Nature & Wildlife

The people of the area have always lived closely to their land and seas, and their respect is shown in the way they maintain the balance between seemingly endless development and the preservation and reclamation of protected wilderness areas and endangered species. The location and vastly diverse terrain provide endless opportunities for observing nature, from the open waters of the Arabian Gulf and Indian Gulf, to the marshy coastal plains, to the desert dunes and the mountain ranges. Latitude has the naturalist guides that help you enjoy all that nature has to offer.

Whale & Dolphin Watching - It is possible to view whales and dolphins off the UAE coast most of the year, with ideal, clam-water conditions from late March to July. Off the east coast, with its deep underwater canyons the most species will be seen, like the mighty sperm whale, enormous blue whales, beautiful gray humpbacks and Rizzo dolphins. But don't discount the sandy, warm Arabian Gulf which hosts species adapted for shallow waters like the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin or the rear finless porpoise.

Desert and Mountain Safaris - The allure of the desert cannot be resisted by most, with its barren, wind-swept beauty stretching as far as you can see, interrupted only by wind-fashioned dunes. Blessed with mountains, spectacular canyons, dry whadi's, the UAE is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. Latitude offers safaris for all tastes, interests and budgets, each with specialist guides to make your safari a trek you'll never forget.

Bird Watching - At any given time during migration periods, as many as 250,000 wading birds are present on the inter-tidal Gulf coast, which supports several million birds a year. Bird watching in the UAE offers beyond the ordinary opportunities at sanctuaries like Khor Kalba, Al Wathba Lane and Sir Bani Yas Island Wildlife Reserve, and countless opportunities through the desert dunes, mountains and wadis. Whether you want to add a bird-watching excursion to your itinerary, or build your itinerary around bird-watching, just let us know.

Sharjah Botanical Gardens - UNESCO is working with in conjunction with the government of Sarjah on the creation of a botanical garden in a bid to protect the Arabian Peninsula's bio-diversity. The garden is a unique "Quranic" Garden containing species mentioned in the Quran and these gardens were often featured in traditional Islamic architecture.

Wildlife Reserves - The UAE takes pride in setting an international example for those seeking to protect the environment and revive wildlife. The Sir Bani Yas Island Wildlife Reserve, off the coast of Abu Dhabi , was once little more than a barren outcrop of rock and sand, but was transformed by Sheikh Zayed (President of UAE) into a reserve that is now home to endangered species like the sand gazelle and oryx and a renowned sanctuary for bird watching in the UAE. The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Santuary, whose name means ‘head of the creek is located in Dubai, and it is a true wilderness set in a metropolitan jungle. It's various ecosystems inclued mangroves, mudflats, lagoons and reed beds which provides protection and breeding gound for a wide variety of plants and animals. ‘Bird hides' provide areas for watching the most visible greater flamingos, as well as many other birds, animals and habitats. Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve is a birdwatcher's paradise, and is noted as the most northerly mangrove forest in the world, and the oldest in Arabia. Endangered Arabian Wildlife Center in Sarjah opened in 1999 and is adjacent the well-known Desert Park Natural History Museum. The Wildlife Center had almost immediate success with a number of endangered species like the Arabian leopard, Blanford's fox, white-tailed mongoose, sand cant and Gordon's wildcat. Included in the natural history museum is a Diarama Hall depicting habitats of the desert, a children's farm, a geology and a floral hall, and a Breeding Center for Arabian endangered species.