ROYAL NATURAL RESERVES

Saudi Arabia’s deserts may seem devoid of animal life, but there are far more living creatures than you would expect. Many of the country’s mammals have adapted to the hot, dry climate by leading a nocturnal life, and are therefore seldom seen. Herbivores commonly go out at dawn and dusk to graze on the sparse vegetation, avoiding the harsher hours of sun. The animals have adapted to cope with the lack of available water by recycling fluids, consuming the dew on plants or the body fluids of their prey.

Situated in the north of Saudi Arabia and bordering the Kingdom of Jordan, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve covers an area of 130,700 square kilometres and is the largest natural reserve in the Middle East and the sixth largest globally. The reserve includes three conservation areas: Al Khanfa, Al Tubaiq and Harrat al Harrah. The unique landscape of the reserve was shaped over thousands of years and boasts diverse landscapes and abundant animal habitats.

Because of its position at a migratory crossroads, Saudi Arabia is home to a wide variety of bird species. Over the last few decades, the diversity has surged mainly due to the increase in cultivated and well-irrigated gardens, parks and compounds across the country. Approximately 499 different species of bird have been recorded, including 401 seen regularly, 11 seen rarely and 87 species recorded on less than 10 occasions. Birds have been spotted across the Kingdom's multitude of landscapes and while sightings are relatively scarce in the Empty Quarter, approximately 145 species of birds, mostly transient migrants, are found here. Each year, around 401 authentic or migrating species are thought to take to the Saudi Arabian skies.

Saudi Arabia's geomorphological history and harsh climate have led to geological wonders including extraordinary rock formations, volcanic craters, mineral rich mountains, caves and wadis. The geology can be divided into two main regions: the Arabian Shield and the Arabian Shelf or Platform. The Arabian Shield is older and was part of the African continent before rifting caused the Red Sea to form between them 35 million years ago. It's composed of igneous and metamorphic complexes like basalt, gabbro, granite, shale, schist and marble. The Arabian Shelf is younger and covered in sedimentary deposits of sandstone, limestone and huge quantities of sand.

The desert and mountains of Saudi Arabia are home to several types of arthropods, including arachnids, such as spiders and scorpions; acarids, such as mites; and the group of multi-legged arthropods – known as myriapods – which includes the centipede. Consisting of millions of different species, arthropods are the largest and most diverse phylum in the animal kingdom and research is continuing with new information emerging all the time.

Saudi Arabia has an amazing number of trees for such an arid country. These are mainly scattered over large areas, but sometimes they grow close together, forming small forests. The fragile flora within the Kingdom's harsh environments may sometimes appear dry and lifeless, but nature has developed numerous ways to sustain life in dry, scorching climates. From growing long taproots to ingenious methods of seed dispersal and symbiotic or parasitic relationships, plants can thrive with the support of other species. Desert flora possesses many fascinating mechanisms to find and retain water and nutrients.