Image credit: SPA

The Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley stated that Saudi Arabia regards the environment as vital for public health and economic growth, emphasizing that Saudi Vision 2030 has played a key role in revitalizing the ecosystem and advancing sustainability in the Kingdom’s national transformation, according to a SPA report. His remarks were made during the opening of the IFAT Saudi Arabia 2026 conference and exhibition in Riyadh.

The event brought together global leaders in the circular economy, decision-makers, and investors, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role in advancing environmental action, knowledge exchange, and partnerships in water and waste management. The minister noted significant advancements in the Kingdom's water sector, citing an integrated system encompassing production, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, with a capacity exceeding 16 million cubic meters per day.

Alfadley highlighted the achievements of the Saudi Green Initiative, which has rehabilitated over 500,000 hectares of degraded land, planted more than 151 million trees, and expanded protected land and marine areas to approximately 18%, with a target of reaching 30% by 2030.

Additionally, he pointed out the establishment of a national regulator for waste management and a comprehensive framework for the waste value chain. The sector offers over 500 investment opportunities projected to reach hundreds of billions of riyals in the next 25 years, supported by more than 900 facilities across the Kingdom. He concluded by expressing hope that the conference would foster partnerships and practical solutions, strengthen the waste management system, and support the circular economy for a sustainable future.