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Key Points

Gulf nations expanded protected wildlife areas by 6.6% last year, reaching 390,500 square kilometers. Mountain reserves in Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia grew 55% since 1996. The region's conservation efforts accelerated after joining global biodiversity agreements in 2010-2012. GCC countries continue prioritizing environmental protection through initiatives like the Green Gulf program.

Key Points: GCC Wildlife Reserves Grow 6.6% to 390K Sq Km in 2023

  • GCC terrestrial reserves hit 390.5K sq km in 2023
  • Mountain reserves tripled in Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia since 1996
  • Green Gulf Initiative boosted conservation since 2007
  • All GCC states joined global biodiversity pacts by 2012
1 min read

GCC Statistical Centre: 6.6% increase in wildlife reserves across GCC countries

GCC-Stat reports 6.6% expansion of terrestrial reserves across Gulf nations, with Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia leading mountain conservation efforts since 1996.

"The cumulative area of nature reserves in the GCC recorded a notable leap in 2020 – GCC-Stat March 2025 Bulletin"

Muscat, April 20

The latest statistics issued by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) indicate a 6.6% increase in the area of terrestrial reserves across GCC countries in 2023, reaching 390.5 thousand square kilometres, compared to 366.5 thousand square kilometres in the previous year.

Additionally, the area of mountain reserves established in the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia increased from 9.5 thousand square kilometres in 1996 to 14.7 thousand square kilometres in 2022 collectively.

According to the statistics published in the March 2025 bulletin, the cumulative area of nature reserves in the GCC recorded a notable leap in 2020, reaching 352.6 thousand square kilometres compared to 111.4 thousand square kilometres in 2015.

GCC countries have long prioritised wildlife conservation. In 1985, the GCC Environmental and Wildlife Award was introduced, followed by the launch of the Green Gulf Initiative for Environment and Sustainable Development in 2007.

All GCC states joined the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010, and in 2012, they acceded to the CITES agreement, which entered into force. In 2016, the GCC Environmental Web Portal was launched to support biodiversity monitoring across the region. (ANI/WAM)

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
This is such encouraging news! 🌿 It's great to see GCC countries making real progress in wildlife conservation. The 6.6% increase might seem small but it represents so much protected land. Keep it up!
A
Ahmed R.
I'm impressed by the numbers, but I wonder how effective these reserves actually are. Are they properly maintained and protected from illegal activities? The statistics are good but we need more transparency about conservation efforts.
M
Mariam S.
The growth from 111.4 to 352.6 thousand sq km since 2015 is incredible! 😍 My family visited the Al Wusta reserve in Oman last year and it was breathtaking. More people should experience these natural treasures.
K
Khalid F.
As someone who works in environmental policy, I can say this progress didn't happen by accident. The GCC's coordinated approach through initiatives like the Green Gulf Initiative is really paying off. The 2016 web portal was a game-changer for data sharing.
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Layla H.
I love seeing my region lead in conservation! The mountain reserves expansion is especially important with climate change. Can't wait to see what the next 5 years bring 🤞
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Yousef A.
While the increase is positive, 6.6% annual growth needs to be higher to combat desertification. We should aim for 10%+ in coming years. The infrastructure exists now - time to scale up!

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