‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid

‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid protects a strip on the western edge of the Rub al Khali where the sand meets the limestone escarpment of the Tuwaiq, a transition that produces more vegetation and more wildlife than the sand sea itself. It is the site of the first reintroduction of the Arabian oryx to the wild anywhere, begun in 1995 from captive stock after the species had been hunted out, and it also holds reintroduced sand gazelle and mountain gazelle along with wolf, honey badger and a bird list. It was inscribed as Saudi Arabia's first natural World Heritage site in 2023. Access requires a permit and a guide arranged through the reserve authorities.

What you actually see

• Arabian oryx - the reintroduced herds on the sand and gravel.
• The dune and escarpment edge - the transition from Tuwaiq to sand sea.
• Gazelle - the reintroduced sand and mountain gazelle.
• Desert vegetation - the plants supported by the transition zone.

When to go

November to February; the reserve is dangerously hot the rest of the year. Early morning and late afternoon are when animals move. Permits must be arranged well in advance and are not always granted.

Honest expectations

Access requires a permit and a reserve guide; independent entry is not permitted. Oryx sightings are not guaranteed and the animals range widely. There are no facilities and visits mean camping. The reserve is a long drive from Riyadh.

Nearby

Wadi ad-Dawasir lies northwest; the Empty Quarter is east.