Environmental Protection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Environmental Protection in KSA

Environmental protection is a major factor in the battle of tackling environmental challenges. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has broadcasted its efforts to ensure its contribution to the protection of the environment and its resources. This section is dedicated to bringing forth the environmental challenges in the Kingdom and the Kingdom’s international efforts in protecting the environment. It will also focus on wildlife and livestock, marine life and fish livestock, and the overall agricultural environment. Climate is an essential part of the environment; therefore, you will find entries dedicated to the weather, reducing air pollution, an index of air quality, reducing water pollution and reducing soil pollution. Waste recycling programs and initiatives are also introduced in this section in addition to environmental licenses, renewable energy and environmental legislation based on international systems and strategies for wildlife preservation.

Environmental protection is a primary system within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dedicated to tackling environmental challenges, in alignment with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision, making a quantum leap in environmental protection leading to the reduction in the percentage of environmental pollution.

Environmental Challenges in the Kingdom

Economic development, continuous population growth, rapid urbanization, and increasing demand for water and energy create environmental challenges in Saudi Arabia.

The Most Prominent Environmental Challenges

Polluted well water, cement factories' wastes, increased emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, land degradation and desertification, and others, which may cause an increase in environmental pollution and environmental risks.

The Kingdom's Most Prominent International Efforts in Protecting the Environment

Fulfilling its duty towards the environment, the Kingdom by launching initiatives and projects related to the protection of the environment. Some of the most prominent efforts include:

Establishing a research fund for energy and the environment
The Kingdom has the most significant environmental reconstruction project in history. The project is focused on developments, which were integrated after the Gulf War and costed the Kingdom more than. 1.1 billion US Dollars.
The Center for Desert Agriculture works on developing sustainable, low-input systems, which use water efficiently to produce food and grains and are proportionate with the coastal desert environments that depends on agriculture in relation to sea water and sunlight.

Innate Protection in the Kingdom

The Kingdom used to conduct the necessary biological and social studies and surveys to prepare the protected areas system with the World Union's expertise for Conservation of Nature. Experts from the Union and the Commission prepared a document, "a national system for preserving wildlife and sustainable rural development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," based on which the announced network of regions was established protected so far in the Kingdom.

Wildlife and Livestock

The Kingdom has given great attention and importance to the wildlife initiatives and projects related to the environment by issuing regulations that preserve protected areas of wildlife and plant life aimed at controlling the trade and hunting of endangered wild animals and birds used for production purposes.

Protected Area System

The Kingdom has used the necessary biological and social studies and surveys to prepare the Protected Area System with the proficiency of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Experts from the Union and the Commission prepared the following document, “A National System for Preserving Wildlife and Sustainable Rural Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, on the basis of which the announced network of regions was established and protected in the Kingdom thus far. The recently updated system, in accordance with environmental developments, includes a proposal dedicated to protecting 75 areas including, 62 land areas and 13 coastal and marine areas.
To view the map of Protected Areas in the Kingdom and obtain information about them, please visit this page.

Classification of Wildlife in the Kingdom

You can also see other types of wild animals that live in the Kingdom by visiting this page.

Marine Life and Fish Livestock

The Kingdom believes in the importance of marine life and has adopted strategies and policies to limit any interference in the marine system. This has become possible through the adoption of the National Strategy for Preserving the Kingdoms Biodiversity, established in 2005, which aims to ensure the preservation and development of biological diversity by studying the current status of biological diversity, the threats faced, and the means to preserve and develop it.

Initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Conserve Marine Life

Classification of Marine Livestock in the Kingdom

Agricultural environment

The agricultural sector in the Kingdom faces several challenges and pressures. It may negatively affect the future of agriculture due to natural causes or human activities, which lead to the spread of environmental pollution, the decrease in soil fertility, and the high rate of desertification, which may affect agricultural productivity resources. Therefore, significant developments have been made in relation to the implementation of necessary agricultural practices to ensure food safety and security, consumer protection, and environmental preservation. Practitioners in agricultural fields must obtain accredited certificates to ensure food products are safe before being officially launched in the market.

