Mapping the mangroves in the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

Mangroves are an important coastal ecosystem that provide numerous benefits to humans and wildlife, including carbon sequestration, protection against coastal erosion and habitats for various species. Mapping the extent of mangroves is essential to understanding their distribution, dynamics and ecological significance. In this chapter, we mapped the extent of mangroves in the Saudi Arabian Gulf using Sentinel-2 images from 2018 to 2022. The results showed that the total area of mangroves in Saudi Arabia increased from 6.04 km² in 2018 to 6.86 km² in 2022. The highest mangrove cover was observed in Safwah (1.98 km²) while the lowest cover was found in the Saihat region (0.1 km²). The mapping results provide a valuable baseline for monitoring the status and trends of mangrove ecosystems in eastern Saudi Arabia and highlight the need for conservation and restoration efforts to sustain their ecological and socioeconomic benefits. The study reiterates the importance of remote-sensing and GIS techniques for mapping and monitoring coastal mangrove ecosystems.