Jabal Hafit

Jabal Hafit National Park protects the mountain of Jabal Hafit (Jebel Hafeet) near Al Ain on Abu Dhabi's southern border with Oman. At 1,240 m it is Abu Dhabi's highest peak and the UAE's second highest^[1]. The reserve covers 81 km2 and was established by Emiri decree in 2017; under IUCN standards it counts as a national park^[2].

Globally threatened species here include Blandford's fox, Brandt's hedgehog and the Arabian tahr, and the park holds the UAE's only concentration of the globally threatened Egyptian vulture. The Arabian caracal was recently sighted for the first time in 35 years^[1]. Monitoring records 13 mammal, 140 bird and 13 reptile species^[2].

The mountain is the only known home of the dwarf palm, among the rarest plants in Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Peninsula^[1]. Its flora accounts for 42% of known plant species in Abu Dhabi and 25% of those in the UAE, and the Environment Agency runs restoration of vegetation and endangered plants, including a plan to plant 10,000 acacia trees over 18 hectares^[2].

The terrain is rocky mountain landscape rising abruptly from the plain^[1].

The mountain lies in the hot, arid interior of the UAE, with very hot summers, mild winters and little rain. Temperatures are somewhat cooler near the summit than on the plain below.

More than 500 ancient burial tombs, about 5,000 years old, were found in the foothills; they mark the start of the Bronze Age in the UAE^[1].

The reserve was established by Emiri decree in 2017 and is now managed by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi as part of the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network^[2].

The attractions are the views from the winding mountain road, the search for wildlife and plants, and the Bronze Age tombs in the foothills^[1]. No hiking trails are named by the managing agency.

The park lies near Al Ain; from Abu Dhabi city centre take the E22 Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road. The Mercure Jabal Hafit hotel near the top offers a place to rest, and private operators run paid tours from it^[1].

The Environment Agency tracks species, including nocturnal animals, with observers and modern technology, and runs vegetation and endangered-plant restoration programmes; future programmes will focus on environmental tourism^[2].