Saudi Arabia has a number of protected areas and biodiversity hotspots. Terrestrial and marine protected areas account for roughly 4.5% of the total land area. The country’s fifteen protected areas are managed by the Saudi Wildlife Authority and there are many additional proposed protected areas. Saudi Arabia has many bird and mammal species, though larger species such as leopards, mountain goats and Oryx have been largely exterminated by hunting since the 1950s. Domestic animals prevalent in Saudi Arabia include camels, sheep and goats, donkeys and chickens. Given low water availability, most plants in Saudi Arabia are xerophytic, meaning that do not require a lot of water.

Key environmental issues in Saudi Arabia outside of water scarcity include erosion and desertification, and pollution. Because Saudi Arabia’s environment is comprised almost entirely of dry desert with high temperature extremes and very few water resources outside of groundwater, erosion risk is quite high across most of the country.

Given the heavily oil sector related activity in Saudi Arabia, pollution from oil spills has been an environmental issue in recent history, most notably the Gulf Oil Spill of 1991, which while visibly diminished has led to lasting impacts on the salt marsh areas.

Urbanization has also led to water and air pollution in urban areas, and to additional water demand and desalination activity. Desalination carries with it increased GHG emissions. Another effect of urbanization has been deforestation. Desertification is increasing as a result of increased agricultural cultivation and is projected to accelerate with rising global temperatures.

Finally, climate change is a key environmental issue for Saudi Arabia. Projections suggest that temperatures in Saudi Arabia will increase by 2 degrees C by 2050, with increased duration of extreme temperature events, and precipitation is projected to increase by 7% by 2050. (Source: World Bank Climate Change Portal)