Where the desert mountains of northwest Saudi Arabia fall into clear, calm waters, the Red Sea is alive with quiet motion, coral growing by millimetres, tides shifting by degrees, and ancient migrations unfolding beneath the surface. Within this landscape an ambitious giga-project is taking shape – NEOM – where a designated nature reserve is being established in the Tabuk Province, situated not only geographically between Jordan and Egypt, but between two local development areas. It’s been brought here to protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Because here, researchers are following some of the world’s most enduring marine species – the green and hawksbill turtles – to understand how they connect the Red Sea’s reefs, seagrass meadows, and shores. It’s this work that is part of NEOM’s broader commitment to redefine conservation – not only within Saudi Arabia but on a global scale by combining cutting-edge science, long-term ecological monitoring, and proactive planning to ensure nature protection is built into a national development project from the very outset.

There’s a perception among some that an oil-rich nation like Saudi Arabia might be diametrically opposed to a concept such as marine or environmental conservation. Recent history books will tell us that while this is afterall a nation with a long and checkered past regarding some critical issues (those such as human rights, for instance), it’s relationship with conservation is an altogether more recent one.

Yet this is a country home to some of the most resilient reefs on Earth – brimming with potential and in need of protection.

Further to this, and as part of a bold reimagining of the nation’s future – one spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman under some ambitious ‘future-proofing’ initiatives – a heavy emphasis has since been placed on conservation through pillars like the Saudi Green Initiative which aims to plant one billion trees, reduce carbon emissions, and protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. This includes creating numerous protected areas for wildlife and ecosystems, such as the Farasan Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.

And so it is that today, NEOM is tracking green and hawksbill turtles along the coast of the Red Sea where, for generations, they have nested, tracing routes passed down through instinct and time. Yet, despite decades of observation, many details of their journeys, from where they feed to how they migrate and which corridors they use, have remained a mystery.

To better understand these patterns, conservationists at NEOM have launched a long-term satellite-tracking programme to map turtles’ use of the Red Sea in real time. The work aims to fill key gaps in our current knowledge arund the lifestyle habitats of these ancient ocean travellers. Which feeding grounds do turtles rely on? How do their seasonal migrations unfold? And where can modern conservation measures have the most significant impact?

“We uncover vital stories of the Red Sea through this work,” says Deni Porej, Marine Conservation Director at the NEOM Nature Reserve. “Each journey we follow deepens our understanding and helps shape better choices to safeguard marine life.”