Believe it or not, you can find 5 types of venomous snakes in the United Arab Emirates.

But please don’t live in fear, thinking that you are going to be bitten. In general, snakes try to avoid any contact or interaction with people. If you leave them alone, you shouldn’t have any trouble!

Did you know that snakes are venomous, NOT poisonous? If you eat something that makes you sick, then it’s considered “poisonous.” If an animal, like a snake, delivers its toxins when it bites, it’s considered “venomous.”

*If you encounter any of these species, PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB! Venomous snakes are dangerous animals and should be left alone. The more you agitate them, the more likely you will get bitten. DO NOT RELY ON THIS ARTICLE to correctly identify a snake that has recently bitten you. If you have recently been bitten, GO DIRECTLY to the nearest hospital to get help and to determine if the snake is venomous.*

Venomous Snakes in the United Arab Emirates:

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#1. Saw-scaled Viper

• Echis carinatus

Also known as Indian Saw-scaled Viper, Phoorsa, Little Indian Viper, or Sindh Saw-scaled Viper.

• Adults average 38-80 cm (15-31 in) long.
• They have flat, broad heads and very short snouts, with a cross-shaped marking on their heads and remarkably large eyes.
• Their coloring is gray, olive, and red to match their ground habitat. A series of spots, stripes, and dark borders decorate the body.

The Saw-scaled Viper is one of the venomous snakes in the United Arab Emirates responsible for serious bite incidents. It is quite small, but make no mistake! One bite from this viper can cause internal bleeding and death within a few hours.

You’ll find Saw-scaled Vipers in shrublands and deserts. They like to rest inside burrows and fallen logs during the day. They feed on rodents, lizards, scorpions, and centipedes at night. When it rains, adults scramble up to higher trees, shrubs, and cacti.

Look out for strange S-shaped indents in the sand or listen for loud rasping noises. These are the tell-tale signs that there’s a Saw-scaled Viper nearby. They are highly aggressive and capable of lunging to deliver a bite.

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#2. Arabian Horned Viper

• Cerastes gasperettii

Also known as Gasperetti’s Horned Sand Viper, Horned Viper.

• These small, stout-bodied snakes can grow 30-60 cm (12-24 in) long.
• Like most vipers, they have flat triangular heads. In addition, most specimens have horn-like scales above their eyes.
• Their coloring is tan or gray, perfect for blending into the sand. They have white bellies and a series of dark bars along their backs.
  

Scorching deserts are home to this devilish-looking venomous snake in the United Arab Emirates.

The Arabian Horned Viper is a patient predator, lying in wait beneath the sand with only its eyes protruding. As unwary rodents, beetles, or lizards pass by, this viper strikes with deadly accuracy.

Arabian Horned Vipers are most active at night, escaping the heat like other desert creatures. When the sun is high, they seek shelter in abandoned animal burrows. Early in the day, however, you might find one basking in the morning sun.

Listen carefully! These venomous vipers will tell you if you’re straying too close to their territory by hissing loudly.

Bite symptoms are serious and include excessive bleeding and convulsions, potentially leading to death. Seek medical assistance at once if you’ve been bitten.

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#3. Moila Snake

• Malpolon moilensis

Also known as False Cobra, Hooded Malpolon, Talheh Snake.

• Adults are 80-140 cm (31-55 in) on average, but longer specimens reach 190 cm (75 in) long.
• Their eyes are big and round.
• They are light tan or straw in color. There’s a checkered pattern of brown spots across their bodies. Their bellies are paler in contrast.

Look for this venomous snake in the United Arab Emirates near stony deserts and dry shrublands.

It feeds on lizards, gerbils, beetles, and small birds during the day. However, it may adapt to hotter weather by hunting at night.

Curiously, the Moila Snake is sought after in the exotic pet trade despite being venomous. However, think twice before you decide to keep this snake as a pet. Some individuals are calm, while others are short-tempered, and Moila Snakes are notoriously volatile. Therefore, only experienced keepers can safely handle them.

If threatened, this species will flatten and spread its neck into a hood as a means of intimidation. This behavior is how it earned its other common name, the “False Cobra.” The venom isn’t strong enough to kill a human, but it can cause excruciating pain and swelling.

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#4. Oman Saw-scaled Viper

• Echis omanensis

Also known as Oman Carpet Viper.

• Adults are 61 cm (24 in) long on average, with males being slightly larger. They have long tails.
• They’re typically dark brown or gray. Along the back, there are prominent dark blotches and rectangular bands.
• They are dark bands running from the nostrils towards the eyes and even further back.

If you find yourself in the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates, you might encounter the elusive Oman Saw-scaled Viper. In the winter, this snake species hibernates at the top of rocky terrains. But when it gets warm, it migrates downhill to hunt among trees and shrubs near water sources.

Oman Saw-scaled Viper Range Map

Oman Saw-scaled Vipers are ambush predators. Particularly excited after a light rain, they position themselves near mountain wadis and shallow ponds. Here, they patiently wait for their favored prey: frogs and toads emerging from the water! Birds who come in for a drink aren’t safe, either.

These venomous vipers pick out their favorite hunting grounds and resting spots, and they stay within the vicinity for several years.

Not much is known about the venom of the Oman Saw-scaled Viper. Of course, it’s best to treat them with caution like the rest of their deadly viper cousins. In one recorded bite incident, the patient experienced extreme pain and swelling. Thankfully, he was quickly treated with polyvalent antiserum.

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#5. Persian Horned Viper

• Pseudocerastes persicus

Also known as the Persian Horned Desert Viper, False Horned Viper, and Eye-horned Viper.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Adults can range between 45-116 cm (18-46 in) in length. They have stout bodies and short, slender tails.
• There are scaly horn-like protrusions above their eyes, but not as prominent as their horned cousins. Hence, the common name “False Horned Viper”.
• They have broad, flat heads distinct from their necks and short, rounded snouts.

Sandy, limestone deserts, and rocky hills are home to Persian Horned Vipers in the United Arab Emirates. They’re shy creatures who prefer to stay far away from human habitations. You’ll find them hiding underneath boulders, inside rodent burrows, and amidst tall grasses.

Persian Horned Vipers have quite the appetite. Their favorite meals include lizards, mice, birds, small mammals, and arthropods. Plus, they’re not one to waste dead food if they come across one! These vipers are generally sluggish, but they can move sideways, straight forward, or in S-shaped curves to suit the terrain.

Although Persian Horned Vipers prefer to escape when confronted, they won’t hesitate to bite if they feel cornered. First, they will loudly hiss at you to announce a warning before coiling into a striking position. Their venom is still poorly studied, but it’s reported to cause intense pain, swelling, and internal bleeding. Thankfully, antivenom is available for this species.

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Check out these guides to other animals found in the United Arab Emirates!

• 7 Types of Snakes That Live in the United Arab Emirates! (ID Guide)

• 15 MOST Common Birds That Live in the United Arab Emirates!

• 10 MOST Common SPIDERS Found in the United Arab Emirates!

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Which of these venomous snakes have you seen before in the United Arab Emirates?

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