How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves

Special How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves
A view of the desalination plant owned by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in Ras al-Khair in the Kingdom's Eastern Province. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)
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Updated 23 March 2024
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How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves

How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves
  • The Kingdom is among the most arid countries in the world due to its minimal rainfall and high evaporation rates
  • To combat water scarcity, Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in conservation and desalination infrastructure

DUBAI: Groundwater levels are in significant decline around the world, particularly in agricultural regions with dry climates that experience severe water deficiency. Saudi Arabia is one of several Middle Eastern nations that struggle with water scarcity.

The Kingdom is among the most arid countries in the world due to its minimal rainfall and high evaporation rates. Its climate exposes it to temperature fluctuations, little annual precipitation, no natural perennial flow, and few groundwater supplies.

However, over the last few years, especially within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, work has been done to stabilize and even recover Saudi Arabia’s groundwater levels as well as develop plans to maintain the nation’s water resources at a sustainable level.

Due to the discovery of lucrative fossil fuels around four decades ago, the Kingdom has experienced an exceptional period of economic growth and is rapidly transforming its economy and society further under Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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  • World Water Day is an annual UN observance day held on March 22 that highlights the importance of freshwater.

Saudi Arabia’s economic boom has resulted in a higher standard of living for its people as well as large-scale urban migration and an increase in population growth. The country grew from 4 million in 1960 to around 36.9 million in 2022, according to the General Authority for Statistics, also known as GASTAT.

The Kingdom is now, according to GASTAT, the 41st most populous country in the world.

While Saudi Arabia’s economic boom, increased opportunities, and population growth are positive gains for the country on its road to socio-economic transformation, such successes have also placed the country’s scarce water resources under extreme pressure.

Presently, the Kingdom relies on three basic sources for water extraction: Desalinated seawater, groundwater, and recycled water regularly used in electricity production.

Saudi Arabia derives some of its water from the sea. This is done through the process of desalination, which involves transforming brackish seawater into potable water. The Kingdom is now officially the world’s largest producer of desalinated water.




A view of the Jubail Desalination Plant at the Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province overlooking the Arabian Gulf. (AFP)

Groundwater aquifers, both renewable and non-renewable, are considered the most important resource for freshwater in the Kingdom. Aquifers in Saudi Arabia supply more than 90 percent of the agricultural sector’s water needs and around 35 percent of urban water needs.

“Actions are being taken but more are needed,” Saleh bin Dakhil, a spokesperson for MEWA, told Arab News. “Saudi Arabia is spearheading initiatives locally to mitigate the impact of high water demand mostly to agriculture.”

Aquifers have long been a major source of water in Saudi Arabia and comprise vast underground reservoirs of water.

During the 1970s, the government undertook a major effort to locate and map such aquifers and estimate their capacity. It then drilled tens of thousands of deep tube wells in areas with the most potential for both urban and agricultural use.




In the oases of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, scientists have found that traditional farming techniques stretching back centuries helped preserve one of the region’s green gems. (Supplied)

“Groundwater is a critical resource for irrigated agriculture, livestock farming and other agricultural activities, including food processing,” Jippe Hoogeveen, senior land and water officer in the Land and Water Division at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, told Arab News.

“In order to meet global water and agricultural demands by 2050, including an estimated 50 percent increase in food, feed and biofuel demand relative to 2012 levels, it is of critical importance to increase agricultural productivity through the sustainable intensification of groundwater abstraction, while decreasing the water and environmental footprints of agricultural production.”

Where a perennial and reliable source of shallow groundwater exists, groundwater can be an important source for smallholder farmers, said Hoogeveen.




Over the last few years, especially within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, work has been done to stabilize and even recover Saudi Arabia’s groundwater levels, as well as develop plans to maintain the nation’s water resources at a sustainable level. (Shutterstock)

Regions heavily reliant on groundwater for irrigation include North America and South Asia, where 59 percent and 57 percent of the areas equipped for irrigation use groundwater, respectively.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where the opportunities offered by the vast shallow aquifers remain largely underexploited, only 5 percent of the area equipped for irrigation uses groundwater.

Saudi Arabia’s water shortage impacts sustainable agriculture, industrial development and the well-being of the population.

The Kingdom uses 80 percent of its water for agricultural purposes, with groundwater extraction accounting for most of this demand, which is not sustainable, according to a 2023 research paper titled: “Water Scarcity Management to Ensure Food Scarcity through Sustainable Resources Management in Saudi Arabia.”




