All global threats are likely to be relevant to a discussion of the species's current status within UAE, as they may have historically contributed to its disappearance as a natural breeding species within the country, and may continue to impact individuals that visit the country naturally during the non-breeding season. The principal global threat outside of the UAE is from hunting, largely but not exclusively on the species's wintering grounds (Judas et al. 2009). Large numbers are also trapped, mainly in Pakistan and Iran, and shipped to Arabia for use in the training of falcons (Combreau 2007). In 2014 an illegal shipment of 240 birds was intercepted en route from Pakistan to Bahrain (Shafaeipour et al. 2015). In parts of the region, fast-paced development related to the growth of the petroleum industry has reduced the availability of undisturbed habitats and further exacerbated the species's decline. Oil exploration, road building, oil and water pipelines, mining and quarrying activities, powerlines and the general disturbance caused by four-wheel drive vehicles have all been identified as significant auxiliary threats. Powerlines in particular may be a significant threat (Aspinall 1996, M. Koshkin in litt. 2016). Preliminary data from Uzbekistan suggests that powerlines may contribute to species mortality (Burnside et al. 2015).Livestock grazing is reported to have a negative impact on the species, both indirectly, by degrading the desert vegetation on which birds rely for food and concealment, and directly, through the trampling of nests and disturbance of nesting females (Lavee 1988). Recent research on the effects of pastoralism on this species in the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan, however, has found that low intensity livestock grazing may not widely degrade rangelands at a landscape scale (Koshkin et al. 2014) and has no effect on male abundance and female nesting success (Koshkin et al. 2016a,b). In Iran, loss of habitat to croplands, mainly through the planting of pistachio, has been judged to be a significant threat (Mansoori 2006); however, it has also been found that the species exploits other crops such as alfalfa and salad rocket (Aghanajafizadeh et al. 2010). In Saudi Arabia, eggs and nests are predated by a range of mammalian predators (M. Zafar-ul Islam in litt. 2016).Within the UAE itself, the main threats that have been identified come from habitat loss, although conversion of its habitat to agricultural land could actually benefit the species as they may use alfalfa fields for feeding. The tiny breeding population size itself creates the risk for genetic drift. There are also risks that need to be carefully monitored surrounding to what extent released individuals may be adapted to human care - for instance increasing the risk of collisions with vehicles if released individuals approach too closely - and there is a risk of disease spreading through the population when individuals congregate in high densities in certain areas, such as feeding stations.