Saudi Arabia will build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with a combined annual capacity of 4 million cubic meters. The project is part of the country’s broader environmental and water sustainability efforts under Vision 2030, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley said on Wednesday.
In a detailed press briefing, Al-Fadley highlighted major developments under the National Environment Strategy. These include the creation of five specialized environmental centers and the region’s largest environmental fund to support green projects.
Saudi Green Initiative and Land Restoration
The Kingdom has introduced new regulatory frameworks for environmental protection, meteorology and waste management, two of which are being applied for the first time in the country. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, 151 million trees have been planted and over 500,000 hectares of degraded land have been restored. The goal is to rehabilitate 2.5 million hectares and plant 215 million trees by 2030. Long-term plans aim to plant 10 billion trees across 40 million hectares.
The number of national parks has surged from 18 to 500. Terrestrial protected areas now cover 18% of the Kingdom, four times more than in 2016. Marine protected areas have also expanded by 260%. More than 8,000 endangered species have been reintroduced into the wild.
Environmental enforcement has scaled up significantly. Over 40,000 environmental permits have been issued, a 660% increase since the National Center for Environmental Compliance was established. More than 173,000 inspections have been carried out and 456 environmental service providers have been licensed. The number of air quality monitoring stations has reached 240.
A national marine monitoring program has been launched, and the Kingdom has strengthened its capacity to respond to oil spills. Meteorological coverage now spans 100% of the country, supported by advanced sensing and forecasting systems. The cloud-seeding program has conducted more than 711 flights, increasing rainfall by 6.4 million cubic meters.
Saudi Arabia has also launched two regional climate centers. One is the first in the Middle East dedicated to climate change studies. The other is a sand and dust storm center, one of only four in the world.
Recognition for Global Leadership in Water Practices
Waste management is another focus area. The Kingdom has developed 21 strategic city-level waste plans and identified more than 330 investment opportunities worth SR450 billion. The goal is to divert 90% of waste from landfills by 2040. New grants and incentives are in place to encourage innovation and partnerships.
The United Nations has recognized Saudi Arabia as a global model for sustainable water practices under Sustainable Development Goal 6. Completed water projects are now valued at over SR230 billion, including SR10 billion in public infrastructure and more than SR45 billion in private sector contributions. These cover water production, transport pipelines, storage systems and wastewater treatment.
Since 2016, daily water production has doubled to 16.6 million cubic meters, with 75% sourced from desalinated seawater. The Kingdom is now the world’s top producer of desalinated water. Strategic storage capacity has grown by 600%, increasing average supply coverage in cities from one to three days.
Energy efficiency efforts have cut electricity use in the water sector by half. Water now reaches over 22,000 population centers, including high-altitude areas up to 3,000 meters, through an 18,000-kilometer pipeline network. Reused water volume has risen from 251 million to 550 million cubic meters, now covering 32% of total usage.
The water sector is becoming more self-reliant. Saudi nationals hold 97% of engineering roles, and local content now accounts for over 65% of the sector. The National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation has saved 120,000 cubic meters daily and is targeting 300,000.
On the food security front, agricultural GDP reached SR118 billion, up 8% from last year and 39% since 2020. Food production has climbed to 12 million tons, driven by supportive policies and the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund. The Kingdom has achieved full self-sufficiency in dates, milk and eggs. It is also 70% to 100% self-sufficient in several vegetables and over 70% in poultry.
Exports of fish and shrimp are growing and Saudi Arabia remains the world’s top date exporter. The General Food Security Authority maintains supplies of 11 essential goods and will soon launch an early warning system for critical items. The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) now provides 30% of the Kingdom’s wheat imports through its overseas projects.