AlUla, located in the northwest deserts of Saudi Arabia, has established the first wildlife breeding center in the Sharaan Nature Reserve, reinforcing its commitment to conservation and comprehensive regeneration. The announcement was made official on February 10 for Arabian Leopard Day 2025.
Currently, all 30 Arabian leopards under human care in Saudi Arabia are housed at the Royal Commission for AlUla’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre in Taif, located about eight hours outside of AlUla. The success of the center, where a rare litter of triplet cubs was born last year, has increased the need for a new facility in AlUla, a region known for its desert landscapes and protected nature reserves that make up over 50 percent of the land.
For the first time in decades, the critically endangered Arabian leopard will return to AlUla, where they once roamed freely. The new initiative enhances global conservation efforts and strengthens AlUla’s position as an eco-tourism hub where premium guest experiences, rewilding and sustainability come together.
The first phase of the new Arabian Leopard Rewilding Centre in AlUla will be established in Sharaan Nature Reserve with construction due to start within the next months. In addition to housing and breeding Arabian leopards, the facility will breed key prey species essential to reintroducing the leopards to the wild in the future. The Arabian Leopard is classified as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated 120 remaining in the wild and none recorded in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, the 2025 edition of International Day of the Arabian Leopard Day, celebrated on February 10, saw the launch of the “Leaps of Hope” campaign across the globe, bringing widespread awareness to conservation efforts. A highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of a new long-term partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
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