RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Nafud Desert has been listed as one of more than 250 Dark Sky Sites worldwide, which authorities say marks a commitment to protecting the environment from light pollution.
Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority announced on Monday that the desert received official accreditation from DarkSky International, the global body committed to tackling light pollution in urban and rural areas.
Welcoming the accreditation, Ahmed Al-Qarni, official spokesperson at the royal reserve, told Arab News: “It’s a new achievement in the journey of protecting nature and astronomy in Saudi Arabia.
“The adoption of the Great Nafud Desert in Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve by the International DarkSky Association, as the largest site in the Middle East, (represents) a culmination of a precise scientific path, and another step that enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination in sustainability, nature protection, and astronomical tourism.”
Abouazza El-Mhamdi, associate professor in the physics and astronomy department at King Saud University’s College of Science, said that the announcement is a “a major achievement for both science and tourism.
