MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Visitor Guidelines

admaritime.ae
Sharing the beauty and Abu Dhabi – An Extraordinary destination now
offers you the chance to explore the protected
wonders of Abu Dhabi’s pristine waters with diving, snorkelling,
kayaking and more.
diverse marine ecosystem Range of activities has been expanded to

with the world include:

• Designated mooring facilities for vessels

• Separate anchorages for larger vessels

Contents

Overview Map ...................................................... 2

Attractions and Activities................................... 4

Restrictions

Marine Protected Areas ..................................... 5

MPA – Ras Ghanadah .......................................... 6

MPA – Saadiyat ...................................................10

MPA – Marawah ..................................................14

MPA – Al Yasat ....................................................18

Navigation ..........................................................22
Restrictions on Routes
Traffic Control and VTIS
Mooring Stations in Marine Protected Areas

Fishing License..................................................28

Acknowledgements ..........................................29

1
Overview
Map

Al Yasat

2
 Anchorage

Marine Protected Area

Indicative Navigation Routes

Ras Ghanadah

Saadiyat

Marawah

3
 Attractions
and Activities
• Kayaking, sailing and other non-motorised Restrictions
water sports
• Anchoring is only allowed in designated
• Scuba diving anchorage areas outside of MPAs
• Snorkelling • The use of jet skis is prohibited
• Dolphin watching and swimming • De-ballasting, sewage discharge are
• Sea turtles and dugong watching prohibited

• Recreational cruising inside the MPAs • No collection of shells and corals

• Sunrise and sunset visits • Garbage disposal is prohibited

• Recreational fishing in Marawah and Yasat

MPA (with line and rod only)

• Coral reef and shoal visits

4
 Marine
Protected Areas
The UAE recently ranked first in the world list of marine protected areas. Working
directly with Abu Dhabi Maritime and Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has
developed the opportunity to explore the Marine Protected Areas of Abu Dhabi and
hereby enhance the tourism potential of our Emirate.

It is doing so by setting a new standard This initiative will also stimulate the economy
in sustainable development through the by offering businesses the chance to grow their
deployment of mooring buoys rather than product offering and allowing Emirate wide
allowing anchorage in these key protected accessibility.
areas. Thanks to these measures, we are
respecting the natural world and conserving it
for future generations to enjoy, allowing leisure
craft up to 300-500 Gross Registered Tonnage
(GRT) – this is directly developing these areas
for tourism potential including; day cruises,
diving, snorkelling, kayaking and marine wildlife
watching.

5
Ras Ghanadah
Protected Area

With a total area of 55 square kilometres, this is one

of the largest and most remarkable coral reefs in the
country. Its protection and the protection of animals
living here, are a priority.

6
Ras Ghanadah Protected Area

Location SIGHTS
Coral reefs
The Marine Protected Area is located on the Dolphins
coast of Taweelah, Ras Ghanada. The MPA Turtles
covers the area shown on the map on the Sunset and sunrise
following page, with buoy GPS coordinates
provided for easy navigation. A separate MOORINGS
anchorage area with related GPS coordinates is See next page for exact mooring buoys
also provided. location.
Groups of buoys are located at:
Anchorage Area Coordinates 1 24°52.8451’N 054°43.4456’E

2 24°52.0318’N 054°42.2376’E
1 24°52.7900’N 054°40.9437’E
3 24°50.8816’N 054°41.7653’E
2 24°53.2895’N 054°41.5294’E

3 24°54.0142’N 054°40.7174’E ACTIVITIES

Diving
4 24°53.5384’N 054°40.1029’E Snorkeling
Dolphin & turtle watching
Sunset and sunrise viewing
For mooring coordinates see page 8
LOGISTICS
Mooring buoys
Navigation signs
Anchorage areas

PROHIBITED
Anchoring in the MPA
Jet skis
Fishing
De-ballasting, sewage discharge
Collection of shells and corals
Garbage disposal

7
Ras Ghanadah Protected Area

Infrastructure

There are three mooring stations in the Ras Find our locations easily
Ganadah Marine Protected Area and each area using this QR code.
has 4 mooring buoys where visiting yachts can
moor instead of dropping anchors.

