Why Sanda, a spiny-tailed Lizard, is the online hot topic

With the blistering heat of the Arabian desert, where green is hard to find, lives an animal that will surprise you — small, sturdy, and quick on its toes, with a tail covered in sharp spines. It is the spiny-tailed lizard, or "ḍabb" in Saudi Arabia.

It doesn't look quite like food, but to so many Saudis, it has been a part of their tradition for a very long time. This traditional delicacy creates curiosity across the internet and is currently the most viral topic online.

How Sanda is eaten

To outsiders, eating it might seem strange, but for much of Saudi Arabia, especially among desert towns and Bedouin tribes, it's a time-honoured tradition.

The lizard is usually cooked whole, roasted, or grilled over an open flame. Once the insides are scooped out, the meat is cooked until soft, maybe with desert spices, but quite often simply plain.

It has a flavour that is similar to chicken or fish, but it is tougher and denser. It is rich in protein and fat, which makes it a valuable source of nourishment in the desert, especially during the early times when livestock and vegetables were not easily accessible.

Traditional uses outside of food

Aside from being eaten, the lizard is also valued for its oil. Some desert communities extract fat from the body and tail of the lizard in order to make a type of oil.

The oil has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine. People believe it can help with joint pain, back pain, and even coughs and colds. Sometimes, it is applied directly to the skin or used as a massage oil.

Is it halal?

One reason the ḍabb is still widely accepted in Saudi Arabia is that it's considered halal (permissible) in Islam.

While Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) personally chose not to eat it, he allowed it for others. This religious endorsement helped cement its status as a culturally acceptable — and even respected — food item.

How did Sanda become viral?

The viral moment for Sanda didn't come from a big campaign—it started more casually, through everyday videos shared by migrant workers, mainly from Bangladesh, who were working in Saudi homes or farms. Many of them began filming the process of catching the lizard in the desert, cleaning it, cooking it over fire, and serving it—sometimes for their employers, and sometimes just for fun.

These videos, often shared on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, caught people's attention because they were raw, honest, and different.

The moment someone turned it into biryani, it took things to another level — people were fascinated, amused, and curious all at once. Before long, more content creators jumped on the trend, and Sanda became a topic of conversation far beyond the desert.

In a world where people are trying new foods and exploring cultural traditions, the spiny-tailed lizard, known as sanda, is one of Saudi Arabia's interesting and debated dishes. Some see it as a strange viral meal from the desert, while others view it as an essential part of their heritage. 

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