Saudi startup boom creates ‘entrepreneurial bridge’ with Egypt

Saudi startup boom creates ‘entrepreneurial bridge’ with Egypt
The Saudi market, characterized by its large size and high consumer purchasing power, presents lucrative opportunities for tech startups. Shutterstock
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Updated 10 November 2024
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Saudi startup boom creates ‘entrepreneurial bridge’ with Egypt

Saudi startup boom creates ‘entrepreneurial bridge’ with Egypt

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s thriving startup ecosystem has created an entrepreneurial bridge with neighboring countries, attracting a growing number of founders to the nation.

This trend is particularly pronounced among Egyptian tech entrepreneurs, drawn by market potential, government initiatives, and abundant funding opportunities.

The Saudi market, characterized by its large size and high consumer purchasing power, presents lucrative opportunities for tech startups.

Additionally, Vision 2030 and various entrepreneurship support programs have fostered a stimulating environment for innovation.

“Saudi Arabia’s government initiatives and funding opportunities are major attractors for Egyptian tech entrepreneurs,” Motaz Abuonq, CEO and founder of Value Makers Studio, told Arab News.

VMS is a Saudi-based venture studio that supports Egyptian and regional startups with funding opportunities and consulting to boost their entry into the Kingdom.

The entrepreneurial bridge

Abuonq explained that Egyptian entrepreneurs benefit from Saudi Arabia’s advanced infrastructure, simplified regulations, and substantial financial backing from entities such as Saudi Venture Capital Co. These resources provide a robust foundation for startup growth.

“The regulatory environment is being streamlined to attract foreign investment, making it easier for businesses to establish and operate,” Abuonq added.




Motaz Abuonq, CEO and founder of Value Makers Studio. (Supplied)

Extensive funding opportunities are available from both private and public sectors, with many investors leaning toward innovative tech solutions, he added.

Saudi entrepreneurs find Egypt appealing due to its skilled workforce, cost efficiency, and strategic location, Abuonq explained.

Egypt’s position as a gateway to African and Middle Eastern markets and its thriving entrepreneurial community in Cairo enhances its attractiveness.

“Egypt offers a large pool of educated tech professionals and relatively lower operating costs, which are significant advantages for Saudi startups,” noted Abuonq.

Mohammed Al-Zubi, founder and managing partner of Saudi-based VC Nama Ventures, echoed Abuonq’s sentiment about Egypt’s large talent.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Zubi explains that Nama is interested in investing in Egyptian startups due to the size of the market and the vast talent pool.




Mohammed Al-Zubi, founder and managing partner of Saudi-based VC Nama Ventures. (Supplied)

“Egypt is the biggest country in the Arab world in terms of population, and Egyptians are leaders in terms of tech talent and their price per value factor,” he said.

Abuonq further explained that the advanced entrepreneurial community in Cairo, with numerous incubators and accelerators, supports startups and fosters a collaborative environment.

“Cultural and historical ties, including a shared language and similar customs, further ease business operations and collaboration between the two countries,” he added.

Abuonq explained that despite many similarities, the two nations also share differences.

“Saudi Arabia’s decision-making process tends to be more conservative and time-consuming due to multiple approval layers, while Egypt’s regulatory environment, although stable, includes bureaucratic challenges,” Abuonq stated.

“Saudi Arabia is reforming its business laws to attract foreign investment, but navigating these changes can be complex,” he added.

Conversely, Egypt’s regulatory environment may be more stable, but it will also face bureaucratic hurdles.

Intellectual property protection is another differentiator, with Saudi Arabia enhancing its laws under Vision 2030, providing better safeguards for technological innovations compared to Egypt, Abuonq explained.

Nama Ventures has successfully navigated the cultural and regulatory differences between the two countries, facilitating seamless investments in Egyptian startups.

“In terms of Nama, we have been able to seamlessly invest in Egyptian startups just as we do with Saudi startups, in terms of investing using standard investment instruments at the holding level and then having these holding companies own the operating companies in Egypt almost 100 percent,” Al-Zubi said.

Glowing case studies

Success stories exemplify the potential for cross-border entrepreneurship.

“Egyptian startup EYouth has become a notable educational partner for Saudi institutions, while Saudi companies like Mrsool and Foodics have successfully penetrated the Egyptian market, capturing significant market shares and becoming well-known brands,” Abuonq said.

These examples highlight the unique opportunities each market offers. In Saudi Arabia, large projects such as NEOM and Red Sea Global create avenues for AI, renewable energy, and smart city solutions, he added.

Egypt, with its youthful population and numerous innovation hubs, is a fertile ground for new technologies.

“A large segment of young people in Egypt are ready to adopt new technologies, and numerous innovation centers and business incubators support startup growth,” Abuonq said.

Success stories, such as Egyptian last-mile company ShipBlu, demonstrate the potential for cross-border entrepreneurship. Al-Zubi highlighted ShipBlu as an example of a great bet by Nama Ventures, attributing its success to the complementary nature of its leadership team.

Several startups have announced plans to expand to the Saudi market this year with the latest being Egypt’s e-commerce marketplace Kemitt.

In February, Egyptian fintech Khazna also announced its plans to enter the Saudi market through a partnership with Khwarizmi Ventures.

Two months later, Egyptian group-buying startup Waffarha secured a seven-figure seed round from VMS, enabling it to initiate its plans to expand to the Saudi market.

Egypt’s artificial intelligence firm Intella has also seen significant growth in the Kingdom, enough to relocate its headquarters to Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Arab News last year, Nour Taher, CEO of Intella, said that the Kingdom is becoming a hub for tech companies.

“Saudi Arabia is currently our largest market with 70 percent of our business coming from there. We have just taken the decision to relocate our HQ there to better serve our existing clients and further expand our business. We are also inspired and aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” she said.

Crossing the bridge

To address expansion challenges, thorough market research, regulatory compliance, and cultural adaptation are essential.

Abuonq emphasized the importance of building partnerships and hiring local consultants to navigate regulations.

“Understanding local consumer behavior and adapting business strategies to align with cultural differences are crucial for success,” he advised.

Building partnerships with local companies can facilitate market entry while hiring local legal and business consultants can help navigate regulations and ensure compliance with the law, he explained.

Enhancing partnerships between the Saudi and Egyptian tech ecosystems requires strategic initiatives such as bilateral trade agreements, transnational incubators, and joint ventures, as well as cultural exchange programs and joint innovation platforms.

“Governments and organizations should facilitate cross-border operations and create platforms for startups to collaborate and share technological advancements,” Abuonq suggested.

He added that joint ventures and partnerships between companies from both countries can leverage strengths and market insights, and cultural exchange programs can promote understanding and collaboration among entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

In his experience assisting Egyptian tech entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, Abuonq identified regulatory navigation, market adaptation, and cultural sensitivity as primary challenges.

Helping startups understand and comply with complex and evolving regulations in Saudi Arabia is crucial, as is assisting them in adapting their products and services to meet local market needs and consumer behavior.

“Ensuring startups are culturally sensitive and adaptable in their business practices is another significant challenge,” he noted.

For Al-Zubi, fostering stronger partnerships between the Saudi and Egyptian tech sector involves enhancing exposure to each country’s entrepreneurial landscape.

“Any effort that strengthens exposure to each ecosystem’s startups is a positive effort in our opinion,” he stated, aligning with the strategic initiatives suggested by Abuonq.

Addressing the challenges and opportunities in assisting Egyptian startups expanding into Saudi Arabia, Al-Zubi emphasized the importance of a strong foundation.

“I would highly encourage Egyptian startups to scale to Saudi from a position of strength, not weakness,” he advised.

He further stressed the need for these startups to demonstrate success in their native market and ensure that their business models are functioning in a healthy fashion before considering expansion into Saudi Arabia. “It should be a market expansion strategy and not a migration play,” Al-Zubi added.


Oil Updates – crude climbs as Assad’s fall brings more uncertainty to Middle East

Oil Updates – crude climbs as Assad’s fall brings more uncertainty to Middle East
Updated 31 sec ago
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Oil Updates – crude climbs as Assad’s fall brings more uncertainty to Middle East

Oil Updates – crude climbs as Assad’s fall brings more uncertainty to Middle East

TOKYO/SINGAPORE: Oil prices climbed on Monday after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime introduced greater uncertainty to the Middle East, although the gains were capped by a waning demand outlook for the coming year.

Brent crude futures rose 36 cents, or 0.51 percent, to $71.48 per barrel by 10:23 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 37 cents, or 0.55 percent, to $67.57 per barrel.

