Dalma Island

Dalma Island
جزيرة دلما (Arabic)
Satellite view of Dalma in 2016
Satellite view of Dalma in 2016
Dalma Island is located in United Arab Emirates
Dalma Island
Dalma Island
Location in United Arab Emirates
Dalma Island is located in Persian Gulf
Dalma Island
Dalma Island
Dalma Island (Persian Gulf)
Coordinates: 24°31′N 52°19′E / 24.517°N 52.317°E / 24.517; 52.317
Country United Arab Emirates
EmirateAbu Dhabi
Municipal RegionAl Dhafra
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
~5,000

Dalma Island (Arabic: جزيرة دلما, also spelled Delma) is an Emirati island located in the Persian Gulf, approximately 42 kilometres (26 mi) off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The island is served by Dalma Airport and a mainland ferry. It had a population of approximately 5,000 in the 2000 census.

Description

In the 1898 fourth edition of Persian Gulf Pilot, the island is described as:

... about 5 miles [8 km] long North and South by 2½ miles [4 km] broad; it is generally hilly, but towards the southern part falls away to a very low narrow plain 1½ miles [2.4 km] long, which terminates in a point. The hills at a distance appear like a long table hill, with a small barn-shaped peak near the north end ; this is 244 feet [74 m] high, and visible 18 miles [29 km]. A reef round the island extends a quarter to half a mile [0.4 to 0.8 km] off shore, except at the South point.

A 2020 book states, "The central part of the island comprises the rocky core of a salt dome, attaining a height of almost 100 m [330 feet] above sea level." It also notes that "The shoreline of the island has changed considerably during the past few decades with significant infilling of the southern and eastern coasts".: 121 

Throughout the centuries, it was a stopping place for sailing ships to replenish their water supplies. In 1998, there were as many as 200 wells, some producing sweet, others brackish water.: 121 

Archaeology

The Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey carried out an initial survey of Dalma island in 1992.: 122  More than 20 archaeological sites were identified on the island, ranging in time from the Neolithic (Late Stone Age).

References

  1. ↑ "Delma Airport". Abu Dhabi Airports. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Travel to Dalma". dalmaisland.com. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "دلما.. جزيرة اللؤلؤ والمياه العذبة" (in Arabic). الامارات اليوم. 29 November 2008.
  4. 1 2 Constable, Captain C. G.; Stiffe, Lieutenant A. W. (1898). Persian Gulf Pilot. Darling & Son for the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty. p. 108. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Bretzke, K.; Crassard, R.; Hilbert, Yamandú H. (31 December 2020). Stone Tools of Prehistoric Arabia: Papers from the Special Session of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held on 21 July 2019. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "About Dalma". dalmaisland.com. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ancient settlements detected at Dalma Island and Al Khan". Retrieved 2 November 2011.