Saudi Arabia has added the Ras Hatiba and Blue Holes marine sites to its national list of nature reserves, according to a recent report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The decision highlights the Kingdom’s dedication to preserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable development goals under Vision 2030.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, explained that the inclusion comes after thorough biological, environmental, and social studies confirmed the two areas’ exceptional biodiversity as well as their economic and tourism potential.
Located northwest of Jeddah, the Ras Hatiba reserve spans 5,715 sq. km and contains coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds—vital habitats for species such as green turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins, and sharks.
The Blue Holes region, discovered in 2022 with around 20 sinkhole-like formations along the southern Red Sea coast, is also home to a rich variety of marine life, including turtles, fish, and invertebrates.
With these additions, Saudi Arabia’s protected nature reserves now encompass 16.1 percent of the country’s total area, up from 6.5 percent. This expansion brings the Kingdom closer to its goal of preserving 30 percent of its land and sea areas by 2030.
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