The Ibex Reserve

Ibex Reserve is one of the natural reserves in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located south of al-Hariq Governorate and west of Hotat Bani Tamim Governorate. It is situated approximately 180 km away from the capital, Riyadh. The reserve encompasses a vast and rugged plateau within the Tuwaiq mountain range, featuring several valleys, ravines, and some sandy areas. The western edges of the mountains reach an elevation of 1,097 meters. The reserve is one of three protected areas in Riyadh Province.

The reserve was established during the reign of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1988, the same year in which the reserves of Umm Al-Qamari Island and Mahazah as-Sayd were also announced.

The area of the Ibex Reserve is 1,840.9 km2 and is divided into two levels of protection: the first for wildlife and the second for the environment, trees, and forests.

The primary reason for establishing the reserve was the decline of Arabian oryx herds, which quickly increased after protection measures were taken. The reserve is also home to many rock hyrax, foxes, and several species of rodents and birds, including the sand partridge. Additionally, a diverse range of reptiles inhabits the area. In 1990, a relocation effort was undertaken for some Arabian gazelles within the reserve, and they successfully adapted to the natural environment and thrived.

Acacia, acacia tortilis, acacia ehrenbergiana, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Haloxylon ‎ammodendron trees grow abundantly in the reserve, especially in the valleys. ‎Shrubs, herbs, and grasses flourish in the small valleys and ravines and ‎thrive well after rainfall.