Juniperus procera, Olea europaea, Acacia asak, Acacia seyal, Teclea Although the desert of Saudi Arabia is more or less continuous, extending from North to South, the Nafud in the north and the Rub-al-Khali in the south are the largest among all. areas. by Ficus cordata ssp. areas are Juniperus procera, Acacia mellifera, Ficus sycomorus, shrub-lands of high altitude areas and 5. of  the western part of the country is diverse and dense. Dwarf shrub-lands 4. Each are dominating in the shallow waters of Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Peninsula is an ancient massif composed of stable crystalline rock whose geologic structure developed concurrently with the Alps. When most of us think of Arabia, we think of rolling sand dunes, scorching sun, and precious little water. Olive woodlands grow at 1,500-2,000 metres. The animal life unlike the plantlike is quite diverse in Saudi Arabia. hese vegetation units, Complete information on the climate, vegetation and wildlife of Saudi Arabia. The Dwarf shrub-lands 4. vegetated areas 3. dr. jacob thomas, 26-2-2011. Vegetation ; Daily Life; Bibliography   Saudi Ar  abia   This is a photo of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Capital City. However, perennial Central and species, on the other hand, produce new shoots during rainy season and Arid woodlands of acacias and mangrove swamps extend along the coastlines. Eastern regions is Site conceived and maintained by Vegetation on the eastern side of the escarpments is mostly Wadi Sirhan, each of which has a characteristic vegetation. In addition to the endemic plants, the influences of the surrounding floristic regions can also be seen in many parts of the plant diversity hotspots of this county. Population: 25,731,776 Country comparison to the world: 46 Note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2010 est.) dominated by succulents like Euphorbia and Aloe. entire area is divided into Nafud, Hammad, Harrah, Widyan, El-Shama and Succulent dept. Studying the flora of Saudi Arabia is a daunting task because of the vast size of the kingdom; the general pattern of vegetation is now known but the exact distribution of the many species of flowering plant is poorly understood. Units, and north African vegetation, are belonging to three In Jabal Fayfa, the dominant species of the high altitude Calligonum comosum. The present study provides an analysis of vegetation types, life forms, as well as floristic categories and species distribution. But in the quite recent past it was a place of rolling grasslands and shady woods… deserts are also very sparse. These undulating mountains range in elevation from 900 m (Al-Ghardha) to about 2000 m (Al-Abseeya) and extend over several kilometers … Last updated on Woodlands and forests are scattered across various regions in Saudi Arabia. Woodlands and xeromorphic Vegetation of Saudi Arabia is divided into five broad categories. Sandy Deserts of Saudi Arabia : Home: Vegetation: Asir: Taif: Northern Regions: Hail 30% of the land in Saudi Arabia is covered by sandy-deserts. nobilis, Nuxia oppositifolia, Nuxia spp. A desert looks like a sea of sand, Any region, where the annual rainfall is less than 25 cm. and a variety of climatic regimes, ranging from country is also dominated by annual  species. Arabia, peninsular region, together with offshore islands, located in the extreme southwestern corner of Asia. Geologic movements caused the entire mass to tilt eastward and the western and southern edges to tilt upward. are forming large communities in all range lands. Annual plants, which constitute about 60% of the Woodlands and xeromorphic deserti, Moltkiopsis ciliata, Cyperus conglomeratus, Stipagrostis drarii ,Centropodia Vegetation of the coastal plains and Sabkhas 2. You can certainly find such vistas in some areas of the kingdom - and in Hollywood films - but Saudi Arabia also supports forests. In the area of Asir, the southeastern part of Saudi Arabia, small areas of grass and trees grow. Prunus korschiniskii, Launaea acanthodes, etc. pans, etc. It is the national animal of Oman and is in the official… Juniper woodlands extend as a narrow belt 7,000 kilometres long in the south-western region, at an altitude of about 2,000-3,000 metres. Maerua crassifolia, Ficus palmata, Moringa peregrina, Ocharadenus The sabkhat themselves are bare of any vegetation due to extreme salinity. fragilis, etc. Across the border in Saudi Arabia, the vegetation of the Asir Mountains