Saudi ministry beefs up cattle imports for Hajj season
The first phase of livestock imports included 200,000 head of cattle for the Islamic Development Bank’s Adahi project
Updated 04 August 2018
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia imported about 359,000 head of cattle between July 14 and Aug. 1 to meet local demand and cater for the Hajj season, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said on Friday.
The first phase of livestock imports included 200,000 head of cattle for the Islamic Development Bank’s Adahi project and 159,000 head of cattle for the local market.
About 2.5 million head of cattle are expected to be imported, with 1.5 million cattle allocated for the local market and 1.14 million for the Adahi project.
Saudi wildlife center records rare sighting of critically endangered leatherback turtle in Red Sea
NCW says the leatherback traveled thousands of kilometers to reach the Red Sea
The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, some 6,500 km distant
Updated 05 February 2026
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has documented a rare sighting of a leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea, marking a significant biological record for one of the planet's most critically endangered marine species.
The sighting occurred approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Al-Qunfudhah within the Blue Holes Protected Area, a newly established marine reserve, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The NCW confirmed that the presence of a leatherback in these waters is an exceptional event. Recognized as the largest turtle species on Earth, the leatherback can weigh up to 900 kilograms. It is easily identified by its unique leathery, black carapace—distinguished by five longitudinal ridges rather than a hard bony shell—and its ability to dive to depths exceeding 1,000 meters.
Shutterstock image
Noting the species' migratory nature, the center explained that leatherbacks travel thousands of kilometers foraging for jellyfish. The specimen likely navigated through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of food.
This is considered a remarkable journey, the NCW said, noting that the nearest known populations reside in the Indian Ocean, spanning waters from South Africa to Sri Lanka (roughly 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers away). The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, approximately 6,500 kilometers distant. No nesting activity has been recorded in the Red Sea.
According to the IUCN Red List, the leatherback is Critically Endangered in the Indian Ocean. While data for the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf is scarce, recent isolated sightings include a juvenile recorded in Jordan in December 2025 and another off Djibouti in 2019.
The NCW emphasized that these rare appearances highlight the ecological importance of the Kingdom's marine conservation efforts in the Red Sea. The center pointed to the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, along with the new Blue Holes and Ras Hatiba reserves, as critical sanctuaries that could support the potential expansion of such endangered species' ranges.
