not evaluated
DD
Deficient data
LC
Least concern
NT
Near threatened
VU
Vulnerable
EN
Endangered
CR
Critically endangered
EW
Extinct in wild
EX
Extinct

Scientific Name

Gazella arabica

Arabic Name

Al idhmi, Al gazal al jabali

Tagged as

N/A