Saudi Arabia Records 84,516 Seabirds and 1,219 Large Marine Creatures in 2025

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) announced record sightings of seabirds and large marine species along the Saudi coasts in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf during 2025. These findings are part of NCW field monitoring and exploration programs in the Kingdom’s marine and coastal environments.
 The results highlight Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to protecting biodiversity and preserving marine and coastal ecosystems, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and its goals for sustainable development.
 NCW researchers documented 84,516 seabirds, including 50,356 along the Kingdom's eastern coast on the Arabian Gulf, and more than 34,160, representing 63 species, along its western coast on the Red Sea. The team also identified 39 key sites for bird migration and breeding, five of which are officially recognized by BirdLife International as critical areas for birds and marine biodiversity.
 The center's monitoring efforts also recorded exceptional sightings of 1,219 large marine creatures, 159 on the eastern coast and 1,060 on the western coast, reflecting the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect marine ecosystems.
 These findings reinforce the Kingdom's biodiversity database and help identify key environmental zones. They also strengthen NCW efforts to build a foundation for the integrated and sustainable management of environmental resources, support the Kingdom's push for eco-tourism, and contribute to raising environmental awareness.