Latest news with #AbdulrahmanAlFadley
Gulf Insider
02-08-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia To Build Over 1,000 Rainwater Dams In Major Sustainability Push
Saudi Arabia will construct more than 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams across the country as part of a landmark national drive to ensure water sustainability and strengthen environmental resilience, the Kingdom's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced. Described as one of the most ambitious undertakings in the Kingdom's environmental transformation, the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Speaking at a press briefing in Riyadh, Minister Abdulrahman Al Fadley outlined the Kingdom's accelerating progress under the National Environment Strategy. The wide-reaching agenda is transforming policy, regulation, infrastructure, and investment across the environmental and water sectors. The planned dams are expected to harvest a combined annual capacity of four million cubic metres of rainwater. The collected water will support groundwater recharge, agriculture, and the restoration of natural ecosystems. The announcement coincided with an update on the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land. To date, more than 151 million trees have been planted, and over 500,000 hectares of land have been restored. The number of national parks has soared from 18 to over 500. Protected terrestrial areas now span 18 per cent of Saudi Arabia's territory, while marine protected zones have expanded by 260 per cent since 2016. Additionally, more than 8,000 endangered species have been successfully reintroduced to their native habitats. Saudi Arabia has also introduced robust regulatory frameworks for environmental protection, meteorology, and waste management — two of which are being implemented for the first time in the country's history. Five specialised environmental centres have been established, alongside the launch of the region's largest environmental fund to finance green projects and encourage private-sector involvement. Al Fadley highlighted a sharp rise in enforcement and compliance activities: Over 173,000 environmental inspections conducted 456 licences issued to environmental service providers More than 40,000 permits granted — a 660 per cent increase since the establishment of the National Center for Environmental Compliance Air quality is now monitored nationwide, supported by 240 active stations and expanded meteorological coverage using advanced forecasting systems. Saudi Arabia's strides in water sustainability have drawn global recognition. The Kingdom has doubled its water production since 2016 to 16.6 million cubic metres per day — 75 per cent of which is desalinated seawater — making it the world's largest producer of desalinated water. Strategic water storage capacity has surged by 600 per cent, and daily delivery now reaches more than 22,000 population centres, including mountain communities located up to 3,000 metres above sea level. The volume of reused water has risen from 251 million to 550 million cubic metres, now comprising 32 per cent of total water use. Energy consumption in the water sector has been reduced by 50 per cent, thanks to efficiency programmes led by the National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation. Saudi Arabia's water policies have earned it international recognition, with the United Nations Water Conference naming the Kingdom a global model for sustainable water management under Sustainable Development Goal 6. Completed water projects now exceed SR230 billion in value, including SR10 billion in public infrastructure and more than SR45 billion through private-sector partnerships. The Kingdom is also placing increased emphasis on food security. Agricultural GDP has reached SR118 billion — an 8 per cent rise from last year and a 39 per cent increase since 2020. Domestic food production now stands at 12 million tonnes, with Saudi Arabia achieving full self-sufficiency in dates, milk, and eggs, along with high sufficiency rates in vegetables and poultry. The Kingdom also remains the world's leading exporter of dates.
Arab News
31-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Over 151m trees planted under Saudi Green Initiative
RIYADH: More than 151 million trees have been planted and 500,000 hectares of land rehabilitated under the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion in total, the Kingdom's environment minister said on Wednesday. The Kingdom has made significant progress under the National Environment Strategy, en-route to achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals in conservation, water sustainability and food security, said Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. During a press briefing, Al-Fadley also announced the establishment of five specialized environmental centers, including the Middle East's first Regional Center for Climate Change Studies and the world's fourth Regional Center for Sand and Dust Storms. 'The Kingdom has (also) established an environmental fund that is the largest of its kind in the region, reflecting a serious commitment to supporting environmental initiatives,' the minister added. Protected terrestrial areas went from covering 4.5 percent of the Kingdom's territory to 18.1 percent, and the number of national parks has increased from 18 to 500. Since the establishment of the National Center for Environmental Compliance in 2020, more than 40,000 permits have been issued, an increase of 660 percent. Over 8,000 endangered species have been reintroduced into their natural marine habitats since 2016 as protected zones have grown by 260 percent. Monitoring services have expanded in all sectors across the Kingdom. There are now 240 air-quality monitoring stations, a new marine program to detect and respond to oil spills, and advanced meteorological sensing and prediction systems. 'We conducted 711 cloud‑seeding flights across regions and increased strategic (water) storage capacity by 600 percent,' increasing rainfall by 6.4 million cubic meters to encourage vegetation and nourish water resources, he said. New developments have been made in city-level waste management as well, with 21 strategic management plans, and the identification of 330 investment opportunities worth SR450 billion ($119.9 billion). A number of grants, incentives and environmental funds have been created to support academic collaboration and private sector innovation on mechanisms to divert 90 percent of waste from landfills by 2040. Al-Fadley also confirmed that water projects worth over SR230 billion have been completed, which includes public and private sector investments for infrastructure and reuse systems. 'Saudi Arabia was chosen by the UN Water Committee as a global model for water sustainability,' he said. The minister announced that the Kingdom was building 1,000 rainwater-harvesting dams with an annual capacity of 4 million cubic meters. The Kingdom is the world's top producer of desalinated water with production capacity reaching 16.6 million cubic meters per day in late 2024, an increase of nearly 100 percent compared to 2016. And strategic water storage capacity has jumped to 600 percent, with most cities having an average supply coverage of three days rather than one. In addition to being a large producer, Saudi Arabia also delivers water to 22,000 population centers through an 18,000-km pipeline network. Reused water now makes up 32 percent of total usage. The National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation saves 120,000 cubic meters of water daily, with plans to increase it to 300,000, the minister added. Over 65 percent of those working in the water sector are citizens, and Saudi Arabia engineers make up 97 percent of engineering roles, marking an emphasis on self-reliance. The minister said 25 public–private partnership agreements were signed involving SR100 billion in investments. Energy reduction is also a big focus for the country. Since 2016, the amount of electricity consumed has been cut by half. The agricultural sector now makes up SR118 billion of the nation's gross domestic product, an 8 percent increase from the previous year, and food production increased to 12 million tonnes. Al-Fadley said a major economic and cultural achievement was that the Kingdom was now the world's top date exporter, completely self-sufficient in date production and distribution, as well as in milk and eggs. For key vegetables self-sufficiency was between 70 to 100 percent, and poultry and seafood exports were growing, he added.
