Date: 26/08/2026
All Rights Reserved by the Author
When people picture the United Arab Emirates, they often imagine Dubai’s skyline, wide highways and the vast desert.
But in the Emirate of Fujairah, the landscape tells a very different story.
There, among the rugged Hajar Mountains, lies Wadi Wurayah.
A wadi is a valley or watercourse, often dry for long periods. Wadi Wurayah is unusual because its mountain landscape contains springs and streams that support life in an otherwise arid region.
The protected area covers about 225 square kilometres and contains an extraordinary range of wildlife and plants. UNESCO records 1,099 species—883 fauna and 216 flora—including at least ten globally threatened species.
The area was formally protected by Fujairah in 2009 and was recognised as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2010.
What I find most striking is the contrast.
Not far from some of the world’s most modern cities, there is a landscape where water, rock and wildlife continue an ancient conversation.
It is a useful reminder that a country can have more than one face.
Sometimes the most surprising one is the quietest.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Email: rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
YouTube: Converse With A Smile
@conversewithasmile
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