RIYADH: The field team at the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve recorded the birth of a Nubian ibex in March, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The reserve’s development authority said that over time, more than 81 mountain ibexes have been reintroduced across various areas of the reserve.

This effort aligns with its commitment to protecting wildlife, including endangered species, and providing a thriving environment for their growth and reproduction, the SPA reported.

The authority added that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife.

The reserve has recorded over 120 mammal births, including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, Nubian ibex, and Arabian gazelle, across its designated areas.

As the largest terrestrial nature reserve in the Middle East, the reserve spans 130,700 sq. km across four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk. The reserve features diverse habitats, terrains, and unique geographic formations.

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has officially launched the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, featuring 19 distinct architectural styles inspired by the Kingdom’s diverse geographical and cultural characteristics.

The map highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to celebrating the Kingdom’s architectural heritage, enhancing quality of life and modernizing the urban landscape in Saudi cities as part of Vision 2030, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The crown prince emphasized that Saudi Architecture would reflect the cultural and geographical diversity of the Kingdom.

He further highlighted the importance of sustainable urban planning that harmonized with the local environment and integrates traditional architectural elements into modern designs.

“Saudi Architecture blends our rich heritage with contemporary design thinking. We are enhancing urban landscapes and quality of life as well as building an architectural framework that balances the past and the present. This model will serve as a global source of inspiration for innovation in architectural design,” the crown prince said.

Prince Mohammed continued: “Saudi Architecture will indirectly contribute to economic growth by making our cities more attractive to visitors and tourists, which will stimulate sectors such as tourism, hospitality and construction. It also envisions a future where our cities and communities thrive.”

Saudi Architecture aims to enrich the urban architectural diversity of the Kingdom, elevate urban landscape in cities and empower local talent.

By 2030, it is expected to contribute over SR8 billion ($2.13 billion) to the Kingdom’s cumulative gross domestic product and create more than 34,000 direct and indirect job opportunities across the engineering, construction, and urban development sectors.

Saudi Architecture provides developers with guidelines that allow for modern building materials without imposing additional financial burdens. Each of the 19 architectural styles offers three design typographies: traditional, transitional, and contemporary – encouraging creative expression while preserving the authenticity of local architecture.

The implementation of Saudi Architecture will unfold in a phased manner. The first phase will focus on Al-Ahsa, Taif, Makkah, and Abha, where initial applications will target major projects, government buildings, and commercial structures.

The Saudi Architecture Characters Map highlights 19 architectural styles inspired by geographical, natural and cultural characteristics, derived from urban and historical studies of building traditions passed down through generations.

These styles include Central Najdi, Northern Najdi, Tabuk Coast, Madinah Rural, Inner Madinah, Hejazi Coast, Taif Highlands, Sarawat Mountains, Aseer Escarpment, Tuhama Foothills, Tuhama Coast, Farasan Islands, Abha Highlands, Bisha Desert, Najran, Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Qatif Oasis, East Coast, and Eastern Najdi.

Efforts to implement Saudi Architecture are driven by partnerships across government agencies, engineering firms and real estate developers.

Architectural design studios will support engineers and designers through engineering guidelines, training workshops, and skill development programs to ensure the highest standards of sustainability and quality.