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh
RIYADH: The Global Water Organization officially launched operations from its headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, with founding member states signing the organization's charter. The ceremony was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide through a holistic approach, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 'The launch of the Global Water Organization affirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening international initiatives and addressing global challenges through partnerships based on cooperation between countries and governments,' Prince Faisal said. 'The Kingdom looks forward to the organization becoming an international platform that drives sustainable solutions and supports developing nations in enhancing their water capabilities,' he said. Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia would provide financial and logistical support to the GWO for the next five years, emphasizing that collective action was essential to achieving shared objectives. Prince Faisal invited all countries and private-sector entities to join the organization. Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley took part in the ceremony and emphasized that the signing of the Global Water Organization's charter and the launch of its operations from Riyadh reinforced shared international responsibility to preserve water resources. Al-Fadley added that the importance of the organization stemmed from water being not just a resource, but a source of economic and social development and stability worldwide. He described the organization as 'not just a platform that brings countries together, but a collective global mind working to develop and integrate the efforts of countries and organizations to address water challenges comprehensively.' 'The Global Water Organization will lead international efforts to address water-related challenges and transform traditional water management approaches. These challenges go beyond water scarcity to ensure its availability at the right time and place and recognize its impact on the economy, public health, food security and supply chains, especially in the face of climate change,' he said. He emphasized the importance of having an integrated system that covered all stages of the water cycle, adopting innovative economic models based on cost-benefit analysis, introducing new financing mechanisms, reducing reliance on government subsidies, and actively involving the private sector. The GWO's charter was signed by representatives from founding countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Senegal, Pakistan, Greece and Mauritania. The organization aims to strengthen the efforts of countries and organizations to address water challenges.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia, China to Cooperate on Parks, Reforestation and Anti-Desertification
A recent Saudi delegation's visit to China marked a significant step toward deepening environmental cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on reforestation technologies and combating desertification, said Khaled Alabdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC). Alabdulkader said the visit, led by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, included high-level meetings and site visits to explore China's pioneering experiences in land reclamation and vegetation cover development. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alabdulkader described the trip as 'rich and beneficial,' revealing that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the NCVC and China's Gansu Desert Control Research Institute. The agreement follows a Saudi Cabinet resolution passed in December 2023 authorizing the minister to negotiate and sign the MoU to strengthen cooperation in combating desertification. The Saudi delegation met with executives from major Chinese firms to discuss launching joint investment projects in Saudi Arabia, including initiatives in natural resource management, rangeland rehabilitation, and the development of desert parks and eco-resorts, said Alabdulkader. The discussions also explored transferring tree-planting technologies and desertification control methods as part of the Kingdom's broader push to promote green economic growth and sustainability, he added. 'We aim to localize these technologies to help achieve our environmental goals and enhance sustainability in Saudi Arabia,' Alabdulkader said, expressing hope for expanded collaboration and further agreements building on the outcomes of the visit. Talks also covered advanced techniques in mangrove cultivation, which are critical for coastal protection and boosting vegetation, as well as environmental protection innovations and the economic potential of invasive plants, including converting them into eco-friendly products. Additionally, Alabdulkader held discussions with a Chinese environmental design company to explore cooperation on national park and wetland development in Saudi Arabia. The visit, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and China in the sectors of environment, water, and agriculture. The visit also sought to open new export channels for Saudi products to the Chinese market and facilitate the introduction of more than 20 new food products from Saudi Arabia. As part of the official visit, the Saudi delegation participated in the Saudi-Chinese Forum for Exporting Saudi Products and Agricultural Sustainability. The forum concluded with the signing of 57 agreements and MoUs between 36 Saudi and Chinese entities, with investments exceeding SAR 14 billion ($3.7 billion). These included 26 export agreements and 14 MoUs between the National Center for Palms and Dates and various Chinese companies and government agencies, aiming to boost global visibility and exports of Saudi dates and date-based products.
Argaam
24-03-2025
- Business
- Argaam
NADEC's subsidiary signs financing agreement with ADF for up to SAR 1.1B
National Agricultural Development Co. (NADEC) said that its subsidiary, AlRai National for Livestock (a limited liability company, 51% owned by Nadec), signed a financing agreement with the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) to fund the establishment of a project focused on intensive livestock breeding (sheep and goats), reproduction, and meat production, with a ceiling of up to SAR 1.1 billion. The financing amount will be disbursed in stages based on the project's progress and the submission of required documents. According to a statement to Tadawul, the 15-years agreement was signed on March 23, with three years grace period. The company clarified that the partners provided guarantees in proportion to their shares in the company, with Nadec offering one of its lands in Wadi Al-Dawasir as collateral, in addition to providing corporate guarantees from the partners in accordance with the approved format by the Agricultural Development Fund. The agreement was signed under the sponsorship of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) Abdulrahman AlFadley, the statement noted, adding that the project aims to enhance local red meat production by developing integrated facilities for breeding (sheep and goats), contributing to increased domestic production. This project is part of NADEC's strategy to strengthen food security within the framework of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
