Why was the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List?

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Ajanta Caves: reclining Buddha — World Heritage site Reclining Buddha statue, Ajanta Caves, north-central Maharashtra state, India.

The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman was removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List because of development activities within the protected area.1

The removal occurred because the site's integrity was compromised by human-led development, which conflicted with the conservation standards required for maintaining its status as a World Heritage site. Protecting natural habitats from industrial or urban encroachment is an essential ethical responsibility to ensure the survival of endangered species and the preservation of global biodiversity.12