Geographical Buoy
Seabed Buoy Type Depth
Coordinates Coordinates

24°53.1165’N
054°42.7856’E

24°52.9747’N
24°52.8451’N 054°42.9441’E Sand, 1.5m
6.7m
054°43.4456’E 24°52.8356’N shells (up to 300 GRT)
054°43.1027’E

24°52.6770’N
054°43.2612’E

24°52.1579’N
054°42.0437’E

24°52.0119’N
24°52.0318’N 054°42.1624’E Sand, 2.4m
7.6m
054°42.2376’E 24°51.8706’N corals (up to 500 GRT)
054°42.3070’E

24°52.3558’N
054°41.8784’E

24°50.5319’N
054°41.3965’E

24°50.6931’N
24°50.8816’N 054°41.2152’E 1.5m
Coral 5.5m
054°41.7653’E 24°50.8924’N (up to 300 GRT)
054°41.0108’E

24°51.0450’N
054°40.8760’E

8
Ras Ghanadah Protected Area

Anchorage

Marine Protected Area

9
Saadiyat Marine
National Park

Protected marine area near Saadiyat Island. The

endangered Hawksbill sea turtle calls this 59 square
kilometre area home, and thrives here.

10
Saadiyat Marine National Park

Location SIGHTS
Coral reefs
The Marine Protected Area is located on the Dolphins
coast of Saadiyat Island. The MPA covers the Turtles
area shown on the map on the following page, Sunset and sunrise
with buoy GPS coordinates provided for easy
navigation. A separate anchorage area with MOORINGS
related GPS coordinates is also provided. See next page for exact mooring buoys
location.
Groups of buoys are located at:
Anchorage Area Coordinates
1 24°36.8946’N 054°24.0546’E
1 24°38.3948’N 054°22.6901’E
ACTIVITIES
2 24°38.4286’N 054°23.3558’E
Diving
3 24°37.3750’N 054°23.5037’E Snorkeling
Dolphin & turtle watching
4 24°37.3355’N 054°22.8257’E Sunset and sunrise viewing

LOGISTICS
Mooring buoys
For mooring coordinates see page 12
Navigation signs
Anchorage areas

PROHIBITED
Anchoring in the MPA
Jet skis
Fishing
De-ballasting, sewage discharge
Collection of shells and corals
Garbage disposal

11
Saadiyat Marine National Park

Infrastructure

There is one mooring station in the Saadiyat Find our locations easily
Marine Protected Area with eight mooring using this QR code.
buoys where visiting yachts can moor instead
of dropping anchor.

Geographical Buoy
Seabed Buoy Type Depth
Coordinates Coordinates

24°36.7785’N
054°24.5809’E

24°36.5862’N
054°24.7594’E Sand, 2.4m
5.8m
24°36.4114’N coral (up to 500 GRT)
054°24.9124’E

24°36.2366’N
24°36.8946’N 054°25.0718’E
054°24.0546’E 24°35.9626’N
054°25.2977’E

24°35.7832’N
054°25.4502’E Sand, 1.5m
5.2m
24°35.6189’N coral (up to 300 GRT)
054°25.5864’E

24°35.4445’N
054°25.7444’E

12
Saadiyat Marine National Park

Anchorage

Marine
Protected Area

13
Marawah Marine
Biosphere Reserve

Marine inhabitants live freely on this tranquil 4,255

square kilometres reserve. Here you can find the
second largest dugong community in the world.

14
Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve

Location SIGHTS
Dugongs
The Marine Protected Area is located around Coral reefs
Marawah island and extends from the mainland Dolphins
up to Butina Island and encompasses the area Turtles
highlighted on the map on the following page. Sunset and sunrise

MOORINGS
For mooring coordinates see page 16
See next page for exact mooring buoys
location.
Groups of buoys are located at:

1 24°22.9276’N 053°09.3818’E

2 24°16.6315’N 053°07.9576’E

ACTIVITIES
Diving
Snorkeling
Dugong watching
Dolphin & turtle watching
Recreational fishing (with line and
rod only)
Sunset and sunrise viewing

LOGISTICS
Mooring buoys
Navigation signs

PROHIBITED
Anchoring in the MPA
Jet skis
De-ballasting, sewage discharge
Collection of shells and corals
Garbage disposal

15
Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve

Infrastructure

There are two mooring stations in the Marawah Find our locations easily
Marine Protected Area with six mooring buoys using this QR code.
in each station where visiting yachts can moor
instead of dropping anchor.

