GD70NR Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, full body view, swimming over coral reef, Maldives, Indian Ocean
GD70NR Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, full body view, swimming over coral reef, Maldives, Indian Ocean
GD70NR Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, full body view, swimming over coral reef, Maldives, Indian Ocean
GD70NR Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, full body view, swimming over coral reef, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Hammerhead sharks and cowtail rays: eight endangered species found in UAE waters


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The Arabian Seas region is home to 153 species of sharks, rays, skates, sawfish and chimaera. Just over half are considered threatened. A four-year federal action plan has been announced to help bring them back and protect the fragile ecosystems of our waters.

Whitetip reef sharks are found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific. A slow swimmer, they like to hunt at night for crustaceans, octopus, lobsters and crabs. Whitetip reef sharks are social animals who are often found in large groups. This curious species likes to approach swimmers but are relatively harmless.

Whale shark. Delores Johnson / The National
Whale shark. Delores Johnson / The National

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean. These graceful, slow moving sharks live up to 70 years, grow to more than 12 metres long and weigh up to 20.6 tonnes, the equivalent to more than eight Range Rovers. They prefer warm waters and their favourite food is plankton.

Blacktip reef shark. Gregory Boissy / AFP
Blacktip reef shark. Gregory Boissy / AFP

Blacktip reef sharks are considered one of the most beautiful shark species, easily recognised by the black tips on their fins. Blacktip reef sharks have a strong social hierarchy and are considered timid around other predators. Nonetheless, they are  active hunters that eat small fish, like sardines and herrings, as well as groupers, rays, and smaller sharks.

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Read more:

UAE biodiversity action plan to save sharks from extinction unveiled

Fishermen still catching sharks, despite breeding season ban

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MWDYDP December 26, 2010 - Indo-Pacific Ocean, Maldives - Giant Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis) swims over sandy bottom in the night Credit: Andrey Nekrasov/ZUMA Wire/ZUMAPRESS.com/Alamy Live News
MWDYDP December 26, 2010 - Indo-Pacific Ocean, Maldives - Giant Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis) swims over sandy bottom in the night Credit: Andrey Nekrasov/ZUMA Wire/ZUMAPRESS.com/Alamy Live News

Bowmouth guitarfish are a rare ray species found in tropical coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific. These strong swimmers like muddy or sandy seafloors where they hunt for bony fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Its fins and meat are highly prized and it is now classified as Vulnerable.

A critically endangered small tooth sawfish roams its new home at Oceanworld in Sydney on August 18, 2011. Measuring over 1.5 metres in length, sawfish have adapted to live in both salt and fresh water, while their long saw-like rostrum (nose) has evolved to expertly forage for food under the sandy ocean floor. AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD / AFP PHOTO / TORSTEN BLACKWOOD
A critically endangered small tooth sawfish roams its new home at Oceanworld in Sydney on August 18, 2011. Measuring over 1.5 metres in length, sawfish have adapted to live in both salt and fresh water, while their long saw-like rostrum (nose) has evolved to expertly forage for food under the sandy ocean floor. AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD / AFP PHOTO / TORSTEN BLACKWOOD

Green sawfish were once the ban of pearl divers in the Gulf, who feared the fish with saw-shaped snouts more than sharks. They were so hunted that to be extinct from UAE waters until fishermen began posting photos of them on Instagram. They have been fully protected in the UAE since 2008.

Cowtail ray. Alamy
Cowtail ray. Alamy

Cowtail rays are lone hunters that can grow up to 1.8 metres long. Like other stingrays, they like shallow coastal waters of warm seas and are usually inactive, burying themselves in the sand and moving with the motion of the tide. They are widely hunted for their leather.

A lemon shark swims off the coast of Moorea, the sister island to Tahiti, French Polynesia. AFP PHOTO VALERIE MACON / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACON
A lemon shark swims off the coast of Moorea, the sister island to Tahiti, French Polynesia. AFP PHOTO VALERIE MACON / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACON

Sicklefin lemon sharks are stocky, powerful and highly social sharks. They have a social hierarchy based on age and sex that is respected on group hunts. These bottom dwellers churn up the sea floor to catch bony fish, rays and crustaceans. They are considered gentle and non-aggressive towards humans.

Hammerhead shark. Reuters
Hammerhead shark. Reuters

Hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks known for the unusual shape of their heads. Their wide-set eyes allow them scan quickly for their favourite food, the stingray and pin it to the sea floor with their mallet-shaped head. Hammerheads hunt alone and can weigh more than 450 kilograms.

RESULTS

Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Wallabies

Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')

Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')

Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets