The Arabian Peninsula’s coastal wetlands: Vital for nature, essential for life
As Ramsar COP15 highlights the urgency of global wetland conservation, the Arabian Peninsula’s coastal wetlands emerge as vital lifelines for migratory birds and biodiversity. BirdLife’s regional initiative unites science and policy to protect these critical habitats, which are essential not only for nature but also for climate resilience, livelihoods and future generations.
By Charlie Malcolm-McKay and Ashjan Al-Ananzeh
Header image: Detwah lagoon with sand dunes on Qalansiyah Beach, Socotra, Yemen. © Jiri Soural
The Arabian Peninsula’s coastal wetlands support thousands of species. These wetlands are lifelines for biodiversity, providing sanctuary to over 330 migratory bird species that navigate the African-Eurasian flyway. Serving as critical stopover sites, these habitats provide food, shelter and breeding grounds for some of the world’s most vulnerable species.
From Saudi Arabia to Oman, from Yemen to Iraq, the coastal wetlands of the Arabian Peninsula form a rich mosaic of mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes, estuaries, lagoons, deltaic wetlands and coral reefs. These habitats support not only birds but also a range of marine species, including globally threatened turtles and dugongs, which depend on these waters for survival.
The Socotra Cormorant is a sleek, black seabird endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding waters, including Yemen, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. With its glossy dark plumage and piercing green eyes, this regional species is a distinctive part of the Gulf’s marine ecosystem.
One of the largest known colonies is found on Hawar Islands in Bahrain, where tens of thousands gather to nest and rear their young. During the breeding season, these birds forage in groups, sometimes travelling over 100 km from their nests to hunt schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies. Currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the Socotra Cormorant faces threats from oil pollution, human disturbance and habitat degradation along increasingly developed coastlines.
The Greater Flamingo is another iconic species that depends on these coastal wetlands and is an unmistakable sight across the wetlands of the Arabian Peninsula, with its tall stature, pale pink plumage and elegant downcurved bill. Found in large flocks in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and southern Iraq, this species depends on saline lagoons, tidal mudflats and inland sabkhas for feeding and breeding.
Greater Flamingos are highly specialised filter feeders, sweeping their bills through shallow waters to extract brine shrimp, algae and small invertebrates. Their presence in a wetland often signals good ecological health, as they rely on undisturbed, nutrient-rich environments. One of the most notable breeding colonies is located at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi. This site supports one of the most important flamingo nesting sites in the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf) and underscores the vital role of protected coastal areas.
Coastal wetlands also act as natural buffers, absorbing storm surges and reducing coastal erosion. They filter pollutants, improving water quality and sustaining fisheries that provide livelihoods for thousands of people. These ecosystems also store huge amounts of carbon, making them a crucial asset in climate change mitigation. Yet, despite their immense value, coastal wetlands remain among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet.
Large areas of coastal wetlands are destroyed each year as land is claimed for agriculture, urban expansion and infrastructure development. Pollution from industrial runoff and oil spills also contaminates these fragile environments, diminishing their ability to support biodiversity. The accelerating impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and increased temperatures, compound these threats, placing additional strain on already vulnerable ecosystems and communities.
Wetlands are lifelines for biodiversity – providing critical stopovers for migratory birds and nursery grounds for many fish which, when managed sustainably, can provide local communities with an important food source. Saving these ecosystems is not just about conserving nature – it’s about safeguarding our future.
Megan Eldred – SENIOR POLICY MANAGER
Recognising the urgency of this crisis, we have launched a strategic initiative, ‘The Coastal Wetlands in the Arabian Peninsula’ to safeguard the Arabian Peninsula’s coastal wetlands through a science-led, collaborative approach. Working alongside our national Partners, governments, conservation organisations, and international conventions, we are conducting extensive research to document biodiversity, assess habitat conditions and identify the most pressing threats.
This evidence-based approach informs targeted conservation strategies that prioritise the protection and restoration of key sites such as Masirah Island (Oman), Barr Al Hikman (Oman), Farasan Islands (KSA), Madinat Yanbu al-Sinaiyah (KSA), and Socotra (Yemen). This ensures they remain resilient in the face of environmental change.
Ibrahim Khader, Regional Director of BirdLife Middle East, emphasises the importance of these sites: “The coastal wetlands of the Arabian Peninsula are irreplaceable ecosystems rich in biodiversity, deeply intertwined with local cultures and essential for climate resilience.”
Khader further highlights, “This initiative represents a unified regional response to a shared environmental challenge. By strengthening collaboration across borders and engaging governments, NGOs, international organizations, and international conventions from the very beginning, we are ensuring that the planning process leads to meaningful, sustainable outcomes.”
A critical component of this initiative is integrated coastal zone management, a holistic framework that balances ecological conservation with socio-economic development. By fostering cooperation between policymakers, local communities, and conservationists, this approach seeks to implement sustainable solutions that protect wetlands while supporting livelihoods.
Khader envisions a future of hope: “Our goal is not just to assess the current state of these habitats, but to catalyse real, lasting change through integrated coastal zone management and evidence-based action. We are hoping to build a future in which coastal wetlands are protected, restored, and sustainably managed across the region for nature, for people, and for generations to come.”
If immediate action is taken, it is possible to halt the decline of coastal wetlands and restore them to their full ecological potential. Birds are our compass and serve as indicators of environmental health, but their declining numbers signal an urgent need for intervention. Through scientific research, strategic partnerships and collective action, the Arabian Peninsula’s coastal wetlands can be preserved as thriving ecosystems for future generations.
