Travellers seeking meaningful encounters with nature have another powerful new reason to look to AlUla. A Critically Endangered Rüppell’s vulture (Gyps rueppelli) has been recorded soaring above Sharaan National Park, only the second sighting of the species ever documented in Saudi Arabia. The dramatic bird, renowned as the highest-flying species in the world (recorded at 11,300 metres), was filmed in August 2025 by Sharaan’s ranger team.
The sighting comes just ahead of International Vulture Awareness Day, celebrated annually on the first Saturday of September to highlight the vital role vultures play as “nature’s clean-up crew,” preventing the spread of disease and maintaining healthy ecosystems. The appearance of a Rüppell’s vulture in AlUla is not only a local achievement, but also a reminder of the urgent global effort needed to protect these species.
Royal Commission for AlUla’s (RCU) researchers recently confirmed the successful breeding and fledging of Egyptian vultures in the national park, with Eurasian griffon, lappet-faced and cinerous vultures also recorded. Together, these discoveries signal that Sharaan is becoming a refuge for some of the planet’s most imperiled birds of prey.
Vultures are disappearing at alarming rates worldwide. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 16 of the world’s 23 vulture species are threatened with extinction, including 12 classed as Critically Endangered or Endangered. In Africa alone, populations of Rüppell’s vulture have fallen by more than 90% in the past 30 years. A vital part of a functioning ecosystem, scavengers such as vultures consume animal remains, keeping the environment clean and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
The spotting of vultures is one part of AlUla’s wider restoration story. Sharaan’s rewilding programme has reintroduced Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelles, sand gazelles and Nubian ibex, with breeding populations now established across the reserve.
At the same time, RCU’s Arabian Leopard Breeding Programme – a flagship initiative supported by international partners such as Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Panthera and IUCN – is working to safeguard the world’s most endangered big cat subspecies and lay the foundation for its eventual return to the wild in Saudi Arabia. Together, these efforts are restoring balance to the landscape and positioning AlUla as a global leader in conservation.
The sighting comes as Sharaan National Park is increasingly being recognised as one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes. Recently awarded Green List status by IUCN, Sharaan offers an increasing range of sustainable ecotourism experiences, including safaris, dinners under the stars, day and night hikes and other activities that allow visitors and the local community in AlUla to deeply connect with nature.
Naif A Al Malik, Wildlife & Natural Heritage VP for RCU, said: “The return of endangered species, from vultures in the skies to oryx, gazelles and ibex on the ground, demonstrates how AlUla’s rewilding efforts are restoring balance across entire ecosystems. Our Arabian Leopard Breeding Programme adds to this work, ensuring that apex predators can one day return to these restored landscapes. Sharaan is showing what’s possible when conservation is at the heart of development.”
“AlUla’s vision is to be a destination where heritage, culture and nature are experienced together in ways that inspire and endure,’ said Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla. “In the years to come, Sharaan’s sandstone canyons, desert wildlife, and rewilded habitats will be at the centre of our guided experiences. Our commitment to designating more than half of AlUla as nature reserves shows how conservation and tourism can go hand-in-hand. Visitors to AlUla are not only discovering extraordinary landscapes but also contributing to a long-term strategy that safeguards them for future generations.”
AlUla is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, ancient kingdoms such as Dadan, and landmark venues like Maraya. But nature is a central part of the story, with almost 1,300 animals including Ibex, Gazelles and Oryx released into Sharaan National Park to reverse the effects of desertification and rebalance nature.
By 2035, RCU has committed to:
- Protecting at least 50% of AlUla’s territory as nature reserves
- Planting 10 million native trees to restore ecosystems
