Dubai and Saudi Arabia to build over 1,000 rainwater dams in a bid to achieve sustainable development
Major initiative aims to secure water resources and restore ecosystems under Vision 2030.
Major initiative aims to secure water resources and restore ecosystems under Vision 2030
Dubai and Saudi Arabia will construct over 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams nationwide to promote water sustainability and enhance environmental resilience, according to the Kingdom’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Saudi Arabia plans to build over 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams nationwide to promote water sustainability and enhance environmental resilience, according to the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
This initiative is one of the kingdom’s most ambitious environmental transformation efforts, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Pillars of the National Environmental Strategy
At a press conference in Riyadh, Minister Abdul Rahman Al Fadli discussed the Kingdom’s rapid advancements under the National Environmental Strategy. Its broad agenda includes transforming policies, regulations, infrastructure, and investments in the environment and water sectors.
The planned dams are expected to have a capacity to collect four million cubic meters of rainwater annually. The collected water will help in groundwater recycling, agriculture, and restoring natural ecosystems.
The announcement aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land.
To date, more than 151 million trees have been planted and more than 500,000 hectares of land have been restored. The number of national parks has increased from 18 to more than 500. Protected terrestrial areas now cover 18% of Saudi Arabia, and marine protected areas have grown by 260% since 2016.
In addition, more than 8,000 endangered species have been successfully reintroduced to their native habitats.
Strong environmental governance
Saudi Arabia has established robust environmental protection, meteorology, and waste management regulations, two of which are being implemented for the first time. Five specialized environmental centers have been created, along with the region’s largest environmental fund, to finance green projects and promote private sector participation.
Minister Abdur Rahman Al Fadli highlighted the sharp increase in enforcement and compliance activities:
- More than 173,000 environmental inspections conducted
- 456 licenses issued to environmental service providers
More than 40,000 permits granted – a 660 percent increase since the establishment of the National Environmental Compliance Center. Nationwide air quality is monitored by 240 active stations, with expanded meteorological coverage through advanced forecasting systems.
Five specialized environmental centers have been established.
Strong environmental governance
Saudi Arabia has established new regulatory frameworks for environmental protection, meteorology, and waste management, marking a historic first for the country. It has created five specialized environmental centers and launched the region’s largest environmental fund to finance green projects and promote private-sector involvement.
(Edited) Courtesy: Gulf News
