Launched in 2018 as the UAE's first unfenced nature reserve, Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve covers around a tenth of the emirate of Dubai in the Saih Al Salam desert to the south of the city. It was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and is managed by Dubai Municipality, conceived as a large environmental and tourism destination intended to draw around a million visitors a year. The reserve protects a desert ecosystem of dunes, grasslands and man-made wetlands, the best known of which are the Al Qudra Lakes, set within its boundaries. Its wildlife includes the Arabian oryx, gazelles and a rich birdlife, with hundreds of resident and migratory species recorded, among them flocks of flamingos drawn to the lakes. The dunes also hold the Saruq Al-Hadid archaeological site, where Iron Age finds point to ancient trade and metalworking long before the modern city emerged. Conceived around eco-tourism, the reserve hosts a range of environmental, cultural and sporting initiatives, and offers guided nature drives, birdwatching and some of the darkest skies near Dubai for stargazing. Long cycling and riding tracks run through the reserve, and its formalisation introduced controls on camping, barbecues and litter to protect the fragile habitat. Within minutes of leaving the city, visitors find an open desert landscape that has become a popular escape for residents and a focus for conservation in Dubai. The reserve takes its name from the Al Marmoom area long associated with camel racing, and its programme of initiatives spans environmental education, cultural events and sporting activities intended to connect residents with the desert. Marked routes and observation points let visitors explore without disturbing wildlife, and the changing light over the dunes and lakes has made it a favourite with photographers. Its scale, covering a tenth of the emirate, makes it one of the largest protected areas of its kind in the country.

Type: Outdoors

Address: Saih Al Salam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Opening Date: 16/01/2018

Outdoor Area