Wadi Wurayah UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Encompassing 127 square kilometers in the northern Hajar Mountains of Fujairah, Wadi Wurayah is an ecological treasure recognized internationally as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is celebrated as one of the few places in the arid Arabian Peninsula where freshwater streams and natural waterfalls flow year-round through deep mountain canyons. The reserve provides a vital refuge for more than 800 species of flora and fauna, many found nowhere else on Earth. Among its most celebrated inhabitants are the endangered Arabian tahr (Arabiscotae hemitragus), the caracal, the Blandford's fox, and the Omani blind cave fish. It is also the only known habitat in the UAE for the rare indigenous orchid (Epipactis veratrifolia). Strictly protected and managed by the Fujairah Environment Authority, guided eco-tours and scientific trails educate visitors on the preservation of delicate mountain water catchment ecosystems and Arabian biodiversity.