The Environment Authority has issued an administrative decision regulating the management of the Arabian Oryx Reserve, organising activities within the protected area as part of efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure the reserve’s long-term sustainability.

The decision specifies activities that require prior authorisation before being conducted inside the reserve, identifies prohibited activities, sets applicable fees, and outlines categories exempt from permit requirements. It also provides for the enforcement of administrative fines against violators, depending on the nature of the offence.

Activities Requiring a Permit

Activities requiring prior permits include entry into the reserve, recreational roaming, photography and documentary production, scientific research and sample collection, camping and overnight stays, grazing, construction or expansion within existing facilities, and agricultural activities.

What Is Prohibited

The regulations prohibit hunting or collecting wildlife or plants, the use of firearms or poisons, driving vehicles outside designated tracks, cutting trees or damaging vegetation, polluting water sources or valleys, introducing invasive species, and tampering with signboards or boundary markers.

Fees and Exemptions

The decision establishes fees for certain activities such as entry, recreational roaming, mountain hiking and camping. Fees range from OMR 1 to 2 for Omanis and OMR 3 to 5 for non-Omanis, with charges between OMR 0.100 and OMR 1 for children under 16 years of age.

Several categories are exempt from permit requirements, including members of the armed forces and Royal Oman Police performing official duties, government employees on official assignments, school students participating in educational trips, residents of the reserve and their first-degree relatives, and official government delegations.

Protecting a National Symbol

The Environment Authority affirmed that administrative fines will be imposed on those who violate the regulations, stressing that the measures aim to protect the Arabian oryx and its natural habitat, preserve ecological balance, and support the sustainable environmental management of one of Oman’s most important wildlife reserves.

The Arabian oryx remains among the most recognisable symbols of Oman’s natural heritage, and its reserve is a reference point for the country’s wider conservation and reintroduction work.

Biodiversity, protected areas and nature-based solutions in drylands feature on the agenda at Oman Climate Week 2026, taking place 14–16 September at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat.

Source: Times of Oman
Original Article: https://timesofoman.com/article/167757-environment-authority-issues-new-regulations-for-arabian-oryx-reserve-management