Royal Reserve Art Competition Expands Participation By 324 Percent Across 120 Schools

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has ended the second year of its School Art Competition with strong community involvement, receiving 1,626 entries from pupils in 120 schools across the reserve area. This represents a 324% rise in participation compared to the first year, underlining growing interest in conservation among young people and educators.

The initiative targets primary, middle, and high school students, encouraging them to engage with nature and heritage through creative work. Pupils submitted drawings, paintings, sculptures, poems, and short stories inspired by wildlife in the reserve, linking art with environmental understanding and highlighting how education can support long-term conservation goals in Saudi Arabia.

Launched during the 24/25 school year, the School Art Competition has developed quickly. Entries increased from 383 submissions from 55 schools in the inaugural year to 1,626 submissions from 120 schools during the 2025/26 school year. This expansion reflects support from families, teachers, and the Ministry of Education across communities within the 24,500 km² reserve.

Chief of Strategy and Business Development at the reserve Elefteria Castis said: "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. When young people understand why nature is important and find connections with their heritage, families listen, and the next generation of conservation leaders is fostered."

The 2025/26 competition ran under the theme "In Our Nature", which asked students to portray one of the large mammals that are central to the reserve’s ReWild Arabia programme. By linking entries to flagship species, organisers encouraged participants to consider how wildlife, local culture, and habitat restoration are connected within the broader conservation strategy.

Two award ceremonies took place in January 2026, one in Al-Wajh and another in Duba, where winning and shortlisted works were displayed in gallery spaces. Parents, teachers, and staff from Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve attended the events, which highlighted the wide range of styles and ideas presented by students from across the region’s schools.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve community and education work

Senior Community Engagement Manager Mohammed Al-Harbi said: "Since the reserve’s inception our community development team has been working with educators and students through classroom workshops and field trips in the reserve to raise awareness and inspire the conservationists of tomorrow." These activities aim to embed environmental awareness throughout local society, from early schooling through to public institutions.

Education and skills development form a key part of the reserve’s social role, supporting livelihoods while protecting natural resources. Over 85% of the 300 employees at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, whose headquarters are in Al-Wajh, come from communities within the reserve. The community engagement team works with schoolchildren, residents, and government stakeholders, promoting regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve strategic plan and governance

Community development and environmental awareness are core elements of the Integrated Development Management Plan, which guides Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. The Board, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, approved this plan in November 2023, setting the direction for future conservation and social outcomes.

The Integrated Development Management Plan sets out measures to build a reserve with international conservation importance while also delivering lasting environmental and social benefits for residents. It provides a framework that connects local participation, including school programmes and jobs, with the protection of wildlife, landscapes, and cultural assets aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve biodiversity and national programmes

The 24,500 km² Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the volcanic lava fields of the Harrats to the Red Sea coast, forming a key conservation corridor that links NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. The area includes notable destinations such as Wadi al-Disah and Red Sea Global’s AMAALA development, drawing attention to both nature and tourism.

The reserve contains 15 different ecosystems and, despite covering only around 1% of Saudi Arabia’s land and 1.8% of its marine area, holds more than 50% of the Kingdom’s species. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves created by royal decree and is overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince.

The programme of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is aligned with broader national sustainability and conservation efforts, including the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative. Through education projects such as the School Art Competition, employment opportunities, and habitat protection, the reserve continues to support biodiversity while engaging local communities in the long-term care of their environment.

With inputs from SPA