The Kingdom has launched its National Water Strategy 2030, which has been prepared according to the principles of integrated water resource management and aims to restructure the country’s water sector and transform it into a more sustainable and efficient one. (MEWA photo)

Another three-year study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the US shows that groundwater is declining around the world. It found that groundwater is dropping rapidly in more than two-thirds of the aquifers, or 71 percent, of 1,700 aquifers studied — three times as many as expected.

Having declined in the 1980s and 1990s, depletion rates have since sped up in the last two decades. In some countries, such as Iran, groundwater decline is widespread. But in parts of Saudi Arabia, groundwater levels have stabilized or even recovered, the report found.

The report demonstrated how the declines of the 1980s and 90s had reversed in 16 percent of the aquifer systems the authors had data for.

For a water-stressed country like Saudi Arabia, substantial public and private sector investment has been made into water and desalination infrastructure to create as much usable water as possible.

One initiative, bin Dakhil said, is the Upper Mega Aquifer System, which is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world. It underlies the extreme deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and crosses borders between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Yemen and the UAE.




Simplified geological map of the Arabian Peninsula showing the extent and outcrop of the principal aquifers of the Upper Mega Aquifer System in Saudi Arabia, considered as one of the largest aquifer systems in the world. (Infographic courtesy of the Hydrogeology Journal)

It is built of several bedrock aquifers or sandstone and karstified limestone aquifers that are then imperfectly hydraulically connected to one another. The main ones are the Wasia-Biyadh sandstone aquifer, and the karstified Umm Er Radhuma and Dammam limestone aquifers.

However, due to good water quality and high yield, these aquifers have been intensively exploited, leading to the depletion of groundwater resources.

In central Saudi Arabia, groundwater levels have declined for decades, but evidence is now emerging that these declines are slowing down due to policy changes. Bin Dakhil told Arab News that the amount of water lost from aquifers is now being reduced.

“Secondly, there has been a lessening of the impact from groundwater withdrawal on rates,” he added, emphasizing the major governmental measures and decrees passed to mitigate the challenge of water scarcity.

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The Kingdom has launched the National Water Strategy 2030, prepared according to the principles of integrated water resource management, with aims to restructure the country’s water sector and transform it into a more sustainable and efficient one.

The strategy, bin Dakhil said, involves a variety of initiatives, including ones that call for irrigation efficiency and water-reducing agriculture practices.

Evidence suggests that laws and regulations to prevent or limit diffuse groundwater pollution from agriculture, and especially their enforcement, are “generally weak,” Hoogeveen said.

“Policies addressing water pollution in agriculture should be part of an overarching agriculture and water policy framework at the national, river basin and aquifer scale,” he added.

In terms of groundwater development, rural electrification has been a principal driver, said Hoogeveen, especially where rural power grids have been extended into areas that would otherwise have relied on diesel fuel or wind energy.

Additionally, advances in solar technology have witnessed the development of solar-powered irrigation systems, adopted at scale to service farming operations.

“However, there is a risk of unsustainable water use if SPIS implementation is not adequately managed and regulated,” he said.

In Saudi Arabia, bin Dakhil said “the deeply rooted use of non-conventional water to mitigate the depletion of non-renewable groundwater by an increased use of renewable water for irrigation.”




CaptionFirst Solar Saudi Arabia and Al Watania Agricultural Company completed a pilot project that uses solar energy to power an irrigation at a farm spread over 300 square kilometers in the Kingdom's northern province of Al Jouf. (Supplied/File)

An example is renewable water that is being pumped from the Dammam region into the agricultural area of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province through a pipeline with a volume exceeding 200 thousand cubic meters per day by the Saudi Irrigation Organization.

Additionally, technical and legislature governance tools have been put in place that include hundreds of groundwater observation wells augmented by the implementation of water by-laws through licenses, metering of groundwater withdrawal and tracking of drilling rigs using smart technology to monitor and measure water quality, conserve water supplies and enable citizens to function efficiently.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is increasing the amount of rainwater harvesting through new dams and efficiently managing existing dams to allocate water to agriculture.

“The Kingdom has also established a center for water efficiency and rationing whose policies target increasing the efficiency of groundwater use and rationing its withdrawals,” said bin Dakhil.




King Fahd Dam, located in Bisha governorate in Asir province, is one of the largest concrete dams in the Middle East. (SPA)

All these measures demonstrate the Kingdom’s steadfast attention to not only its own issues with water scarcity but also the global challenge to use water sustainably.

One of the Kingdom’s main obstacles to achieving sustainable development is the dearth of renewable water resources and the rising demand for water.

With the dedicated measures being taken by both the private and public sectors, the Kingdom has the potential to turn its lack of water into a long-term success story — one that could serve as a model for other countries struggling with water scarcity.

