Sir-Bani-Yas


In the Persian Gulf, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is the island of Sir-Bani-Yas - an interesting landmark of the UAE , which many tourists dream of visiting this Arabian country. The island is located about 250 km from the capital of the Arab Emirates.

History of the creation of the island Sir-Bani-Yas

Not so long ago this place was deserted: here there was no water, no vegetation. But in 1971, the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan decided to create on the island a reserve - "Arab Wildlife Park". Construction work is ongoing here to this day.

Over the past 46 years, this piece of the Arabian desert has become a true natural habitat for many rare animals and birds. And all thanks to the fact that on the island, covering an area of ​​87 square meters. km, an artificial irrigation system was created. In the ambitious plans of the creators of Sir-Bani-Yas - the expansion of the reserve area due to the annexation of the neighboring seven islands and further settling it with new inhabitants.

What is interesting to see in Sir-Bani-Yas?

On the island Sir-Bani-Yas dominates the dry tropical climate. Small precipitations fall mainly in winter - 10-20 mm per year. In November-March, the average daily temperature here is + 25 ° C, and in July-August in the shade the thermometer can rise to + 45 ° C and even higher, and this is against a background of high humidity. Despite such severe weather conditions, in the reserve Sir-Bani-Yas such rare animals live as:

In natural conditions of the reserve it was possible to achieve the reproduction of Asian cheetah, which experts consider a huge success. Sir-Bani-Yas is a nesting place for seabirds, here you can see ostriches and flamingos, and sea turtles and dolphins live in the coastal waters. On the island is the world's largest salt dome. Its height is 3000 m, and the depth is 6000 m.

What to do on the island of Sir-Bani-Yas?

The shores, covered with mango forests, virgin beaches with the purest sand, rich underwater marine life attract many nature lovers to the island, who, besides observing the life of animals, can take active leisure activities :

  1. Safari on the reserve - is carried out on all-terrain vehicle jeeps. The guide, who speaks English, will tell in detail and interestingly to tourists about all animals, birds and mammals that live on the island.
  2. Riding school - here you can learn to sit in the saddle and ride the Arabian steeds. One 45-minute session costs slightly more than $ 60, and for an experienced rider a 2-hour ride will cost $ 108.5.
  3. The center of archery - you can test your accuracy or learn how to shoot under the guidance of an instructor. Depending on the duration, one lesson costs from $ 24 to $ 60.
  4. Archaeological excavations in Sir-Bani-Yas are an excellent opportunity for history lovers to visit the remains of an ancient Christian monastery. This unique monument of the pre-Islamic era of the UAE has international significance. Tourists can visit the excavation sites and see the monks' cells, the church, animal pens in the shrine.
  5. Kayaking - the calm waters around the island are great for such entertainment. The best place for skiing is considered to be mango thickets, but it should be remembered that this entertainment is only available during high tide, in addition, you will have to undergo preliminary instruction. The cost of a kayak trip is about $ 96.
  6. Mountain biking. The island has developed several routes for both beginners and experienced athletes. A one-day trip will cost you $ 102.5.
  7. Hiking in Sir-Bani-Yas will help tourists get to know the inhabitants of the wild nature of this island.

How to get to Sir-Bani-Yas?

To get to the island-reserve is possible by plane, flights are performed from the capital airport Al-Batin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The journey time is 25 minutes, and the cost of the flight is $ 60. From the resort of Jebel Dann to the reserve can be reached by bus or by car. To the island there are regular cutters, on the way you will be 20 minutes, and pay $ 42.

On the territory of the reserve move on special eco-buses, which do not pollute the local atmosphere with gas emissions.