The country is taking part in Earth Hour for the first time since the event debuted in 2007.

Lights are expected to be switched off in major cities including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam from 8.30 to 9.30 in the evening. A number of government departments and private sector companies are also taking part.

Earth Hour aims to encourage people around the world to reduce emissions and be more aware of climate change.

Saudi Arabia is participating alongside 92 countries, where lights will be turned off in almost 2,500 cities.

The event in the Kingdom is sponsored by Saudi Wildlife, which hopes to encourage as many people as possible to participate. 

Earth Hour started three years ago as an Australian initiative, which aimed to draw the attention of people, organizations and government agencies to the importance of easing the pressure on the earth’s resources and reducing the impact on the climate from industrial development.

The event was created in Sydney two years ago by environmentalists keen to cut energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Two million Australians participated in 2007. In 2008 the event went international with 400 cities joining in.

Dubai, Bangkok and New Zealand’s Christchurch recorded falls in power consumption during the hour, ranging from two to 13 percent.

Places such as the Sydney Opera House, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Pyramids in Cairo, and the Empire State Building in New York are among the buildings that will go dark.