The key threats to this species within the UAE come from habitat degradation, via land-use changes, infilling, drainage and potentially pollution (see Aspinall 1996).

Loss of woodland (e.g. Acacia and Prosopis), would have an impact on this species (see Aspinall 1996). Development in certain areas would also likely pose a threat to this species. There is some trade in this species, but this is only thought to involve imported individuals rather than capture from the wild within the country (Aspinall 1996).

This species is likely to be threatened by the loss of its key forest habitat, potentially due to logging, clearance for development, or from overgrazing (del Hoyo et al. 2005). Drainage schemes within its range are at least not thought to have been beneficial for the species (del Hoyo et al. 2005). Conflicts within its range are another potential cause of habitat loss and disturbance.

Within the UAE, the species is potentially impacted by oil and other marine pollution such as plastics, but the severity of these threats are essentially unknown.Across its global range, a suite of other threats have been identified, which could have an impact on individuals that visit UAE:The species is at risk from incidental capture in longline, trawl and gill-net fisheries and suffers the additional effects of depletion of prey stocks (Uhlmann 2003). The species is also subject to direct persecution, and harvesting of young birds ('muttonbirding') currently accounts for the take of around a quarter of a million birds annually (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Heather and Robertson 1997, Newman et al. 2008, 2009), but is unlikely to account for the scale of the observed decline. Investigation into the biological impact of climatic trends led to predictions of large-scale shifts in foraging distribution during the boreal summer and/or dramatic reductions in abundance and survival rate (Ainley et al. 1995, Veit et al. 1996, 1997, Spear and Ainley 1999, Wahl and Tweit 2000, Oedekoven et al. 2001, Hyrenbach and Veit 2003), and indeed it has now been noted that climate change is affecting the foraging distribution of this species at least along the Californian coast (Veit et al. 1997). Declines at monitored breeding sites appear to be linked to changed patterns in large scale oceanic cycles which reduce prey availability (Clucas 2011). Both Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus and House Rat R. rattus are present within the species breeding range, and although egg and chick predation by rats has been demonstrated, the extent of impact is unknown (Jones et al. 2008).

Within the UAE, there is a risk of oil and other marine (plastic) pollution, but the severity of this on individuals that visit the country is essentially unknown. The species does also face a large variety of threats highlighted as potentially having an impact on the overall global population, but the proportion of the individuals that visit the UAE that are affected by these are not certain. These threats include bycatch in fisheries, with the species particularly severely impacted by this (see Tuck et al. 2003, Baker and Wise 2005; Richard and Abraham 2013, 2014). Additionally, the species is globally affected by the ingestion of plastic pollution (see Robertson et al. 2004, Bond and Lavers 2011, Lavers et al. 2014, Lavers and Bond 2016, Lewis 2016), predation by invasive mammals (e.g. Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus, House Rat R. rattus, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes; Gaze 2000, Taylor 2000, Pridell et al. 2006) (as well as competition with rabbits for burrows; Lavers 2015), collisions with traffic (Hutton 2003, DECC 2008), and development of breeding areas (Priddel et al. 2006).

Seabirds, including this species, were formerly exploited for food and medicinal use (at a subsistence level [Al-Saghier et al. 2000]) on the Halaaniyaat islands (Gallagher 1985) and Socotra (Al-Saghier et al. 2000, Porter et al. in prep.), but this practice appears to be discontinued due to the availability of cheap poultry and the danger of climbing the cliffs (Taleb 2002). Non-native predators (e.g. rats Rattus spp. and Feral Cats Felis catus) are probably a limiting factor on the species' breeding population size (Al-Saghier et al. 2000), although their impact on the Socotran subpopulation may have stabilised long ago, given the long period (over 2,000 years) of coexistence. Mortality and ecosystem degradation resulting from marine oil spills are potential threats.

The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.Individuals of this species that visit UAE are also potentially threatened by a range of threats that operate outside of the country. The species is threatened by wetland drainage and destruction (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kushlan and Hancock 2005) and by droughts in wintering areas (Hafner and Kushlan 2002). It is highly susceptible to pesticides (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kwon et al. 2004, Kushlan and Hancock 2005) such as organophosphates, carbamates (Kwon et al. 2004) and DDE (a breakdown product of DDT), which negatively affect hatching success (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). There are also cases of genetic damage to chicks as a result of petroleum contamination (Custer 2000). The species is susceptible to avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006) and Newcastle disease so may be threatened by future outbreaks (Kuiken et al. 2006). It is also persecuted (anti-predation killing) at aquaculture facilities due to its depredation on fish stocks (Kushlan and Hancock 2005), and has suffered declines due to the exploitation of chicks from nesting colonies in the past (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

The most pressing threats to this species in UAE are the presence of rats and cats on breeding islands, which cause rapid population declines (see Aspinall 1996). Birds of prey can also have an impact (Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi 2016). The presence of oil companies on Zirku and Arzanah has also led to local declines (Aspinall 1996).

Within the UAE artificial habitats that favour this species within the UAE may be transient, so monitoring of such habitats will be important. However, as a migratory species, the key threats to Greater Spotted Eagle appear to come from outside of the UAE, and so threats from outside of the country need to be taken into account.;There is strong evidence of hybridisation between this species and Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (Bergmanis et al. 1997, Lohmus and Vali 2001, Dombrovski 2002, Vali et al. 2010). In some European countries mixed pairs can constitute 50% of Greater Spotted Eagle pairs (Maciorowski and Mizera 2010) or even more (Vali 2011). It is unclear whether this represents a new phenomenon or a conservation concern, but C. pomarina is far more numerous than C. clanga in the zone of overlap, and the range of C. pomarina appears to be spreading east, further into the range of C. clanga. Other key threats are habitat destruction and disturbance, also poaching and electrocution can be considered important. Suitable habitat mosaics have been lost as a result of afforestation and wetland drainage. In eastern Europe, agricultural intensification and the abandonment of traditional floodplain management have reduced habitat quality (A. Làµhmus in litt. 1999).;Birds are intolerant of permanent human presence in their territories. Forestry operations are a major cause of disturbance. Shooting, deliberate and accidental poisoning are a threat to this species in several areas across its global range, including Russia, the Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Africa (per;P. D. Round in litt. 1998, P. Mirski in litt. 2012). In Israel, poisoning and electrocution are major causes for casualties of wintering population (Perlman and Granit 2012).

As a migratory species, the population of Pallid Harrier that visits UAE may be impacted by threats within the country and outside of it. Within its breeding range, the species is primarily threatened by the destruction and degradation of steppe grasslands through conversion to arable land, burning of vegetation, intensive grazing of wet pastures and the clearance of shrubs and tall weeds (Galushin et al. 2003, E. Bragin in litt. 2007). Fires are started by farmers, arsonists and dry thunderstorms(E. Bragin in litt. 2007). Outside of its breeding grounds, the species is thought to be negatively affected by the loss of grassland due to burning, cutting and overgrazing (Galushin;et al.;2003) and by the intensification of agriculture (R. Simmons in litt. 1999, Galushin et al. 2003), although this requires further research; and the latter is not deemed to be a particular threat within the UAE.