Fish Species In The UAE
The following are the local fish species caught in the waters of the UAE. Some fish breeds are endangered and we should put that in mind before we take any fish home. We should always respect the instructions or information provided by Dubai Municipality to keep our fish stock healthy in our own playground and enjoy fishing for a lifetime.
Epaulet Grouper
AKA HAMOUR KHOR
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Data deficient
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Data deficient
Threatened
Duskytail Grouper
AKA SAMMAN
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Threatened
Areolate Grouper
AKA SAMMAN
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Least concern
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Least concern
Threatened
Orange Spotted Grouper
AKA HAMOUR
Minimum Legal Length : 45 cm. Number of Fish -Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Minimum Legal Length : 45 cm. Number of Fish -Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Threatened
Yellowfin Hind
AKA AROUSA
Minimum Legal Length : 29 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Near Threatened
Minimum Legal Length : 29 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
IUCN: Near Threatened
Threatened
Malabar Grouper
AKA HAMOUR
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Threatened
Striped Grouper
AKA BORTAM
Minimum Legal Length : 86 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Least concern
Minimum Legal Length : 86 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Least concern
Threatened
Spinycheek Grouper
AKA HAMOUR
Minimum Legal Length : 49 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Minimum Legal Length : 49 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
IUCN: Near Threatened
Spangled Emperor
AKA SHERI
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Fishing and marketing Sheri (Spangled emperor) during breeding season of the state with effect from 1 March until April 30 of each year.
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Fishing and marketing Sheri (Spangled emperor) during breeding season of the state with effect from 1 March until April 30 of each year.
Smalltooth Emperor
AKA SOLI
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Snubnose Emperor
AKA YAMAH
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Pink Ear Emperor
AKA SHKAILI
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Black Spot Snapper
AKA NAISAR
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Five Lined Snapper
AKA AQLAA
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Pinjal Snapper
AKA NOAIMI
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Malabar Blood Snapper
AKA HAMRA
Minimum Legal Length : 35 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 35 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Mangrove Red Snapper
AKA UM DURAIS
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Bigeye Snapper
AKA SARKHO
Minimum Legal Length : 14 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 14 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Crimson Snapper
AKA UM DURAIS
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Malabar Trevally
AKA JESH SAL
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Orange Spotted Trevally
AKA JESH NOAIMI
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Brownback Trevally
AKA JESH ASFAR
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Yellow Scad
AKA HAMAM
Minimum Legal Length : 17 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 17 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Golden Trevally
AKA ZURAIDI
Minimum Legal Length : 33 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 33 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Needlescaled Queenfish
AKA BASSAR
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Torpedo scad, Finny scad
AKA DIYAYOH
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Talang Queenfish
AKA DELA'
Minimum Legal Length : 63.5 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 63.5 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Blacktip Trevally
AKA JESH FARU
Minimum Legal Length : 66 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 66 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Snubnose Pompano
AKA AL SIBN
Minimum Legal Length : 58 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 58 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Herring Scad
AKA QAMLOH
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Arabian Scad
AKA SAIMA
Minimum Legal Length : 8 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 8 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Indian Threadfish
AKA SAL
Minimum Legal Length : 26 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 26 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Coast Trevally
AKA JESH ABYAD
Minimum Legal Length : 17.4 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 17.4 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Indian Pompano
AKA AL SIBN
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Greater Amberjack
AKA HAMAMAH
Minimum Legal Length : 80 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 80 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Mackerel Tuna
AKA TABBAN
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Frigate Tuna
AKA TABBAN
Minimum Legal Length : 35 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 35 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Stripped Bonito
AKA SADA
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Indian Mackerel
AKA QARFA
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Longtail Tuna
AKA QABBAB
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Narrowbarred Spanish Mackerel
AKA KANAD, KING
Minimum Legal Length : 60 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 60 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Silver Biddy
AKA BADEH
Minimum Legal Length : 23 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 23 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Whipfin Silver Biddy
AKA BADEH
Minimum Legal Length : 17 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 17 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Two-bar Sea Bream
AKA FESKAR
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 28 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Goldlined Seabream
AKA QABIT
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 25 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Yellowfin Bream
AKA SHA'AM
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Long Finned Sea Bream
AKA KOFAR
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
One Spot Sea Bream
AKA UM JAWA'A
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Sobaity Sea Bream
AKA SUBAITI
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Picnic Seabream
AKA SHA"AM KHOR
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Arabian Pandora
AKA HAMAMAH
Minimum Legal Length : 23 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 23 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Silver Grunt
AKA NAGROUR
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Black Spotted Rubberlip
AKA HILALI
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minstrel Sweetlip
AKA YANIM
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Painted Sweet Lips
AKA FARSH
Minimum Legal Length : 36 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 36 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
NotchedFin Threadfin Bream
AKA HAMRAH
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Black-streaked Monocle Bream
AKA BZAIMI
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 20 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Arabian Monocle Bream
AKA AIN BATWI
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Delagoa Threadfin Bream
AKA SULTAN IBRAHIM
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Cobia
AKA SAKAL
Minimum Legal Length : 60 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
Minimum Legal Length : 60 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 1
White Spotted Rabbitfish
AKA SAFI ARABI
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 24 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Streaked Rabbitfish
AKA SAFI SUNAIFI
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 18 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Long Rayed Bream Gizzard Shad
AKA YAWAFAH
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 5
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 5
Silver Sillago
AKA HASOOM
Minimum Legal Length : 19 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 19 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Yellowtip Halfbeak
AKA SALAS
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Minimum Legal Length : 15 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 8
Giant Catfish
AKA KHAN
Minimum Legal Length : 36 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 36 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Sergeant Major
AKA SHNAINWAH
Minimum Legal Length : 12 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 12 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Yellowbar Angelfish
AKA ANFOOR
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 22 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Seamullet Head
AKA BAYAH
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Minimum Legal Length : 16 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 6
Milk Fish
AKA AIFA
Minimum Legal Length : 68 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 68 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Great Barracuda
AKA AL JED AL KABEER
Minimum Legal Length : 58 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 58 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Dorab Wolfherring
AKA HAF
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 50 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Yellow Scale ParrotfisH
AKA QEEN
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Minimum Legal Length : 30 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 2
Yellowfin Needlefish
AKA HAQOOL
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Minimum Legal Length : 40 cm. Number of Fish - Bag / day 4
Indian Squid
AKA HABBAR
Not allowed to catch by recreational fishermen
Not allowed to catch by recreational fishermen
Arabian Cuttlefish
AKA NAGAR
Not allowed to catch by recreational fishermen
Not allowed to catch by recreational fishermen
Sand Lobster
AKA JARAD AL BAHAR
Not allowed to catch because it was threatened
Not allowed to catch because it was threatened
Threatened
Blue Crab
AKA SALTAON AL AZRAQ
Minimum Legal size of crab is: 11 cm.
Number of Fish -Bag / day 5
Minimum Legal size of crab is: 11 cm.
Number of Fish -Bag / day 5
Spottail Shark
Most common shark at 32% of the total number of sharks
Milk Shark
Most common shark at 30% of the total number of sharks
Blacktip Shark
Most common shark at 14% of the total number of sharks
Special Thanks To:
Mr. Qais Al Yamour
Dubai Municipality Fisheries Environmental Studies and Research Specialist
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