System for Dealing with Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The system for dealing with plant genetic resources for food and agriculture was introduced as a way to implement the Kingdom's commitments with the United Nations International Treaty and related agreements. It recognizes the importance of preserving the national wealth, which is a vital basis on which farmers, plant breeders, and researchers depend on to achieve food security and develop vegetation. The system has set goals, the most important being::

Preserving plant genetic resources from degradation and extinction.
The sustainable use of these resources through studies and scientific research to explore them.
Exchanging plant genetic resources with research centers and local and international gene banks and sharing the benefits resulting from their use.
Organizing the process of handling, entry, and exit of plant genetic resources through border points in cooperation with the competent authorities.
Protect the intellectual property rights of local farmers' traditional practices and encourage their efforts.

The Initiative of the National Program for Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Development

An initiative was established to raise awareness of environmental issues, thus raising individual and collective responsibility for preserving and enhancing every individual's role in society as a vital factor in protecting the environment by rationalizing the use of natural resources and reducing their pollution.

The initiative works in two ways:

The Performance Measurement Study: To find out current environmental awareness through field surveys at the level of individuals and institutions.
Environmental Awareness Programs: To implement campaigns that serve the main objective of the initiative and track the development of the level of environmental awareness for all segments of

The Kingdom's International Participation in Preserving the Environment

The Kingdom has participated in many international events to preserve the environment, and these examples including:

Green Riyadh

The Green Riyadh project was launched as one of the major Riyadh projects launched by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, aims to reduce the air temperature in the city by 2°C upon completion. In line with the #Saudi_Green_Initiative, the project will include planting 7.5 million trees to provide shade and improve the quality of air. It comes as an achievement of the Kingdom's 2030 vision of raising the classification of Riyadh globally. For more details click here.

Environment Week

A week is devoted to the environment every year. The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture undertakes its establishment and implementation by inviting governmental and private agencies and environmental associations to participate in its activities in the first week of each year's spring season. The Environment Week is an important awareness initiative on the importance of the environment and its preservation. It also aims to raise each individual’s awareness and responsibility towards the environment and collectively create an environmentally conscious society.

Climate

The Kingdom’s Climate

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's climate can be characterized as a semi-arid to arid desert environment with hot days and cold nights. Its annual precipitation levels have severely decreased with the exception of the Asir region, located in the Southwestern area of the Kingdom, which receives an average precipitation level of about 300mm annually. The ranges of maximum temperature levels across the Kingdom’s seasons are as follows:

20° – 30° degrees Celsius during the Winter season, from December to February.
30° – 40° degrees Celsius during the Spring season, from March to May.
35° – 45° degrees Celsius during the Summer season, from June to August.
25° – 35° degrees Celsius during the Autumn season, from September to November.

In Winter, there are two distinct areas in the Kingdom in terms of precipitation due to the shift in the tropical convergence zone and monsoon rotations, and their interactions with the topography of the region. Additionally, there is a significant difference between the climates of coastal and inland regions of the Kingdom. For more details click here.

Climate Change

Climate change, a shift in the earth’s weather patterns and average temperatures, is the main contributing factor to rising global temperatures, resulting in major and noticeable changes to the climate. The leading factor to these changes is human activity. Since the Industrial revolution in the 1800’s, the world has experienced an increase in worldwide temperatures due to the burning of fossil fuels and how humans choose to use the land around them, which leads to agriculture, deforestation, forest fires, and greenhouse gas emission, to name a few.

Saudi Arabia, in particular, is vulnerable to climate change since the majority of its ecosystems are sensitive, its renewable water sources are scarce, and the Kingdom is highly dependent on fossil fuel exports. Here, you will become familiarized with climate change within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and how the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is looking to tackle these risks by understanding the main contributing factors to climate change and what measures are being taken, through on-going development and sustainable solutions. For more details click here.

Climate Forecast

While short-term forecasts provide accurate weather information, seasonal forecasts provide key weather predictions, indicating if the forecast will be warmer or colder, drier or wetter than usual, this information differs from monthly to seasonal predications. Numerical models are used for these predications to stimulate interactions between the atmosphere and a variety of slow changing elements related to the climate, such as oceans, glaciers, and water in soil and snow.

Sea surface temperatures are one of the most important factors affecting weather variables on a seasonal basis. The seasonal forecast provides useful information for various sections including, public health, disaster preparation, water management, energy and agriculture. Additionally, a seasonal climate report, which is a report that highlights the current and expected climate situations during each season of the year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and this can be determined by analyzing climate data such as pressure, weather, wind speed, temperature levels, and precipitation rates over a period of time exceeding thirty years. For more details click here.

