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.

This section offers a fascinating glimpse of the kinds of species you may spot, or see evidence of, when out exploring. It also mentions the endangered species you're less likely to come across due to them being protected in breeding programmes and nature reserves across the country. Although not an exhaustive authority, it should whet your appetite by highlighting some of the most common desert and mountain wildlife native to Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. Arabic, and Latin names have been included where appropriate.

For more information, there's additional useful resources listed in the 'Further Reading' section.

ARABIAN RED FOX

Vulpes vulpes

Smaller and slighter than their European cousins, the Arabian red fox – or 'theeb' in Arabic – varies in colour from pale sand to a darker russet or light brown. They're active day and night, unlike other species of fox inhabiting the Arabian desert. The Rueppell's fox (Vulpes rueppellii) and Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) are both smaller, nocturnal species. The Rueppell's fox lives among the dunes, while the Blanford's fox thrives on mountain slopes.

ARABIAN LEOPARD

Panthera pardus nimr

The Arabian leopard is believed to be extinct in the wild, with any surviving animals currently in reserve breeding programmes launched by the National Center for Wildlife. Recognising the urgent need to save these majestic creatures, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a commitment to ensure a viable and sustainable future for the Arabian leopard. Capable of weighing up to 90kg, these powerful cats are distinguished by their coat, which varies from pale yellow to light brown, densely packed with small spots.

ARABIAN ORYX

Oryx leucoryx

The Arabian oryx is the largest of the Arabian antelopes and extremely well adapted to the desert environment. These animals embody strength, beauty and endurance. They're able to live without drinking water, obtaining all the moisture they need from the vegetation they eat or roots they dig up. Their white fur helps deflect sunlight and black skin protects them from ultraviolet light. Many believe that the oryx is the legendary unicorn because of the illusion caused by their long, symmetrical horns when viewed in profile.

CAMEL

Camelus dromedarius

Only the dromedary (one-humped) camel is native to Saudi Arabia, with bactrians (two-humped) mainly found in the colder climates of China and Russia. All of the camels you see likely belong to someone, and they are often marked with their owner’s brand. Generally, camels are placid animals, although they may bite or kick if antagonised – especially males. At four years old, they are fully grown and can live for as long as 30 or 40 years.  Domesticated around 5,000 years ago, these camels were used to carry heavy goods and for sustenance. Nowadays, they're bred for their milk and meat, as well as for racing.

CAPE HARE

Lepus capensis

The desert hare – or 'arnab' in Arabic – is common in all habitats except for the high mountains, and it is prey for many predators. Its activities are mostly nocturnal, and during the hot hours of the day, it’s generally found lying in a small hollow in the sand under the shade of a bush. The desert hare can give birth to litters of more than 20 young. The mother scatters them in various places to increase their survival rate, focring them to become independent in a matter of days.

CHEESMAN’S GERBIL

Gerbillus cheesmani

Small rodents, like the Cheesman’s gerbil, are active at night, foraging for seeds and other vegetable matter, then spending the long hot days in underground burrows. Most desert rodents live in sandy areas where their prints can be seen only in the early morning before the wind wipes them away. If you spend a night camping in the sand dunes, you may see them foraging after dark. Only the Wagner’s gerbil and the Egyptian spiny mouse are known to live in the mountains.

FENNEC FOX

Vulpes zerda

The tiniest of the foxes, weighing only about 1.5kg, the desert fox inhabits small sand dunes and open spaces characterised by sparse vegetation of grasses and shrubs. This master builder can dig a den up to 120m² in size, with several entrances from which to come and go. The fennec doesn’t need to drink water, instead getting hydration from feasting on insects, lizards, skinks and tubers. This fox's ears are larger than most other fox species – handy for locating prey underground and to dissipate body heat more effectively. Fennecs can be found among the sandy areas throughout the Empty Quarter.

