Places To Go

We welcome you to enjoy all our sites, but please make sure to be respectful of the environment and any wildlife you encounter.

The Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network is made up of 19 protected areas – four are open to the public and the rest remain closed because of their fragility and are only open to researchers with permits to visit. In this section, you can enjoy a virtual introduction to these sties.

Al Wathba Fossil Dunes

The Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Protected Area comprises of more than1,700 fossil dunes, spread over 7 square kilometres, making it one of the largest numbers of fossil dunes concentrated in one location in the emirate. Geologists estimate the age of fossil formations within the protected location at over four million years.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is the first area in the Emirate designated for protection by law and was declared a Ramsar site in 2013.

Jabal Hafit National Park

Jabal Hafit is Abu Dhabi’s highest peak and the UAE’s second highest peak, standing tall at 1,240 metres.

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

Established by EAD in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is the world’s leading institution for avian medicine and research – treating and assessing more than 11,000 birds every year.

Mangrove National Park

Mangroves are groups of trees and shrubs that grow in the water, creating a habitat for biodiversity – and protecting against tidal surges, purifying surrounding water and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area

Comprising 308 km² of natural sand dunes and sabkha (coastal salt flats), the Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area is located adjacent to the Qasr Al Sarab Hotelin the Al Dhafra Region.

Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre

Located inside Al Ain Zoo, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is a fun educational facility that combines knowledge and learning about the UAE’s natural environment through interactive exhibits, multimedia and visual materials that are designed by world-class specialists. provide a unique experience for visitors.

Sir Bani Yas Island

Sir Bani Yas Island is the largest island off the coast of Abu Dhabi and was the former private island of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE.

Jewels of Abu Dhabi at Umm Al Emarat Park

Gifted by our chairman, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in celebration of Mother’s Day, the Jewels of Abu Dhabi are a collection of five beautifully crafted life-sized bronze sculptures representing Abu Dhabi's iconic species –the Dugong, Greater Flamingo, Hawksbill Turtle, Arabian Oryx and Saker Falcon .

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