Overview
'Uruq Bani Ma'arid is Saudi Arabia's first natural World Heritage site, on the western edge of the Empty Quarter, inscribed in 2023.
Why visit Uruq Bani Ma'arid
The reserve covers the point where the sand sea of the Rub' al Khali meets the Tuwaiq escarpment, so it holds both the dune field and the rock plateau beside it. That range of ground is why it qualifies as a natural listing rather than a cultural one.
It is also where the Arabian oryx was returned to the wild after being extinct outside captivity. The reserve now holds oryx along with sand gazelle and mountain gazelle.
This is protected land in genuinely remote desert. Access is regulated, and it is not a place to drive into unaccompanied.
Nearby: The Empty Quarter.
The First UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia Explore 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid. At the southern edge of Saudi Arabia, where the vast Rub’ al Khali desert meets ancient valleys, lies 'Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserved Area, spanning over 12,000 km² of sweeping dunes and rare wildlife, including the Arabian Oryx and Idmi Gazelle.
History of Uruq Bani Ma'arid
Uruq Bani Ma'arid was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.
Tours that include Uruq Bani Ma'arid
Travel Tips Before Visiting
Uruq Bani Ma'arid is in The Empty Quarter.
Photograph: Saudi Press Agency (SPA), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Plan your visit to Uruq Bani Ma'arid
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- The Empty Quarter Shared destination context
- Abha Tourism relevance match
- Al Ahsa Tourism relevance match