Saudi Arabia to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with 4 million m³ annual capacity | World News


Saudi Arabia to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with 4 million m³ annual capacity
The ambitious plan to construct 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams was announced at the Saudi Arabia Government Press Conference, aiming to boost water availability by 2030/ Image: SPA

Saudi Arabia, under the ambitious framework of Vision 2030, is making remarkable progress in environmental conservation, water sustainability, and food security. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, recently highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts during the Government Press Conference, shedding light on the implementation of various strategies and achievements. These efforts not only support the Kingdom’s long-term goals but also reinforce its leadership in sustainable practices in the region.

A Green Revolution: Environmental Sustainability at the Forefront

One of the key pillars of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is environmental preservation, and the Kingdom has made impressive strides in this area. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to combat climate change, restore ecosystems, and conserve biodiversity, several ambitious projects are already underway.

  • Land Rehabilitation and Tree Planting: Over 500,000 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated, and an impressive 151 million trees have been planted. The goal is to restore 2.5 million hectares and plant 215 million trees by 2030. The Kingdom ultimately aims to plant 10 billion trees across 40 million hectares, positioning itself as a global leader in reforestation efforts.
  • Protected Areas and National Parks: In a major push for biodiversity, the number of national parks in Saudi Arabia has grown dramatically from 18 to 500. In tandem, the Kingdom has increased the size of protected terrestrial areas, which now cover 18% of its territory, a fourfold increase. Marine protected areas have grown by a staggering 260% since 2016.
  • Wildlife Conservation: Saudi Arabia is home to more than 8,000 endangered species, which have been successfully reintroduced into their natural habitats as part of the Kingdom’s broader conservation efforts. This work highlights the country’s commitment to preserving its rich and diverse ecosystems for future generations.
  • Environmental Regulations and Enforcement: The Kingdom has introduced new regulatory frameworks for environmental protection, meteorology, and waste management. In a significant development, more than 40,000 environmental permits have been issued, marking a 660% increase since the establishment of the National Center for Environmental Compliance. Additionally, over 173,000 environmental inspections were carried out in the past few years.
  • Innovative Programs: Saudi Arabia has launched cutting-edge initiatives like the cloud-seeding program, which has completed over 711 sorties to increase rainfall and bolster water resources. In addition, the Kingdom has established the Regional Center for Climate Change Studies, the first of its kind in the Middle East, and the Regional Center for Sand and Dust Storms, one of only four globally.

Water Sustainability: A Global Leader in Desalination and Conservation

Water scarcity has been a critical challenge for Saudi Arabia, but the Kingdom has made significant strides in addressing this issue through innovative projects and technologies.

  • Desalination and Water Production: Saudi Arabia is now the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. Since 2016, water production has doubled to 16.6 million cubic meters per day, with 75% of this being desalinated seawater. This ensures the availability of fresh water across the Kingdom, including remote areas and arid regions.
  • Water Storage and Distribution: Strategic water storage capacity has seen a 600% increase, enabling the Kingdom to manage and distribute water more effectively. In addition, Saudi Arabia has built an extensive 18,000-kilometer pipeline network that delivers water to over 22,000 population centers, reaching elevations as high as 3,000 meters.
  • Water Reuse: The Kingdom plans to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with a combined annual capacity of 4 million cubic meters. These structures will capture seasonal rainfall, enhance groundwater recharge, reduce runoff, and support water availability in arid regions, a key step in achieving long-term water sustainability.
  • Rainwater Harvesting Dams: The Kingdom plans to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with a combined annual capacity of 4 million cubic meters. These structures will capture seasonal rainfall, enhance groundwater recharge, reduce runoff, and support water availability in arid regions, a key step in achieving long-term water sustainability.
  • Sustainability Achievements: The Kingdom’s efforts in the water sector have been recognized globally. During the UN Water Conference, Saudi Arabia was hailed as a global model for sustainable water practices. Completed water projects now exceed SR230 billion in value, with SR10 billion allocated to public infrastructure and over SR45 billion from private sector collaboration.

Food Security: Boosting Agricultural Production and Self-Sufficiency

In the realm of food security, Saudi Arabia has successfully enhanced its agricultural output, contributing to national self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports.

