Between 6000 - 13000 turtles migrate here annually from the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and the East African coast. Contained within the reserve are many sites of historical importance such as Khawr al Jamarah, Ra's al Jinz and Ra's al Khaba. Specialist research studies are carried out in order to achieve the balance between protecting these areas and encouraging visitors. Many tourists visit the area to observe the estimated 20,000 nesting turtles. Oman is one of the most important sites for green turtles in the Indian Ocean.
Turtles spend most of their lives at sea but return to the land to lay their eggs.
The sex of the unhatched turtle depends on the temperature of the sand in which the female lays her eggs. Khawr al Jamarah contains a large mangrove plantation and many coral reefs. This type of environment is rich in crustaceans and plankton which attracts fish to spawn and in turn provides food for the hatchlings. The mud flats flanking the khawrs provide migrating birds with essential food and shelter during the winter months. Over 130 species have been recorded in the area.