Hawf Protected Area

This protected are is located in Al Mahra Governorate near the borders with the Sultanate of Oman. It covers an area of 30,000 ha ascending gradually from the sea level to an altitude of 1400 meters. There are several valleys intersecting the mountains. Hawf normally receives very little rain, but mist/fog covers the entire region from June to September.

Hawf forest is the largest in the Arabian Peninsula. A few large mammals such as the Arabian leopard, the ibex, gazelles, wolves, hyenas, foxes wild cats and porcupines are expected to live in it. Other animals recorded here include 65 bird species six of which are rare species. About 220 plant species have been recorded to occur in the forest.