United Arab Emirates - Sir Bu Nair Island

The protected island Sir Bu Nair is one of the most important marine protected areas in the UAE for its contents of significant environmental elements, such as its geological formations, natural flora and Marine birds, island characterized by the nature scenery and sandy beaches that have been taken by sea turtles as a center for breeding. Sir Bu Nair is one of the most important hawksbill nesting sites within the entire Arabian Gulf and certainly by far the most important location in the UAE. Several important sea-birds have been recorded nesting at Sir Bu Nair, including lesser crested tern (Sterna bengalensis), great crested tern (Sterna bergi), red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) and Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis). Today sooty gulls and bridled terns (Onychoprion anaethetus) nest in large numbers at Sir Bu Nair although there are threats to nesting bridled terns from feral cat predation.