The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for Houbara Conservation to bolster national efforts to protect the houbara bustard and reintroduce it into its natural habitats, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The agreement aims to contribute to the sustainability of ecosystems across the Kingdom.
Focus of the Memorandum
The MoU focuses on developing specialized programs to reintroduce the houbara bustard into the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. It leverages scientific and technical expertise in breeding, release, monitoring, and tracking programs. The agreement also supports efforts to provide a safe and sustainable environment for the endangered bird by developing suitable movement corridors and reducing potential threats, including challenges associated with power lines.
Additionally, the memorandum seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and the combating of illegal hunting. The houbara bustard holds special environmental and cultural significance in the Kingdom and across the Arabian Peninsula due to its role in maintaining the natural balance of desert ecosystems.
Reintroduction Initiatives
Programs to restore wild populations of the houbara bustard represent one of the Kingdom's leading national initiatives to enhance biodiversity and protect native species. As part of the Rewild Arabia initiative, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve reintroduced the Asian houbara bustard in January 2026, after an absence of more than 35 years from the site. The reintroduction formed part of a renewed, science-led approach to conserving a bird that has shaped cultural life in the Arabian Peninsula.
A total of 20 Asian houbara have been released into the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, as part of a collaboration between the reserve, the National Center for Wildlife, and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for Houbara Conservation, which aims to establish viable wild populations of the bird in the Kingdom.
Conservation Status and Significance
The historic range of the Asian houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) extends from Egypt to China. The Asian houbara is today classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered across the Arabian Peninsula. Its population is in continued decline despite decades of conservation efforts and captive breeding programs. The new MoU between the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve and the foundation is a strategic step to reverse this trend and ensure the species' survival in the wild.
