Arabian Leopards Will Arrive At The Smithsonian in 2028

Saudi Arabia is sending two Arabian leopards to the Smithsonian National Zoo that are expected to arrive in 2028.

In May, the White House released its Fact Sheet: "President Donald J. Trump Secures Historic $600 Billion Investment Commitment in Saudi Arabia," that stated a dedicated exhibit will be created in D.C. through a partnership between Smithsonian National Zoo and the Royal Commission for AIUIa.

(The Royal Commission for AIUIa (RCU) safeguards the region of AIUIa which is located in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, home to Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site, Hegra.) 

There are less than 120 Arabian leopards in the wild in Oman and Yemen, and at RCU's Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center—the population is approximately 32, according to reports. 

The agreement between The Smithsonian National Zoo and RCU is for the conservation and loan of the endangered species.

(Note: The full name of the Smithsonian National Zoo is: The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and abbreviated as NZCBI.)

Recently, The White House announced a review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits. The initiative was outlined in a letter published by the White House on August 12, 2025, and correlates to the March 2025 executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."