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Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
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Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo

Saudi Arabia signed on Saturday the Artemis Accords with NASA to join the international alliance in civil exploration and the use of the moon, Mars, meteorites, and comets for peace and the beneficial use of space for all of humanity, and to bring Man back on the moon.

The Artemis Accords align with the national priorities for innovation that the Kingdom announced end of June, including future economies, in which space is the next trillion opportunity for the world by 2040 and can aid in the growth of a multitude of sectors and create thousands of jobs.

The agreement was signed during the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia and was attended by Abdullah Alswaha, Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Commission, and Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud.

CEO of the Saudi Space Commission Mohammed Altamimi signed the Accords on behalf of the Kingdom, while NASA was represented by Senator Bill Nelson.

The Artemis Accords include 13 items that aim in general to affirm the Kingdom’s international presence and its active contribution to joint international projects, and bolster the Kingdom’s positioning as a leading nation in the “New Space” sector through its contributions to emerging space activities in science and exploration missions, empowering the space economy, and developing research capabilities and human capital.

Joining the Artemis Accords affirms the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable space exploration and the peaceful and responsible use of space exploration, boosts the Kingdom’s ambitions in the space sector and is in line with its plans to diversify the economy, attract foreign direct investments and create thousands of jobs for Saudi youth.

The Accords will launch its three execution phases with the first phase to send unmanned space missions for testing and scientific experiments, followed by the second phase that will focus on sending astronauts to explore and return without landing on the moon.

The third phase will have the astronauts land on the moon’s surface and continue research and exploration. These three phases will pave the way for humanity to explore space and other celestial bodies.

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NEOM Nature Reserve Reintroduces Six Animal Species

NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring - SPA
NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring - SPA
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NEOM Nature Reserve Reintroduces Six Animal Species

NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring - SPA
NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring - SPA

As part of its bold rewilding strategy, NEOM has reintroduced more than 1,100 animals across six species to its expansive Nature Reserve—an important milestone in its broader mission to restore the region’s natural balance. With 95% of the region’s land preserved for nature, NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring.

According to NEOM, when the Arabian Oryx was first reintroduced into the Nature Reserve in December 2022, it marked a milestone occasion, signifying the first time the animal had walked the sands of north-western Saudi Arabia for nearly 100 years, SPA reported.

In the early 1970s, the Oryx was extinct in the wild due to hunting and poaching, but conservation efforts across the region have seen its numbers swell in recent years, with more than 208 now calling NEOM home. Perfectly adapted to the region’s desert conditions, its white coat reflects the sun, while its complex nasal system cools the air it breathes and conserves water by recycling moisture as it exhales.

Another member of the Bovidae family, Arabian Sand Gazelles are petite, graceful animals that typically reside in sand dunes and coastal flats across the Arabian Peninsula. Gazelles are swift creatures, clocking speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour in short bursts.

They are herbivores, and while NEOM’s regreening initiative continues to develop – with 4.7 million trees, shrubs, and grasses planted to date – the 530 Arabian Sand Gazelles currently residing in the reserve benefit from the natural vegetation that has returned to the area, following the removal of heavy livestock grazing. NEOM is also home to 223 Arabian Gazelles, which are typically darker in color and harder to find, preferring to reside in foothills and rugged mountain terrain.

Desert-dwelling wild goats can be found in NEOM’s rocky, mountainous terrain, and are typically recognized by their impressive arched horns. Males have backward-arched horns that can reach up to one meter in length, while females have much shorter horns and are lighter in color.

They are incredible climbers and have hooves with rubbery soles to act as suction cups on hard surfaces, aiding them in navigating steep cliffs to avoid predators, including wolves. NEOM has successfully reintroduced 53 Nubian Ibex to the reserve, adding to the population of several wild Ibex who have naturally returned to the area and are often caught on camera as part of NEOM’s monitoring program.

The red-necked ostrich, the largest and fastest living bird on earth, can stand up to 2.7 meters tall and weigh more than 150 kilograms. Their eggs are the largest of any living animal, measuring up to 15 centimeters long and up to 1.4 kilograms in weight. The bird gets its namesake from the fact that males have a reddish hue on their neck, especially in breeding season, when they perform an elaborate courtship display to attract females.

Currently, 27 chicks have been raised in NEOM Nature Reserve, which are well adapted to the region’s climate and feed on seeds, grass, leaves, and occasionally small insects or animals. Their strong legs allow them to run up to 70 kilometers per hour and, despite their size, red-necked ostriches are flightless.

Furthermore, the Lanner Falcon, last spotted in the wild in Saudi Arabia more than four decades ago, was reintroduced to NEOM Nature Reserve earlier this year in a momentous occasion. Known for its speed and agility, the Lanner Falcon can dive at speeds of more than 320 kilometers per hour. It has a striking appearance, with dark markings on its chest and belly, and a distinctive black moustache mark across its white face.

The release of Lanner Falcons into Bajdah at NEOM Nature Reserve forms part of a rewilding partnership between NEOM and the Saudi Falcon Club (SFC), which aims to reintroduce native falcon species within the Kingdom.