Saudi Arabia expands marine protection with new reserves
Ras Hatiba and Blue Holes added to national reserve list to conserve biodiversity and support Vision 2030 goals
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has officially designated the Ras Hatiba and Blue Holes marine areas as part of the Kingdom’s national reserves, marking a major step in conserving the country’s unique marine ecosystems.
The announcement underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable development under Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said the decision followed comprehensive ecological, biological, and social assessments confirming the reserves’ ecological importance, as well as their economic and tourism potential.
Ras Hatiba, located northwest of Jeddah, spans 5,715 square kilometers and includes coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, providing habitats for green turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins, and sharks.
The Blue Holes, discovered along the southern Red Sea coast in 2022, are home to diverse marine life including turtles, fish, marine mammals, and invertebrates, adding further ecological significance to the protected network.
With these two additions, Saudi Arabia’s nature reserves now cover 16.1 percent of its territory, up from 6.5 percent, moving closer to the national target of 30 percent by 2030.
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