A Gazelle facing left, with Hijri and Gregorian year of mint below.

Sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica), with a maximum weight 22 kilogrammes, is the second largest of the antelopes that occur in the UAE. Virtually extinct in the wild, there are occasional reports from the Liwa of small groups of these beautiful creatures. The elegantly curved horns of both males and females are considerably longer than those of other gazelles occurring in the area. The animals are very light in colour, the head completely white in older animals, with back and flanks being light beige, an obvious advantage in the open sands, which they favour. The belly is white and the dark stripe between the white underside and the beige flanks and back of the gazelle, a distinguishing feature of the mountain gazelle, is absent. Black eyes, nostril and mouth contrast with the pale body. The sand gazelle is the only antelope in this area that regularly gives birth to twins and this usually in spring and autumn. The young spend their first days in shallow scrapes, or under a small bush, until they are strong enough to move with the adults.

Engraver: Geoffrey Colley

Denomination in Arabic characters surrounded by name of the country.