Geographical Buoy
Seabed Buoy Type Depth
Coordinates Coordinates

24°23.6241’N
053°08.9325’E

24°23.3972’N
053°09.0477’E

24°23.1597’N
053°09.2033’E
24°22.9276’N Sand, 1.5m
6m
053°09.3818’E 24°22.9276’N shells (up to 300 GRT)
053°09.3818’E

24°22.7534’N
053°09.5604’E

24°22.5740’N
053°09.7621’E

24°16.5923’N
053°08.0501’E

24°16.4185’N
053°07.9364’E
Sand, 2.4m
10m
24°16.2360’N shells (up to 500 GRT)
053°07.8415’E
24°16’37.89’N
053°07’57.46’E 24°16.0578’N
053°07.7278’E

24°16.4294’N
053°08.6048’E
Sand, 1.5m
10m
24°16.2376’N shells (up to 300 GRT)
053°08.5077’E

16
Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve

Marine Protected Area

17
Al Yasat

Includes a group of islands in the Western Region of

Abu Dhabi. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs
of several species that are a habitat for a huge variety
of fish and marine animals.

18
Al Yasat

Location SIGHTS
Coral reefs
The Marine Protected Area is located on the Dolphins
western coast of Abu Dhabi in the Al Dhafra Turtles
region, covering Al Ghagha Island, Al Qaffay Sunset and sunrise
Island and Al Yasat Island and encompasses
the area shown on the map on the following MOORINGS
page. See next page for exact mooring buoys
location.
Al Yasat / Al Sila Anchorage 1 Groups of buoys are located at:

1 24°14.4035’N 051°59.3330’E
1 24°07.5236’N 051°49.6415’E
2 24°26.1368’N 051°33.9578’E
2 24°07.5295’N 051°50.5182’E
3 24°40.3951’N 051°48.3791’E
3 24°07.1689’N 051°50.5269’E

4 24°07.1600’N 051°49.6415’E ACTIVITIES

Diving
Snorkeling
Al Yasat / Al Sila Anchorage 1 Dolphin & turtle watching
Recreational fishing (with line and
rod only)
1 24°42.0029’N 051°46.8785’E
Sunset and sunrise viewing
2 24°41.4933’N 051°47.5292’E
LOGISTICS
3 24°40.0494’N 051°46.0153’E Mooring buoys
Navigation signs
4 24°40.5227’N 051°45.4310’E
Anchorage areas

PROHIBITED
For mooring coordinates see page 20 Anchoring in the MPA
Jet skis
De-ballasting, sewage discharge
Collection of shells and corals
Garbage disposal

19
Al Yasat

Infrastructure

There are three mooring stations in the Al Yasat Find our locations easily
Marine Protected Area with four to five mooring using this QR code.
buoys where visiting yachts can moor instead
of dropping anchor.

Geographical Buoy
Seabed Buoy Type Depth
Coordinates Coordinates

24°14.2736’N
051°59.5681’E

24°14.2612’N
24°14.4035’N 051°59.3034’E Mud, 2.4m
22m
051°59.3330’E 24°14.2611’N shells (up to 500 GRT)
051°59.0321’E

24°14.2546’N
051°58.7589’E

24°28.5100’N
051°34.6356’E

24°28.2753’N
051°34.3852’E
24°26.1368’N 24°27.9512’N Coral, 1.5m
8m
051°33.9578’E 051°34.4890’E mud (up to 300 GRT)
24°27.6605’N
051°34.2753’E

24°27.4042’N
051°34.0323’E

24°38.2505’N
051°50.1521’E

24°38.2574’N
051°50.5893’E
24°40.3951’N 24°38.2643’N Sand, coral, 1.5m
10m
051°48.3791’E 051°50.9587’E shells (up to 300 GRT)
24°38.2712’N
051°51.3206’E

