The Spottail Shark occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters. It is commonly taken in a wide range of artisanal and commercial fisheries and is often one of the dominant species in shark catches in the Arabian Sea region. Inshore fishing pressure is intense and increasing. Anecdotal information indicates that declines have occurred over the past 20 years in UAE waters; however, quantitative data are not available to estimate the percent decline over three generation lengths (about 24 years). 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 30-50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 24 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.