The Zebra Shark occurs throughout UAE coastal waters usually near coral and rocky reef habitat, and is relatively common there. It is susceptible to capture in a range of inshore fisheries, but is rare in landings in the UAE due to its relatively low value. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and it remains commonly sighted by divers. It has strong site fidelity and can form aggregations, which can facilitate the rapid removal of individuals in fisheries operations. In the Arabian Sea, it is landed in India and Pakistan, but less commonly elsewhere. 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 at least 30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 50 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.