Thuwal, Saudi Arabia — A growing collaboration between King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) is boosting Saudi Arabia’s ability to forecast and manage air quality. This joint initiative reflects the Kingdom’s investment in scientific infrastructure and sustainable development. It is part of Vision 2030.
Dr. Mohamed Abdelkader, NCEC’s lead expert in air quality modeling, emphasized the strategic use of KAUST’s Shaheen III supercomputer. This high-performance platform enables nationwide air quality forecasting, offering timely insights to protect public health and guide national policy.
The partnership also focuses on expanding secure data networks and communication systems for air monitoring. This is especially important in remote and high-risk zones. With over 240 air quality stations nationwide, NCEC plays a central role in environmental monitoring and emergency response planning.
Unified Modeling to Drive Environmental Forecasting
The National Air Quality Management Program—outlined during KAUST’s Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution (ACAP) conference—sets a framework for monitoring, forecasting, and policy alignment. Dr. Abdelkader described it as a critical bridge between research and real-time environmental management.
Professor Chak Chan, KAUST’s Dean of Physical Science and Engineering, highlighted that air pollution sources such as biomass burning and sulfur dioxide must be better understood. This understanding will inform effective regulation. KAUST’s biosciences team, led by Professor Imed Gallouzi, is also investigating how long-term exposure to pollutants affects cellular function and gene expression.
The Saudi Standard’s View: Forecasting Clean Air
Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy is evolving—from reactive oversight to predictive action. The KAUST–NCEC collaboration shows what this shift looks like in practice. Together, they are building a future where air quality is not just tracked, but anticipated and managed.
This approach places science and supercomputing at the core of national planning. By using real-time data and interdisciplinary research, the Kingdom is transforming clean air from an abstract goal into an operational priority.
Predictive science is no longer optional—it’s foundational. Moreover, this partnership signals that Saudi Arabia is treating environmental forecasting not as a technical exercise, but as a public service.
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