As environmental sustainability becomes a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, conservation efforts are gathering momentum across the Kingdom.
The Evolution of Saudi Arabia’s Ranger Corps
Marking a significant milestone on World Ranger Day, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve unveiled that its ranger corps has successfully completed 50,000 patrols since the start of operations across the reserve’s vast 24,500-square-kilometer marine and terrestrial protected area.
Over the past four years, the reserve’s ranger corps has increased rapidly from 27 to 231 members, standing as a testament to its growing commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia’s natural heritage.
What Makes This Ranger Corps Different?
The reserve has also broken new ground in regional conservation by introducing the Middle East’s first female rangers. While women make up only 11% of the global ranger workforce, they represent an impressive 34% of the reserve’s conservation team, embodying its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s transformation agenda and advancing greater inclusion in environmental stewardship.
Collectively, the ranger corps has logged more than 400,000 hours of active conservation work, patrolling roughly 4 million kilometers on foot and by vehicle to preserve the reserve’s 15 fragile ecosystems. Building on these efforts, the reserve broadened its capabilities in January 2025 with the launch of specialized marine patrol boats, covering both land and sea protection.
Since their deployment, the dedicated marine rangers have covered approximately 55,000 kilometers at sea, equivalent to circling the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline 30 times. Together, they play a pivotal role in combating illegal fishing while overseeing and protecting sensitive coastal habitats.
Notably, seven of the reserve’s 30 sea rangers are women, the first in the Middle East to assume the role following specialized swimming and field training.
Building the Future of Conservation
By enhancing conservation on both land and at sea, the reserve is accelerating Saudi Arabia’s environmental transformation in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the landmark COP15 agreement aimed at safeguarding 30% of global land and marine ecosystems by 2030.
Meeting these national ambitions will necessitate continued investment in the Kingdom’s conservation workforce. With projections showing that the number of rangers must grow by 46%, the reserve underscores its commitment to training and empowering the next generation of local environmental leaders to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s natural heritage.
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