Spanning more than 87 square kilometres, Sir Bani Yas is the largest natural island in the United Arab Emirates. It lies 9km offshore from Jebel Dhanna, a crossing point to other isles, such as Dalma.
Sir Bani Yas Island flourishes with wildlife. The reserve was established in 1977 by the founding father of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as a place for breeding endangered local species such as the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and the sand gazelle (Gazella leptoceros) to re-introduce them into the wild. The Arabian Wildlife Park - the most extensive one of its kind in the country, covering 42 square kilometres (4,200 hectares) – is also home to ostriches, giraffes, gazelles, hyaenas and cheetahs, amongst other species.
The park will interest anyone who has a love of nature and likes to witness wildlife in the wide-open spaces.