Sir Bani Yas, UAE

Sir Bani Yas is a natural island located 250 km (160 mi) southwest of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is home to thousands of large free-roaming animals and several million trees and plants. The island is dominated by conical mountains and surrounded by gently sloping coastal plains. These merge with a shoreline of mangrove covered sand-banks and hidden inlets, buttressed shorelines and a pretty harbour.

A bird sanctuary as well as a wildlife reserve, Sir Bani Yas showcases nature through activities such as adventure safaris, kayaking, mountain biking, archery, hiking and snorkeling. The island also has a number of significant historical sites, including remnants of Late Stone Age and early Islamic structures.

Things to See & Do

* Bird watching
* Wildlife viewing
* Adventure activities
* Historical Sites

General Information

Cruise Season –Oct - May
Currency – UAE dirham (AED)
Language – Arabic
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time – GMT plus four hours
International Country Telephone Code + 971

Travel Links – The main hub for air transport in the United Arab Emirates is Dubai airport, which is served by several major airlines.

There is a large network of dhows which transport goods throughout the Gulf and India. It may be possible to buy passage on one of these boats. They call at all coastal cities in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.