Sultan Ibrahim (Threadfin Bream)

Sultan Ibrahim is one of the most beloved food fish in the UAE, despite its modest size. The delicate pink flesh with a bright red tail is instantly recognisable in fish markets across the country. Caught mainly by commercial trawlers on sandy Persian Gulf grounds.

Species Stats

Diet

Small fish, crustaceans, worms

Habitat

Sandy and muddy seabeds, offshore trawling grounds

Local Name (Arabic)

سلطان إبراهيم

Fun Facts

• 1

  "Sultan Ibrahim" is a respectful honorific — this fish is considered royalty among small table fish in the Gulf.

• 2

  The vivid red tail (the lower lobe extends into a long filament) is a unique species identifier.

• 3

  Best eaten fresh, lightly spiced and pan-fried — a staple of traditional Emirati cooking.

Found In