 


‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list
Updated 05 December 2024
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‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list
  • Saudi Arabia supported an Egyptian request to inscribe the Simsimiyya on UNESCO’s list 

RIYADH: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi minister of culture and chairman of the Heritage Preservation Society, has announced the success of including the Simsimiyya musical instrument in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. 

Saudi Arabia supported on Wednesday an Egyptian request to inscribe the Simsimiyya on UNESCO’s list during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Simsimiyya is part of Saudi culture in coastal towns, and is used to play traditional music at weddings and festivals alongside songs narrating stories of sailors and social life near the sea, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The Simsimiyya, which is made from a wooden box or bowl lyre with strings, is also famous in Egypt. 

It is the latest Saudi cultural element to be added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list. Other elements were Saudi Khawlani coffee beans, the art of engraving on metals, the Harees dish, Arabic calligraphy, and the palm tree. 

Simsimiyya has passed down through the generations in Saudi Arabia and become part of the Kingdom’s artistic identity and collective memory, and is still played at cultural and social events, SPA reported.


AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs

AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs
Updated 05 December 2024
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AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs

AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs
  • Arabian Leopard Breeding Center saw the arrival of one female and two male cubs this summer
  • The mother of the cubs, Ward, is six years old, and their father, Baher, is 13 years old

RIYADH: The Saudi Royal Commission for AlUla announced the birth of a rare litter of three Arabian leopard cubs on Wednesday as part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to protect endangered species. 

The triplets, two males and one female, were born at RCU’s Arabian Leopard Breeding Center this summer, which is sponsored by the Arabian Leopard Fund. 

This is the third documented birth of the Arabian leopard in 30 years, and the first in Saudi captivity, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The RCU’s breeding center has been at the forefront of preserving this critically endangered species of big cats. 

One of the center’s missions is to protect and safeguard 30 percent of land and sea habitats for species as part of the Saudi Green Initiative.  

The mother of the Arabian leopard triplets, Ward, is six years old, and their father, Baher, is 13.

Baher was brought to RCU’s center in December 2023 as part of a regional exchange program to enhance the genetic diversity of the Arabian leopard breed. 

The triplets were vaccinated and underwent medical examinations to determine their gender, SPA reported. 

Experts at the RCU’s center said that the two males were showing active behaviors through playing and climbing rocks, while the female appeared calmer and attached to the mother. 

The three of them are expected to stay together with their mother for 18 months.  

The RCU’s breeding center is currently sponsoring the care of 32 leopards. 

In 2024, the center saw the birth of five leopards, following seven births in 2023.


Government-backed upskilling program allows trainees to ‘progress at their own pace’

Government-backed upskilling program allows trainees to ‘progress at their own pace’
Updated 04 December 2024
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Government-backed upskilling program allows trainees to ‘progress at their own pace’

Government-backed upskilling program allows trainees to ‘progress at their own pace’
  • MicroX program emphasizes flexibility
  • Supports learners balancing work, personal commitments

RIYADH: A new Saudi government-backed professional upskilling program allows trainees to “progress at their own pace” and tailor their learning for their own individual needs, a program leader told Arab News.

Saudi Arabia’s Human Capability Development Program recently launched MicroX, a learning program with tailored educational paths aimed at being compatible with rapid changes in the labor market.

In collaboration with the National eLearning Center, or NELC, academic institutions, industry leaders and Sector Skills Councils, MicroX aims to launch 350 microprograms in partnership with universities and employers in specialized sectors within four years.

Hajar Salman Binasfour, deputy director general for empowerment at the National eLearning Center, told Arab News that the initiative emphasized “flexibility and accessibility to support learners balancing work or personal commitments.

“Programs are designed to offer customizable educational paths, allowing participants to progress at their own pace and tailor learning to their schedules,” she said.

Programs are offered in eLearning mode, providing a focused process of learning skills or competencies that ends with an assessment and a certificate.

“The digital delivery of micro-programs enables access to materials and classes both synchronously and asynchronously, accommodating various time zones and schedules,” she said. “This format promotes a seamless learning experience, supported by digital certification to validate achievements.”

The development of the program consists of three phases, which begin “by identifying skills required by employers and stakeholders, guided by data from Sector Skills Councils and analyzed by NELC,” Binasfour said.

“This ensures programs are grounded in the current and future skill landscape. The councils’ collaboration ensures educational content aligns with real-world applications, maintaining program relevance,” she said. “NELC oversees feedback collection, refining program documents and identifying development areas.”

Phase two consists of refining program content, and securing recognition from academic institutions and industry leaders while integrating feedback.

