Cairo: Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve: Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has concluded its second annual School Art Competition, receiving more than 1,600 entries from 120 schools across the reserve - a 324% increase in participation compared to its inaugural year.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Chief of Strategy and Business Development at the reserve Elefteria Castis stated that the art competition provides a platform for artistic expression rooted in young people's cultural identity and framed by the conservation strategy of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. This initiative aims to foster the next generation of conservation leaders by encouraging young people to understand the importance of nature and connect with their heritage.
Community development and environmental awareness are central to the reserve's Integrated Development Management Plan (IDMP), which offers a strategic framework for delivering conservation outcomes rooted in local communities. Chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Board approved the IDMP in November 2023. The plan outlines the blueprint for establishing a globally significant conservation reserve while ensuring long-term social and environmental benefits for the local population.
This year's competition, themed 'In Our Nature', encouraged students to depict one of the reserve's large mammals central to its ReWild Arabia initiative. Participants expressed their creativity through various forms, including drawing, sculpture, painting, poetry, and short stories.
The competition attracted 1,626 entries from primary, middle, and high school students across 120 schools within the 24,500 km² reserve. Two awards ceremonies held in January 2026 in Al-Wajh and Duba celebrated the winners and displayed the entries in a gallery for parents, teachers, and reserve staff to enjoy.
Launched during the 2024/25 school year, the program has experienced significant growth. Entries rose from 383 across 55 schools in its inaugural year to 1,626 entries from 120 schools in the 2025/26 school year, demonstrating robust community engagement from parents, educators, and the Ministry of Education.
Senior Community Engagement Manager Mohammed Al-Harbi highlighted that since the reserve's inception, the community development team has collaborated with educators and students through classroom workshops and field trips to raise awareness and inspire future conservationists.
The reserve's mission focuses on creating lasting opportunities for its communities. Over 85% of the reserve's 300-strong team, headquartered in Al-Wajh, are from the reserve itself. Education and skills development are vital to socio-economic development, and the community engagement team works with all sectors of society to promote environmental awareness, regulatory compliance, and the safeguarding of natural heritage, aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives.
Stretching from the lava plains of the Harrats to the Red Sea in the west, the 24,500 km² Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve forms a critical conservation corridor linking NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. It is home to iconic destinations such as Wadi al-Disah and Red Sea Global's AMAALA.
Encompassing 15 distinct ecosystems, the reserve represents just 1% of the Kingdom's terrestrial area and 1.8% of its marine area, yet it harbors over 50% of the Kingdom's species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree and overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince. The reserve's program is integrated with Saudi Arabia's broader sustainability and conservation efforts, including the Saudi Green and Middle East Green Initiatives.