United Arab Emirates

The UAE's east coast, where Khor Kalba straddles the Sharjah–Fujairah border on the Gulf of Oman, is the country's only point of open ocean access outside the Arabian Gulf. Weekly to fortnightly trips run 35–58 kilometres offshore into the Gulf of Oman's summer monsoon upwelling, targeting the Near Threatened Jouanin's Petrel — with counts exceeding 600 birds in a single trip during the October–November peak — alongside Persian Shearwater in similarly large numbers, Wilson's and the rarely identified Swinhoe's Storm-Petrels, and an increasingly regular Sooty Shearwater.

Sub-regions

All Trips in United Arab Emirates

Khor Kalba Gulf of Oman Pelagic

uaebirding.com / Abdalla al-Zaabi

United Arab Emirates › Khor Kalba / Fujairah
  • Khor Kalba Harbour, Sharjah Emirate, UAE (GPS 25.026270, 56.365333)
  • Weekly to fortnightly, mid-spring through late autumn (May–November), with occasional winter trips; departs 14:00 or 15:00 on Friday afternoons (occasionally Saturday), returns at sunset; approximately 3–4 hours on the water. To join a trip, add your name to the trip list at uaebirding.com/uae-pelagics. Bring a passport or UAE ID card — harbour authorities are notified prior to departure. Cash payment to Abdalla at start or after the trip.
  • AED 150–350 per person depending on the number of participants and how far offshore the trip goes (approximately USD 40–95 at current exchange rates); usually includes cardamom tea

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pelagic birding trips are there in United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates has 1 pelagic birding trip listed in the directory.

Where do pelagic trips depart from in United Arab Emirates?

Pelagic trips in United Arab Emirates depart from Khor Kalba Harbour, Sharjah Emirate, UAE (GPS 25.026270, 56.365333).

Who operates pelagic trips in United Arab Emirates?

uaebirding.com / Abdalla al-Zaabi operates the pelagic birding trip listed for United Arab Emirates.

Further Reading

Best Places to See Petrels on Pelagic Trips

A guide to where to see gadfly and true petrels on pelagic birding trips worldwide, including Jouanin's Petrel — the defining target of both Oman's Dhofar coast and the UAE's Khor Kalba Gulf of Oman pelagic, where over 600 have been logged on a single trip.

Read article →

Best Places to See Shearwaters on Pelagic Trips

A guide to where to see shearwaters on pelagic birding trips worldwide, including the Persian Shearwater concentrations of the Arabian Sea, recorded in the thousands on the UAE's Khor Kalba Gulf of Oman pelagic.

Read article →