Al-Abdulqader to Asharq Al-Awsat: COP16 to Advocate for Strategies Against Desertification

A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Al-Abdulqader to Asharq Al-Awsat: COP16 to Advocate for Strategies Against Desertification

A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Dr. Khalid Al-Abdulqader, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, stated that the upcoming 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), set to kick off in Riyadh on Monday, represents a significant opportunity to strengthen international collaboration.

He added that the event will serve as a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s achievements in combating desertification, highlight successful initiatives such as tree-planting and sustainable projects, and encourage other nations to adopt similar strategies.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Abdulqader revealed that the conference would present numerous investment opportunities for local and international private sectors in nature-based solutions to combat desertification. These include plans for 10 investment projects in wild plant nurseries, proposals to involve private companies in the afforestation and management of selected national parks, and the development of 30 eco-tourism sites within vegetated areas. These initiatives aim to expand green spaces and mitigate desertification across the Kingdom.

Additionally, he pointed to the establishment of a dedicated unit to support and guide investors by fostering innovative ideas and providing necessary assistance in accordance with national regulations.

Green Belts and Desertification Control Efforts

Saudi Arabia prioritizes combating desertification and protecting vegetation, particularly given its challenging climatic conditions. The government is actively working to expand forests, rehabilitate degraded lands, develop national parks, conduct ecological research, and protect native plant species through initiatives like green belts.

Al-Abdulqader emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing desertification. COP16, he said, would strengthen international efforts to combat drought, land degradation, and their adverse effects, adding that hosting the conference underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global environmental advocacy.

He also said that the Kingdom has launched significant initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 400 million trees by 2030 and a total of 10 billion trees by 2100, restoring approximately 40 million hectares of degraded land.

Additionally, the Saudi official revealed that the National Center for Vegetation Cover is preparing to launch the 2024 National Afforestation Season under the slogan “We Plant for Our Future”. Sponsored by the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, this campaign seeks to involve government agencies, local communities, and individuals in afforestation efforts to expand green cover, rehabilitate degraded lands, raise awareness, reduce harmful practices, and improve overall quality of life, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Abdulqader stressed that Saudi Arabia’s environmental efforts reflect its commitment to achieving the goals of Vision 2030, which prioritizes sustainability and environmental protection.

He highlighted the center’s vital role in fulfilling the vision’s environmental objectives by managing natural resources, supporting afforestation projects, rehabilitating damaged areas, and raising awareness of the importance of vegetation cover through public campaigns.

Al-Abdulqader further noted that the center contributes to international initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Global and Regional Cooperation

The center also supports the goals of the Middle East Green Initiative and the Saudi Green Initiative. To date, more than 95 million trees have been planted in collaboration with public, private, and nonprofit sector partners, increasing green spaces and restoring degraded lands, the official underlined.

He pointed to several international partnerships through memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with countries such as Pakistan and organizations including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and ELAWCAT for sustainable land management.

Al-Abdulqader revealed that future agreements are in progress with China, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), and Morocco for vegetation development and desertification control, adding that Saudi Arabia is also collaborating with Egypt on stabilizing sand dunes and engaging in partnerships with Somalia, Albania, Costa Rica, Burkina Faso, and Tajikistan on environmental protection and sustainability.



Saudi Crown Prince Announces 'King Salman Automotive Cluster' in KAEC

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Crown Prince Announces 'King Salman Automotive Cluster' in KAEC

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Asharq Al-Awsat

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has designated “King Salman Automotive Cluster" as the official name of the cluster for automotive manufacturing activities, located within King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
The hub will be a crucial step in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and will be an enabler for the automotive sector and sustainable transportation, contributing to raising non-oil GDP and increasing exports. The cluster enhances the automotive sector in Saudi Arabia by accelerating the growth of local capacity in manufacturing and sector-related research and development, and by making supply chains to serve regional and international markets more efficient.
King Salman Automotive Cluster will be a major center for the automotive sector and will have headquarters and factories for local and international companies. Notable companies include Ceer, the first Saudi electric car brand, and Lucid Motors, which opened its first international factory in KAEC in 2023. It will also host several PIF joint projects with global manufacturers, including Hyundai Motor – establishing a highly automated factory for manufacturing cars in Saudi Arabia – and a joint venture agreement with Pirelli to establish a tire factory locally.
The cluster aims to create optimal investment opportunities for the private sector to develop promising sectors in Saudi Arabia. It is expected that the cumulative GDP contribution from companies operating in King Salman Automotive Cluster will reach approximately SAR 92 billion by 2035. The cluster will also contribute to the creation of many direct and indirect jobs, support the local manufacturing sector, and increase Saudi exports to regional and global markets, which will positively impact the national balance of payments.
King Salman Automotive Cluster will leverage the supportive environment and investment incentives provided by KAEC, including its logistical infrastructure, and its proximity to a highly developed port in a vital location for global trade. These factors will provide opportunities for the local private sector and international companies to engage as partners, suppliers, and investors in the automotive sector and its related services.
The new King Salman Automotive Cluster will contribute to achieving Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and achieve sustainable growth. The cluster will also be a major contributor to fulfilling the aims of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, which seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a leading industrial nation and a global logistics center by developing high-growth sectors locally and attracting foreign investment. This is in addition to supporting the objectives of national strategies for industry, transport and logistics.
Automotive and mobility is one of PIF’s strategic investment sectors, highlighted by partnerships with the private sector. PIF’s portfolio has several investments with the aim of enhancing the industry’s infrastructure and developing the sector’s local supply chain capacity. PIF is also contributing to enhancing local expertise and technology through joint ventures with major international manufacturers.