Dugong
Dugong dugon
Sighting evidence at Delma Island Reef, Abu Dhabi
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
The waters around Delma Island support one of the largest dugong populations in the Arabian Gulf, with individuals and mother-calf pairs regularly sighted grazing on the extensive Halophila seagrass beds in the shallows. Dugongs are slow-reproducing mammals — females give birth to a single calf after a 13-month gestation and nurse for up to 18 months — making each individual ecologically precious. The UAE population is globally significant, as the Gulf hosts one of the world's two remaining substantial dugong populations alongside those around Australia.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Dugong is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.