Lighthouses of the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven Arab states on the south side of the Persian Gulf and the northeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. During the late 19th century six of these states signed protection agreements with Britain and became known as the Trucial States. After Fujairah joined the group in 1952 they formed a Trucial States Council, and in 1971-72 the Council members combined to form the independent federation.

The Emirates, as the country is often known, extend in an arc eastward from the base of the Qatar Peninsula, encompassing the southern coast of the Gulf. The easternmost emirate, Fujairah, is outside the Gulf: its coastline faces east on the Gulf of Oman. From west to east the seven states are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ash-Shariqah (Sharjah), Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. Abu Dhabi is by far the largest of the emirates in area and includes more than half of the federation's coastline. Dubai, however, is the most populous of the seven. The total population of the Emirates is about ten million.

A note on nomenclature: the Persian Gulf (as it is usually known in the West) is called the Arabian Gulf in Arabia and the Gulf of Fars in Iran. The International Hydrographic Organization calls it the Gulf of Iran and many commentators avoid all nomenclatural problems by calling it simply "The Gulf".

The Arabic word for a lighthouse is mnarh or manara (منارة). Ra's is the word for a cape or headland, jazīrat is an island, and minā is a harbor.

Each state in the federation has its own navigation or port authority to maintain aids to navigation. Offshore navigational aids in the Gulf are maintained by the Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS), based in Bahrain.

Special thanks to Ian Atkinson for information on the history of Arabian Gulf lights.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Persian Gulf and United Arab Emirates
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Middle East Navigation Aids Service -ATON's
A map locating and identifying the MENAS beacons.
World of Lighthouses - United Arab Emirates
Photos by various photographers available from Lighthphotos.net.
UAE Road Map
A useful map of the country.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigational chart information for the Persian Gulf.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for the Persian Gulf.

Yasat Ali Light, Abu Dhabi, 2012
photo contributed by Andrew Hawkins
Abu Dhabi Lighthouses
By far the largest of the emirates, Abu Dhabi has a population of more than 2 million. Its capital, also called Abu Dhabi, is also the national capital. Navigational aids in Abu Dhabi are maintained by the Abu Dhabi Ports Company.

Yasat Ali
2011. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); flash every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 32 m (105 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted a light yellow-brown. A photo by Andrew Hawkins is above and Google has a satellite view. Located about 18 km (11 mi) north of Yasat Ali Island at the far western end of the Emirates coast, roughly 150 km (90 mi) southeast of Doha, Qatar. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7384.65; NGA 29814.
Prince Shoal
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) "red metal pile, white lantern" according to NGA (which lists the light as "Price Shoal"). No photo available but Google has a fuzzy satellite view. The light guides ships bound for the newly-developed industrial port of Al Ruwais. Located on the west side of a large shoal about 5 km (3 mi) east of Sir Bani Yas island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7370; NGA 29964.
Jazirat Qarnayn (Jazīrat Qarnayn, Qarnain)
1981. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) post rising from a square 1-story white equipment shelter. No photo available and the light is not visible in Google's indistinct satellite view. Qarnayn is a small island in the Gulf about 200 km (125 mi) northwest of Abu Dhabi city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Operator: MENAS. Admiralty D7366.6; NGA 29868.
Jazirat Zirkuh (Zirkūh, Zirku Island) (2)
Late 1980s (station established 1963). Active; focal plane 199 m (653 ft); white flash every 10 s. Square pyramidal skeletal communications tower. A distant view is available and Google has a satellite view. Zirkuh is a small island in the southern embayment of the Gulf, about 160 km (100 mi) northwest of Abu Dhabi city and a similar distance east of Qatar. Crude oil is piped to the island for processing and export. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Operator: MENAS. Admiralty D7366; NGA 29872.
Khor Bateen (Khawr al Baţin) West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, originally painted with black and white horizontal bands, but now painted yellow. Imran Ali Rajput's photo is at right, Trabas has Rainer's Arndt's photo showing the new yellow daymark, and the light is barely visible in Bing's satellite view. Located on a breakwater northwest of the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7364; NGA 30040.
Mīnā' Zāyid West Breakwater (1)
Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower painted black. Trabas has Rainer's Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. The active light (focal plane about 10 m (33 ft); yellow light, 3 s on, 3 s off) is now on a short yellow post. Site status unknown. Active light: Admiralty D7363; NGA 30020.

Khor Bateen West Breakwater Light, Abu Dhabi, September 2009
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Imran Ali Rajput; used by permission
Al Mina (Mīnā' Zāyid)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. Light mounted atop a large square silo-like structure. Trabas has Rainer's Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located at the entrance to the port of Al Mina on the north side of Abu Dhabi city. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7363.08; NGA 30021.

Dubai Lighthouses
Dubai the best known of the emirates due to its international airport, one of the largest and busiest in the world. The population of the emirate is about 3.5 milllion. Navigational aids in Dubai are maintained by the Dubai Maritime Authority.