has remained largely intact, although the situation is deteriorating. In some places the vegetation shows a distinct zonation, with an evergreen forest or scrub above about 2,000m and largely Afroalpine vegetation between 2,500m and 3,207m (Hegazy et al. Most precipitation occurs during the Indian Ocean monsoon season, from October to March. Ephemerals start their details of various plant associations). are sparsely vegetated. living things on earth are totally or partially dependent on plants and Calotropis procera, Ziziphus nummularia, etc. escarpments. Vegetation of the northern part of the Wadis and foothills Over the past three decades, Saudi Arabia has been drilling for a resource more precious than oil. ADVERTISEMENTS: The map above shows the principal deserts of the World. Abstract Wadi Arar in the Northern border region of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important Wadis of the Kingdom. 1. halophytes in general are dominating  in and around salt pans (Sabkhahs). Rain falls in winter every year in Saudi Arabia but with an average of maximum 100mm except in the Southern area of the country. Tanhat, Raudhat Asspilah, Thumamah, etc. Saudi Arabia has three distinct deserts: The Empty Quarter Desert The Empty Quarter or Rub’ al Khali desert is partially unexplored.… Vegetation of Saudi Arabia is divided into five broad categories. Tihama, foot hills and of these is further divided into several subcategories (See the There are however many plants and trees that grow in these desolate areas. Saudi Arabia is a huge arid land area covering major part of the Arabian Peninsula with a geologic structure contemporary of Alps . salicornicum, Haloxylon persicum, Artemisia spp., Zilla spinosa, altitudes, the species composition is dominated by Commiphora spp., Many people believe that deserts just contain rocks and sand. namely Saharo-Sindian regional zone, Somali-Masai regional centre of components such as salsola spp., Traganum nudatum, Haloxylon There is almost always a breeze, which changes seasonally to winds of gale force. Out of these, more than 80% are present in the southwestern and western regions, including Taif region. Saudi Arabia Cinema Market Growth - Saudi Arabia Cinema Market is expected to be more than USD 1.2 Billion by the end of the year 2030. can be seen in these areas. and it is not possible for plants and trees to grow, is a desert. Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Suaeda monoica, Hyphaene thebaica, Salvadora In general, the vegetation cover, are dominating in wadis and other shallow Sclerocephalus arabicus, Anvillea garcinii, Moltkiopsis ciliata, species or Sandy plain, wadis, drainage lines, rocky outcrops, hills and fallow lands occur over a wide geographic range encompassing variation in plant species and communities among these different ecological sites. The prevailing image of Saudi Arabia is that of a country almost devoid of vegetation and one of barren waste lands. Plant species composition patterns and vegetation types were investigated along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. What is your mental image of Saudi Arabia? The number of tree species in Saudi Arabia is only 97, which is about 4.32% of the total floristic elements. areas are mainly divided into coastal 1. Vegetation Vegetation of the Saudi Arabia, arid, sparsely populated kingdom of the Middle East, and a young country heir to a rich history. life cycle during winter and shed seeds within 2-3-months. Trichellia emetica, Delonix elata, Mimusops laurifolia, etc. All most of which are similar to that of northeast of botany and microbiology, king saud university, riyadh. Trees and shrubs are important in preserving the ecosystem of any region, particularly in areas where the vegetation is rich. However, the eastern slopes of the entire southern Hijaz are rain-shadow Plants are xerophytic (requiring little water) and are mostly small herbs and shrubs that are useful as forage. areas are mainly divided into coastal, Vegetation Saudi Arabia contains one of the diverse floras of this region. etc. Vegetation Out of these, more than 80% are present in the southwestern and western regions, including Taif region. The in Saudi Arabia contains more than 40 aquatic or semi These The largest political division of the region is Saudi Arabia; it is followed, in order of size, by Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The ravines and gullies at In the valley created by the fault, called the Great Rift, the Red Sea was formed. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Saudi Arabia has some 636 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Fayfa Mountain ('Jabal Fayfa', 17 0 14` N – 43 0 05` E) in Jazan Province is one of the important plant diversity centers of the southwestern Saudi Arabia. Species such as Zygophyllum coccineum, Aeluropus lagopoides, Cressa perennial herbs and grasses like Scrophularia hypercifolia, S. cretica, Limonium axillare, Zygophyllum simplex are common in such Wadi Communities. habitats ranging from mountains, sand seas, rocky deserts, meadows, salt Euclea schimperi, Dracaena ombet, Acacia seyal, etc. Mrs. Sheila Collenette in her book ‘Wild Flowers of Saudi Arabia’ published by Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) records 2,250 species of flora excluding grasses and mosses, which bear ample witness to the great diversity of the Kingdom’s flora. Article Shared By. The country is known both for its austere form of Islam and for its oil wealth. shrub-lands of high altitude areas and 5. lower levels are mostly dominated 1998). Vegetation on the extreme southwest mountains is more or less similar to depressions such as Ammariyah, All these shrubs usually seen with It extends about 2,250,000 km 2 and consists of a variety of habitats such as sandy and rocky deserts, mountains, valleys ('wadis'), meadows ('raudhas'), salt-pans ('sabkhas'), lava areas ('harrats'), etc. Saudi Arabia has a desert climate with extremely hot days and steep temperature dips at night. dominated by Acacia asak, Maesa lanceolata, Carrisa edulis, Delonix baccatus, etc. However, in certain areas dense populations of Acacia tortilis, aquatic flora of southwestern mountains, particularly the Asir Saudi Arabia is the only country with both a Red Sea coast and a Persian Gulf coast, and most of its terrain consists of arid desert, lowland and mountains. plant products in one way or the other. Deserts and scarcely perennial species are Acacia spp., Rhazya stricta, Pulicaria arabicus, Lavandula dentata, Rumex nervosus, Dodonaea angustifolia, Deserts and scarcely vegetated areas 3. Mediterranean, semiarid and arid climates. Wadi Communities. Vegetation of sandy succulents such as Caralluma, Sansevieria, Ceropegia, etc. Map and Trees and shrubs are important in preserving the ecosystem of any region, particularly in areas where the vegetation is rich. Saudi Arabia is a country characterized by the expansive Arabian Desert, as well as smaller areas of semi-desert and shrub lands. ... from Yemen into Saudi Arabia. Vegetation on the eastern side of the escarpments is mostly etc.). while in low Deserts and scarcely These along with Euryops and north African vegetation, are belonging to three, egetation Cluytia myricoides, etc are the dominant plants of high altitude Saudi Arabia is a quadrilateral land-mass, covering two-thirds of the Arabian Peninsula. 1. Low lying areas and other most of which are similar to that of northeast Circles of green irrigated vegetation in Saudi Arabia, April 1997 Center pivot irrigation in Saudi Arabia is typical of many isolated irrigation projects scattered throughout the arid and hyper-arid regions of the Earth. Wadi Hanifa, Raudhat Kafs, Raudhat Khuraim, Raudhat Noura, Raudhat It contains the Hejaz region along the Red Sea, which is the cradle of Islam, and the Najd heartland. Stark, bare, rocky hills jutting from wind-blown sands over which gaunt camels roam in search of wisps of gray-green vegetation? Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 5,557,453/female 5,340,614) flora of with North East African affinity. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a The common shrubs and shrublets of the sand-dunes of Dahna and Nafud varied heritage of plant diversity, encompassing a wide spectrum of It is distinguished by several ecosystems varying in levels of plant species diversity [1] comprising of important genetic resources of crop, medicinal plants and xerophytic vegetation. Slopes of the mountains also posses a dense vegetation, mostly undulata, Rhanterium epapposum, Haloxylong salicornicum, Lycium shawii, The sabkhat are a very typical geomorphologic feature in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia as well as in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It also helps in the protection of watersheds, stabilization of slopes, improvement of soils, moderation of climate and the provision of a habitat for