Al-Wusta region is home to the Arabian oryx, a breed of antelope found in the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula. In 1972 the animal was hunted to extinction in the wild, and captive oryx were reintroduced to the area in 1982, in the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. The wildlife preserve also contains the only wild breeding sites in Arabia of the endangered houbara bustard (game bird), as well as Nubian ibex, Arabian wolves, honey badgers, caracals (wildcats), and the largest wild population of Arabian gazelle.

The initial wildlife preservation efforts of Oman were heralded as the sanctuary became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. However, in 2007 the sanctuary was the first and only site to be stripped of the UNESCO designation after Oman reduced the size of the preserve by 90% upon the discovery of oil inside its borders, and poaching caused the oryx population to decline from 450 to only 65. Since then, preservation efforts have stepped up, the oryx population has steadily grown, and in 2017 Oman opened up the wildlife preserve for tourism. 

The fabled Arabian ‘unicorn’, so-called because of its distinctive profile silhouette, still survives and indeed seems to be thriving. 

Psalms 42:1-2 NLT. As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?

Even as these desert-dwelling animals thirst for water, we bless the people of Al-Wusta to thirst for the Living God!

Worship with us!: As the Deer by Steffany Gretzinger. May the people of Al-Wusta long to worship Jesus!

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Abu Karabah, Dhank district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 60

Lamdari, Dhank district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 60

Al-Khadari, Dhank district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 59

Al-Jahmiyah, Dhank district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 55

Bayda Khadd, Dhank district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 54