Exploring Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity: A journey through the Southwest
In this employee experience article, Asma Hussein from RSK Middle East’s terrestrial biodiversity team reflects on a birding expedition across southwest Saudi Arabia. From the Asir highlands to the Red Sea coast, the journey offered valuable insights into the Kingdom’s rich biodiversity and the habitats that support it.
Last year, before officially joining the RSK Middle East terrestrial biodiversity team, I signed up for an Arabian Endemics birding tour across south-west Saudi Arabia with Saudi Birding, guided by Gregory Askew, founder of Saudi Birding and lead guide, and co-guide James Conder. At the time, I mainly wanted to learn more about the bird species found in the south-west of the kingdom, especially the Arabian endemics that I had only seen in books or online.
The timing of the trip, in March–April 2026, could not have been more perfect. By then, I had already transitioned into the biodiversity team, and we were beginning to work on projects in south-west Saudi Arabia. What started as a personal interest quickly became something that connected deeply with my role and future fieldwork.
Over nine days, our small group of four participants and two guides travelled from Riyadh to Al Bahah, through the highlands of the Asir region, including Tanomah, Wadi Saowan, and the Raydah Natural Reserve, before continuing south towards Abha and the Jazan region, including Al Reeth’s Black Mountain and the Farasan Islands. During the trip, we recorded 183 species through 53 eBird checklists while travelling through a remarkable range of habitats, from central Arabian deserts and escarpments to misty juniper-covered forests, deep wadis, wetlands, mangroves, coastal plains, offshore islands and the Red Sea coastline.
One of the most fascinating parts of the journey was seeing how dramatically the landscapes and weather changed across south-west Saudi Arabia. In the highlands of the south-west, the weather was cool and often foggy, with beautiful juniper forests stretching across the escarpments and mountain slopes. As we descended towards the coastal plains of Jazan and the Red Sea, the environment completely transformed into warmer, humid coastal habitats with mangroves, wetlands and seabird-rich islands. Seeing these environmental transitions up close gave me a much deeper appreciation for the ecological diversity of south-west Saudi Arabia and the way habitats influence species distribution.
Although the tour focused on birding, what really stood out to me was the incredible biodiversity and variation in ecosystems throughout the region. Exploring such a wide range of habitats provided valuable insight into habitat associations, ecological connectivity and species distribution, all of which are critical when undertaking biodiversity surveys and environmental impact assessments for RSK projects.
Another stand-out aspect of the trip was the importance of recording wildlife observations through platforms such as eBird. Throughout the tour, we logged our sightings through eBird checklists, contributing to a wider database of species records and observations. It really made me appreciate how valuable citizen science can be for understanding species distribution and seasonal movements. Imagine how much more we could learn about biodiversity if more people consistently recorded the wildlife they observed.
One of the species I was particularly excited to see was the Asir magpie, the only bird species endemic to Saudi Arabia. Seeing it in Wadi Saowan in Tanomah was incredibly special and easily one of the highlights of the trip. Another unforgettable moment was in Al Bahah while searching for the desert owl. We sat quietly together in complete darkness, waiting, and suddenly it appeared close to us. It was one of those moments that felt almost unreal.
The Farasan Islands were equally unforgettable. Watching a pair of sooty falcons and seeing a Goliath heron surrounded by so many coastal and seabird species was amazing. Then there was Wadi Lajab and the landscapes around Black Mountain in Al Reeth, both of which felt absolutely majestic. There are so many beautiful places from the trip that I could talk about, but the article would quickly become far too long.
Beyond the wildlife itself, one of the most inspiring parts of the experience was learning from the guides. Their knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity, habitats and birdlife was incredible, and seeing that level of passion and understanding for the natural environment was genuinely motivating. It was also special to be part of what was apparently the first Saudi Birding tour to include two Saudi women participants, which made the experience feel even more meaningful.
This trip completely changed the way I see biodiversity in Saudi Arabia. It opened my eyes to the ecological richness and beauty of regions that many people may not realise exist here. It also helped build my confidence in bird identification, habitat observation and field awareness, all of which continue to support my work in biodiversity surveys and environmental assessments moving forward.
Most importantly, it reminded me how important it is to stay curious and connected to nature, not only as part of our jobs but also through personal passion and exploration. It was genuinely one of the most enjoyable and enriching experiences I have had, and I would absolutely love to do it again.
