Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — In a historic second, the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve in Saudi Arabia has secured its place on the distinguished UNESCO World Heritage Listing. The announcement was made by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Tradition, Chairman of the Nationwide Fee for Schooling, Tradition and Science, and Chairman of the Heritage Fee.

This exceptional achievement was the end result of efforts throughout the prolonged forty fifth session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee being held in Riyadh from September 10 to 25.

Saudi Arabia now proudly boasts its very first UNESCO Pure Heritage Web site, underscoring the Kingdom’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding its pure ecosystems and cultural heritage.

In a press release, the minister prolonged heartfelt congratulations to Saudi Arabia’s management for this momentous worldwide recognition. He underscored that this achievement was a testomony to the Kingdom’s steadfast dedication to preserving its tradition and biodiversity, evident throughout its numerous areas.

Highlighting the collaborative nationwide efforts that paved the best way for this recognition, Prince Badr burdened Saudi Arabia’s dedication to preserving heritage and making certain its sustainable improvement. This dedication aligns with the overarching objectives of Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030, he stated, emphasizing the strategic significance of pure heritage.

Prince Badr expressed his views on the achievement by stating that “the inscription of the Reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage Listing as the primary Pure Heritage Web site within the Kingdom contributes to highlighting the significance of pure heritage on a world scale and displays the excellent worth of the Reserve.”

The Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve, positioned alongside the western fringe of Ar-Rub Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), covers an enormous expanse of over 12,750 km². It stands as a singular sand desert in tropical Asia and the biggest steady sand sea on Earth. Providing a wide ranging panorama of the Empty Quarter’s sands and boasting a number of the world’s largest advanced linear dunes, the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve possesses excellent common worth.

Notably, the reserve serves as an distinctive testomony to the environmental and organic evolution of natural world in Saudi Arabia. It gives essential pure habitats for the survival of greater than 120 indigenous plant species and shelters endangered animals, together with gazelles and the world’s solely free-ranging herd of Arabian Oryx.

The Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve complies with the rigorous World Heritage requirements as a sand desert that embodies excellent common worth, forming a singular and numerous panorama. It encompasses a spread of in depth pure habitats which are important to the survival of key species and encompasses 5 sub-groups of the Kingdom’s nationwide ecosystems, a essential element for sustaining the positioning’s biodiversity.

The inscription of the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve as a World Heritage Web site displays the dedication and collaborative efforts of assorted entities, together with the Saudi Ministry of Tradition, the Nationwide Fee for Schooling, Tradition and Science, the Nationwide Middle for Wildlife, and the Heritage Fee.

This prestigious addition to Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO-listed websites joins the ranks of Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Hijr Archaeological Web site, At-Turaif District in Diriyah, Ḥimā Cultural Space, Historic Jeddah, and Rock Artwork within the Hail Area, showcasing the wealthy cultural and pure tapestry of the Kingdom. The inscription serves as a testomony to Saudi Arabia’s dedication to preserving its heritage and surroundings for generations to return.