Drought Monitoring

Droughts are extended periods of months and years when an area suffers a shortage of water supply. This generally occurs when an area is receiving less than average levels of precipitation, having a major impact on the ecosystem and agriculture in the affected area. Although droughts can last for several years, both severe and short-term droughts can cause extensive damage to the local economy. For more details click here.

Climate Control

Climate control is the act of providing artificial control of air temperatures and humidity. As a result of climate change, effective methods and initiatives need to be implemented to control the climate. This can be done through mitigation, reducing and stabilizing levels of heat-trapped greenhouse gases or by adaptation, which is finding relevant means to adapt to climate changes. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases while simultaneously adapting to the negative effects of climate change. Carried out through the development of integrated and comprehensive energy-saving systems, the Kingdom is working to obtain a level of climate control sufficiency through continuous energy saving programs while also launching several projects aimed at increasing renewable energy production. Certifying the safety and security of energy sources ensures that the basic needs of the global economy are met. For more details click here.

Preventative Measures for Climate Protection

The launch of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) National Program and its four dialogues including, reduction, reuse, recycling and elimination, through which emissions can be managed in a comprehensive and cohesive manner in order to lessen the effects of climate challenges, make energy systems cleaner and more sustainable, enhance security, and stability of the energy market. Moreover, the launch of the National Energy Efficiency Program in 2012 was part of the efforts to reduce emissions within the principle of a circular carbon economy.
The issuance of a special declaration on the environment was carried out during the Kingdom’s position in the G20 to ensure a sustainable future that minimizes and limits environmental degradation, preserves biodiversity, promotes sustainable use of natural resources and restoration, preserves oceans, encourages the availability of clean air and water, combats natural disasters and extreme weather phenomena, and addresses climate change.
Establishing a ‘Council for Royal Reserves’, which includes six locations in the Kingdom, aimed at preserving and increasing vegetation, organizing movement within the reserves in a manner that does not harm villages, citizens property within its scope, and ensuring the development of natural reserves by expanding their geographical area from 4% to more than 14% in preservation of the natural environment and wildlife, ensuring reproduction and development, the reduction of hunting and overgrazing, and the prevention of logging.
The launch of the ‘Green Saudi’ initiative and the ‘Green Middle East’ initiative directed the Kingdom and the region in a direction aimed at protecting the land and nature. The future objectives include a number of ambitious initiatives that will lead to an increase in vegetation, covering the current area with trees 12 times more than the current amount.
Developing a national environmental strategy, which includes 64 initiatives aimed at restructuring the environment sector, in order to keep up with the Kingdom’s expansion and diversification of its environment and keep up with the growth in sectors affecting the environment through the launch of five specialized and achievable environmental centers including:

- The National Center for Environmental Compliance
- The National Center for Vegetation Development and Control Desertification
- The National Center for Waste Management
- The National Center for Wildlife Development
- The National Center of Meteorology

These centers are aimed at enhancing environmental commitment and reducing the cost of environmental degradation, in addition to, establishing an environment fund to support the sustainability of the environment sector by working with the Ministry of Interior to establish the Special Forces for Environmental Security, international best practices and standards, and preparing a new waste management system.

The Kingdom’s Goals for Protecting the Climate

Reducing the causes of climate change, the Kingdom is committed to international standards and agreements within the framework of international programs of specialized organizations.
Utilizing renewable energy sources, wind and solar energy, to represent 50% of the energy used to produce electricity by 2030.
Encouraging a circular carbon economy by which emissions can be managed in a comprehensive and integrated manners, with the aim of lessening the effects of climate challenges, making energy systems cleaner and more sustainable, and enhancing the security and stability of energy markets.
Voluntary reduction of land degradation by 50% by the year 2040.
Development of natural reserves by raising the proportion of protected areas to more than 30% of their land area, which is estimated at 600 thousand square kilometers, exceeding the current global target of protecting 17% from the lands of each country.
Raising the efficiency of waste management and establishing an integrated waste recycling project, thus reducing pollution in all forms.
Resisting the occurrence of desertification and contributing to launching afforestation initiatives.
Working on the optimal investment of water resources through rationalization and the use of treated and renewable water.

For more details, click here.

