For an emirate with such an arid climate and little rainfall, Abu Dhabi has surprisingly diverse indigenous flora and fauna. The emirate is home to about 3,500 native plants, the date palm is the most widely cultivated of the indigenous flora, providing wonderful seas of green, especially in the oases.

 

Heading towards the mountains, flat-topped acacia trees and wild grasses make the terrain feel more like savannah than desert. Indigenous fauna includes the highly endangered Arabian leopard and the ibex, but sightings of both are extremely rare. Realistically, the only large animals you will see are camels and goats (often roaming close to the roads). Other desert life includes the sand cat, sand fox and desert hare, as well as gerbils, hedgehogs and geckos. Recent studies have shown that the number of bird species is increasing, due in part to the emirate’s increasing lushness. This is most apparent in the parks in spring and autumn, as the emirate lies on the route for birds migrating between Central Asia and East Africa.       
   
                                

 Marine life is also abundant with coastal waters being home to tropical fish, coral, dolphins, the dugong (sea cow) and turtles. Eight species of whales and seven dolphin species have been recorded in UAE waters. Four or five of the world’s seven turtle species are indigenous, including the hawksbill and leatherback. All are endangered, but can be seen offshore.