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close| Location | United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi |
| Central coordinates | 55o 45.00' East 24o 5.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, B3 |
| Area | 1,600 ha |
| Altitude | 600 - 1,300m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. An important site for raptors and for some Middle Eastern speciality species. Other interesting species include Aquila chrysaetos (one record, November), Hieraaetus fasciatus (recorded outside breeding season) and Falco pelegrinoides (probably breeds).
Site description An isolated massif on the UAE/Oman border, 20 km to the west of the main Hajar range. The barren, arid slopes are deeply incised by wadis full of scree. A road runs up the western flank to the summit (1,300 m), whilst the east flank is very steep. There are no rivers: all rain (mainly storms in early spring) runs off immediately. Vegetation is very sparse: Ziziphus and Acacia bushes grow on the lower flanks. Most of the mountain is inaccessible and seldom visited.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi | resident | 1992 | common [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | breeding | 1992 | 4 breeding pairs | poor | B2 | Endangered |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | non-breeding | 1992 | 60-100 individuals | good | B2 | Endangered |
| Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus | non-breeding | 1992 | uncommon [units unknown] | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos | breeding | 1982 | 1 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha | resident | 1992 | 4 breeding pairs | poor | B3 | Least Concern |
| Hume's Wheatear Oenanthe albonigra | resident | 1992 | 20 breeding pairs | poor | B3 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | major | |
| Rocky areas | minor | |
| Shrubland | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | minor |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
Other biodiversity Mammals: Hemitragus jayakari (V): an isolated population formerly occurred on the mountain; there were probably less than 20 in 1980. None has been seen more recently and they are generally believed to be extinct.
Management considerations No conservation measures have been taken. Several areas around the summit have been developed (for a transmitter), palaces/hotels have been built on two places on the slopes, and a major road has been constructed from base to summit with several branch roads. Further development as a tourist attraction is anticipated. The Omani half of the mountain by contrast still appears pristine. Development so far has probably had no net detrimental effect on bird populations except perhaps for Ammoperdix heyi; other species may have benefited from the increased availability of permanent water.
References Tourney et al. (1982).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Jebel Hafit. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
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