The Weather

Local Weather Predications

Weather predictions provide individuals with daily and weekly weather predictions in addition to marine forecasts, to keep the public informed about weather conditions and help reduce weather-related losses thus enhancing societal benefits including protecting life, property, public health, safety and supporting economic prosperity and enhancing the quality of life. For more details click here.

Weather Predications for Holy Regions

Daily weather predictions are provided for the Holy regions where the sacred rituals of Hajj and Umrah are carried out including, Jeddah, Makkah and Al-Madinah. These predications also include 24 hour weather predictions for the upcoming weather conditions including wind speed and direction, levels of humidity, highest and lowest temperature levels, and the sky predictions (rain, sun, cloudiness, etc.). For more details click here.

Integrated Radar Imaging System (IRIS)

Radar maps ais a type of technology that enables users to track weather conditions in real time. The interactive map consists of color patterns that represent the location and current weather conditions to warm individuals of severe storms and climate hazards. For more details click here.

Infrared (IR) Satellite

IR Satellite is an imagery temperature map that detects heat energy in the infrared spectrum, which is energy that is invisible to the human eye. Objects representing clouds, water and land surfaces are displayed. Each object is given a color, indicating how cold or hot that particular area is. For more details click here.

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

METAR maps is the international standard code format for reporting hourly surface weather observations. The report is used by aircrafts pilots and meteorologists who use the information provided by the METAR report to assist in weather forecasting. For more details click here.

Weather Warnings

Based on the National Center of Meteorology data, the Civil Defense sends text messages warning about the weather (air quality, dust, hurricanes, rain, and floods) to citizens and residents according to geographical distribution.

The National Center of Meteorology, through its Twitter account, continuously sends out forecasts and warnings of weather conditions.

Automated Early Warning System

The National Center of Meteorology offers an automatic early warning service. This system seeks to deliver warnings of air traffic control, including heavy rains and tornadoes, to the beneficiaries at the required speed by specifying the time and place. The visitor to the page can see a map of the Kingdom, on the center's website, to obtain information on the weather, and other details related to alarm cases. The map is colored green, yellow, orange, and red, and each color on the map means a stage of early warning for this region in the Kingdom as follows:

Green (Notice): to inform about the possibility of the Kingdom being affected by an air
Yellow (Caution): means a warning about the possibility of an area being affected by an atmospheric phenomenon.
Orange (Advanced Alert): an advanced warning about the weather phenomenon's impact indicating that caution must be taken.
Red (Warning): a warning of an extreme weather event or torrent indicating that a high level of caution must be taken along with instructions from the civil defense.

Reducing Air Pollution

Protecting the quality of air is one of the main tasks of The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection; through the general environmental system and specified regulations, the development of air quality standards and follow-up applications are aligned with the state's framework of general policy in accordance with governmental systems, thus emphasizing human health and the importance of protection from environmental hazards. The preservation of air quality is one of the main global issues for overpopulated regions. The air quality is also affected by the immense number of vehicles in major cities worldwide.

Protecting the environment of the surrounding air is one of the main tasks and duties of the Central Environment Agency, " the General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection, " which, through the General Environment System and the implementing regulations, seeks to establish and follow up the application of standards and standards related to air quality. This comes within the framework of the Basic Law of Governance and the ruling regime that emphasizes the health of human beings and the protection of the environment from all designers.

There is no doubt that maintaining the air quality and its protection from different sources of emissions represents one of the main issues and obsessions of the people who are suffering from the problems of population, in addition to the huge rise in the number of vehicles within the main cities.

Accordingly, the Kingdom, represented by the General Commission for Meteorology and Environmental Protection, has given great attention to the means of controlling air pollution sources and emissions. The Commission acts as the focal point for environmental issues that contributes to the international community system through international environmental conventions and protocols that aim to consolidate and organize international efforts.

As everywhere else, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing difficult challenges in environmental action, which requires more effort and coordination regionally and internationally. Moreover, the environmental pollution resulting from industrial development is a primary source that adversely affects human health through poisoning due to air and water pollution, some foodstuffs, or directly affecting the body's vital functions. In some cases, the effect might reach the origin of hereditary disorders.

Moreover, the main objective of Air Quality Management that is a part of The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection is to study and evaluate the air quality in Saudi Arabia, study the status of the air environment in Saudi Arabia, and determine the most polluted areas and draw up the necessary plans and solutions to reduce this pollution and the various methods used to reduce pollution rates in the future.

