RIYADH: King Mswati III of Eswatini received Saudi Royal Court adviser Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Kattan and his accompanying delegation during their official visit to the African nation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Kattan conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Eswatini government and people for further progress and prosperity, while the king reciprocated the greetings, stressing his country’s keenness to develop bilateral relations in various fields.
The two sides discussed relations between them and ways to support and enhance them in all fields, and reviewed regional and international events of common interest.
Following the meeting, King Mswati held a lunch banquet in honor of Kattan and the delegation, during which he expressed his country’s support for the Kingdom’s request to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh.
Kattan thanked him on behalf of the Saudi government for this support that comes based on the distinguished relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Kattan also met with Eswatini Foreign Minister Thulisile Dladla to discuss ties and prospects for joint cooperation.
Eswatini king says keen to develop Saudi ties during talks with envoy
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Eswatini king says keen to develop Saudi ties during talks with envoy
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
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.
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.
