Top United Arab Emirates Fish Catches

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a long-standing tradition of fishing, rooted in its coastal geography along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Historically, fishing was a cornerstone of the local economy, providing sustenance and trade opportunities long before the discovery of oil. Today, the UAE’s fishing industry remains vital for local consumption, with top catches including hamour (orange-spotted grouper), kingfish (Spanish mackerel), safi (rabbitfish), and shaari (spangled emperor). Despite modernization and the introduction of advanced fishing techniques, the industry faces challenges such as overfishing and declining stocks, prompting government regulations and aquaculture initiatives to ensure sustainability. The UAE’s fishing sector continues to balance tradition and innovation, supporting both heritage and food security in the region.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Pink ear emperor	7,858
2	Spangled emperor	7,570
3	Orange-spotted grouper	5,580
4	Marine fishes nei	4,690
5	Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel	3,891
6	Spinefeet(=Rabbitfishes) nei	3,058
7	Barracudas nei	2,533
8	Snappers, jobfishes nei	2,317
9	Longnose trevally	2,238
10	Emperors(=Scavengers) nei	2,220
11	Orangespotted trevally	2,099
12	Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei	1,890
13	Sardinellas nei	1,757
14	Stolephorus anchovies nei	1,582
15	Longtail tuna	1,318
16	Queenfishes	1,282
16	Threadfin and dwarf breams nei	1,282
18	Cobia	1,255
19	King soldier bream	1,162
20	Grunts, sweetlips nei	1,095
21	Sea catfishes nei	945
22	Stumpnoses nei	937
23	Duskytail grouper	876
24	Golden trevally	743
25	Twobar seabream	731
26	Indian mackerel	659
27	Frigate and bullet tunas	624
28	Mullets nei	622
29	Blue swimming crab	566
30	Mojarras(=Silver-biddies) nei	505
31	Milkfish	490
32	Pharaoh cuttlefish	307
33	Kawakawa	240
34	Yellowbar angelfish	197
35	Flat needlefish	179
36	Goatfishes, red mullets nei	101
37	Parrotfishes nei	73
38	Halfbeaks nei	38

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.