Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reaffirmed its strong support for Saudi land restoration efforts on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, celebrated globally each year on June 17. The 2025 theme, “Restoring Land, Unlocking Opportunity,” emphasized the critical role of ecosystem rehabilitation. This is crucial in boosting resilience and sustainable development.

FAO in Saudi Arabia: Expanding Land Restoration Partnership

FAO praised Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a global leader in land restoration and drought mitigation. The partnership began in the early 1950s with irrigation projects in Wadi Jazan. It has since expanded to encompass rural development, forest conservation, and institutional strengthening.

The organization highlighted the Kingdom’s successful hosting of the 16th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh. This session convened 200 nations and led to key global initiatives:

  • Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience, which mobilized SAR 12 billion ($3.2 billion) to support 80+ vulnerable countries
  • Business 4 Land, promoting land-based investment and policy coordination
  • Riyadh Action Agenda, targeting sustainable land strategies globally

Saudi Green Initiative Drives Regional Land Sustainability

FAO commended the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and its regional counterpart, the Middle East Green Initiative, for their ambitious afforestation and land restoration goals. Since 2023, over 41 million trees have been planted. SGI aims to plant 10 billion trees within Saudi Arabia and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land. In comparison, the regional initiative aims to plant 40 billion trees across the Middle East.

Projects cited include:

  • Al-Bayda rehabilitation near Mecca, using traditional water harvesting and sustainable agriculture
  • Thadiq National Park, where native saplings are used to restore soil health and biodiversity

FAO emphasized that these programs demonstrate the Kingdom’s capacity to deliver on bold environmental targets while creating replicable global models.

Saudi Land Rehabilitation and Sustainable Land Management in Action

FAO’s technical cooperation with Saudi Arabia includes partnerships with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Together, they’ve achieved:

  • National frameworks for land rehabilitation and drought adaptation
  • Civil society involvement in nursery development and sand control through palm-leaf barriers
  • Training for over 40 national experts in sustainable land practices

Fieldwork in the Eastern Province featured mechanical sand stabilization and remote vegetation monitoring. At Al-Asfar Lake, 47.3 hectares were restored using advanced erosion-control methods, including windbreaks and sand-movement tracking.

FAO concluded by stating that Saudi Arabia exemplifies global leadership in sustainable land restoration. Through evidence-based innovation, inclusive governance, and visionary investment, the Kingdom is establishing an international benchmark for combating desertification. It is also fostering climate-resilient ecosystems.

These initiatives illustrate the strength of FAO support for Saudi land restoration, built on shared priorities in sustainability, capacity building, and science-driven environmental policy.

 

 

The Saudi Standard’s View: Saudi–FAO Partnership Shows How Land Policy Becomes Global Impact

FAO’s public endorsement of Saudi Arabia’s land restoration efforts on Desertification and Drought Day is more than a diplomatic affirmation—it is a signal that the Kingdom’s environmental strategy is now shaping global practice.

From early irrigation work in Wadi Jazan to co-leading COP16 in Riyadh, the Saudi–FAO partnership reflects decades of evolving expertise, scaled ambitions, and targeted investments. Today, those early interventions have matured into integrated programs covering everything from biodiversity to regional afforestation—anchored in Vision 2030’s environmental objectives.

Saudi Arabia’s ability to mobilize SAR 12 billion for global drought resilience while restoring over 40 million hectares at home speaks not only to national capacity but also to the credibility of its environmental leadership. Science-based methods, institutional coordination, and precise delivery timelines underpin this credibility.

While global forums often focus on pledges, Saudi Arabia has delivered outcomes—tree by tree, hectare by hectare. In doing so, it is setting a replicable model for arid nations. These nations face the intersecting pressures of climate change, desertification, and resource scarcity.

FAO’s reaffirmation is well-placed. Saudi Arabia has transitioned from being a recipient of technical support to a provider of scalable solutions. The world should take note.