Air Quality Index

It is a service provided by the National Center of Meteorology. It simplifies the method for identifying the status of air quality based on data received from air quality monitoring and monitoring stations. Pollutant concentrations are converted to simple numbers that can be understood by the general public and shown as specific colors. The Air Quality Index expresses the following major air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ground ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), dust particles (PM10) and dust particles (PM205).

On the Kingdom’s map displayed on the center's website, the air quality is indicated by geographical location in six colors: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown. These colors symbolize air quality as follows:

Green (healthy - air quality index value from 0 to 50): The air quality condition is excellent, and the concentration of all air pollutants are below the acceptable standards.
Yellow (moderate - air quality index value from 51 to 100): The air quality condition is acceptable, and the concentrations of all air pollutants are within the permissible limits.
Orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups - air quality index value from 101 to 150): The air quality condition is considered moderate, with a slight exceeding of the permissible limits. Some sensitive individuals may suffer from health effects, however, most people are not affected by this.
Red (unhealthy - air quality index value from 151 to 200): The air quality condition is considered unhealthy with significant exceeding of the permissible limits. Individuals with allergic diseases may suffer more health symptoms.
Violet (Harmful - air quality index value from 201 to 300): The air quality condition is considered entirely unhealthy and exceeding the permissible limits. In this case, it is necessary to issue health warnings about an emergency. The general public may be affected by this.
Brown (Danger - Air Quality Index value from 301 to 500): The air quality condition is reaching levels that are dangerous to human health.

Reducing Water Pollution

Water is one of the most important pillars of economic and social development, as it is essential for meeting human needs, managing the environment and ensuring the sustainability of economic development. Despite the importance of water, Saudi Arabia faces significant challenges owing to the unsustainable use of water resources, as well as limited stocks of non-renewable groundwater, which are experiencing accelerated depletion. Under arid climatic conditions, renewable water is scarce, and high water demand in the agricultural sector is exacerbating the problem of water scarcity in the Kingdom. Water and sanitation in the urban sector represent a high cost to the State, service levels require improved quality and the sector requires improved institutional conditions and governance mechanisms. The work contains several elements, including involvement of stakeholders and assessment of the current state of the sector across a range of dimensions, such as demand for water, water resources, sector operations and enabling factors, and identifies the nature and magnitude of the gaps between supply and demand, as well as the economies of the sector under different scenarios.

For the National Water Strategy, please visit this page.

Reducing Soil Pollution

In view of the important role of soil in the growth of plants, consumers and living organisms in the Kingdom, the Kingdom has contributed to reducing their pollution, which leads to the above, by establishing the soil Quality Department affiliated to the National Center for Meteorology. Accordingly, it is concerned with several tasks, most notably: Supervising and following up programs for monitoring and monitoring soil quality, preparing guidelines for controlling soil pollution sources of all kinds, conducting environmental surveys of soil pollutants and preparing the necessary database, and implementing the provisions and commitments contained in the regional and international conventions on soil pollution and conservation; Coordinate environmental action at the national level and develop solutions and recommendations for the application and implementation of local measures and laws for the protection of soil from pollution; prepare standards and guidelines for the protection of soil from pollution; review environmental assessment studies with regard to soil pollution and waste disposal; review and audit engineering designs of landfills and hazardous waste; Participation in inspections and field visits to ensure that environmental requirements for the design and operation of the waste and hazardous waste treatment facilities are applied, rehabilitation of techniques for the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste and waste, and issuance of periodic reports on soil quality.

For the Executive Regulations for the Prevention and Treatment of Soil Pollution, please visit this page.

Waste Recycling

Waste reduction

This includes reducing waste production or, at the very least, minimizing the amount of waste produced. You can see the waste management project file for further details.

The Concept of Re-using or Recycling of Waste

Recycling is meant to convert used materials and waste into new products. Much of our household waste can be broken down and reprocessed to make new things; This process uses less energy and resources than it takes to manufacture new goods, gives a major boost to our environment. The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated programs and initiatives to re-use and recycle waste.

Re-use or recycle waste in the system

Out of concern for the environment, the Kingdom has placed a system of municipal solid waste management. It is taking into account international regulations and international standards and has also worked with Gulf countries to develop a unified approach for managing healthcare waste in the Cooperation Council countries for the Arab Gulf States.

