East Coast: Khor Kalba

A beautiful tidal estuary, Khor Kalba is the most northerly mangrove forest in the world and home to a variety of plant, marine and birdlife not found anywhere else in the UAE.

It is an excellent place for birdwatching in the spring and autumn since it is on the migratory route from Siberia to Central Asia, and “twitchers” are drawn here to see an endangered sub species of the white-collared kingfisher, a surprisingly common sight despite there being only around 55 pairs in existence. Khor Kalba is best seen from the water, and canoes are available to rent.