ETHIOPIAN HEDGEHOG

Paraechinus aethiopicus

These tiny desert hedgehogs can be identified by their dark muzzle surrounded by lighter tufts of hair. Located widely around the Tuwayq escarpment, the central region, Taif and AlUla, they eat insects, centipedes, worms and small rodents, and like their cousins around the world, they hibernate in winter. While the Ethiopian hedgehog's natural habitat is the rocky areas of the desert, it's common to see them after dark, especially in city gardens. They're host to an intestinal parasite that can affect humans however, so it's best to leave them alone. Wash your hands thoroughly should any close encounter with them occur.

WILDCAT

Felis Lybica lybica

A forerunner of the domestic cat,  this shy and fierce creature is known to inhabit all areas except the great sand dunes. Known in Arabic as 'gatt al barra', these wildcats spend the daytime in burrows and hunt at night. Their existence is threatened by loss of habitat and cross-breeding with domestic cats.

Another wildcat species of the region is the sand cat. These smaller felines have wiry hair covering the soles of their feet to prevent them from sinking in the sand or burning their paws.

HAMADRYAS BABOON

Papio hamadryas

Baboons are the only primates found on the Arabian Peninsula and live in troops of several to a few hundred, mostly in the mountainous Asir Region. The males are larger than the females, have silver manes and weigh between 20 and 30kg, often twice as much as the females. Baboons live in a patriarchal, hierarchical society, and dominant males have harems of several females, forming a clan. Most adult males remain in their original clan and maintain associations with their kin throughout their lives. They're omnivorous and eat everything from grasses, seeds, roots, bark and fruit to insects, rodents and birds.

Troops of baboons can be seen on mountain ledges, among hills and around cultivated areas. They can be aggressive, especially while protecting their young or if food is involved. It's important, therefore, not to feed them. Having no natural predators, their numbers are on the increase, and their habitat is expanding as farming spreads. There are already troops of baboons around Jibal Jubayl on the outskirts of Riyadh. Their main habitat remains in the Asir Mountains, and around Taif and Abha.

ARABIAN MOUNTAIN GAZELLE

Gazella gazella arabica

Somewhat larger and darker than sand gazelles, mountain gazelles – known as 'idmi' in Arabic – live mostly in the deep sands and rocky hills on the fringes of the Empty Quarter and in the ‘Uruq Bani Ma‘arid nature reserve, where they've been reintroduced and are thriving. Several hundred of the subspecies called the Farasan gazelle (Gazella gazella Farasani) also live in a protected habitat on the Farasan Islands, off the coast of Jizan. They are a little smaller and good swimmers.

LESSER MOUSE-TAILED BAT

Rhinopoma hardwickii

Lesser mouse-tailed bats forage after sunset, flying above ground using their large ears to detect invertebrates such as centipedes, spiders, scorpions and beetles. They catch flying or surface-dwelling food not only in flight but also on the ground, as they can also run quickly. They live in sparsely vegetated, rocky areas, often roosting in rocky crevices, walls, houses, tunnels and caves. Small colonies can be found by the sight and smell of their droppings which lie directly beneath their roosting places. They also emit a high-pitched sound that is audible to humans.

Another bat species recorded in the country, the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is bigger in size, lives around fruit farms and feeds exclusively on fruit.

NUBIAN IBEX

Capra nubiana

This cliff-dwelling wild goat has impressive, curved ridged horns. A vulnerable species, Nubian ibex have suffered from habitat loss, hunting, and competition for food from farmed animals across their homelands of Africa and the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, nature reserves have been established to help rebuild populations, and you may see them roaming in Hawtat Bani Tamim Ibex Reserve, in the western mountains of the Arabian Shield and around the Hail area.

ARABIAN SAND GAZELLE

Gazella gazella marica

These small, pale ungulates are making a great recovery in the wild thanks to the efforts of the Saudi Government. Known as 'reem' in Arabic, sand gazelles obtain all necessary moisture from dew and the vegetation they eat. They largely inhabit sand dune areas that have sufficient shrubs and grasses. They can generally be seen early in the morning or before sunset and spend the majority of the hot midday hours hiding from the sun. Males have slender slightly s-shaped black horns, the females bear shorter, straight ones. In the past, they were hunted for their meat, horns and hide.