Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Located at a distance of around 250 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island is the largest natural island in all of UAE, in addition to being one of the most popular places to visit in the region. It is one of the eight islands that complete the Desert Islands in Al Dhafra and gets its name from the Bani Yas tribe, who were the first settlers of Abu Dhabi.

The island was awarded the title of the “World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination” in the year 2014. With more than half of the island being the home of the Arabian Wildlife Park, one of the largest wildlife reserves in the region, the island also boasts several million trees, in addition to more than 13,000 animals of different species.

It is at Sir Bani Yas Island where you can find oryxes, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, and cheetahs, along with endangered wildlife species like sea turtles, sand gazelles, barbary and urial sheep, and other animals. The island is also a major hub for adventure activities, including mountain biking, coral reef diving, kayaking, snorkeling and a lot more. You can also find several luxury resorts on the island, making it a perfect place to enjoy a luxurious holiday amidst the serene natural surroundings.

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• Sir Bani Yas Island is the largest natural island in the United Arab Emirates
• Enjoy exploring the flora and fauna of the island, including millions of plants and trees, and thousands of local as well as endangered species of animals
• Enjoy cultural and history tours, or indulge in adventure activities like mountain biking, adventure safaris, kayaking and even pearl diving, among other things
• Get a chance to witness animal species in this amazing wildlife reserve, from the Arabian oryx, and Somali ostrich, to gazelles, deer, giraffes as well as dolphins
• Go for 4x4 open vehicle tours around the island and catch sights of the Arabian Mountain Gazelles, which gives Abu Dhabi the name of the “Land of Gazelles”
• Don’t forget to enjoy a tour of the reserve, and learn about the rare plant species that are found here, such as the thorn acacia or gum tree, which act as home for over 100 species of wild birds

Sir Bani Yas Island is located in the Al Gharbia region of the UAE, around 250 kilometers towards the southwest of Abu Dhabi. It is accessible by a car ride, followed by a boat ride from Jebel Dhanna on the mainland.

Alternatively, you can also reach the island directly by boat or seaplane, which docks at Sir Bani Yas’ Royal Bay Moorings.

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The best time to visit Sir Bani Yas Island is from the month of September to March. It is during these months when the weather here is relatively pleasant, with cool temperatures during the night, and little to no rainfall, making it perfect to explore the island, indulge in different activities, and more.

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History of Sir Bani Yas Island

The island gets its name Sir Bani Yas from the Bani Yas Tribe, who were the first settlers of Abu Dhabi. The island in itself is the crest of a salt dome that was created millions of years ago due to natural geographical forces. Even today, the island is home to a Nestorian Christian Monastery, which is also one of its oldest sites ever and dates back to 600 AD.

The island is also home to several other historical sites, including the remains of the Late Stone Age, many early Islamic structures, as well as the only pre-Islamic Christian site ever found in the UAE. The first mention of the island was in European literature around the 1590s, followed by the 1820s and 1850s. It was in 1977 when the development of the island as a wildlife preserve began, thereby providing thousands of animals a haven and natural habitat.

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