Outside the protected area on this Abu Dhabi island, visitors can swim, snorkel, bike, hike, dive and kayak. Inside the borders of the Arabian Wildlife Park, which covers roughly half of Sir Bani Yas Island, the dynamic shifts: the land belongs to the animals and we move through it as respectful observers on guided safari drives. The sanctuary protects about 12,000 animals representing 30 species, many of them endangered and native to the Arabian Peninsula.
On the drive we encounter sand gazelles and mountain gazelles, the striking Arabian oryx, the quick Arabian hare, a black-shouldered peacock, various antelopes, an ostrich and flocks of flamingos. We also spot some non-native residents such as an emu and, in the distance, a lone giraffe. Two cheetahs lounge on a rocky outcrop while a hyena pads along farther away. Above us, birds wheel and glide. Around and beyond the paths lie arid plains punctuated by massive rocky outcrops and a remarkable plantation where more than two million resilient trees have been established. Though the landscape looks unforgiving, the reserve functions as a sanctuary — a safe haven that restores animals to habitats like those they evolved to inhabit.
Sir Bani Yas Island sits in the Arabian Gulf and is part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is located about 155 miles from Abu Dhabi city, followed by a roughly 20-minute boat transfer from the mainland to reach the island.