SHAYBAH WILDLIFE VISITOR CENTER, 2023

Shaybah Wildlife Visitor Center – Defining The Vision

Shaybah Wildlife Sanctuary, at the heart of the Empty Quarter, spans 637 km² of the Rub’ al-Khali, restored to its natural state.

Three locally extinct species—Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelle, and red-necked ostrich—are being reintroduced into a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem.

ARC played a pivotal role in shaping the concept and content of the Visitor Experience on site, ensuring it catered to audiences at every level.

The aim was to create a visitor journey that blended education with impact, ensuring that Shaybah’s transformation into a hub of sustainability and biodiversity was brought vividly to life.

Research, Content Development & Storytelling

ARC led the extensive research and scriptwriting process, collaborating with Saudi Aramco specialists, environmentalists, engineers, and historians to build a rigorous, authentic narrative.

The team conducted in-depth interviews to translate complex data into an engaging, dynamic storyline, balancing technical depth with compelling storytelling to engage both VIPs, industry professionals, media and non-specialist visitors.

Visitor Journey

A key challenge in designing the Shaybah Experience Centre was accommodating varying levels of visitor engagement. Some VIP visitors would have only a few minutes, while others might explore in-depth. ARC addressed this by structuring content across multiple levels:

Quick engagement: High-impact visuals and concise key messages ensured visitors with limited time could grasp essential themes quickly.

Deeper exploration: Interactive elements, detailed content panels, and digital touchpoints allowed interested visitors to dive deeper into specific topics.

Guided storytelling: A combination of audio guides, augmented reality, and expert-led tours ensured a personalised and enriched experience.

This framework ensured that every visitor—regardless of background or prior knowledge—could connect with Shaybah’s story.

Bringing the Story to Life

ARC worked closely with design experts Spiro to ensure the narrative was delivered through cutting-edge visual and interactive elements. The visitor experience was deeply immersive, integrating:

Gesture-controlled screens and projection mapping, for dynamic storytelling
An interactive timeline wall, merging history with motion-triggered visuals
Immersive technology installations, reinforcing key messages through experiential design

A Model for Environmental Storytelling

The Shaybah Experience Centre is not just an exhibition—it’s an engagement-driven space where storytelling meets innovation. By defining the visitor experience, crafting the narrative, and overseeing content development and delivery, ARC ensured that Shaybah’s story is not only told but felt.

This project serves as a benchmark in experiential design, demonstrating how strategic storytelling can make even the most complex subjects accessible, relevant, and inspiring.