Below you can find a complete list of Emiri animals. We currently track 217 animals in United Arab Emirates and are adding more every day!
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven historically distinct monarchies: the capital of Abu Dhabi, plus Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain. Situated against the Persian Gulf, the country shares a land border with Oman toward the east and Saudi Arabia toward the south.
The UAE has a long, winding coast that contains the most suitable climates for humans. Here you can find the country’s largest cities and their gleaming skyscrapers (including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa). Beyond the coast, the desert is the dominant geographical feature of the country’s interior. With few large bodies of water, it contains some of the largest sand dunes in the entire world. The east of the country is also dotted with the Hajar Mountains, which flow into neighboring Oman.
The Official National (State) Animal of the United Arab Emirates
The Arabian oryx, a type of long-horned antelope, is the official national animal of the UAE. However, the falcon is the national bird, the emblem on the coat of arms, and an important cultural symbol.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in the United Arab Emirates
More than 10 national parks and wildlife reserves are spread out across the entire country.
- The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, located directly to the south of the Dubai International Airport, is an enclosed bird haven situated among the sprawl of the city. It contains about 180 different species, including kingfishers, eagles, spoonbills, plovers, and godwits. It’s also a good place to find foxes, hedgehogs, vipers, and hares.
- The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, located directly east of the city itself, is home to caracals, sand cats, antelopes, hedgehogs, shrews, foxes, hares, snakes, lizards, and several species of bats.
- The Wadi Wurayah National Park, located near the eastern waters of the Persian Gulf, is considered to be a wetland of international importance. Situated amid the Hajar Mountains and scenic waterfalls, the park is home to the caracal, various species of freshwater fish, and even the unique and elusive Arabian tahr.
- The Mangrove National Park encompasses 7 square miles of mangrove forests just outside the city center of the capital, Abu Dhabi. Visitors can expect to find a large variety of unique animals such as herons, flamingos, dolphins, dugongs, foxes, crabs, and fish.
- The Kalba Conservation Reserve, located near the eastern border with Oman and the Persian Gulf, is an internationally recognized wetland area. It encompasses both a bird of prey center and a wild mountain conservation center for scenic hikes.
The Most Dangerous Animals in the United Arab Emirates Today
The UAE is home to several species of venomous animals that people should try to avoid at all costs. Fortunately, most of them reside in the more remote parts of the country.
- Scorpions – The UAE has two types of dangerous scorpions: the deathstalker and the fat-tailed scorpion. Both of them are capable of producing dangerous and painful venom. Several deaths are known to occur every year, usually involving the young, old, or already infirm.
- Arabian Horned Viper – Identified by the large scales protruding from the body and the big horns above each eye, the horned viper likes to lie submerged in the sand to surprise prey. The venom itself can cause pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting, and tissue necrosis.
- Indian Saw-Scaled Viper – Aggressive and quick to strike, the saw-scaled viper is found throughout India and the Middle East. Its venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and bleeding within minutes of a bite. The mortality rate might be as high as 20%, but fortunately, anti-venom is widely available.
Endangered Animals in the United Arab Emirates
Most of the country’s wildlife lives out in remote areas, undisturbed by human activity. But several species, particularly near the coast, are at risk of becoming extinct from overhunting and habitat loss. Another persistent problem is overgrazing from domesticated animals, which changes the natural landscape of the country.
- Arabian Leopard – This endangered subspecies of the leopard is exceptionally rare in the UAE. Occasionally there are reports of a sighting or a footprint left behind, but nothing definitive about its status in the country. With only a few hundred remaining in all of the Arabian Peninsula, it is already on the brink of becoming extinct. Habitat loss, prey depletion, and overhunting are primarily to blame for the dramatic fall in numbers.
- Arabian Tahr – Native to the steep slopes of the Al Hajar Mountains, the endangered tahr looks a bit like a goat. It has long been under threat from habitat loss, hunting, and overgrazing in the area.
- Sea Turtles – Four species of sea turtles (the green turtle, olive ridley turtle, loggerhead turtle, and hawksbill turtle) once roamed the waters of the Persian Gulf in large numbers, occasionally coming ashore to reproduce. But this unique animal is currently in danger of becoming extinct from the combined effects of pollution, accidental bycatches, human exploitation, and loss of nesting sites from coastal development.
The Flag of the United Arab Emirates
The national flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has red, green, white, and black, with unification being the flag’s main theme, and each color has a different meaning. It is rectangular in shape separate into four rectangular sections within. Check out more about the flag of the United Arab Emirates here.
Emiri Animals
Emiri Animals List
- Admiral Butterfly
- Ant
- Antelope
- Arabian Wolf
- Armyworm
- Arsinoitherium
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Banana Spider
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bear
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Beewolf wasp
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Brahminy Blindsnake
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Viper
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chameleon
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Cormorant
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Deer
- Desert Locust
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Egyptian Vulture
- Elephant
- European Robin
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Fiddler Crab
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- Gazelle
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- German Cockroach
- Giant Trevally
- Glass Lizard
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Golden Eagle
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Honey Badger
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horned Viper
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Hyena
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Insects
- Jackal
- Jerboa
- Jumping Spider
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Liger
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Nematode
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Parakeet
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Persian
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pompano Fish
- Pond Skater
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Rat
- Redback Spider
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sand Cat
- Sand Crab
- Saw-scaled Viper
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Striped Hyena
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Tarantula Hawk
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Vinegaroon
- Viper
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- White Tiger
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Wryneck
- Zebu
Animals in United Arab Emirates FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in the United Arab Emirates?
The UAE is considered by many people to be a birdwatcher’s paradise. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded, many of which come to the UAE as a staging ground for their journey to and from Africa. Snakes and lizards are also quite common throughout the country. By comparison, the UAE only has a few mammals specifically adapted for the difficult conditions of the desert such as gazelles, foxes, gerbils, hares, camels, and domesticated goats and sheep.
What animals live in the UAE desert?
The deserts of the UAE are home to foxes, camels, snakes, lizards, and many species of birds.
Are there monkeys in the UAE?
No, monkeys are not adapted for the dry desert conditions of the UAE. Africa, India, and southeastern Asia contain the most common habitats for monkeys.
What dangerous animals live in Dubai?
Poisonous snakes and scorpions can be found throughout the emirate of Dubai, though less commonly in the city itself.