Uruq Bani Ma’arid, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia inscribed in September 2023, is a vast nature reserve in the western Empty Quarter, spanning over 12,700 square kilometers of dunes, plateaus, and gravel plains. As Saudi Arabia’s first natural UNESCO site and seventh overall, it protects a pristine desert ecosystem with reintroduced species like the Arabian oryx and critically endangered fauna such as the sand cat. Located along an ancient incense trade route, it blends ecological significance with traces of prehistoric human activity, showcasing Arabia’s natural heritage.

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