Amidst a vast wasteland of sun-baked sand and soil, where deserts reign and water is scarce, lies a kingdom boldly advancing towards a greener future. This is Saudi Arabia, a country synonymous with vast deserts and rich oil reserves, and is now investing heavily in green technology to bring life to its arid lands.

Restoration of degraded desert land

The capital Riyadh recently hosted the United Nations COP16 conference on drought and desertification. This scenario is all too familiar in the Kingdom, prompting its authorities to commit to restoring an impressive 40 million hectares of degraded desert land. This bold goal demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s push towards environmental sustainability but remains intertwined with its history as a protector and producer of oil.

The country’s green initiatives contrast with continued investment in fossil fuels, raising the question of whether these green efforts have sufficient climate-fighting benefits. Saudi Arabia accounts for a staggering 75% of investment in global climate tech startups in the Middle East, according to a 2023 report from PwC. However, these green investments are mainly directed towards energy, and 363 million dollars are planned to be transferred to clean energy solutions.

This figure dwarfs the relatively small amount spent on innovations in food, agriculture and land use, areas that are critical to addressing the Kingdom’s water scarcity and achieving sustainable development.

Abuse of microorganisms: the solution in sand

A promising new project is underway at a sprawling complex in the desert north of Jeddah. The main focus is on the use of microorganisms to reduce energy costs in wastewater treatment. This innovative initiative is led by Peiin Hong, an environmental and engineering scientist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Hong explains that the process uses microorganisms to convert carbon into methane, which feeds the plant while treating wastewater. The result is nutrient-rich water that can sustain life in the desert, support animal feed production and combat desertification.

Transformation of desert sand into soil

Access to a sustainable water source could be a game changer for Saudi Arabia, which is struggling with severe water scarcity. The Kingdom plans to plant 10 billion trees and restore more than 74 million hectares of land as part of its Green Initiative in the Middle East. Effective water and land management is key to the success of this ambitious plan.

Himanshu Mishra, an environmental and engineering expert at the same university, offers another innovative solution. His team believes they have created a product that could turn Saudi desert sand into arable land.

Their secret weapon? Carbon-enriched compost derived from chicken manure, a major local resource. This advanced compost is already transforming arid lands into green spaces, preserving vital nutrients and water while increasing microbial biodiversity. Additionally, Saudi Arabia could potentially export this carbonized topsoil along with supporting technology by expanding the scope of its environmental initiatives.

Financing environmentally friendly technologies: future challenges

Despite the great potential, scaling up such efforts requires significant financial and political support.

“We really need venture capital financing and investment to demonstrate their effectiveness at scale,” Hong said.

Indeed, securing funding for green technology startups is no easy task. John Robinson, investor and partner at Mazarine Ventures, said it was “extremely difficult.” Despite the difficulties, some promising startups manage to attract private investors.

Saudi Arabia’s fierce defense of the resource, the world’s leading crude oil exporter, casts a shadow over its green ambitions. Despite all this, the Kingdom continues to invest in technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen production as part of its “circular carbon economy”. Critics say it’s just a “green” operation to protect fossil fuel investments.

The Saudi green initiative is not without its competitors. In May 2024, the European Center for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR) said the initiative covered up Saudi Arabia’s ongoing dependence on fossil fuels and disregard for environmental justice.

In response, Riyadh defends its actions as integral to energy security. As Saudi Arabia moves towards its green future, its biggest challenge will be the balance between oil production and environmental protection. Still, the Kingdom’s bold moves show a hopeful commitment to a greener world. Details of the research are presented in a report prepared by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.