Welcome to the website of the General Secretariat for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx (GSCAO). The Secretariat is a coordinating office that aims to enhance and strengthen cooperation and partnership with the Arabian Oryx range states in the Arabian Peninsula to conserve, breed and reintroduce this wonderful species back into its natural habitats, and to cooperate on a wider level with the partner countries and organizations involved.

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is delighted to host the headquarters of GSCAO. In addition to offering EAD full support, GSCAO is proud to be playing a leading role in promoting regional cooperation among the Arabian Oryx range states through joint institutional efforts, capacity building and knowledge exchange. GSCAO is also sharing data to ensure the success of conservation efforts in accordance with scientific and international standards.

When it comes to Arabian Oryx conservation, the UAE proudly enjoys a leading position in the region, and continued efforts have resulted in increased numbers of this species in its natural habitats, serving as a reminder of the great work by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, in bringing these creatures back from extinction.

In 1968, Sheikh Zayed ordered the establishment of the first programme to breed and protect the Arabian Oryx in Al Ain, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. His great insight and efforts to protect this species was driven not just by a genuine care for the environment, but also by the recognition that this endangered species is an integral part of the UAE’s national identity, and therefore its protection is considered a national duty. Thanks to the late Sheikh Zayed, the great success of the Arabian Oryx breeding programme has become a key platform for Oryx release programmes both within and outside the UAE.

GSCAO, with the support of the UAE’s leadership and range states, has been able to build an effective network of contacts with its Arabian Oryx conservation partners to support a unified regional conservation strategy for the species.

GSCAO has also helped enhance regional cooperation across a wide range of conservation issues, such as managing the herds according to the best environmental, scientific and health practices, which further supports the species’ sustainability and quality of life, as well as increased herd numbers.

The GSCAO has also supported the development of national and regional action plans and initiatives that tackle the challenges of managing the region’s Arabian Oryx populations, while introducing the best sustainable solutions to these challenges. GSCAO also helps partner entities’ employees build and develop conservation capacities, while promoting the community’s environmental awareness through outreach programmes and materials.

GSCAO welcomes all visitors to this website and hopes that it will provide them with a wide range of important information, as well as sharing updates on the ongoing efforts to protect the Arabian Oryx. We also welcome your opinions and valuable suggestions and wants your contributions to help the site build and promote environmental awareness on the importance of Arabian Oryx conservation in our heritage. The Oryx plays an important role in the ecosystem of the Arabian Peninsula and its survival is paramount if future generations are to continue to enjoy and appreciate its breath-taking natural beauty.