Lack of surveillance during the Covid-19 pandemic has led to the increased theft of turtle eggs in the eastern coastal areas of Oman.
Residents in the Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd areas said patrols by rangers have been suspended since April and poachers were taking advantage of the situation.
“Both Omanis and foreign people living in Oman come here and pick up turtle eggs. They come with big bags, pick eggs on the beach and load them in their cars," Rasheed Al-Jaalani, 41, an Omani fisherman in Ras Al Jinz, one of the main turtle nesting areas, said.
"There are no rangers now on the beaches, so these poachers take advantage.”
The local municipality office in Sur, which governs Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd, declined to say when rangers will resume patrols.
The government imposes a penalty of up to two months in prison and/or a fine of $5,000 (Dh18,365) for poachers, but rangers are not always vigilant and culprits are rarely arrested.
Conservationists said Ral Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd beaches are used by turtle species as their nesting grounds. They include olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). All three species are threatened with extinction, while the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) -- which has been spotted but is unknown to nest in Oman -- is one the world's most endangered sea turtles.
Dr Ghulam Al Balushi, a member of the Environmental Society of Oman, said poachers sold eggs to private collectors in a lucrative trade in Omani cities, including Muscat, Sohar and Salalah.
"Buyers hatch the babies and sell them to people who use them as pets. Some of them are smuggled out of the country where they are sold at exorbitant prices," Dr Balushi said. Private collectors typically pay between $30 to $50 for a baby turtle, but the rarest species, such as leatherbacks, can fetch up to $350 each.
Turtle watching is a major attraction in Oman, drawing about 400,000 foreign and domestic visitors in 2019, according to statistics from the country's heritage and tourism ministry.
Besides Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz, Masirah Island and the Daymaniyat Island cluster are popular places for visitors eager to see turtles nesting and hatching.
“Modern structures and facilities have increased poaching in the eastern region. They made it easier for people travelling into these once almost inaccessible areas, then habited only by fishermen,” Hareb Al-Manwari, 56, a resident of Masirah, said.
The government has announced plans to improve access to the area with a 40-kilometre bridge linking Masirah Island to the mainland -- a massive project that is yet to be finalised or building started – and triple carriageway roads towards Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz. Authorities also opened up the areas to investors who built tourism resorts and hotels. Sleepy villages have since transformed into smart towns, funded by the influx of cash from tourists as retail businesses flourished over the last decade.
“Business is good but we are driving our rare turtles to extinction. Is it worth it?” Mr Manwari said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
Midfielders: Walid Soliman, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Amr Warda, Nabil Emad
Forwards: Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan.
More on Quran memorisation:
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
BLACKBERRY
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jay%20Baruchel%2C%20Glenn%20Howerton%2C%20Matt%20Johnson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More on animal trafficking
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
