DDCR
No effort has been spared to protect the fragile desert ecosystem. The Reserve represents a permanently protected area ensuring the future of the region’s desert habitats and bio-diversity
managed according to sound scientific ecological principles, aimed at protecting natural resources and maintaining original desert landscapes.
Zones
In line with international conservation practices, the Reserve is segregated into four zones, each with a prescribed utilisation plan, from a complete exclusion zone which can be visited only on foot by researchers, to a limited vehicle access zone for safari groups, excursions and dune camps.
Zone 1
No human intervention is allowed in this area, except entry for research and observation purposes. This prevents unnecessary interference to breeding sites and locations which support plant re-growth. The wildlife is free to move around this entire Reserve Zone area.
Zone 2
Human intervention is limited to infrastructure which supports wildlife and habitat programmes, such as watering points and supplementary feeding stations. This Zone is used for ‘seeding’ indigenous plant populations.
Zone 3
There are three areas in this zone which are set aside for low environmental impact development. These areas are restricted, with only two percent of the allocated areas used for development. Visitor capacity is set at 0.5 square kilometres per visitor, per day. Only resort guests are permitted within these areas. No day-visitors are allowed.
Zone 4
This Zone is comprised of four areas set aside for recreational desert excursions. Only approved Dubai-based safari operators with qualified and registered guides are permitted to conduct four-wheel dune driving excursions and organise small dune dinner camps in these areas. Four-wheel excursions are restricted to pre-planned routes.