Saudi reserve earns Dark Sky status amid rise in astrotourism

Saudi Arabia’s Nafud Desert has been listed as one of more than 250 Dark Sky Sites worldwide, strengthening the kingdom’s astrotourism credentials as it taps into global demand for immersive, nature-based night‑sky experiences.

Receiving official accreditation from global body DarkSky International, the AlNufud Dark Sky Park, located in the AlNufud AlKabir Desert in north-central Saudi, is now the largest Dark Sky Park in the MENA region, joining AlUla Manara and Al Gharameel Nature Reserves as the least light‑polluted sites in the kingdom and wider GCC region. 

Covering 13,416 square kilometres — about three times the size of Dubai — the desert in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region, east of the Hail–Al Jawf road, is steeped in Bedouin traditions and known for its rich heritage and wildlife, from the oryx to the sand cat.

With its vast dunes and brilliant night skies, it is one of the Gulf region’s most popular destinations for camping, desert exploration and stargazing, offering some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the region.

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IBTA, which oversees AlNufud Dark Sky Park as a designated destination for stargazing, has opened a Dark Sky Park Visitor Center, which will host a series of astronomy and stargazing events for the public throughout the winter season, while tourism facilities in the desert are also being developed near the zone. 

Among the recent additions in the Nafud Alkabir Desert is Leaf Camp, offering upscale dome accommodations with outdoor seating and activities such as stargazing, camel trekking and hiking.