RIYADH — In cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife, the Saudi Tourism Authority announced the launch of new tourism packages as part of the Saudi Arabian Winter Season to offer tourists the opportunity to enjoy three nature reserves, which are “Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve”, “Saja and Umm Al Ramth Reserve”, and “Farasan Islands Reserve”. Through this step, the Authority provides an opportunity to embark on an exploration journey to enjoy wildlife, environmental diversity, rare natural resources of different plants and animals, as well as to enjoy different exciting activities such as visiting archaeological sites, camping, safari, stargazing, hiking, and many other experiences. The "Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve" is a protected area located along the southwestern edge of the Empty Quarter, the largest sandy desert in the world, which maintains a diverse spectrum of wildlife and the most wonderful desert landscapes. The temperature of the reserve in winter ranges between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius, and it hosts several protected areas designated for preserving rare animal resources such as the Arabian gazelle, ostriches, and mountain gazelle, as well as a number of perennial and rare shrubs specific to this region. The “Farasan Islands Reserve” is located in the southeastern part of the Red Sea coast. It is a large archipelago of over 170 islands, 40 to 90 kilometers offshore from the city of Jazan. The protected area has a unique set of biological components such as the “Farsan deer” and more than 180 plant species, some of which are only found in this reserve, in addition to 50 species of coral reefs and 230 species of fish. While the “Saja and Umm Al-Ramth Reserve” is located in central Saudi Arabia in a thin sandy area with muddy, rocky and sandy hills. It is known as a site for the resettlement of Houbara bustard, oryx and ostriches. Temperatures in this area range between 9 and 23 degrees Celsius in the winter season. It is characterized with its vegetation that helps preserve rare animal and birds. — SG