This species can be distinguished from its congeners in the Hajar Mountain by the absence of bold-black middle caudal-fin rays with white membranes (vs. present). C: 9+8 branched rays; D: 3 simple, 7 1/2 branched rays; P: 1-2 simple, 11-15 branched rays; GR: 10-14; pelvic fin with 1 simple and 7-8 branched rays; anal fin short, with 3 simple and 5½ branched rays. Garra shamal further differs by the following set of characters: having a strongly mottled flank pattern (vs. plain or nearly plain in G. gallagheri and G. longipinis), a white dorsal-fin tip (vs. not different from rest of fin in G. gallagheri and G. longipinnis), absence of orange blotch at the upper opercle (vs. present in G. barreimiae), orange scales on the flank often absent (vs. present in G. barreimiae), and 10-14 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (vs. 15-18 in G. barreimiae). Colouration in life: Head yellowish brown. Mouth, chest and abdomen pale brown or cream. Presence of a large, indistinct, round black blotch on the posteriormost caudal peduncle. Black upper and blue lower blotch at anteriormost lateral line. Fin rays yellowish or hyaline, fin membranes yellowish, hyaline, black or dusty grey, normally black in distal part of dorsal fin. Tip of dorsal fin white. Iris white and orange. Depressed rostral surface dark brown or grey, darker than proboscis and transverse lobe (Ref. 122023).