5 Dangerous Animals You May Meet in Dubai

Most cities of the United Arab Emirates surely fascinate people with their marvelous beauty. But it’s certain that Dubai stands out from them as the most popular tourist destination. While you can easily get enchanted by huge buildings and urbanized streets all around the city, if you take a closer look, you’ll notice that Mother Nature still rules Dubai’s culture. 

The thing is that some of its residents indeed pose far more danger than most of us can imagine. As a matter of fact, in many cases, those who are not aware of the threat and get too close to these animals go home with poisonous bites, which can be life-threatening. 

In this article, we will talk about 5 of these species you may meet in Dubai that are a big risk for humans with their poison.

1. Scorpion

Scorpions are famous for being poisonous, and therefore, people around the world are extremely afraid of them. Even though they tend to move around alone, if you encounter their nest, the danger gets even more extreme. In Dubai, there are two types of scorpions that contain the most harmful venom. They are called a fat-tailed and a deathstalker.

While scorpions mostly feed on spiders or insects, including ants, crickets, and beetles, they don’t hesitate to bite humans as well if they sense any threat. That having been said, in captivity, you can easily keep them content with feeder insects, such as Dubia roaches, which are one of the most reliable options with their high protein content and odor-free nature. 

To avoid getting bitten, what you can do is to wear shoes that reach enough to cover your ankles, along with long socks and pants. You should also avoid putting your tent or sleeping bag directly on the ground because there is a big risk that scorpions will crawl inside. In addition, it is better to pay extra attention at night, as at this time they move around more.

2. Arabian Sand Cat

Arabian sand cats are also known as Gordon’s wildcats, and they are known to be guarded in how they live. You can mostly encounter them at night, though you will not meet them every day in Dubai (luckily for you). Sand cats live in deserted spots, whether it is a plain field or rocky mountains.

This species of cat is good at hunting venomous snakes. Besides them, sand cats feed on birds, spiders, reptiles, and many other things. When it comes to humans, they don’t necessarily attack unless they have rabies. In any case, it is better to be aware of them from far away, and if you get bitten, seek immediate medical help.

3. Poisonous Snakes

Snakes are considered to be the most dangerous animals, not just in Dubai but in all of the UAE. The ones that give deadly poisonous bites are the species of Sind snake, Oman carpet, Persian horned, and Arabian horned vipers.

You can find these snakes in deserted and mountainous areas. They are not known for their patience and can strike quickly. When they feel threatened, you can hear them sizzling while moving slowly to attack. Particularly, saw-scaled vipers are tiny, yet they are pretty much aggressive, and their bite causes systemic bleeding in humans. 

4. Arabian Camel

One of the reasons people love traveling to Dubai is to witness camels, as you don’t get to see them any time at a lot of places. Arabian camels are pretty common here, specifically in deserted spots. 

Typically, Arabian camels are calm animals, and when they approach humans, it is in hopes of getting food. In general, they are very friendly, but it is important to move toward them gently. During the rutting season, Arabian camels often get aggressive, and their unpredictable behavior might cause terrible accidents to humans. They tend to bite either the head or the neck since these spots are more accessible.

5. Striped Hyena

Society often thinks that striped hyenas are extinct. While this is not true, they are very rare, which means that you probably won’t meet them often, but you might be able to spot them in Dubai. Generally, they are extremely slow, so instead of hunting, they feed on fruits.

It is not typically in striped hyenas’ nature to attack humans, but there are situations when they get aggressive. In case you notice unusual behavior in them, try to look frightening and aggressive so you can scare them away. If they still attack, try to fight back and don’t let them get near enough to bite you. 

Bottom Line

Although it can be exciting to stumble upon unfamiliar, diverse animals, it is important to consider that they might be poisonous, and you might get seriously injured if you get too close to them. While exploring the wilds of Dubai and enjoying nature, you should definitely be aware of the creatures that pose threats and think about taking caution from them. Lucky for you, now, after reading this article, you know how to do just that.