24°38.2779’N
051°51.6631’E

20
Al Yasat

Anchorage

Marine Protected Area

21
Navigation

22
Navigation

Restrictions on Routes • When passing close to oil field installation to

minimise wake wash
Speed limits should be observed for the
• When passing in shallow waters to avoid
purpose of traffic management and avoidance
grounding
of shallow areas.
• Safe speed regulations under COLREGs to be
Maximum speed limit and minimum safe
adhere with
distance from oil field installations should be
strictly observed in the following areas: • Speed limit regulations from port authorities
when passing through port limit or using
crossing a navigational channel
• When passing in development areas or
underwater survey is in progress
• VTIS instructions with regards to speed limit
should always be followed
• No entry in oil fields restricted areas and
minimum safe distance passing by oil field
installations to be maintained
• Information regarding these restricted zones
are clearly marked on navigational charts

23
Navigation

Traffic Control and VTIS Reporting Points

Vessel Traffic and Information System Active Participant vessels in passage through
(VTIS) Procedure for Ships the VTIS Sectors should provide the Call Point
Position Report via VHF R/T to the relevant
• All vessels with in VTIS coverage area VTIS sector, at the positions designated and
either under Abu Dhabi Ports or Petroleum mentioned on charts. Furthermore, vessels
Ports Authority (PPA) ports should monitor should provide this report via the required VHF
the channels as per the Sectors noted R/T channel to the new Sector at each change
below. Reference should be made to NP63 of sector, using the following format:
for passage planning and ADRS5 for
communication. 1. Ship’s name

• VHF Radio Transmitter (R/T) channels of the 2. Position

VTIS Sector shall be monitored at all times
during passage, mooring or anchorage when Vessels are advised to report to both VTIS
inside the VTIS area. controls whenever crossing a border between
• VTIS should be informed on every occasion a two VTIS Sectors.
vessel leaves / enters the VTIS Sector. The Sectors are:
• Vessels navigating within the VTIS Sector, • Khalifa Port Control VHF Channels 16 and 13
for safety of navigation and protection of life Mina Zayed Port Control VHF Channels 16
and of the environment, should continuously and 67
monitor all VTIS broadcasts and take heed of
information, recommendations, warnings and • Free Port Control VHF Channels 16 and 11
advice given by the VTIS. Al Dhafra region ports, Mirfa, Silla and
Mugharag VTS operates on VHF channel 08
• Masters of vessels navigating within the VTIS and 16
Sector shall report to the VTIS all perils to
safety of navigation observed. • VHF Channel 21 will be used for the VTIS
Sector in Ruwais
• Vessels navigating within the Traffic
Separation Scheme (TSS) through the • VHF Channel 23 will be used for VTIS Sector
VTIS Sector should report to the relevant in Das
VTIS Control in case of any deviation from
• VHF Channel 23 will be used for VTIS Sector
the TSS, berthing or mooring to buoys,
in Mubarraz
dropping anchor, including turning back
or emergencies and similar exceptional
circumstances. VHF 16 will be used for emergencies only.
Occasionally it may be used in case no
• Local vessels inside the VTIS area are to
communication can be established with a
proceed and conduct themselves as per
vessel in order to instruct the vessel to change
the International Regulations for preventing
to the proper VTIS VHF channel.
Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).

24
Navigation

Reporting Incidents Vessels should use the following format for

reporting an incident:
Vessels navigating within the VTIS Sector are
obliged to report to the relevant VTIS centre,
immediately and without delay, any incident Designator Information Required
that may occur as a result of, but not limited to;
1 Ship’s Name
Effect of adverse weather, such as hull damage
2 Position
and/or water ingress, loss of steering, failure of
tow arrangements, engine breakdown etc. 3 Nature of Incident

Incidents such as collision, grounding, fire,

listing, loss of cargo overboard, man overboard
etc.

25
Navigation

Mooring Stations in Marine Mooring station restriction and maximum

Protected Areas vessel size

Mooring buoys layout There are two types of mooring buoys installed
in marine protected areas, details of which is
Mooring buoys are generally attached to a described below. It is compulsory to secure the
ground chain, which in turn is anchored to yacht with suitable mooring buoy.
the sea bed with a heavy object or anchor.
Sometimes a buoy can be on its own or on a line Each yacht Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT)
of moorings attached to heavy chain that runs and safe working load (SWL) should be
along the seabed, this is called a ‘trot’. considered prior to approaching a mooring
buoy. SWL and type of mooring buoys is
Quite often, the buoy itself is too heavy to lift, mentioned on each buoy.
as it will be attached to a heavy riser chain,
so you will normally find a ring on top of the
buoy, which sometimes also has a pick up line Mooring Buoys Specifications
attached. You will tie the yacht to that ring. Two types of mooring buoys are installed
If you are picking up a mooring in an area that on each mooring station along the Marine
you do not know, or if it is your first time on a Protected Area mooring stations. Specification
yacht, then check the charts and ask for local and maximum size of vessel allowed to moor at
knowledge about which moorings are strong each buoy are shown below:
enough to support your yacht, though often you
will find that where there are mooring buoys, Mooring Buoys Limitations
they are generally well maintained and on offer
for many visiting yachts. In areas where the
seabed is especially sensitive due to presence Type 1: SMB- Type 2: SMB-
Criteria
of coral, there are normally strict no mooring or 1500mm 2400 mm
anchoring signs.
Max size 300 GRT 500 GRT