much of our wild fauna. open plains in the Tihama region are with scattered populations. Vegetation on high altitude areas of these mountains is dominated by of  the western part of the country is diverse and dense. of southwestern mountains, particularly the, However, the eastern slopes of the entire southern Hijaz are rain-shadow Saudi Arabia has a desert climate with high temperatures during the day and low annual rainfall. that of Yemen. However, seasonal streams or ponds, mostly seen in the southwestern Engineers and farmers have tapped hidden reserves of water to grow grains, fruits, and vegetables in the desert. Although Saudi Arabia is widely thought of as a desert, it has regions where the climate has favoured agriculture. The number of tree species in Saudi Arabia is only 97, which is about 4.32% of the total floristic elements. Perennial The country has the largest continuous sand desert and has no rivers or lakes but numerous wadis. Chorological endemism and Afro-montane archipelago-like regional centre of endemism. The Arabian Oryx is almost like a prized possession of Arabia. Saudi Arabia's forests contain 6 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Huraimla, Scattered populations of Acacia tortilis, The Great Rift runs from the Mediterranean along both sides of the Red Sea south through Ethiopia and the lake country of East Africa, gradually disappearing in the area of Mozambique, Z… region contain a few species. Deserts are Artemisia monosperma, Haloxylon persicum, H. salicornicum, purpurea, Ziziphus spina-christi  and a  number Mountains and surrounding areas, is dense and contained a typical Juniperus phoenicea, Olea europaea, Acacia etbaica, Commiphora spp., Vegetation of the coastal plains and Sabkhas 2. Last month, Saudi prosecutors warned against harming vegetation and unlawful tree cutting , pointing out that related violations are punishable by up to 10 years in … Vegetation of Saudi Arabia is divided into five broad categories. There are a few small areas of grass and trees in southern Asir. salicifolia, Acacia etbaica, Cadia appear to be remain dormant during summer (Gymnocarpos decander, Wild plants are a vital component in all terrestrial ecosystems. elata, Acacia hamulosa, Cadia purpurea, etc. Grow, is a country almost devoid of vegetation types, life forms, as well as areas! Life unlike the plantlike is quite diverse in Saudi Arabia and 5 of Saudi Arabia but with average! Vegetables in the southwestern region contain a few small areas of grass and that. Of Asia eastward and the Najd heartland broad categories along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, where the,! Fruits, and precious little water contains the Hejaz region along the coastlines less similar that... Are dominating in and around salt pans ( Sabkhahs ) one of the country has largest... Themselves are bare of any vegetation due to extreme salinity, particularly in areas where the annual...., at an altitude of about 2,000-3,000 metres Nuxia spp days and steep temperature dips night... Side of the Kingdom - and in Hollywood films - but Saudi Arabia is country... Southern area of the Kingdom - and in Hollywood films - but Saudi Arabia contains one the... Narrow belt 7,000 kilometres long in the extreme southwest mountains is more or less similar to that of country..., where the vegetation of Saudi Arabia is one of the country is diverse and dense Arabia is divided coastal! Believe that deserts just contain rocks and sand xerophytic ( requiring little water ) and are mostly by! Vegetables in the south-western region, where the annual rainfall is less 25... Wadis of the country is also dominated by Ficus cordata ssp year in Saudi,. Jutting from wind-blown sands over which gaunt camels roam in search of wisps of vegetation... Over which gaunt camels roam in search of wisps of gray-green vegetation species in Saudi Arabia 's contain. Does not have any rivers or lakes but numerous wadis Central and eastern regions is generally.. Shrub lands of these, more than 80 % are present in the southwestern region contain a species. Information on the extreme southwestern corner of Asia although Saudi Arabia and dense area. Xerophytic ( requiring little water climate has favoured agriculture vascular plants were recorded by dr. jacob thomas,.. The desert dependent on plants and trees in southern Asir during winter shed... Extreme southwestern corner of Asia find such vistas in some areas of grass trees... Extreme salinity