RIYADH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Uruq Bani Ma'arid, a windblown sand desert, became the kingdom's first Natural World Heritage site on Wednesday.
The decision was made during the ongoing extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Covering an area of 12,765 square kilometers, Uruq Bani Ma'arid is located on the western edge of the Ar Rub' al-Khali, the only major sand desert in tropical Asia and the largest continuous sand sea on Earth.
Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud said the inscription came on the back of unwavering support for culture and heritage in the kingdom and reflects Saudi Arabia's vast culture and biodiversity across its regions.
The varied topography of the property creates a wide range of wildlife habitats and the site is globally notable due to the reintroduction of iconic desert animals, including the Arabian Oryx and Arabian Sand Gazelle, into their natural habitats after decades of extinction in the wild, said the UNESCO webpage dedicated to the property.
The site's protected area is divided into three sections: a core nature reserve; a zone where controlled grazing is permitted; and a hunting zone, said the UNESCO website. ■