Max current 5 Kts 5 Kts

Beaufort
6 6
Scale Max

Wind Force
35 Kts/h 35 Kts/h
Max

Available
0.910 m 1.14 m
Free board

26
Navigation

Picking up a mooring buoy

Preparation

All approaching vessels needs to have a boat

hook and a mooring rope ready for deployment.

All mooring buoys are equipped with a mooring

ring and a pick-up line, which can be used for
mooring.

Please do not lift the pick-up line upwards,

rather, pull it laterally toward the boat.

Approaching

When you are approaching the mooring

buoy, always try and aim into the tide or the
wind. Look around you at similar yachts and
Securing
approach the buoy in parallel to them, or look at
the pick-up line which will be showing you the Once you are on the buoy, ideally the boat
direction of the tide. needs to stay stopped over the buoy to give
your crew a chance to attach the yacht to the
Keep the buoy to one side of the bow, so you
buoy. You don’t want the load of the yacht to be
can see it for longer. You can ask the crew to
fully on the boat hook as then it is impossible
count down the distance to the buoy. Take it
for the crew to release the hook from the buoy.
nice and slowly, and once the buoy has been
Pull in on the mooring rope until the main
picked up, then reverse equally slowly trying to
mooring line is reached and then attach to a
stay on the buoy until the crew have attached
cleat. If the buoy doesn’t have a mooring line,
the bow of the boat to it.
then use your own line to attach yourself to the
ring on top of the mooring. The safest and most
secure way of attaching yourself to a buoy is
to tie a round turn and two half hitches to the
ring on the buoy, if you are planning on staying
overnight, then to be even more secure you
could use two lines to the buoy.

27
 Fishing
License

How to Get a Fishing License in Documents Required to Get a

Abu Dhabi License For Fishing in Abu Dhabi
If you want to fish properly in Abu Dhabi, you You have to submit the following documents to
will need a fishing license from the Abu Dhabi get a fishing license:
Environment Agency. The license will enable
you to fish with a hand-held rod and reel rather
For local residents
than a fishing net.
• Passport copy (with residency for non-local)
• However, you need to be over 18 years old to
get such a license. • Personal photo

• The weekly cost of a license is AED 30. • Boat license (for recreational fishing)

• In case, you are going on a fishing excursion

with a company, you don’t need to worry as For non-local residents
the company taking you will already have a
• Tenancy contract/ownership certificate
commercial license which will cover you.
• Electricity bill
• Login in below link for more information:
https://eservices.ead.ae/web/guest • Labour contract and official letter

Fishing Rules in MPA

• Recreational fishing using line and rod are

restricted to licenced fishermen within
Marawah and Al Yasat marine protected
areas

• All core areas (Buteina and Al Bazam)are

prohibited for any type of fishing

• No fishing within: (1) Bul Sysyeef MPA,

Mangrove Marine National Park, Saadiyat
Marine National Park, and Ras Ghanada MPA

28
 Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank Jalboot UAE and UAE

Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection
Authority for their collaborative efforts in
developing the Marine Protected Areas Visitor
Guidelines.

In case of any emergency while at mooring stations or anchorages call

Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority CICPA 996
Abu Dhabi Maritime 800 10 20 30
Abu Dhabi Maritime
ZonesCorp Main Center, Engineering Building (No 50),
Abu Dhabi Industrial City 1, M41, Al – Mu-asasat Street,
Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

800 10 20 30

admaritime.ae

In case of any emergency while at mooring stations or anchorages call

Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority CICPA 996
Abu Dhabi Maritime 800 10 20 30