Binasfour said that programs are developed in collaboration with universities, academic experts and industry specialists, ensuring that content remains relevant and practical.

The last stage, phase three, involves program launches and continuous evaluation. Outcomes of certificate holders are assessed, and employer feedback on program effectiveness.

“Phase three launches, monitors and evaluates programs for effectiveness, with assessments from employers and stakeholders ensuring skills meet market expectations. This multi-phase approach ensures MicroX programs remain dynamic, relevant, and capable of equipping learners for evolving job markets.”

MicroX has collaborated with more than 200 partners, including international universities and employers, and enhances the curriculum development and delivery of the microprograms.

“This network ensures programs are industry-aligned, globally recognized, and meet high academic and professional standards. International universities contribute diverse perspectives, research expertise, and academic rigor, ensuring curricula are current with global trends and applicable both locally and internationally,” Binasfour said. “Academic partnerships introduce innovative teaching methods and specialized knowledge that improve learning quality.”

Employers provide insights into workplace requirements, tailoring content to reflect real-world applications.

“This involvement results in hands-on learning opportunities such as case studies, internships and projects, preparing students for immediate transitions to the workforce.”

The success of the “MicroX” initiative will be assessed through a “combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics,” Binasfour said.

“Key indicators include the employability rate of program graduates and their transition into the workforce with relevant skills. The rate of job acquisition or career advancement among graduates will be a primary measure.

“Alignment of acquired skills with labor market demands will be evaluated through feedback from Sector Skills Councils and industry partners. These groups ensure training programs match current and projected industry needs by gathering employer input and analyzing trends,” she said.

Other metrics include the number of partnerships with employers and academic institutions, and the recognition of micro-programs across sectors.

“Broader economic impacts, such as GDP growth attributed to a skilled workforce and reduced government spending on subsidies due to improved employability, will also be considered.”

Binasfour said that success in fostering innovation was measured by the number of patents, new technologies, or other advancements from program participants.

“Learner engagement, completion rates, and feedback on training applicability provide additional insights into program quality and impact, ensuring the initiative meets market needs and supports long-term workforce development,” she said.


Saudi finance minister meets Croatian counterpart in Riyadh

Saudi finance minister meets Croatian counterpart in Riyadh
Updated 04 December 2024
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Saudi finance minister meets Croatian counterpart in Riyadh

Saudi finance minister meets Croatian counterpart in Riyadh

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan met with his Croatian counterpart Marko Primorac at the Zakat, Tax and Customs Conference in Riyadh on Wednesday.

They discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as prominent topics related to global economy and finance, the Saudi minister wrote on X.

He also met separately with his Indonesian counterpart, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Indian Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, to discuss bilateral relations.
 


In pictures: first look at Riyadh’s main metro stations

In pictures: first look at Riyadh’s main metro stations
Updated 04 December 2024
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In pictures: first look at Riyadh’s main metro stations

In pictures: first look at Riyadh’s main metro stations
  • Several Riyadh Metro stations are nothing short of architectural marvels, having been designed by some of the world’s most renowned firms

The Riyadh Metro opened to much fanfare on Sunday, with the promise to cut traffic congestion in the Saudi capital.

Several of its stations are nothing short of architectural marvels, having been designed by some of the world’s most renowned firms.

Arab News took a look at five of the most significant stations, four of which are on the blue line, which opened this week.

King Abdullah Financial District Station

Perhaps the most recognizable of all, the 42,000 sq. meter KAFD Station, was designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects.

The station connects the blue, yellow and purple lines, serving as the terminus for visitors traveling from Riyadh’s airport to the financial district, and a vital hub for those traveling southwards into the city center.

The interior of the King Abdullah Financial District Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)

STC Station

Centrally located, the STC Station connects the blue and red lines and was designed by Germany’s Gerber Architekten.

Inspired by the natural limestone formations in the Tuwaiq mountains that encircle the city, the station has an outdoor plaza area and four levels extending 30 meters below ground.

STC Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)

Qasr Al-Hokm Station

The Qasr Al-Hokm Station connects the blue and orange lines and features a distinctive stainless-steel canopy and outdoor plaza.

It was designed by Norwegian firm Snohetta.

Qasr Al-Hokm Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)

National Museum Station

The 19,400 sq. meter National Museum Station connects the blue and green lines in Riyadh’s Al-Batha neighborhood.

National Museum Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)

Western Station

Riyadh-based international architects Omrania designed the Western Station, located at the site of a former vegetable market at the terminus of the orange line, which is due to open in January.

A computer-generated image of the Western Station on the Riyadh Metro’s orange line which is due to open in January. (Omrania)