Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) announced the inclusion of the Farasan Islands Reserve in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), making it the first Saudi marine reserve to be officially registered under the Convention.

This achievement marks a major milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to protect ecosystems, preserve natural resources and habitats, enrich biodiversity, and boost its presence in international environmental agreements, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative.

Listing the Farasan Islands Reserve comes one year after the Kingdom joined the Ramsar Convention in 2024, represented by NCW, as part of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to conserving biodiversity, restoring highly sensitive environmental habitats, and supporting global efforts to safeguard terrestrial and coastal ecosystems.

The National Center for Wildlife CEO Dr. Mohammad Qurban said that the listing represents a strategic milestone in the Kingdom’s environmental trajectory, reflecting the scale of institutional progress achieved in the protection of wetlands and the conservation of migratory water birds in line with international practices. “It also highlights the Kingdom’s efforts to maximize the environmental sector’s impact, strengthen its economic and social benefits, and advance cooperation at the national, regional, and international levels to support global sustainable development goals,” he said while noting that this accomplishment underscores environmental sustainability and the application of nature-based solutions, enhancing the Kingdom’s ability to address various environmental and climate challenges.

Dr. Qurban said that the center operates according to a national strategy for surveying and assessing wetlands in the Kingdom. More than 607 sites have been identified across the Kingdom, and 244 have been designated as protected areas. “The NCW implements projects to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, alongside its efforts to raise awareness of the environmental importance of these lands, as they are unique environments that enrich biodiversity and promote ecological balance,” he added.

The Farasan Islands Reserve is one of the most significant natural sites in the Red Sea, home to diverse ecosystems including coral reefs, mangroves, and estuaries. It also serves as a habitat for rare and endangered species and is a major stopover for migratory water birds across continents.

The Farasan Archipelago, located in the southern Red Sea about 50 kilometers from Jazan, comprises 200 islands of varying sizes, representing 15.6 percent of the Kingdom's total of 1,285 islands. The archipelago covers a total area exceeding 600 square kilometers and includes 84 coral islands. Renowned for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters, it is a diverse natural habitat for both terrestrial and marine life.