Located just off the shore of the western region of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas was originally home to Arabia's largest wildlife reserve.

[2] Due to decades of conservation work and ecological investment, it is now home to thousands of large free-roaming animals and several million trees and plants.

A bird sanctuary as well as a wildlife reserve, Sir Bani Yas showcases nature through activities such as adventure safaris, kayaking, mountain biking, archery, hiking and snorkeling.

[3] One of the oldest sites is the remains of a Nestorian Christian monastery which dates back to 600 AD, which is now carefully covered for conservation and preservation.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the monastic community engaged in cattle farming, fishing, and trade with Muslim neighbors in the Gulf region.

[8] Sir Bani Yas was first mentioned in European literature around 1590, when the Venetian jeweler Gasparo Balbi listed "Sirbeniast" as an island around which pearls were often found.

[11]Several millions trees were planted and numerous animals species introduced to the island, including gazelle, oryx, llama, hyrax, giraffe, and ostrich.

[12] The island is home to many species, from Arabian oryx, Somali ostrich, gazelle and deer to reticulated giraffes, dolphins and sea turtles.

Taking up about half of Sir Bani Yas, the Arabian wildlife Park provides an environment for wild animals to freely roam while the island remains open for visitors.

Sir Bani Yas is home to many animals that the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies as critically endangered or vulnerable, including sea turtles, sand gazelles, Barbary sheep, Arabian tahr[14][15] and oryx.

[20] The Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company Masdar has declared plans to raise wind production capacity to 30 megawatts.