Environment & Sustainability

Dubai Residents Discover Hidden Wildlife Across the City Through Nature Challenge

Dubai residents documented more than 500 species of wildlife and plants across the emirate during this year’s City Nature Challenge, highlighting the rich biodiversity that exists alongside the city’s urban landscape.

The four-day citizen science initiative, led by Terra at Expo City Dubai, brought together 172 participants who submitted 2,346 observations of wildlife and plant species found in neighborhoods, parks, beaches, deserts, and marine environments throughout the city.

According to the City Nature Challenge Dubai 2026 Impact Report, participants recorded 504 species, representing a 58 percent increase compared to 2025. The number of observations also rose by 69 percent, increasing from 1,385 last year to 2,346 this year.

The challenge revealed a remarkable variety of wildlife living within and around Dubai. Among the mammals and reptiles documented were the desert hedgehog, Arabian sand boa, Arabian horned viper, Arabian red fox, Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, Cape hare, grey monitor, eastern skink, and several species of geckos and snakes.

Bird enthusiasts recorded numerous species including the common hoopoe, little owl, purple sunbird, grey francolin, black-winged stilt, red-wattled lapwing, pharaoh eagle-owl, Indian silverbill, grey heron, little egret, glossy ibis, Bonelli’s eagle, Indian roller, and Arabian babbler.

Insects accounted for the largest proportion of species identified, making up 36 percent of all recorded species. Observations included red dwarf honey bees, Arabian paper wasps, sulphurous jewel beetles, broad scarlet dragonflies, Arabian darkling beetles, western honey bees, plain tiger butterflies, carpenter bees, grass blue butterflies, and various species of spiders, mantises, and beetles.

Plant species represented 21.9 percent of the total records, while birds accounted for 17.4 percent. Flora and fungi documented during the challenge included giant milkweed, desert inkcap, puncture vine, green amaranth, kapok bush, cheeseweed mallow, common sow-thistle, and arta.

The initiative also highlighted Dubai’s marine and freshwater biodiversity. Participants recorded species such as the Indo-Pacific comb star, Oman garra, violet sea urchin, black sea urchin, milkfish, blackspot snapper, orange-spotted trevally, purple estuarine rock crab, pharaoh cuttlefish, and upside-down jellyfish.

More than 61 percent of the submitted observations achieved research-grade status, meaning they meet scientific standards and can contribute to biodiversity research and environmental monitoring. Research-grade observations increased significantly from 471 in 2025 to 1,433 this year.

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education and Culture at Expo City Dubai, said the growing participation reflects a broader movement among residents to better understand and engage with the natural environment around them.

She noted that every observation contributes to scientific knowledge while encouraging people to explore and connect with nature in their everyday lives.

Launched globally in 2015, the City Nature Challenge has become one of the world’s largest citizen science initiatives. Dubai’s participation supports wider efforts to document, understand, and celebrate the UAE’s natural heritage while encouraging community involvement in environmental conservation.