Ra's Dibba

25°35'52''N + 056°20'08''E

Ra's Dibba is a prominent headland north of Fujairah and was the best seawatching site in the country. It is now under construction and a new hotel is open (2007).

It is called Ras Dibba on page 54 in the Shell Birdwatching Guide.

The view from the "old seawatching point" was excellent, with an unobstructed view to the fishfarms 1.3km offshore. Since 2005 the site is closed due to the construction of a new hotel. Hopefully the seawatching from here can continue once the hotel is finished (end 2007) - only time will tell.

For now, one can drive out on the two breakwaters immediately to the west (see below).

Regular birds observed from here are Persian Shearwater, Socotra Cormorant, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, White-cheeked Tern and Bridled Tern.

UAE rarities have included:

Sooty Shearwater (01.05.1995 & 05.10.2002)

Red-billed Tropicbird (several times)

Masked Booby (several times)

Brown Booby (09.02.1998 & 30.-31.10.2003 & 06.05.2005 & 03.11.-05.12.2005)

Large Skua sp. (23.06.1995)

Long-tailed Skua (22.09.1994)

Lesser Noddy (14.09.-14.10.1994) - 1st UAE record

Brown Noddy (several records from the fish farms)

A good vantage point is the broad breakwater immediately to the east. One can drive all the way out. Another possibility is to walk out on to the narrow breakwater further west: