How Saudi Arabia’s wild lotus shrub was brought back from the brink of extinction

Wild Lotus is originally native to the east of the Mediterranean Sea to the Arabian Peninsula. It grows in arid regions or the dry shrubland biome, in countries and areas such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and in the Sinai Peninsula. (SPA)
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Updated 09 November 2024
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How Saudi Arabia’s wild lotus shrub was brought back from the brink of extinction

  • The wild lotus shrub thrives in streams, blooming with small red flowers during the hot summer months
  • Afforestation and land reclamation efforts under the Saudi Green Initiative were key to the plant’s revival

RIYADH: After coming to the brink of extinction, the wild lotus shrub has been rediscovered in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region. This revival is owed in large part to the afforestation and land reclamation efforts of nature reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative.

Protecting and preserving wild areas, along with restoring trees and plants to the environment, such as this annual shrub with its vibrant red flowers, are key components of Saudi Arabia’s sustainable development agenda.

The wild lotus is native to areas stretching from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula. It thrives in arid regions and dry shrubland biomes, found in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula.

Nasser Al-Majlad, president of Aman Environmental Society, told the Saudi Press Agency that the wild lotus shrub has been found thriving in streams in the valleys of the Kingdom’s Northern Borders region.

Locally known as “Hamar Ward” or “Harbith,” the shrub blooms during the hot summer months, producing small, red flowers. Its scientific name is Lotus lanuginosus.

“Wild Lotus, or Hamar Ward, is an herbaceous perennial wild plant, branched, extending vertically to 40 cm or 20 cm, and its leaves are compound with five leaflets and their dimensions are from 1.3 to 0.5 cm,” Obid Aloni, an environmental activist and member of Al-Yusr and Desert Plants Association, told Arab News.




Echinops, an erect branching spiny-leaved herb that is one meter high and has very pale blue flowers in spherical heads. This flower is found in Diriyah and other parts of the central region of Saudi Arabia. (Shutterstock photo)

Herbaceous perennial plants complete their life cycle over a period of more than two years. They have non-woody stems, allowing them to reach their full height and produce flowers year after year.

Aloni, who has specialized in plants and agriculture for 30 years, told Arab News that the wildflower serves as a stunning embellishment in both cultivated and rocky landscapes.

“It is planted usually at the beginning of winter — for those who want to plant it — like spring flowers,” he said, adding that the species had almost reached extinction if not for the efforts of royal reserves in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to the wild lotus shrub, Saudi Arabia’s wilderness is home to a diverse array of flower species — including the Convolvulus buschiricus. Native to Hegra in the Madinah province, this shrubby plant has hairy stems that can grow up to 1 meter in height. It also has pink, scentless flowers measuring 2.5 cm in width.




Retama raetam, a shrubby plant with thin and flexible branches, is found in Hegra in Madinah province. (Shutterstock)

Also found in Hegra is the Retama raetam, a shrubby plant with thin, flexible branches. Its small flowers, measuring one cm in width, are accompanied by simple, narrow leaves that are 10 mm long.

Other Saudi wildflowers include the Lavandula dentata in Asir’s Jabal Soudah, Echinops in Diriyah and Teucrium oliverianum in Tumair, Riyadh province. Teucrium oliverianum, commonly known as “ahneh,” is also found in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, located in the Kingdom’s northern provinces.

DID YOUKNOW?

• The lotus flower is a traditional herb used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

• The plant’s tea has been promoted as a weight-loss aid and a drink for reducing body lipids.

• Nelumbo nucifera is known for its anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Afforestation and the preservation of natural habitats in the Kingdom have advanced significantly in recent years, driven by environmental protection schemes like the Saudi Green Initiative.

One of the key goals of the SGI is to rehabilitate more than 74 million hectares of land by planting 10 billion trees nationwide, while also restoring the Kingdom’s natural greenery.




Teucrium oliverianum, commonly known as "Ahneh," thrives in Riyadh province as well as in the Kingdom's northern provinces. (SPA)

Through extensive planting efforts, the Saudi government aims to restore vital ecological functions, improve air quality, and, ultimately, reduce the frequency of sandstorms.

Since 2021, more than 49 million trees and shrubs have been planted, and 94,000 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated, according to the SGI website.

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental protection extends beyond its borders, making a significant impact at both a regional and global level.




Officials and representatives of government entities and associations along with locals participate in the greening activity at the King Abdulaziz Protected Pasture in Al Hanakiyah governorate. (SPA photo)

The Kingdom launched the Middle East Green Initiative in 2021 to help mitigate the impact of climate change in the wider region and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in global sustainability efforts.

The MGI also promotes afforestation with the aim of planting some 50 billion trees across the Middle East.

Also contributing greatly to the restoration of nature in Saudi Arabia is the NEOM giga-project taking shape on the Kingdom’s northwestern coastline. In collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification, NEOM has been implementing its own regreening initiative since 2022.




Lavandula dentata, a flower native to Asir that reaches up to 60 centimeters and has leaves with toothed edges and a slightly woolly texture. (Shutterstock)

Khaled Al-Abdulqader, the center’s CEO, highlighted in a NEOM report that the regreening initiative will significantly support efforts to protect the environment, in addition to “directly contributing to the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative.”

Through dedicated afforestation efforts, wildflowers like the wild lotus and other native plants may have the opportunity to grow and thrive, even in some of the most arid regions of the world.

The Kingdom’s commitment to maintaining a healthy environment and balancing its ecosystem is a key goal of its Vision 2030 agenda, aimed at ensuring sustainable development while creating a thriving society.
 

 


KSrelief extends contract for Masam Project

Updated 6 sec ago
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KSrelief extends contract for Masam Project

  • Saudi personnel and international experts are implementing the project and working with Yemeni teams trained to remove all types of mines
  • Work aims to eliminate the threat of mines and protect the lives of innocent people from the dangers they pose

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has extended by one year its contract for the Masam Project to clear mines in Yemen.

Saudi personnel and international experts are implementing the project and working with Yemeni teams trained to remove all types of mines planted in the country.

The work aims to eliminate the threat of mines and protect the lives of innocent people from the dangers they pose. In addition, the project also focuses on training and capacity-building activities for Yemenis in land mine clearance.

Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor general at KSrelief, said: “The renewal of this contract with the implementing partner reflects the center’s sense of humanitarian responsibility toward our brothers in Yemen, given the critical importance of this unique project in completing the clearance of Yemeni territory from mines that were planted in an unprecedentedly indiscriminate manner.

“These mines, deployed in various forms and camouflaged in locations targeting unarmed civilians, have caused permanent injuries, lifelong disabilities and numerous casualties among women, children and the elderly, and other acts that pose a threat to security and life.”

He noted that the project has removed 495,855 mines and various shells to date.


Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans

Updated 29 May 2025
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Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans

  • Qurh was capital of Wadi Al-Qura, a center for Arab markets
  • Architectural features date back to the early Islamic periods

ALULA: Qurh, an ancient city in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla governorate, served for centuries as a vital hub for pilgrims and traders, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Located about 20 km south of AlUla’s old town, near the village of Mughayra, Qurh is one of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s archaeological sites. AlUla’s other main heritage sites are Dadan, Hegra and the Old Town.

Qurh’s ruins spread across an expansive plain surrounded by medium-height mountains. The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city’s once-thriving economic and urban life.

Architectural features dating back to the early Islamic periods also suggest that settlement and cultural growth continued after the advent of Islam.

The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city's once-thriving economic and urban life.  (SPA)

Qurh was the capital of Wadi Al-Qura and a center for Arab markets, as described by the historian Hisham bin Al-Kalbi, who identified it as a commercial and cultural center and a cradle of the arts.

The city was located on the route of the historic Incense Road, a trade artery used to transport precious goods from the southern Arabian Peninsula to the north, passing through Wadi Al-Qura.

