Located some 15 kilometres from the coast and the city of Sharjah, the Reserve is a complex of natural inland lake and wetland habitats with a total area of 86 hectares. It is a unique lake which represents a part of the remaining endangered coastal habitats: it was formerly a tidal lagoon, providing important evidence of the evolution of the coastline. The Site supports a rich diversity of wetland species. Its mudflats, lakes, dunes, reed beds and woody thickets support a range of plants, and at least 144 bird species including many migrants. There are several near-threatened species such as curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) and the globally vulnerable Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis). The reserve, owned by the government of Sharjah Emirate, was declared as a National Protected Area in 2004. A visitor centre was established in November 2015 for education, public awareness and eco-tourism.