Sir Bani Yas Island
Attractions in and around Abu Dhabi
This natural island is located 250 km (160 mi) southwest of Abu Dhabi. It is 17.5 km (10.9 mi) from north to south and 9 km (5.6 mi) from east to west making it the largest natural island in the UAE. Sir Bani Yas island was originally home to Arabia's largest wildlife reserve. Spanning over 87 km2 (34 sq mi), the reserve was established in 1971 by the late ruler and founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Because of intensive conservation work and ecological investment, the Island is now home to thousands of large free-roaming animals and several million trees and plants. It is also a bird sanctuary as well as a wildlife reserve. Activities on the Island include adventure safaris, kayaking, mountain biking, archery, hiking and snorkelling.