[Crescent Island]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) metal post, painted white. Trabas has a view from the sea and Bing has a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on a small crescent-shaped island about 50 km (30 mi) west of Dubai harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7364.8; NGA 30015.
Hassah Marina
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); flash every 2 s, alternating white and red. 8 m (26 ft) round barbell-shaped fiberglass tower colored white with one red (?) horizontal band. A distant view is available (light just above center) but Google has a satellite view. International standards suggest the colored band on the tower should be green. Located on the west breakwater of the Hassah Marina at Mīnā Jabal Ālī west of downtown Dubai. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7360.8; NGA 30060.
Dubai Main Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Pete Goulding's photo is at right, Trabas has Rainer Arndt's photo, Agustin Mantilla has a photo, and Bing has a satellite view. This is the best known lighthouse of the Emirates. Located at the end of the breakwater at the entrance to Port Rashid, the cruise ship harbor of Dubai. Site and tower closed. Admiralty D7355.7; NGA 30108.
* Dubai World Trade Center
Date unknown (building completed in 1979). Inactive since 2007. 184 m (604 ft) 39-story office, hotel, and exhibition building. Cristian Nicolae has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the traffic roundabout in the center of Dubai City, about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the harbor. Site and tower open. ex-Admiralty D7355; ex-NGA 30096.

Dubai Main Breakwater Light, Dubai, March 2015
photo copyright Peter Goulding; used by permission

Southern Sharjah Lighthouses
The Emirate of Sharjah has a population of about 1.5 million. Its Gulf coast is in two short sections north and south of Ajman. It also includes two small exclaves on the coast of Fujairah.

Ash Shāriqah (Sharjah) Main Breakwater (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. Described as a 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available and Bing's satellite view appears to show a round tower. Located on the west breakwater at the entrance to Ash Shariqah harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS UAE-002; Admiralty D7354; NGA 30132.
Ash Shāriqah (Sharjah) Lee Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available and Bing has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on the east breakwater at the entrance to Ash Shariqah harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS UAE-001; Admiralty D7354.2; NGA 30132.5.

Ajman Lighthouses
The Emirate of Ajman, smallest of the seven members of the federation, is an enclave within the larger Emirate of Ash Shariqah.

Ajman South Training Wall
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); green light, pattern unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower. Fiaz Ramzan has a distant street view but Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on the west breakwater at the entrance to Ajman harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7353.2; NGA 30092.
Ajman North Training Wall
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); red light, pattern unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower. Saem Alfadaly's photo is at right and Fiaz Ramzan has a distant street view but Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on the east breakwater at the entrance to Ajman harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7353; NGA 30088.

North Training Wall Light, Ajman, February 2023
Google Maps photo by Saem Alfadaly

Umm al-Quwain Lightbeacon
[Umm al-Quwain Groin]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); light characteristic unknown. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) post. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of a long groin sheltering the entrance to the harbor of Umm al-Quwain. Site and tower closed. Admiralty D7350.; NGA 28720.

Ras al-Khaimah Lighthouse
Mina Saqr Entrance
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction. 20 m (66 ft) triangular skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the main quay of the harbor of Mina Saqr. Site and tower closed. Admiralty D7345.5; NGA 30153.

Fujairah Lighthouses
Unlike the other emirates, Fujairah faces east on the Gulf of Oman, with Omani territory both to the north and to the south.
Dadnah (Jabal Dadnah)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; quick-flashing red light. 37 m (121 ft) skeletal tower. Tahir Qamar has a street view, a more distant street view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Dadnah is a traditional fishing port in Fujairah about 35 km (22 mi) north of Fujairah city. Located on a hill about 600 m (0.4 mi) west of the harbor. Site probably closed but the tower is easy to see from the surrounding area. Operator: Port of Fujairah. Admiralty D7332.3; NGA 28558.
Merbeh
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); red light, 1 s on, 1 s off. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is probably a communications tower. Located about 10 km (6 mi) north of Fujairah city. Site status unknown. Operator: Port of Fujairah. Admiralty D7329.8; NGA 28565.5.
Fujairah (3)
2011. Active; focal plane 273 m (896 ft); two white flashes every 2 s. Approx. 28 m (92 ft) square skeletal communications tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Douglas Cameron's photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. Located on a mountaintop west of the harbor. Site probably closed, but the tower is easy to see fom the surrounding area. Operator: Port of Fujairah. Admiralty D7329.1; NGA 28570.
Fujairah (2)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2011. 5 m (17 ft) white skeletal tower, according to the 2011 NGA list. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is located atop a hill about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) west of the harbor. Site probably closed but the tower is easy to see fom the surrounding area. Operator: Port of Fujairah. Admiralty ex-D7329; NGA ex-28568.

Fujairah Light, Fujairah
photo copyright Douglas Cameron; used by permission
Fujairah Oil Terminal 2 North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 2.5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round metal tower. with an expanded base, painted with green and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Rainer Arndt's photo and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. NGA has an incorect Admiralty number for this light. Located on the north breakwater of the terminal, adjoining the the main harbor of Fujairah. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7329.53; NGA 28576.
Fujairah Oil Terminal 2 South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 2.5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round metal tower. with an expanded base, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Rainer Arndt's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north breakwater of the terminal, adjoining the the main harbor of Fujairah. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7329.5: NGA 28574.
Port of Fujairah
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown and light characteristics unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square white tower. Trabas has Rainer Arndt's photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located atop a steep, conical hill behind the main harbor of Fujairah. Site status unknown. Admiralty D7329.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Southwestern Iran | East: Oman | West: Qatar

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Posted February 20, 2006. Checked and revised October 10, 2023. Lighthouses: 22. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.