Al Warsan Lakes - return to Central Region

​

Click on the location name above to explore this spot on eBird.
It is impossible to keep this info updated, use eBird for more info.

​​

Al Warsan Lakes are two lakes connected to each other in the Dubai International City.
In the early 2000 this was one of Dubais star birding sites situated in the desert, then called called Wimpey Pits. Since construction of International City finished in 2005 it has shrunk dramatically in size and lost 90% of the birds that used to frequent this area.
 

The Al Warsan Lakes was formerly called Wimpey Pits due to the Wimpey Construction Company that started the first digging out here in the empty desert. Massive amount of spillwater was dumped in the desert, creating a large body of water. It is now the site of a mega-construction site called Dubai International City and Dragon Mart, and the area is officially named Al Warsan.

​

Since early 2009 the lakes are walled in by a solid cement fence, and it looked like it would be turned into a nature reserve, but as of today no information is available as to how this will be managed.
Local security have asked birders to leave the area and to get access permission from the office at Dragon Mart, but the details on how to do this is unknown. Some birders manage to access without being chased away, so it's still worth a try.
 

A link from the master developer

​

Birding strategy:

To cover the area thoroughly, plan to spend 1-3 hours.

Explore the area as directed by red arrows, as well as any pathways that lead you towards the northeast corner of the area.
Please let me know by email if this is no longer possible.

​

Birds:

More than 190 species (excluding escapes) have been recorded during the period January 2005 until now.

Rarities since 2005 have included Marbled Duck in 2012, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Little Swift, Asian Koel, Streak-throated Swallow, etc.

​