Solid Waste

The Kingdom is always looking for sustainable solutions to manage waste and convert it into valuable resources. It has created solutions for comprehensive treatment of municipal solid waste, including material recovery facilities that allow for the possibility of sorting and extracting recyclable materials, in addition to composting processes in which organic waste is converted into nutrient-rich compost. Waste that cannot be treated is transformed into an energy source. It has also created systems to recycle construction and demolition waste to divert it from landfills and empty lands around our cities while extracting high-quality rubble for construction projects throughout the Kingdom. To view the System of Solid Waste Management click here.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste has specific measurements that include treatment, storage, and transportation for safe disposal. The best technique is to spot the light of environmental protection, public health, and resource recovery for a longer period to complete the circular economy approach by making use of innovative recycling solutions. The Kingdom is taking measures to protect the environment by investing in the processing and recovery of materials, such as tires and electronics, to convert them into valuable resources to manufacture new products. These waste types can cause severe pollution and usually require a special method in dealing with and disposing of them due to their characteristics such as size, biological and chemical characteristics, and regulatory classification. Saudi Aramco has also published an article on innovative recycling of industrial waste to achieve a circular economy's features.

Medical Waste

Medical waste is waste generated by medical entities, both inside and outside hospitals, including blood, body fluids, medical instruments and waste medication. In order to obtain an environmental qualification certificate in the field of medical waste management, an online application must be submitted, a form must be filled out, the general and special requirements must be highlighted according to the activities practiced in accordance with relevant conditions.

For an environmental rehabilitation certificate in the field of medical waste management, please visit this page.

Asbestos Waste

In order to obtain an environmental qualification certificate in the field of asbestos waste management, an online application must be submitted, a form must be filled out, the general and special requirements must be highlighted according to the activities practiced in accordance with relevant conditions.

For an environmental rehabilitation certificate in the field of asbestos waste management, please visit this page.

Used Oil

In order to obtain an environmental qualification certificate in the field of used oil management, an online application must be submitted, a form must be filled out, the general and special requirements must be highlighted according to the activities practiced in accordance with relevant conditions.

For an environmental rehabilitation certificate in the field of asbestos waste management, please visit this page.

Waste Recycling Programs and Initiatives

National Center for Waste Management

The National Center for Waste Management was established a decision passed by the Council of Ministers with the aim of regulating and supervising waste management activities, stimulating investment, and improving its quality based on the principle of a circular economy in waste management to achieve sustainable development goals.

The Center's Strategic Objectives:

Effectively regulate the waste management sector to improve the quality of services across the entire value chain.
Enhancing the economic sustainability of the sector by stimulating investment and maximizing the participation of the private sector.
Reducing waste disposal in landfills by motivating the use of best practices of resource recovery techniques.
Promote public awareness with a view to reducing waste production and encourage reuse and recycling.
Encouraging research and innovation in the areas of reuse and recycling, resource recovery techniques, and artificial intelligence related to waste management.
Enhance the level of capabilities, competencies and knowledge of the workforce in the sector.

For more details, click here.

A Glimpse into the future of the waste management sector in the Kingdom

Targets for the waste management sector in the Kingdom by 2035

Objective	Target
Total diverion rate from landfill	82%
Recycling	42%
Compost	35%
Incineration	19%
Others	4%

Estimating the economic impact by the year 2035

Estimating the social impact by the year 2035

The Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SARC):
The company was established to develop various activities to deal with all types of waste and finance it to build recycling capabilities in the Kingdom and achieve sustainability with its knowledge in 4 areas:

Municipalities: To provide comprehensive solutions for municipal solid waste such as material recovery facilities that allow for the possibility of sorting recyclable materials, in addition to composting, recycling of construction, and demolition waste.
Industry: By applying the best techniques for waste treatment, environmental protection, public health, and resource recovery for longer use, and by designing modern incineration facilities to treat hazardous materials safely.
Recycling: By working on innovative solutions to recycling waste and investing in processing materials and converting them into valuable resources for the manufacturing of new products such as tires and factories.
Engineering: Manages all aspects of engineering, procurement and construction focused on recycling facilities and technologies, from concept building to internal construction and facility operations

The National Environmental Recycling Company (Tadweer):
A leading company specialized in recycling electronic and electrical waste, WEEE Recycling to preserve the environment and protect society from damages resulting from these wastes by providing environmental and safe solutions for their recycling by approved international standards.

