Within the UAE, the most pressing threats to this species are likely to come from coastal land-use changes and potentially from oil pollution, but the severity of these threats to the species are uncertain.The species's global decline is driven by a very large range of threats, which may be important to highlight as they could be having an impact on the individuals when they are outside of the UAE - although, overall, the subspecies longipes, which is occurring in the UAE, is not thought to be in decline (Wetlands International 2019). Such threats include over-fishing of its prey (Atkinson;et al.;2003, Verhulst;et al.;2004, Ens 2006, van de Pol;et al. 2014), human disturbance (Kelin and Qiang 2006) (e.g. from construction work or recreational activities [Burton et al. 2002, van de Pol et al. 2014]), coastal barrage construction (Burton 2006), industrial development including development of ports and oil extraction, oil spills, wind farms (Melville et al. 2014) and reduced river flows (Kelin and Qiang 2006). Intensive agriculture including frequent mowing of grasslands and high densities of grazing livestock threatens chicks, eggs and nests and high levels of fertilizers and pesticides can reduce soil invertebrate biomass (van de Pol;et al. 2014). A reduction in eutrophication is likely to have contributed to declines in some areas, owing to a loss of food resources (van de Pol et al. 2014, H. Meltofte in litt. 2015).;The species is hunted in some range states (both legally and illegally) but the effects of hunting at the population level are not known (Melville et al. 2014, Sarychev and Mischenko 2014, van de Pol et al. 2014). The invasive Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas has become abundant in the Oosterschelde (Netherlands) and is increasing in the Dutch Wadden Sea (van de Pol et al. 2014). Eurasian Oystercatcher generally does not eat this species of oyster which is reported to be invading mussel beds and may compete with cockles and mussels thus reducing food availability. However Pacific Oyster beds could also provide an area for mussel beds to re-establish. In the northern part of the breeding range of the longipes subspecies, cessation of grazing in coastal areas leading to development of shrubby vegetation threatens breeding habitats (Sarychev and Mischenko 2014). Conversely, intensive grazing in some areas may pose a threat to this population. The species is susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006).Sea level rise leading to increased coastal erosion and flooding is contributing to habitat loss in some areas (Melville;et al. 2014, van de Pol;et al. 2014). Climate change has advanced the average egg-laying date of the species and is likely to reduce recruitment of bivalves, however warmer winters are expected to benefit the species leading to lower winter mortality (van de Pol;et al. 2014). Droughts in some inland areas are likely to lead to a loss of suitable habitat (Melville;et al. 2014, Sarychev and Mischenko 2014).