Dune bashing to pristine in just 15 years at Dubai reserve

When the fences first went up around the 22,500 hectare site 15 years ago, it was not unusual to see camp sites, rubbish bags and 4x4s dune bashing their way across the sand.

The head of wild Arabian oryx at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve has increased from 70 to 450 since 1999. Victor Besa for The National

DUBAI // With its rolling dunes, abundant wildlife and thriving vegetation, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is an oasis of nature a short drive from the city.

But the reserve, now 15 years old and home to 450 wild Arabian oryx, has not always been so peaceful. When the fences went up around the 22,500-hectare site, it was common to see campsites, rubbish bags and 4x4s dune bashing.

“Tour operators were driving wherever they wanted so the impact was widespread,” says Greg Simkins, manager at the reserve.

“There were more than 23 different companies coming in 2002 when the reserve was established and there were no regulations about where people could have campsites.

“Once we fenced it off, we had controlled points of entry. Many stopped coming when there was a control point. We started recording what companies were coming.

“We asked them to put together a proposal to continue operating within the conservation area under our guidelines. There were only eight tour operators that submitted proposals.”

Only four were chosen, given specific routes on which to drive and designated campsites. Fines of Dh500 were introduced for dropping litter, going off-route and speeding.

The reserve’s herd of wild oryx has increased from 70 in 1999. There are now 150 sand gazelle from 25 in that same year, and up to 300 Arabian gazelle from an original 100.

Other species that have increased in number, although they are not so easily counted, include the Arabian red fox and the Lappet-faced vulture.

In forested areas, ghaf and acacia trees are booming, with the acacia having a “dramatic increase”, said conservation and planning officer Tamer Khafaga.

“It’s been very successful,” Mr Simkins said. “Aesthetically, you get to see fresh, pure dunes without tracks all over them. It’s clean and it’s full of wildlife.”

The other big improvement has been the safety of visitors, he said.

“There are no shared routes, so you remove opportunities for people to drive into each other. Drivers get used to routes and know how to be safer on them.”

Mr Khafaga said he could see the boom in the vegetation and its effects on the wildlife.

“Part of the improvement comes from allowing the vegetation to spread more evenly, which allows hares, hedgehogs and rodents to thrive, not just the bigger animals like oryx and gazelle,” he said.

The pioneering project is visited by more than 250,000 people every year.

Fines act as a deterrent but very few have been issued, Mr Simkins said. “Most people know the rules and the benefits of them,” he said.

Royal Shaheen is one of only a handful of tour companies that visit the reserve to offer a falcon experience.

The company’s founder, Peter Burgh, said: “If you look at Al Aweer, on the border of Dubai and Sharjah, there are over 150 companies operating there and it’s like the Wild West.

“It was a really nice piece of desert, but what it is today is not the same, which is why we really wanted to be a part of the reserve and be something different.

“We wanted a clean environment and the reserve was the only place that had that.”

He said the regulations were strict but successful.

“By making strict rules, the dunes are pristine, the flora and fauna are flourishing, as are the birds and insects,” said Mr Burgh.

“It’s all linked.”

Adam McEwan, managing director of Platinum Heritage, which offers cultural tours in the reserve, also backed the rules.

“With a range of companies using the reserve, a way of policing the rules and regulations is understandable and we encourage it,” said Mr McEwan.