The Spotted Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE coastal waters. Due to confusion with the Bengal Guitarfish (Rhinobatos annandalei), population data can be uncertain. There has been a total ban on fishing for this species in UAE waters since 2019, but is still taken as bycatch in coastal net fisheries. Declines of several species of inshore guitarfish have been documented elsewhere. Habitat degradation from coastal development is a concern for this species as well. 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 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 15 years. It is listed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting the thresholds for Vulnerable A2cd.