  • Growth in Agricultural GDP: Agricultural GDP has increased by 8% in the past year, reaching SR118 billion. In just three years, food production has surged by 39%, reaching a total of 12 million tons. The Kingdom’s agricultural policies, alongside initiatives by the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund, have played a key role in this growth.
  • Self-Sufficiency in Key Foods: Saudi Arabia has achieved full self-sufficiency in several key food products, including dates, milk, and eggs. The Kingdom has also reached impressive levels of self-sufficiency in vegetables (ranging from 70%–100%) and poultry (over 70%). This decrease in reliance on imports not only supports local agriculture but also strengthens the Kingdom’s food security.
  • Global Competitiveness: Saudi Arabia remains the world’s leading exporter of dates, and exports of fish and shrimp have also expanded. The Kingdom has made notable strides in global competitiveness in various agricultural sectors, ensuring that its food industry continues to grow and diversify.
  • Role of the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC): Al-Fadley also praised the efforts of SALIC, a key player in securing the Kingdom’s wheat imports. Through overseas projects, SALIC supplies 30% of the Kingdom’s wheat imports, reinforcing food security and the diversification of Saudi Arabia’s agricultural supply chains.



  • Related Posts

    In 1999, a farmer donated 87 acres for a park for just $10; today, the land is being sold for a data center in a deal that could bring $10 million to the city and $30 million in tax revenue | World News

    A nearly three-decade-old land donation in Taylor, Texas, has become the subject of a legal dispute after property originally designated for future parkland was sold for a data centre project.…

    Continue reading
    It can take years to find the courage to say what you really think. To speak up in a meeting, to disagree with someone you respect, or to tell people who you truly are. Melinda Gates, who has spent much of her life working to lift up women and girls around the world, believes that finding this kind of voice is one of the surest signs of strength. A woman with a voice, she says, is by definition a strong woman. But she is honest about the other half of the truth too. The search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Getting there is rarely simple, because so many quiet pressures push people, and women in particular, to stay silent. The quote holds both ideas at once, the strength and the struggle. Quote of the day by Melinda Gates “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” Who is Melinda Gates Melinda Gates, also known as Melinda French Gates, is an American philanthropist and one of the world’s most prominent advocates for women and girls. With her former husband she co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has spent enormous sums on global health, education and reducing poverty. She later started her own organisation focused on advancing women. Much of her work has centred on a single idea, that helping women find their footing, their rights and their voices makes life better for whole communities. She first shared this line in a 2003 speech, while talking about how a girl grows into a strong woman. The answer, she suggested, begins with one deceptively simple step. She finds her voice. Understand the meaning behind the quote by Melinda Gates The quote makes two linked points. The first is a kind of definition. To Melinda Gates, having a voice is itself a mark of strength. By voice she does not simply mean the ability to talk. She means the power to express what you think, to stand up for yourself, and to be heard. A person who can do that, she argues, is by definition strong, because doing it takes real courage. The second point is the honest catch. Finding that voice is hard. It is not something most people are simply handed. It often has to be searched for, sometimes over many years and against a great deal of resistance. So the quote celebrates the strength of having a voice while being honest that reaching it is a real struggle. Why finding a voice can be so hard When she first said this, Melinda Gates went on to explain why the search is so difficult. Part of it, she noted, is unequal access to education. In many parts of the world, women and girls receive far less schooling than men, and some receive none at all, which makes it harder to find and use their voices. But she pointed to something subtler too. From a young age, she said, people meet countless small pressures, some obvious and some hidden, that quietly encourage them to mute themselves in order to please others. Over time, those little nudges add up, and many people learn to stay quiet long before they ever discover what they might have said. Why this quote is relevant Although Melinda Gates was speaking about women, the struggle she describes is one many people recognise. Plenty of us, of any background, have held back an opinion, swallowed a disagreement, or gone along with something we did not believe, simply to avoid friction. The quote is a reminder that learning to speak up is not a small thing. It is a real form of strength, and one worth building. It also gently reframes the difficulty. If finding your voice feels hard, that does not mean something is wrong with you. It means you are attempting something that has always been hard, and that the struggle itself is part of growing stronger. How to apply this quote in daily life You do not have to change the world to use this idea. It starts with small choices. Start small and build up. You do not need your full voice overnight. Speak up in low stakes moments first, and let your confidence grow from there. Notice the pressures that quiet you. Pay attention to when and why you hold back. Often it is a fear of displeasing someone, and naming that pressure makes it easier to push past. Surround yourself with people who listen. It is far easier to find your voice among people who respect it. Seek out friends or mentors who want to hear what you think. Help others find their voice too. If you have found yours, use it to make room for quieter people. Simply asking someone what they think can be the nudge they needed. Other famous quotes by Melinda Gates Gates has spoken and written often about people, equality and possibility. Here are a few more of her lines. “If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.” “Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they’re born.” “Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is the one thing that we all have in common.” “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” There is something encouraging in the way Melinda Gates frames this. She does not pretend that finding your voice is easy, and she does not treat the struggle as a weakness. Instead she calls the search itself a sign of strength. Whoever you are, the lesson holds. The quiet work of learning to say what you think, and to be heard, is worth doing. | World News

    It can take years to find the courage to say what you really think. To speak up in a meeting, to disagree with someone you respect, or to tell people…

    Continue reading

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *