In 1986, as a result of the reintroduction efforts, the IUCN re-listed the Arabian oryx from extinct in the wild to endangered. By 2009, the Arabian oryx was protected by law in all areas where it appears.
In June 2011, the Arabian oryx was re-listed as vulnerable by the [[IUCN Red List]]. The IUCN estimates there are more than 1000 Arabian oryx in the wild, with 6000–7000 held in captivity worldwide in zoos, preserves, and private collections. Some of these are in large fenced enclosures (free-roaming), including those in Syria (Al Talila), Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE.<ref name="iucn"/> This is the first time the IUCN has re-classified a species as vulnerable after it had been listed as extinct in the wild.<ref name="sci_am_2011-06"/> The Arabian oryx is also listed in [[CITES]] Appendix I.<ref name="cites_appendix"/>
