Saudi Arabia has approved the establishment of the Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal Nature Reserve, a new protected area of about 4,310 square kilometers in the Riyadh Region. The Cabinet-level decision designates the reserve across Dhurma, Al-Muzahimiyah and the areas between them, with a board of directors to oversee its work.
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City will act as the supervising authority, responsible for setting and carrying out the reserve's objectives and coordinating with relevant government entities.
the reserve is intended to advance environmental protection and ecosystem restoration, while supporting economic prosperity and social development in the surrounding rural areas. Its aims also include protecting and rehabilitating the lands adjacent to the Tuwaiq Mountains and regulating urban growth to preserve the area's rural character and historical identity.
The reserve's landscape features the Tuwaiq Mountains, sand dunes, and traditional rural environments, along with agricultural and rural communities within Dhurma and Al-Muzahimiyah.
Why it matters
For residents of Riyadh and nearby towns, the reserve marks a significant step toward safeguarding one of the region's most distinctive natural landscapes and its rural heritage. It also signals continued momentum in the Kingdom's broader push to expand protected areas and restore local ecosystems.
At this stage, the decision covers the reserve's establishment, location, supervising authority and objectives. Public operational details — such as visitor access rules, permit procedures, fees, or ticket prices — have not yet been announced. Saudi Living will share updates as further information becomes available.
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