First Sighting of White-Tailed Eagle in Saudi Arabia at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve

An extremely rare sighting of a juvenile, migratory white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) has been documented at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve—the first confirmed record of this species in Saudi Arabia in over two decades.
 The eagle was observed and photographed at Wadi Thalbah Wetland, one of the reserve’s key vegetated marshland sanctuaries, by Biodiversity Monitoring and Research Manager Ali AlFaqih. Its presence underscores the reserve’s growing significance as a refuge for migratory birdlife. This sighting reflects the progress of its habitat-wide restoration strategy, supporting the Saudi Vision 2030 environmental objectives to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, restore ecosystems, and enhance biodiversity.
 The 24,500 km² marine and terrestrial reserve is home to fifteen distinct ecosystems and an exceptional level of biodiversity. More than 50% of all recorded species in the Kingdom have been documented within its boundaries.
 Since 2021, the reserve has conducted six multi-season biodiversity studies with experts from Saudi Arabia and five other countries. To date, these studies have recorded 247 bird species, including seven new global range extensions. This represents 49% of all bird species documented in the Kingdom, a number that continues to grow through ongoing research.
 The presence of the white-tailed eagle, outside its usual range across the northern hemisphere, highlights the importance of regular monitoring during migratory seasons. This data is critical not only for informing the reserve’s conservation strategies but also for supporting national and regional biodiversity initiatives.
 One of eight royal reserves, the 24,500 km² Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the deep Red Sea in the west, connecting NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. It is home to PIF’s Wadi Al Disah project and Red Sea Global’s Destination AMAALA.
 The reserve encompasses 15 distinct ecosystems. At just 1% of the Kingdom’s terrestrial area and 1.8% of its marine area, it boasts over 50% of the Kingdom’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East.
 Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree and overseen by the Royal Reserves Council chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The reserve’s programme is integrated with Saudi Arabia’s wider sustainability and conservation programs, including the Saudi Green and Middle East Green Initiatives.