Syrian rebels announced on state television on Sunday they had ousted President Assad, eliminating a 50-year family dynasty in a lightning offensive that raised fears of a new wave of instability in a region already gripped by war.

“The development in Syria has added a new layer of political uncertainty in the Middle East, providing some support to the market,” said Tomomichi Akuta, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.

“But Saudi Arabia’s price reductions and OPEC+’s production cut extension last week underscored weak demand from China, indicating the market may soften toward year-end,” he said, noting that investors are watching for early signs of any impact on the markets from US President-elect Donald Trump’s expected energy and Middle East policies.

Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest crude oil exporter, has reduced its January 2025 prices for Asian buyers to the lowest level since early 2021, it said on Sunday, as weak demand from top importer China weighs on the market.

On Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, pushed back the start of oil output increases by three months until April, and extended the full unwinding of production cuts by a year until the end of 2026.

OPEC+, responsible for about half of the world’s oil output, was planning to start unwinding cuts from October 2024, but a slowdown in global demand — especially from top crude importer China — and rising output elsewhere have forced it to postpone the plan several times.

The number of oil and gas rigs deployed in the US last week also hit the highest since mid-September, pointing to rising output from the world’s biggest crude producer.

With a supply surplus looming next year, both Brent and WTI posted losses for the past two straight weeks.

As prices slid, money managers raised their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Dec. 3, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Friday.

Investors are bracing for a data-packed week, including a key US inflation report on Wednesday that will provide more clues for the Federal Reserve’s plans for interest rates.

ANZ analysts said in a note on Monday that even additional Fed rate cuts are unlikely to alleviate oil market concerns about weakening global economic growth and its impact on demand.

Also, Beijing will host a conference this week where policymakers are expected to chart the course for the country’s economy in 2025.

China’s consumer inflation hit a five-month low in November while factory deflation persisted, data showed on Monday, suggesting efforts to shore up faltering economic demand are having limited impact. 


Saudi Arabia launches national sustainability committee

Saudi Arabia launches national sustainability committee
Updated 08 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia launches national sustainability committee

Saudi Arabia launches national sustainability committee

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the first national sustainability committee to drive a green economy and integrate environmentally forward business practices.

On Dec. 8, the Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of its first committee on its X platform, with Khaled bin Abdulrahman Al-Othman appointed as chairman and Nouf bint Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi selected as vice chairman.

The Kingdom shares the environmental challenges witnessed in many other countries, mainly stemming from rapid industrialization and population growth.

In response, Saudi Arabia is taking decisive action to tackle climate change, protect its environment, and reduce carbon emissions, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Aligned with international climate pacts such as the Paris Agreement, the nation is committed to mitigating the effects of climate change. The Kingdom, with its arid climate and vast desert terrain, is especially vulnerable to these environmental impacts.

To combat these challenges, the Saudi Green Initiative was launched in 2021, with goals to reduce carbon emissions, plant 10 billion trees, and protect 30 percent of the country’s land and marine areas.

The SGI represents a shift from vision to implementation, with over 80 initiatives launched, backed by a $188 billion investment. These undertakings cover key areas such as afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and emissions reduction.

The Kingdom is also progressing toward its goal of becoming the world’s leading producer and exporter of hydrogen, with plans to sequester 27 million tonnes of CO2 annually by producing 4 million tonnes of clean hydrogen.

Saudi Arabia has made impressive strides in transitioning to clean energy. In the past year, it connected 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy to the national grid, raising its total renewable capacity to 4.1 GW.

Additionally, four new gas-fired power plants have been commissioned, increasing the share of electricity production from natural gas to 50 percent by 2030.

The SGI has also driven significant progress in land rehabilitation, with over 95 million trees planted and 111,000 hectares of land restored — equivalent to over 172,000 football fields. Through these efforts, the Kingdom is well on its way to creating a sustainable and green economy.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,955 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,955 
Updated 08 December 2024
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,955 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 11,955 
  • Parallel market Nomu gained 313.47 points, or 1.01%, to close at 31,215.27
  • MSCI Tadawul Index gained 2.47 points, or 0.17%, to close at 1,497.49

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Sunday, gaining 23.39 points, or 0.20 percent, to close at 11,955.24.  

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.58 billion ($1.22 billion), as 158 of the stocks advanced and 70 retreated.     

Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 313.47 points, or 1.01 percent, to close at 31,215.27. This comes as 58 of the listed stocks advanced, while 29 retreated.     

The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 2.47 points, or 0.17 percent, to close at 1,497.49.      

The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR0.33.    

Other top performers included MBC Group Co., whose share price rose 5.31 percent to SR57.50 as well as Saudi Chemical Co., whose share price surged 4.9 percent to SR10.28.  

Dr. Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital Co. recorded the biggest drop, falling 3.81 percent to SR68.20.  

National Co. for Learning and Education also saw its stock prices falling 3.67 percent to SR230.80.  

Meanwhile, Bawan Co. also saw its stock prices drop 2.92 percent to SR48.15. 

On the announcement front, Jahez International Co. for Information System Technology said it will list and begin trading its shares on the main Saudi market next Tuesday following its transfer from the parallel market, Nomu. 

Sure Global Tech Co. announced it has signed a project to renew service licenses and provide technical support for applications with a governmental entity. According to a Tadawul statement, the project’s value exceeds 9 percent of the company’s revenue for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, inclusive of value-added tax. 

The project involves developing and maintaining applications for the governmental entity, including licensing, maintenance, technical support, and system development. The contract spans 850 days and is expected to positively impact the company’s financial statements in 2025 and 2026.  

Sure Global Tech Co. ended the session at SR87.50, down 1.14 percent. 

The Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Co. announced it has received approval from the Insurance Authority to renew its license for insurance and reinsurance activities.  

MEDGULF’s stock closed at SR21.10, up 0.95 percent. 

Meanwhile, Yanbu Cement Co.’s Board of Directors approved the distribution of SR78.75 million in cash dividends to shareholders for the second half of 2024. A bourse filing revealed that 157.5 million shares are eligible for a dividend of SR0.5 per share, representing 5 percent of the share’s par value.  

Yanbu Cement Co. closed at SR23.92, up 2.93 percent. 


Saudi Arabia achieves major financial milestone with IPSAS adoption

Saudi Arabia achieves major financial milestone with IPSAS adoption
Updated 08 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia achieves major financial milestone with IPSAS adoption

Saudi Arabia achieves major financial milestone with IPSAS adoption
  • Announcement was made during the Saudi Public Sector Accounting Forum in Riyadh
  • Forum highlighted Kingdom’s transition to accrual-based accounting and its adoption of IPSAS

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant milestone in public financial management by successfully transitioning to International Public Sector Accounting Standards on an accrual basis.

This move highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to modernizing its public sector financial practices as part of its Vision 2030 agenda.

The adoption of these global standards underscores Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and decision-making within its government operations. The announcement was made during the Saudi Public Sector Accounting Forum, held on Dec. 8 in Riyadh, under the patronage of Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan.

Speaking at the event, Abdulaziz Al-Furaih, chairman of the steering committee at the Ministry of Finance, said: “Today marks a significant milestone, made possible by the unwavering support of our visionary leadership, which has fully backed this strategic national project.”

The forum highlighted Saudi Arabia’s transition to accrual-based accounting and its adoption of IPSAS.

Ian Carruthers, chairman of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board, emphasized that the Kingdom’s success was driven by Vision 2030 and the strong leadership of the Ministry of Finance.

Abdullah Al-Mehthil, assistant deputy minister of finance for policies and governance, explained: “Accrual accounting enhances the Kingdom’s ability to make strategic decisions by providing detailed insights into long-term financial obligations and improving the overall quality of financial reporting.”

A key focus of the forum was the cultural transformation needed within the public sector to sustain these changes. Mohammed Al-Nwaiser, assistant deputy minister for financial affairs and accounts at the Ministry of Finance, stressed the importance of evolving financial practices to ensure long-term sustainability following the transition.

Abdullah Majrashi, CEO of the Financial Skills Center, emphasized the center’s role in improving financial literacy and building capacity within the public sector workforce. Ross Smith, program leader and technical director at IPSASB, noted that while resistance to such transitions often stems from knowledge gaps, Saudi Arabia has made remarkable progress through its well-structured approach.

Hamad Al-Kanhal, deputy minister of finance for financial affairs and accounts, discussed the broader significance of the transformation, stating, “This is not just the implementation of an accounting standard; it is a comprehensive change management process that requires continuous commitment and collaboration across all relevant entities.”

He further emphasized that the shift would enable the government to manage its financial resources more efficiently and achieve its strategic objectives.

