| Wasit Wetland Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 25°21′58″N 55°27′50″E / 25.366°N 55.464°E |
| Area | 86 hectares (210 acres) |
| Established | 2015 |
| Governing body | City of Sharjah |
| Official name | Wasit Nature Reserve |
| Designated | 9 May 2019 |
| Reference no. | 2386[1] |
Wasit Wetland Centre is a conservation area in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It preserves an area of a type of wetland (sabkha or salt plain) once common along the western coastal plains of the UAE and consists of a visitor centre with viewing points to both captive and wild birds, as well as extensive areas of dunes, mud flats, salty lagoons and freshwater pools.
Located in the northern Sharjah suburb of Wasit, the centre runs along the Sharjah/Ajman border.[2] The centre comprises 86 hectares (210 acres) of protected habitat and has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2019.[1]
The centre, which was opened in 2015 by the ruler of Sharjah, Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, is operated by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority of Sharjah Government and conducts golf-buggy tours around the extensive preservation area, which features a number of hides or observation points. An active educational program is maintained, encouraging visits from local schools.[3] The centre also offers an on-site café, a souvenir store and interactive educational games for children. At the core of the visitor centre is a long, soundproofed gallery which allows visitors to view the birds without disturbing them.[4]
- ^ a b "Wasit Nature Reserve". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ^ "Bird-watchers in for a treat as centre home to 350 species opens". The National. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- ^ "Wasit Wetland Centre". EPAA. 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- ^ "A new UAE nest for birdwatching: the undeniable magic of Wasit Wetland Centre". The National. Retrieved 2017-10-09.