OVERVIEW
The Wasit Wetland National Park in Sharjah is a peaceful place that is popular with locals and tourists alike. You can find some amazing plants and animals in Al Wasit Nature Reserve Sharjah. A swamp is a reserve that is home to a variety of local and migratory birds. Read on to find out more about this natural wetland in Sharjah. The Wasit Wetland Center is a conservation area in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It preserves a type of wetland (sabkha or salt plain) that was once common on the west coast plains of the UAE and has a tourist center with points for observing both captive and wild birds, as well as extensive dunes, mud flats, salt marshes and freshwater lakes. Located north of the Sharjah in Wasit, the center borders the Sharjah / Ajman border. The center is comprised of 86 hectares (210 hectares) of protected area and has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2019. The center, which was opened in 2015 by the Sharjah governor, Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, driven by Environment.
and Sharjah Government Protected Area Authorities and makes golf-buggy trips around a wide range of conservation areas, including many skins or viewing areas. An effective curriculum is maintained, encouraging visits from local schools. The center also offers a local restaurant, souvenir shop and educational games for children. The center of the visitor center is a long, sound-enclosed gallery that allows guests to watch the birds without interruption.
HISTORY
Before it became a natural greenfield, this area was used for waste disposal. In 2007, it was declared a “safe haven” by Emiri Decree No. (7) issued by the Honorable Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Executive Council and Governor of Sharjah. The announcement was a first step towards conservation efforts and, in time, transformed a 20-acre [20 ha] desert into a nature reserve and a safe haven for migratory and local birds. Rehabilitation work began in 2010 and was completed in 2015. In 2012, X-Architects, a well-known construction company in Dubai, began working on a seamless integrated structure in the park’s natural look. The final product has an open view gallery and eight bird watching frames. In 2019, the Wasit Wetland Center received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It is one of the first projects in the UAE to be included in the prize list.
Biodiversity and Natural Resources
The aim of the center is to educate and inform visitors about the unique wetland environment while promoting its conservation. In addition to the viewing areas, the center has inscriptions and displays on wetlands and houses for teaching halls and offices. The Swamp Center provides local animals and migratory birds a safe breeding ground. Up to 350 species of birds live in the area or migratory visitors, and about 60 species of birds live permanently in the visitor center. These include many rare birds, including the northern bald bird, the gray heron, the marbled duck (threatened species), the purple swamphen, the pink pelican and the giant flamingo.
Minimally Invasive
Designed by Dubai’s X-Architects in 2012, and completed in 2015, the building blends in with the landscape to meet its natural environment with minimal visual impact. When visitors enter the building, they go underground into a straight, open gallery to watch the birds in their natural habitat. There are also eight bird sanctuaries along the swampy road so that visitors can see birds and other wildlife from within. In 2019, the Wasit Wetland Center received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It was one of the first projects in the UAE to be shortlisted, as well as Concrete on Alserkal Avenue and Al Mureijah Art Spaces at the Sharjah Art Foundation. The general totality shared by these three activities is education. The project won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for its contribution to improving the urban environment. It has transformed some 20 acres [20 ha] of desert area into a delightful place for tourists to enjoy Nature at the same time restoring nature to nature. Nowadays it is home to more than 350 species of local and migratory birds.
Bird Watcher’s Paradise
The Wasit Wetland Center Sharjah has more than 198 species of birds, including migratory and resident birds. Large airplanes bring visitors closer to a variety of bird species including heron, purple swamphen, white ibises and more. The guides and experts at the center provide learning opportunities by sharing detailed information about these birds and by providing a variety of fun activities for children.
Spot The Arabian Oryx
Another major attraction at Al Wasit Wetland Nature Reserve in Sharjah is the large dunes along the coast other than the lush vegetation. This is the perfect place for visitors to see the endangered Arabian Oryx in its natural habitat. If you are lucky enough, you may have witnessed the magnificent beauty of the Oryx through the green wet area in search of food. There are family golf carts to explore various parts of the Sharjah park.
Timings, Contact, And Location
The opening hours of the Al Wasit Wetland Nature Reserve Center in Sharjah are 09:00 am to 06:30 pm except Tuesday and Friday. On Friday, time for the center runs from 02:00 pm to 06:00 pm, and the center closes on Tuesday. It is located in the Ramtha area near Al Wasit in Sharjah. That is all our guide to the Al Wasit Nature Reserve in Sharjah. The center offers the opportunity to see for yourself the natural habitat of animals, reptiles and birds. You can also visit various eco-tourism sites in Dubai to see different types of mammals, birds, plants and animals. A more historical and natural visit, the Mleiha Archaeological Center in Sharjah is a good choice.
