How saudi arabia is cultivating life in the heart of its deserts

Saudi Arabia, a nation known for its vast deserts and arid climate, is redefining its relationship with its challenging environment. Covering much of the Arabian Peninsula, the country's iconic landscapes, such as the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), represent some of the largest continuous sand deserts in the world. During the United Nations COP16 conference that focused on drought and desertification, which Riyadh hosted, the country laid out an ambitious goal of restoring 40 million hectares of degraded desert land.
While the goal supports Saudi Arabia’s movement towards environmental sustainability, its history and present still is deeply intertwined as one of the biggest producers of oil. A 2023 report by PwC highlights that Saudi Arabia accounts for an impressive 75% of the Middle East’s investments in global climate technology startups. Notably, the majority of these green investments focus on energy, with $363 million earmarked for climate-friendly energy solutions. The investment heavily favors energy over food, agriculture, and land-use innovations, crucial for tackling water scarcity and promoting sustainable development in Saudi Arabia.

In this context, a project is underway in Jeddah, where an environmental science and engineering scholar from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Peiying Hong, is trying to utilize microorganisms to convert carbon into methane gas, which powers the facility while purifying wastewater. The outcome is nutrient-enriched water capable of sustaining life in the desert, enabling livestock feed production and fighting desertification.
This access to sustainable water sources is extremely crucial for the country which is grappling with severe water scarcity. Under its Middle East Green Initiative, Saudi Arabia aims to plant an extraordinary 10 billion trees and restore more than 74 million hectares of land. Achieving this ambitious goal will depend heavily on efficient water and soil management.

Another environmental science and engineering expert, Himanshu Verma is confident they have developed a solution that can transform Saudi Arabia’s desert sand into fertile land. The key to their success lies in carbon-enriched compost made from a plentiful local resource—chicken manure. This innovative compost not only retains essential nutrients and moisture but also boosts microbial biodiversity, helping to turn dry, barren soils into thriving, green landscapes. Some critics call all these an attempt by the country to greenwash their oil industry which contributes heavily to the pollution.