Netflix documentary 'Horizon' showcases Saudi Arabia’s natural beauty

From the turtles of the Farasan Islands to the ibex of the Asir Mountains, the Horizon documentary captures the Kingdom’s diverse wildlife and scenery, alongside its environmental preservation efforts

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The film premiere of the Horizon documentary

Netflix documentary 'Horizon' showcases Saudi Arabia’s natural beauty

Nawwar Jabbour

last update on 20 Jan 2024

The mesmerising new documentary Horizon on the streaming platform Netflix has given viewers a rare glimpse of Saudi Arabia’s natural splendour.

A production of the Konoz initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Media and the National Centre for Wildlife, the film also shows efforts by Saudi environment agencies to safeguard the Kingdom’s natural heritage.

This is a huge landscape. Almost nine times as big as the UK, this is the largest country in the Middle East and the fifth largest in Asia, covering a massive 2.15 million sq km (or 833,00 sq mi), with a wealth of biodiversity.

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The cameras go underwater, exploring marine life in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, then climb the mountainous heights of the Aseer Province.

It vividly portrays local environments and the people who feel connected to nature's treasures and unique riches.

Creatures great and small

The film opens with a seemingly generic series of natural landscapes, but any sense of familiarity quickly gives way to the exciting promise of a unique, dramatic documentary.

It reflects a genuine portrayal of nature and its creatures, accompanied by biological and physical details, all of which are narrated.

As intense conflict between climate and wildlife is revealed. Scorching heat, sandstorms, droughts, and stretches of arid desert make this a challenge for wildlife, which has had to adapt to survive.

From the sea, the film looks at Saudi Arabia's coral reefs, capturing the most intricate details of marine life in areas safeguarded by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).

Viewers see how activists are working with Saudi institutions to give marine life a helping hand, which is so important after sea temperatures in 2023 broke records.

The camera's lens breathes life into every scene in a rhythmic mimicry of the dynamic maritime environment. Slow-motion visuals dance to a musical score that ebbs and flows like the waves.

The serenity of the depths and the accompanying music set a tranquil tone, which makes the switch to scenes of wide deserts and rugged mountains all the more dramatic.

The camera's lens breathes life into every scene in a rhythmic mimicry of the dynamic maritime environment. Slow-motion visuals dance to a musical score that ebbs and flows like the waves.

Nature on display

From aerial shots of the sea to the heart of burgeoning forests and the expansive world of mangrove ecosystems, viewers are taken on an adventure.

Widely planted across the region, mangrove trees are known for keeping the land hydrated and absorbing and storing carbon, creating a lush haven for wildlife.

Venturing deeper into the forest, birds take centre stage, particularly a colourful annual visitor: the flamingo.

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There are other rarer and more resilient creatures on display, like the Arabian gazelle, oryx, and Nubian ibex. In many cases, their numbers are worryingly low as a result of having been historically hunted.

Today's efforts to atone are truly remarkable. Environmentalists are helping to establish better standards to help the animals survive by protecting their way of life and minimising their fear of humans.

Wildlife out here can be isolated. Species need strength, adaptability, and resilience. Finding food in a desert storm might sound like a challenge, but for ants and other insects, it is an opportunity to find seeds concealed in the sand.

The shifting sand dunes, which constantly alter in shape, illustrate an evolving landscape, while greater awareness of nature's delicate ecosystems illustrates an evolving mindset when it comes to environmental protection.

Widely planted across the region, mangrove trees keep the land hydrated while absorbing and storing carbon, creating a lush haven for wildlife.

Silhouettes of survival

With its brown hues and spiral horns, the Nubian ibex stands against a striking dry rock formation, foraging for any shoots of post-rainfall grass.

The landscape is a vast theatre in which the ibex takes centre stage, a dynamic protagonist beckoning us to unravel its movements, behaviours, and journey of survival.

Elsewhere, the documentary examines the diminishing Arabian leopard. Just 200 remain, so a specialised sanctuary for these majestic creatures has been created.

The leopard is an alluring animal, an exhibit of strength and detail. At the centre, viewers are shown a mixture of science and play, with devoted caregiving alongside technological tools to help re-establish the leopard's connection to the wild.

In the towering mountains of Aseer, warm and humid air flows from the coast to an altitude of 2,700 metres.

Up here, juniper trees offer their branches as a host to bromeliad plants which, in turn, share the moisture they absorb from the wind.

This ecological symbiosis paints a surprising picture of lush green mountain slopes, home to hamadryas baboons and exotic birds.

The landscape is a vast theatre in which the ibex takes centre-stage, a dynamic protagonist beckoning us to unravel its movements and behaviour.

A nod to the past

Beekeeping is one of the oldest professions in Saudi Arabia, and viewers see how 4,000 keepers still play a vital role in the kingdom's conservation efforts.

Another historic role that still has a place today is camel breeding and the traditional monitoring of water oases in the heart of the desert. Indeed, the film shows that humans are very much taking a proactive approach.

At King Fahd University, for instance, one team artificially cultivates natural coral in basins specially designed for coral propagation.

This ensures suitable conditions for the coral to regain its bioactivity before planting it in lagoons once it becomes strong enough to survive on its own.

These integrated efforts are the fruit of a collaboration between universities, scientists, government agencies, and professional divers.

The film then follows the fishermen of Farasan Island, who navigate their small wooden boats towards the open sea for a protected fishing expedition, where the sustainability of marine life is paramount.

Mankind steps in

The Kingdom's conservation efforts are aimed at regulating and mitigating human impact, even on the smallest creatures. By way of example, sea turtles that lay their eggs on the shores now enjoy new protections.

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Environmental guardians offer a guiding hand to hatchlings down towards the open sea, after scientists found that the newborns were being misled inland by city lights.

From communities cleaning plastic from shores to tigers' caretakers, the documentary brilliantly shows how actions speak louder than words. It uses a visual language, portraying the animals as characters in a captivating drama.

Each scene seems carefully crafted, with life explored through unconventional shots. Nature and the environment take the spotlight, while humans are cast in a supporting role as empathetic stewards.

The animals tell a story of the region's past, while urging us to appreciate and protect its beauty.

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