Sharjah’s Sir Bu Nair Island added to global list of protected areas

Sharjah: Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area of Sharjah emirate has been included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), said the achievement is an international acknowledgment of Sharjah’s dedication to biodiversity protection.

She added that Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area has become one of the most prominent protected areas in the UAE and a global model of biodiversity and sustainability.

Known for its rich biodiversity and strategic location, the island serves as a haven for rare seabirds and wildlife. The island’s inclusion in the IUCN Green List, valid until December 5, 2029, follows its compliance with criteria such as integrated management, community partnerships, and continuous environmental monitoring. These factors reinforce the island’s role as “a living example of harmonising economic and social development with the preservation of natural resources”.

Sir Bu Nair Island, spanning 13 square kilometres in the Arabian Gulf, lies 110km north of Sharjah. Renowned for its sandy beaches and coral and fish ecosystems, the island was declared a nature reserve in 2000 by an Emiri decree issued by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. This designation elevated its international importance, leading to its inclusion in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. Additionally, the island is part of the Indian Ocean’s South-East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding.