Al Houbara Protected Area
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| Al Houbara Protected Area | |
|---|---|
| محية الحبارى الطبيعية | |
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)[1] | |
 | |
  Location in United Arab Emirates | |
| Location | Emirate of Abu Dhabi |
| Coordinates | 23°53′35″N 53°09′49″E / 23.8930°N 53.1635°E |
| Area | 774 km2 (299 sq mi) |
| Governing body | Environment Agency Abu Dhabi |
Al Houbara Protected Area is a natural reserve in the United Arab Emirates, located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is named after the large ground bird, houbara bustard, which belongs in the Persian Gulf region. This reserve consists of abundant plantations and coastal plains on well-drained sandy and gravelly terrain.[2]
It is one of the most important natural reserves, based mainly on the settlement of houbara birds, as it hosts the largest programs for the resettlement of those birds in the United Arab Emirates. It is also the only reserve in which sand cats were spotted again after a long absence,[3] according to the reserve's management by the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi. The reserve extends over an area of 774 km square.[4]