At the forum’s conclusion, several government entities were honored through the “Pioneers of Accrual Accounting” award program.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, King Saud University, and the Saudi Water Authority received the Diamond Award for their excellence in business continuity following the transition and for issuing interim financial statements.

Other awards included recognition for governance and project management to the Digital Government Authority, innovative solutions to the National Center for Waste Management, and technological enablement to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

The forum, which coincided with Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the IPSASB meetings, attracted over 600 attendees, including local and international experts, standard-setting legislators, and leaders from various Saudi government entities.


KAUST drives Vision 2030 with groundbreaking sustainability efforts 

KAUST drives Vision 2030 with groundbreaking sustainability efforts 
Updated 08 December 2024
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KAUST drives Vision 2030 with groundbreaking sustainability efforts 

KAUST drives Vision 2030 with groundbreaking sustainability efforts 
  • KAUST’s Accelerating Impact Strategy focuses on translating research into practical innovations, directly aligning with Vision 2030
  • KAUST is spearheading innovations in agriculture, energy, and water management, sectors vital to the Kingdom’s future

RIYADH: With a vision that merges innovative research and practical solutions, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is shaping the future of Saudi Arabia by tackling sustainability challenges and driving economic innovation.   

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16 in Riyadh, Sir Edward Byrne, the president of KAUST, emphasized the university’s critical role in achieving the Kingdom’s ambitious goals.  

Sir Edward Byrne, President of KAUST.

“KAUST has two major contributions to make: brilliant science to validate the principles and the direction forward, and technology implementation to enable the journey,” he said.   

KAUST’s Accelerating Impact Strategy focuses on translating research into practical innovations, directly aligning with Vision 2030.     

The university’s initiatives are addressing pressing environmental challenges, fostering economic development, and positioning KAUST as a global research leader.   

“We have several hundred projects currently geared to the environmental needs of the Kingdom,” Byrne said.    

Turning vision into reality    

KAUST is spearheading innovations in agriculture, energy, and water management, sectors vital to Saudi Arabia’s future.    

The university’s Center for Sustainable Food Production is developing salt-resistant crops and advanced soil technologies to enhance dryland farming.   

“Our researchers are making better soil that holds water, enabling efficient farming with minimal resources,” Byrne said.  

In energy, KAUST is pioneering clean energy generation and battery storage solutions.   

“We’ve signed a memorandum on cryogenic carbon capture with the Ministry of Energy, showing how we can safely store carbon while transitioning to a diverse energy mix,” Byrne said. 

These innovations are not years away but are being developed and implemented now, benefiting both the Kingdom and the global community. 

Water sustainability is another priority. KAUST is exploring methods to reduce the energy cost of desalination by up to 90 percent. “Generating water is incredibly energy-intensive,” Byrne said.    

He added: “We’re looking at ways to make it far more efficient, which is crucial for the Kingdom’s sustainability goals.”   

KAUST’s contributions extend beyond the lab and into real-world applications, as Byrne highlighted partnerships with key entities such as SABIC, Saudi Aramco, and the Saudi Electricity Co., which are leveraging KAUST’s expertise to scale transformative technologies. 

Research backed by collaboration    

Prof. Sami Al-Ghamdi, a leading expert in environmental impact research at KAUST, highlighted the importance of collaboration.   

“Addressing sustainability and environmental issues requires partnerships,” Al-Ghamdi said.   

He added: “We work with ministries, companies like NEOM, and stakeholders to ensure our research translates into actionable solutions.”   

Al-Ghamdi stressed KAUST’s role in bridging the gap between science and implementation stating: “We don’t just create academic papers. We develop solutions that can be applied locally, nationally, and internationally.”   

For example, KAUST is advancing the Red Sea research agenda, previously underexplored, to tackle global challenges related to energy, water, and food security.   

Through startups and innovations, the university is driving real-world applications of its research.   

“We’re transforming lab research into market-ready solutions, addressing issues like climate and environmental sustainability,” Al-Ghamdi said.    

He pointed out that KAUST is also playing a significant role in promoting green jobs, aligning with global trends in sustainability-focused employment.    

Monitoring sustainability   

Prof. Matthew McCabe is at the forefront of KAUST’s Earth Observation Dashboard, a tool that monitors land degradation and restoration in real time.   