The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city's once-thriving economic and urban life.  (SPA)

According to Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, the RCA’s vice president for culture, the excavations in Qurh have so far proved “that there was some interaction with China at the beginning of the Islamic period.”

“Evidence exists of interactions and trade extending as far as China,” he said in an interview produced by FT Longitude in partnership with the RCA.

“With China, for example, (there were) merchants who brought porcelain, medicines and silk to Arabia with incense for sure, ivory, while other valuables travelled in the opposite directions.”

AlUla, part of Saudi Arabia’s western province of Madinah, has been home to the ancient Dadanites, Lihyanites, Nabataeans, Sabaeans, Minoans, Egyptian, Romans and Arabs, he said.


Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials

Updated 29 May 2025
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Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials

  • Prince Khalid bin Salman and UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell discussed strategic partnership between the two countries

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks with the UK’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell in London on Wednesday.

The two sides “reviewed the strong friendship and strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the UK,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. “They also reviewed areas of cooperation and discussed regional and global developments, as well as ongoing efforts to support security and stability.”

The talks followed a meeting on Tuesday between Prince Khalid and British Defense Secretary John Healey during which they discussed strategic defense cooperation.


Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek

Updated 28 May 2025
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Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek

  • The embassy coordinated with child’s family after he reportedly went missing in a river in Trabzon province
  • Turkish authorities are investigating the incident

ANKARA: The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Turkiye confirmed on Wednesday that it is coordinating with Turkish authorities to search for a Saudi child who reportedly fell into Haldizen Creek in Uzungol region.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the embassy issued a statement clarifying the reports circulating in media outlets and across social media platforms regarding the incident in Trabzon province.

“From the first moments of the incident, the embassy coordinated with the child’s family and contacted the relevant Turkish authorities to investigate the incident,” the statement said.

“The authorities have responded and are gratefully conducting extensive searches in the area and its surrounding to locate the child. We ask God Almighty to crown these efforts with success and to protect everyone from all harm,” it added.


Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh

Updated 29 May 2025
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Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh

  • Ceremony was attended by Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide
  • Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia would provide financial and logistical support to the GWO for the next five years

The Global Water Organization launched operations from its headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, with founding member states signing its charter.

The event was attended by officials and diplomats, including Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli; and Greek Ambassador Alexis Konstantopoulos.

Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide holistically.

“The establishment of this organization reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment and keenness to international cooperation in all fields, including the water sector,” said the minister.

He added: “This organization is considered a practical, comprehensive, and multilateral platform aimed at promoting dialogue among countries, unifying efforts, enhancing coordination and cooperation to face the growing challenges related to water.”

“It also aims to enable partnerships and find innovative solutions, contributing to building a prosperous future for all nations.”

Prince Faisal said the Kingdom views water issues as a humanitarian and development priority, recognizing the importance of this vital resource to the stability and growth of societies.

“The Kingdom continues to support an approach based on international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable solutions that contribute to the efficient management of important natural resources.”

Other officials also shared their thoughts on the importance of securing water sources and the development of the sector.

Al-Fadhli said: “Water is a basic necessity for life in general and is essential for all economic development in this world, whether for agriculture, industry, mining, tourism, or entertainment. Competition for this vital resource is increasing.”

He continued: “The challenges facing the world in general, and no one is exempt from them at the present time, can be summarized as follows: the scarcity of water resources, quality as well, and the pollution it (water resources) have been exposed to as a result of human activities in recent years, and also the high cost of these projects.”

Al-Fadhli said there was an urgent need to rethink engineering, in general, and consider the “engineering value” of these projects, along with encouraging development in water-related efforts.

“I must encourage research, innovation, and development, and always ask how we can complete these projects at a lower cost while maintaining quality.”

He emphasized the importance of having an integrated system that covers all stages of the water cycle.

This includes adopting innovative economic models based on cost-benefit analysis, introducing new financing mechanisms, reducing reliance on government subsidies, and actively involving the private sector.

The GWO’s charter was signed by representatives from the founding countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Senegal, Pakistan, Greece and Mauritania.