Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a rare protected wetland inside a major city: 6.2 square kilometres of mangroves, salt flats and lagoons at the southern end of Dubai Creek. Around 450 species have been recorded here, including large flocks of pink flamingos, herons and other wading birds.

Entry and the bird hides are free. The sanctuary is currently undergoing a roughly AED 650 million redevelopment — expanding the water bodies by about 144% and adding new mudflats and mangrove planting, with phase one targeted for completion by the end of 2026. During the works, individual hides (notably the Mangrove Hide) may be closed while the Flamingo and Lagoon hides typically remain open.

Check the current status of the specific hide you plan to visit on the Dubai Municipality website before heading out.