The Bowmouth Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE inshore waters. This species is not targeted in the UAE and trawling has been banned there since 1980; however, it is frequently taken as bycatch in coastal net fisheries. It is taken in variable quantities in gill net and trawl fisheries elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf, and coastal habitat degradation is a significant threat, particularly in the Gulf. It is under extremely intense and increasing demersal fishing pressure in much of the Arabian Sea region. It exhibits slow life history characteristics, including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net 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 30-50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 39 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.