Do you want a peaceful, perennial escape into the raw Arabian wilderness? Want something that offers a beautiful contrast to Dubai’s bustling city life? If yes, then you should visit Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. This reserve is famous for its quiet, saffron-colored dunes, the turquoise Al Qudra lake, and diverse wildlife. In this blog, we will discuss some of the things you need to know about Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
Wildlife Wonders of Al Marmoom
Al Marmoom Wildlife Reserve is the UAE’s largest unfenced, protected ecosystem, covering about 10% of Dubai’s total area. If you look at the stats, it’s close to about 40,000 hectares. This reserve features arid desert shrubs, massive golden sand dunes, and a wetland lake that spans across 10 square kilometres.
Here is an interesting fact… The Al Marmoom Wildlife Reserve provides a sanctuary for 19 endangered species, close to 400 flamingos, and 360+ local and migratory birds. The flagship species that Al Marmoom conserves are Arabian oryx (it was once near extinction) and Arabian gazelles.
Al Marmoom Wildlife
Boasting about 40 hectares of shrublands, artificial wetlands, and sand dunes, Al Marmoom sustains highly diverse flora and fauna. Among wildlife, you are going to find gazelles, foxes, reptiles, and the largest Arabian Oryx population in the UAE.
Talking about birds, close to 158 migratory species find their home in Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. Also, the desert holds large congregations of flamingos. You will also find other birds like swans and rare steppe eagles here.
Other biodiversity includes close to 20 reptile species and 10+ mammal species. You can also find some rare fauna like sand cats, Godon’s wildcat, desert monitors, and Ethiopian hedgehogs.
Al Marmoom: Wildlife Viewing Tips
Below are some of the viewing tips when you plan a visit to Al Marmoom Wildlife Reserve:
- The best time to visit is from early mornings or late afternoons – at these timings, you have the highest chance of spotting wild animals, especially the Arabian Oryx. You will also be able to avoid the peak desert heat if you opt for these timings.
- If you want your visit to be nice and easy, then opt for a guided tour. Meaning, book a desert safari and traverse the whole of Al Marmoom in a 4X4 vehicle. Don’t worry – the drivers are given proper training… This is why locating the flora and fauna of this reserve is a piece of cake for them.
- You should respect the environment by staying on the designated paths, avoiding littering, not feeding anything to the animals, and maintain safe distance from the wild animals.
- Bring the required gear, so pack your binoculars for birdwatching, a camera with a nice zoom lens, polarised sunglasses, and face masks.
Al Marmoom Activities
Here are some of the activities that Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve offers:
- You can visit Al Qudra Lake for birdwatching and spot swans, ducks, the rare Steppe Eagle, and flamingos. If you’re lucky, you get to spot rare migratory birds like the Northern Shoveler and Great Cormorant. These birds migrate from Central Asia and Northern Europe in winter.
- You can enjoy picnics or go for overnight camping, where you experience barbecues with family. For the night, this place offers a stargazing opportunity, and the next morning, you can see a beautiful sunrise, with the best part being that you can capture all this in camera.
- You can go cycling at Al Marmoom Wildlife Reserve – this place has an 86km long, world-class cycling track. This cycling track is popular as Al Qudra Cycle Track. It is very popular among not just professional cyclists but amateur cyclists as well.
- You can visit the Love Lake Dubai at Al Qudra, which is located in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. As a popular attraction, it has two massive heart-shaped lakes. Popular among couples, this place is entry-free, and it is ideal to visit in the winter.
Conclusion
That’s it, folks, about the wonders of Al Marmoom. Do you want to explore Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and spend a great time there? If yes, then book a trip with Travel Saga Tourism – we promise that with us, you will have great pleasure as you tour the desert beauty and watch its wildlife. Book a trip with Travel Saga and have a great time in Dubai!
