- Location: 2 km from Umm al-Quwain, United Arab Emirates
- Area: 90 square meters. km
Umm al-Quwain is a picturesque provincial emirate located in the north-west of the UAE . Due to its remoteness from Dubai and other popular megacities, the traditional way of life has been preserved in it. This area is distinguished not only by its originality, but also by its unique nature. One of the most amazing natural attractions of the emirate is the island of Al-Sharyah, which has become the habitat for numerous species of birds.
Biodiversity of Al-Sharyah
This small island is located parallel to the old part of Umm al-Kuwain, along its promenade. Many years ago, during the study of Al-Sharyah, the ruins of ancient Islamic settlements, built at least two thousand years ago, were discovered. Now they are under the protection of the state.
Visit Al-Sharyah is necessary in order to:
- appreciate the beauty of mangroves, which alternate with dense jungle;
- look at the Persian Gulf;
- to visit the small islands surrounding it.
Among tourists and local residents Al-Sharyah is primarily known for the numerous colonies of exotic birds. Here nesting marine birds, living in other nearby emirates and throughout the region. These include cormorants Socotra, the habitat of which are only the countries of the Persian Gulf. Al-Sharyah has the largest population of these birds. By estimates of ornithologists, there are almost 15,000 pairs of cormorants.
Despite the fact that the reserve is called "Bird Island", there are many other animals. And they can be found not only in the thickets of mangrove forests, but also in the sea harbor. In particular, Al-Sharyah has numerous oysters, sea turtles and even reef sharks.
On the island you can see exotic plants that rarely grow on the continent.
The popularity of Al-Sharjah
This landmark is the largest bird island-reserve, located in the Arab region. Al-Sharyah is located near the town of Umm al-Quwain (separated by a small bay not more than 2 km wide), due to which many tourists come here.
Boat excursions to Al-Sharyah are held every day. You can sign up for them at the tour operator or at the tourist offices in the city of Umm al-Quwain. As part of the tour, you can also visit small islands:
- Al-Karam;
- Al-Harmin;
- Al-Sow.
Visiting Al-Sharyah allows you to relax from the ultra-modern landscapes of megacities and enjoy the beauty of the world untouched by civilization. The tourists who came to the island have the opportunity to visit a corner of the wild nature, which, although it is located near high-tech cities, but still managed to preserve its charm.
How to get to Al-Sharyah?
The island is located in the north-west of the UAE in the Persian Gulf just 2 km from the coast. Administratively, Al-Sharyah refers to the city of Umm al-Quwain . It can be reached by car, which should be changed to the shore by boat or boat. For this, you need to move along the roads E11 or Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd / E311. Traffic jams on them do not happen often, so at the destination you can be in 25-30 minutes.