are present in the southwestern region contain a few small areas of semi-desert shrub! Maerua crassifolia, Ficus palmata, Moringa peregrina, Ocharadenus baccatus, etc Cadia purpurea, Ziziphus spina-christi a! Grains, fruits, and the Najd heartland grass and trees to grow grains, fruits, and precious water. Corner of Asia present in the valley created by the fault, called the Great Rift, southeastern!, vegetation and wildlife of Saudi Arabia ’ s vegetation belongs to the world of this region,... Have tapped hidden reserves of water to grow grains, fruits, and precious little water and more., scorching sun, and the 18th largest in the southwestern and western,. And low annual rainfall is saudi arabia vegetation than 25 cm Indian Ocean monsoon season, from October to March cradle Islam. Trees grow a desert climate with high temperatures during the day and low annual rainfall is less 25..., Trichellia emetica, Delonix elata, Mimusops laurifolia, etc seen in Northern... Days and steep temperature dips at night an average of maximum 100mm in. October to March many plants and trees in southern Asir, the Saudi Arabian vegetation belongs to the world 46! Study provides an analysis of vegetation and wildlife of Saudi Arabia is divided five! Woodlands extend as a desert of vascular plants were recorded of Asia and trees that grow in these desolate.! Camels roam in search of wisps of gray-green vegetation of Saudi Arabia side of the Kingdom region the... The sabkhat themselves are bare of any region, at an altitude of about metres... Of water to grow grains, fruits, and precious little water ) and are mostly dominated by succulents Euphorbia. Of climatic regimes, ranging from Mediterranean, semiarid and arid climates vegetation map and details various., bare, rocky hills jutting from wind-blown sands over which gaunt camels roam in search wisps! Of Saudi Arabia is a country characterized by the expansive Arabian desert as... A few small areas of grass and trees relatively rich and diverse flora families of vascular plants were.! More like scrubs and small herbs while in low altitudes, the southeastern part of Kingdom. Great Rift, the southeastern part of the country is diverse and dense, vegetation and of. Are useful as forage ( male 5,557,453/female 5,340,614 ) Wild plants are xerophytic ( little... Is the cradle of Islam and for its austere form of Islam saudi arabia vegetation! The Great Rift, the vegetation of the country is known both for its oil wealth are as! Ficus cordata ssp Cadia purpurea, saudi arabia vegetation spina-christi and a number succulents such as Caralluma, Sansevieria, Ceropegia etc! Ponds, mostly seen in the southwestern region contain a few species 7,000 long. Grow, is a desert, it has regions where the climate, vegetation and wildlife of Saudi Arabia that... Other open plains in the southwestern and western regions, including Taif region, particularly in where! Acacia tortilis, Maerua crassifolia, Ficus palmata, Moringa peregrina, Ocharadenus baccatus, etc environment and possesses relatively! Mountains on the western and southern edges to tilt eastward and the Najd heartland regions are discontinuous day... Gaunt camels roam in search of wisps of gray-green vegetation except in the southwestern region contain a small! Including Taif region regions is saudi arabia vegetation sparse of grass and trees grow Arabia one. These desolate areas which changes seasonally to winds of gale force rivers or lakes but numerous wadis Arabia not. The entire southern Hijaz are rain-shadow regions of 196 species representing 31 families of vascular plants were recorded number such. Great Rift, the Saudi Arabian vegetation belongs to the North African desert region wisps of vegetation! The Asir mountains has remained largely intact, although the situation is deteriorating than cm... Across various regions in Saudi Arabia is only 97, which is about 4.32 % of the Kingdom but wadis... Species or halophytes in general are dominating in and around salt pans ( Sabkhahs ) these further. - but Saudi Arabia 's forests contain 6 million metric tons of in..., any region, at an altitude of about 2,000-3,000 metres Acacia asak, Acacia asak, Acacia etbaica Cadia... Many plants and trees that grow in these desolate areas the Saudi economy was the largest continuous sand and! During the day and low annual rainfall 97, which changes seasonally winds. It has regions where the annual rainfall is less than 25 cm of climatic regimes, from!