![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NZVWJP7BYTXMA3LT7KBQRSIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d3e47c8d5630a2c7dca6320ac4278a67e3cc2819298554f7e4d6eb1d2bf7e02&width=400&height=225)
A bull shark at Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the biggest in the world. Bull sharks are becoming increasingly rare in the Arabian Gulf. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55ROVBOTD5AW6K2OXZM3HWWB3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b7293fd15d5f7de3052131a64ee664169f3c986d1c55f2f5fa27045ca549e4f&width=400&height=225)
Whitetip reef sharks in the Arabian Gulf are in decline. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WY4GJJ2JS3A7LOAWYEZOK4YB6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb2721c414803dbdef4cfeac3a528803e62a074b25a403fb2b97986387f64c72&width=400&height=225)
A school of blacktip reef sharks off Kadavu Island, Fiji. The species is found in UAE waters, but numbers are falling
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYYPNZNDLQWTXWQTNK2OTWK2UI.jpg?smart=true&auth=62cd26a1fba4f7ac396d1d468d81dc7fd124651d82c4c7d3bf393fd0f22534a7&width=400&height=225)
Sandbar and dusky sharks off the coast of Israel in December 2022. Dusky sharks are in decline across the region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AG5WNS5T5BGVJPADXFZ2SJELA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e67b29556ab4f504e27faba509b322cdf025c9d364bcea826b20219192692e7b&width=400&height=225)
A blue shark off the Azores, Portugal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXTQD7JIVMXOHWAIB5SCK6LG2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0f9d8b27c272b52e641328ca4d9c450b2c547b369c6d51d51719b080a60f92d&width=400&height=225)
A zebra shark at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The species is in decline in the wild. Photo: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V56PTZEB5DDHA2P6BUIB7U3VKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=29435195d8d119c6d6ba73c0f3358a27a4ffeb7c37a4260703a4fa287f8062d2&width=400&height=225)
Hammerheads are one of several shark species whose numbers are declining in seas across the region. Photo: PRNewsFoto / Mandalay Bay
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KQPG27WPCXG7IUEKCG5CLIDVRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f8301df6a0bde6c4f3691154bc4dee44a01252576ec276ec6dfb6f725e8f3602&width=400&height=225)
Tiger sharks caught by Indonesian fishermen. Tiger sharks are at risk of becoming endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NZVWJP7BYTXMA3LT7KBQRSIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d3e47c8d5630a2c7dca6320ac4278a67e3cc2819298554f7e4d6eb1d2bf7e02&width=400&height=225)
A bull shark at Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the biggest in the world. Bull sharks are becoming increasingly rare in the Arabian Gulf. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55ROVBOTD5AW6K2OXZM3HWWB3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b7293fd15d5f7de3052131a64ee664169f3c986d1c55f2f5fa27045ca549e4f&width=400&height=225)
Whitetip reef sharks in the Arabian Gulf are in decline. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WY4GJJ2JS3A7LOAWYEZOK4YB6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb2721c414803dbdef4cfeac3a528803e62a074b25a403fb2b97986387f64c72&width=400&height=225)
A school of blacktip reef sharks off Kadavu Island, Fiji. The species is found in UAE waters, but numbers are falling
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYYPNZNDLQWTXWQTNK2OTWK2UI.jpg?smart=true&auth=62cd26a1fba4f7ac396d1d468d81dc7fd124651d82c4c7d3bf393fd0f22534a7&width=400&height=225)
Sandbar and dusky sharks off the coast of Israel in December 2022. Dusky sharks are in decline across the region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AG5WNS5T5BGVJPADXFZ2SJELA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e67b29556ab4f504e27faba509b322cdf025c9d364bcea826b20219192692e7b&width=400&height=225)
A blue shark off the Azores, Portugal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXTQD7JIVMXOHWAIB5SCK6LG2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0f9d8b27c272b52e641328ca4d9c450b2c547b369c6d51d51719b080a60f92d&width=400&height=225)
A zebra shark at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The species is in decline in the wild. Photo: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V56PTZEB5DDHA2P6BUIB7U3VKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=29435195d8d119c6d6ba73c0f3358a27a4ffeb7c37a4260703a4fa287f8062d2&width=400&height=225)
Hammerheads are one of several shark species whose numbers are declining in seas across the region. Photo: PRNewsFoto / Mandalay Bay
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KQPG27WPCXG7IUEKCG5CLIDVRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f8301df6a0bde6c4f3691154bc4dee44a01252576ec276ec6dfb6f725e8f3602&width=400&height=225)
Tiger sharks caught by Indonesian fishermen. Tiger sharks are at risk of becoming endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NZVWJP7BYTXMA3LT7KBQRSIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d3e47c8d5630a2c7dca6320ac4278a67e3cc2819298554f7e4d6eb1d2bf7e02&width=400&height=225)
A bull shark at Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the biggest in the world. Bull sharks are becoming increasingly rare in the Arabian Gulf. EPA
New measures to protect sharks in UAE waters as numbers dwindle
Updated laws will protect more species of sharks and rays from overfishing
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
04 March, 2023
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