It may be a surprise to some that the United Arab Emirates is home to a beautiful island with lots of wildlife! Apart from the many thousands of miles of deserts, the UAE also boasts an island which is quite a biodiversity hotspot in the region; Sir Bani Yas Island. Today, Sir Bani Yas Island has become a major point of sightseeing Abu Dhabi has to offer.
The island is also home to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts which is an option to many who would like to spend a few days on the island. Sir Bani Yas is a natural island located about 110 miles off the coast of Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE. Its name ‘Sir Bani Yas’ is derived from its early inhabitants, a tribe known as ‘Sir Bani’. The island is incidentally the biggest wildlife reserve in the Arabian region spanning across 87 Km2. The island today is both a bird sanctuary as well as a wildlife reserve.
The island was formally established as a wildlife reserve in the year 1971 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late president of the UAE. It was Sheik Zayed’s concerns for conservation that led him to take measures to protect wildlife on the island. The island houses within itself the Arabian Wildlife Park, established by Sheikh Zayed himself for the breeding and rehabilitation of its wildlife.
It is the wildlife park that offers a glimpse of the island’s wildlife population of about 13,000 animals. Among the many species inhabiting the park is the beautiful Beisa Orix, Arabian Rock Hyrax, Arabian Oryx, Cheetah and the Ostrich. All this can be explored by taking a nature and wildlife drive through the park that can be arranged by those who operate tours on the island.
The island also offers a host of outdoor activities like land sailing, horse riding, falconry, archery and even mountain biking. For those who like to explore the underwater treasures of Sir Bani Yas Island, snorkelling, scuba diving and deep sea kayaking are just a few ways to make one’s stay even more memorable.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
