A critically endangered Arabian lynx has been recorded in Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah, the first confirmed sighting of the species in the area in years and a key moment for wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The sighting was confirmed through infrared motion-sensor cameras operated under the “Notice Nature” initiative, a biodiversity monitoring project supported by Mashreq Bank in collaboration with the Fujairah Environment Authority and Emirates Nature-WWF.
Arabian lynx spotted in Wadi Wurayah, Fujairah via camera trap. Credit: WAM (AI-enhanced image)
The animal was captured on camera during routine surveillance in the mountainous reserve, known for its rich biodiversity and rare species. Classified as Critically Endangered on the UAE’s National Red List, the Arabian lynx (Lynx caracal schmitzi) is native to the Arabian Peninsula but has become increasingly rare in the wild. The most recent documented sightings in the UAE occurred in Jebel Hafeet in 2019 and near Wadi Shees in March 2023.
The latest confirmation in Wadi Wurayah adds a new data point in ongoing efforts to monitor the species and its remaining viable habitats. Authorities confirmed that the lynx was documented automatically without human presence, through cameras installed across the park. These cameras, which operate continuously by day and night, are part of a broader wildlife monitoring programme that includes volunteer support through the Leaders of Change initiative run by Emirates Nature-WWF.
UAE conservation agencies collaborate to monitor lynx populations
The Arabian lynx is a medium-sized wildcat with a muscular frame, short tail, and distinctive black ear tufts. It is primarily nocturnal and rarely observed directly in the wild. As a predator, it plays an important ecological role in maintaining the balance of desert and mountain ecosystems by regulating populations of smaller animals. Dr. Ali Hassan Al Hammoudi, Director of Biodiversity and Natural Resources at the Fujairah Environment Authority, confirmed the sighting coincided with World Habitat Day.
He stated that the discovery reinforces the ecological importance of Wadi Wurayah and the effectiveness of long-term habitat protection efforts. The national park, which was declared the UAE’s first protected mountain area in 2009, is also home to other rare species, including Blanford’s fox and the Arabian tahr. Dr. Andrew Gardner, Associate Director of Biodiversity Conservation at Emirates Nature-WWF, said the documentation of the lynx provides crucial evidence of the species’ continued presence in the UAE.
Wildlife conservation partnerships expand regional biodiversity data
He noted that recorded sightings offer valuable data for scientific research, habitat assessment, and species management plans conducted under national conservation frameworks. In a related development, the Arabian lynx was also recently documented in Oman’s Musandam Mountains, where an individual was rescued and released by the Environment Authority of Oman. The two confirmed occurrences on either side of the UAE-Oman border in 2025 indicate regional coordination in conservation efforts is contributing to the detection and monitoring of one of the region’s rarest mammals. Wadi Wurayah National Park spans over 220 square kilometers and contains one of the most diverse natural habitats in the country.
The park has been at the center of various biodiversity research programmes and is recognized for its ecological value under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The ongoing monitoring programme is part of the UAE’s broader environmental strategy, which includes partnerships between government bodies, the private sector, and civil society to enhance nature conservation and track threatened wildlife populations. Each confirmed sighting adds to a growing body of data used to inform conservation policy and guide future environmental planning across the region. – By Content Syndication Services.