UAE Snakes
.The UAE is home to 21 species of snakes, including 17 land-dwelling and 4 sea snakes.
Terrestrial Snakes
Of the land species, a handful are venomous, including the Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus sochureki), the Arabian Horned Viper (Cerastes gasperettii), and the elusive False Horned Viper (Pseudocerastes persicus), typically found in rocky deserts and mountain foothills. These snakes inhabit arid and semi-arid regions, often sheltering in wadis, under rocks, or buried in sand.
Mildly venomous snakes like the False Cobra (Malpolon moilensis) and Arabian Cat Snake (Telescopus dhara) use rear fangs and pose little threat to humans. They are more secretive, preferring rocky terrain, oases, and dry riverbeds.
Mildly venomous snakes like the False Cobra (Malpolon moilensis) and Arabian Cat Snake (Telescopus dhara) use rear fangs and pose little threat to humans. They are more secretive, preferring rocky terrain, oases, and dry riverbeds.
Non-venomous species such as the Arabian Sand Boa (Eryx jayakari), Diadem Snake (Spalerosophis diadema), and Schokari Sand Racer (Psammophis schokari) are more commonly seen, especially in sandy deserts and gravel plains. These snakes feed on small reptiles, rodents, and insects and play an essential role in the ecosystem.
Tiny, harmless underground dwellers like the Thread Snake (Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus) and Flowerpot Blind Snake (Rhamphotyphlops braminus) are often found in gardens or moist soils.
The UAE’s waters also host 4 species of sea snakes, including the Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamis platurus) and the Blue-banded Sea Snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus). Though highly venomous, these marine snakes are non-aggressive and rarely pose a threat to beachgoers or divers.