Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Uruq Bani Ma’arid, one of Saudi Arabia’s most ecologically significant protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. This recognition confirms the site’s global ecological importance and highlights the Kingdom’s expanding leadership in conserving arid-land habitats.

Saudi Arabia’s inclusion of Uruq Bani Ma’arid follows earlier Green List achievements, notably for the Ibex Protected Area and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. These milestones reflect sustained progress toward excellence in protected-area management.

Uruq Bani Ma’arid spans 12,765 square kilometers at the western edge of the Empty Quarter—the world’s largest continuous sand desert—harboring the greatest biodiversity in the Empty Quarter. In 2023, the landscape was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural value.

The IUCN Green List sets the global benchmark for effective and equitable protected-area management.

To qualify, sites must demonstrate transparent governance, measurable conservation outcomes, and meaningful engagement with local stakeholders. Uruq Bani Ma’arid met these criteria through its integrated planning, resilient ecological monitoring, and habitat restoration programs. Under the stewardship of the National Center for Wildlife, Uruq Bani Ma’arid has successfully implemented a breeding and reintroduction program for the endangered Arabian oryx.

Commenting on the occasion, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Dr. Mohammad Qurban said that Uruq Bani Ma’arid exemplifies what science-guided conservation can achieve in extreme landscapes. "Its inclusion on the IUCN Green List reflects our dedication to protecting biodiversity and delivering real conservation impact at both national and global scales.”

He added that this milestone supports Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the global 30x30 biodiversity target, protecting 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. It also aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, which integrates conservation as a core pillar of Vision 2030.