Yanbu United Company (UNITCO) Company:
In addition to the company's main field, YUNITCO has worked to set environmental goals to maintain a clean environment and a healthy climate to build a prosperous nation using the most advanced and technical methods to work on innovative solutions at the highest levels. The recycling plant in Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah is the largest in the Middle East and North Africa and the second largest globally.

Kingdom Agreement for Waste Recycling in Riyadh

The National Center for Waste Management, the Riyadh Region Municipality, and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company, one of the Real Estate Investment Fund companies, signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding to start integrated waste and recycling activities in the city of Riyadh. This will include:

Enhancing cooperation and joint coordination between them to implement the comprehensive strategy for the waste management sector in Al-Yad city
Achieve a set of strategic goals for recycling by 2035, most notably 81% of municipal solid waste's annual production volume.
Lifting, removing, and recycling construction and demolition waste scattered in the neighborhoods and streets of Riyadh, estimated at 20 million tons.

For more details, you can review the framework agreement to start integrated management and waste recycling activities in Riyadh

Saudi Electricity Company's Initiative to Recycle Waste

The Saudi Electricity Company has sought, through its accelerated strategic transformation program, to achieve leadership in the field of environmental protection in the Kingdom. From promoting reliance on clean energy sources, optimal use of resources, re-use and recycling, and reducing environmentally harmful waste. After studying the waste generated from the company's facilities and stations, it came up with innovative solutions and benefited from recycling and hazardous waste. It also cooperated with a company specializing in waste recycling and was qualified by the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection and completed the feasibility study of recycling used batteries, paper waste, non-precious metals, chemical residues, oil residues, and transformer oils to reduce resource loss and reduce hazardous waste production.

Environmental Licenses

The National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance

The National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance was established to carry out several basic tasks through which it seeks to achieve environmental sustainability and prosperity in developmental halls and to improve the quality of life.
The services are:

Environmental Clearance Service:

A service provided to clear ozone-depleting gases in various fields: refrigeration, industry, maintenance, and fire fighting by national regulations and international agreements.

Environmental rehabilitation service in the field of environmental consulting and studies offices:

This service is provided for environmental assessment and auditing of non-existing and existing projects from an environmental point of view, classifying them according to the general environment system and issuing environmental permits according to their category

Environmental permits issuance service:

Entities working in the field of environmental services can issue or renew a qualification certificate through the National Center for Monitoring Environmental Compliance

Commercial environmental permit service:

This service allows the issuance of environmental permits or approvals for establishments and entities with activities related to the environment and affecting them in the commercial field.

Agricultural Environmental Permit Service:

This service allows issuance of environmental permits or approvals for establishments and entities with activities related to the environment and affecting them in the agricultural field.

Environmental qualification in the field of municipal solid waste management:

This service allows environmental rehabilitation for companies, private institutions, and government agencies to work in the field of municipal solid waste

Renewable Energy

The National Renewable Energy Program in the Kingdom

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a comprehensive national development strategy to support the diversification of energy sources to achieve the goal of reaching (3.45) gigawatts of renewable energy by 2020, (9.5) gigawatts by 2030, and (54) gigawatts by 2040. The Kingdom is also working towards reviewing the legal and regulatory framework in private sector investment in renewable energy sources, localize the industry by encouraging partnerships between the public and private sectors, and ensure the competitiveness of renewable energy by gradually liberalizing the hydrocarbon market.

The Kingdom's Efforts in Renewable Energy

The Kingdom joins the International Solar Energy Alliance.
Signing an agreement with a soft bank of 200 gigawatts at the cost of $ 200 billion.
Announcing the Kingdom's 2030 plan to build a sustainable solar energy sector.
Establishing the Renewable Energy Projects Development Office at the Ministry of Energy.
Attract foreign capital to contribute to building this sector.
Connecting medium and small solar energy projects to the Saudi electricity grid.
Finding training institutes to rehabilitate Saudi youth.
Providing jobs for citizens in the field of renewable energy.
Establishing a local renewable energy industry.
Supporting local renewable energy research centers.

Environmental legislation- International Systems and Strategies for Preserving Wildlife in the Kingdom

International Systems and Strategies for Preserving Wildlife in the Kingdom