Prof. Matthew McCabe.

“We are looking for planetary variables that we can turn data into actionable intelligence. And that’s going to be of use for things like the Saudi Green Initiative and the African Forest Restoration Project,” McCabe said.   

The dashboard provides independent verification of restoration efforts, a critical need as global agreements like the Kunming-Montreal Protocol call for restoring 30 percent of land by 2030. 

“You will be aware that in COP there’s a number of targets and policies that have been signed by representative countries. The Kunming-Montreal Protocol, for instance, calls for the restoration of 30 percent of land by 2030,” McCabe said.     

He continued: “Their targets and signatures on pages. What we actually need is independent verification that these activities and actions are actually happening. The beauty of having a platform in space is that it can see everything. It sees everywhere. There’s no country that it’s not passing over at some point in time.”  

McCabe underscored the economic benefits of restoring ecosystems noting: “I think having a healthy environment is the centerpiece of a prosperous economy. Full stop, so certainly there's going to be a huge explosion in green jobs.”   

The platform’s capabilities extend beyond Saudi Arabia. “We’re using lessons learned here to support large-scale projects like Africa’s AFA100, which aims to restore 100 million hectares,” McCabe stated. 

He added: “We have shown we can get these actionable insights, turning data into knowledge. We’ve shown that we can do that here in the Kingdom. What we want to do is translate and scale that to everywhere, and we’re working with partners around the world.” 

This scalability ensures that innovations developed at KAUST can benefit global environmental restoration initiatives.    

Addressing land degradation   

In another interview with Arab News, Prof. Fernando Maestre’s work focused on land conservation through SAUDINet, a network dedicated to sustainable land management, stressed that land is fundamental for achieving sustainability. 

“Our projects improve restoration activities and monitor biodiversity and carbon sequestration across Saudi ecosystems,” Maestre said.   

One critical gap Maestre’s team is addressing is the lack of data on soil organic carbon in arid regions.   

“There is a lack of data from Saudi Arabia, for instance, and for many other arid and hyperactive regions. One of the key objectives of our research program is to contribute to fill this gap, providing reliable data obtaining and standardize manner across major Saudi ecosystems on soil carbon,” he said.  

Maestre added: “Another key component for research is to provide the ground data that are needed to validate remote sensing approaches that are currently being used to monitor biodiversity and to characterize vegetation productivity, to achieving land degradation neutrality.”   

By combining advanced satellite technology with ground data, Maestre’s research supports both local and global sustainability efforts.   

However, Maestre emphasized the importance of local engagement. “Satellites won’t plant trees or move camels,” he said,  

He added: “We listen to local stakeholders and integrate their knowledge with cutting-edge science to create effective solutions.” 

Maestre’s approach involves building partnerships with local and international collaborators.   

“Collaboration is key to addressing global challenges. By working with over 200 scientists from 25 countries, we bring a global perspective to local issues,” he added.    

His team’s efforts are helping bridge the gap between research and real-world application, ensuring that science informs policy and practice effectively.    

A bright future ahead

Since its founding 15 years ago, KAUST has established itself as a global research powerhouse.   

“KAUST is only 15 years old in an incredibly short period of time, it’s recognized globally as one of the world’s truly great research universities that draws incredible engineering and scientific talent into the kingdom, and that’s happening in an ongoing way,” Byrne said. 

KAUST’s groundbreaking contributions are already transforming Saudi Arabia’s view on global science.    

Byrne emphasized the university’s role as a beacon for attracting scientific talent to the Kingdom. “KAUST’s success shows that Saudi Arabia can develop a world-class research university from the ground up, inspiring other initiatives like NEOM,” he said. 

Looking ahead, KAUST’s commitment to sustainability and innovation will continue to drive progress. 

By addressing challenges in energy, water, food, and land management, the university is ensuring that Saudi Arabia not only meets its Vision 2030 goals but sets an example for the world.  

“KAUST is the third great university I've led, and it is by far the most aligned with the world's needs. The work going on there at the moment to help develop a sustainable future for the planet is in my mind just incredible,” Byrne concluded. 

As the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 goals, KAUST’s role in sustainability, economic development, and innovation is more vital than ever. 

With its unique combination of cutting-edge research, strategic partnerships, and actionable solutions, KAUST is not just shaping the future of Saudi Arabia but also setting a global benchmark for scientific excellence and sustainability.