Arabian Oryx

The Arabian Oryx Protected Area lies in Abu Dhabi's Western Region, in the desert about 200 km from Abu Dhabi city, and covers 5,975 km2. It is described as holding the world's largest population of Arabian oryx^[1]. It was set up under the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme, led by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.

The Arabian oryx is the defining species here, and the protected area is described as home to the largest population of the species in the world^[1]. The animals are reintroduced and monitored by desert rangers of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.

The reserve sits in hyper-arid sand desert on the edge of the Empty Quarter, where vegetation is sparse.

The area belongs to the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali), one of the world's largest sand deserts^[2]. Its surface is mostly wind-blown sand.

The climate is extremely hot and dry, with summer daytime temperatures well above 40 C, mild winters and very little rainfall. The cooler months are the practical season for any desert travel.

The oryx was hunted to extinction in the wild across Arabia before captive breeding allowed its return.

The Arabian Oryx Protected Area was founded in 2007 with the first releases of oryx under the reintroduction programme; the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi leads the programme^[2].

The attraction is the free-roaming oryx herd in open desert. The area is a managed reserve rather than a visitor park, and there are no marked trails.

The protected area is about 200 km from Abu Dhabi^[2]. It is a managed conservation area, and it is reached by long desert drives from the Liwa region.

The reserve exists to restore the oryx to its historic range. Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi rangers monitor the animals and patrol the release areas^[2].