The Shaumari Reserve is a breeding center for some of the most endangered and rare wildlife in the Middle East.
In this small reserve, there is a large herd of magnificent Arabian Oryx, a species that was once on the verge of extinction. There are also ostriches, onagers, and graceful desert gazelles. These animals are all rebuilding their populations in this safe haven, where they are protected from the hunting and habitat destruction that once threatened their existence.

The Shaumari Reserve supports a rich variety of desert plants, mainly because the vegetation inside the reserve is protected from the heavy grazing of sheep and goats outside its perimeters. Shaumari contains a very large number of species of plants, including Atriplex, a natural food source for the Onager and Oryx.