The Banded Eagle Ray occurs throughout UAE inshore waters, and is common. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE and trawling has been banned there since 1980. It is caught as bycatch in inshore gill net fisheries. It is under extremely intense and increasing demersal fishing pressure in much of the Arabian Sea region, and declines have been detected in Pakistan, India and the Red Sea. The loss and degradation of coastal habitats in the Gulf is a significant concern. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by at least 30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 45 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.