How Saudi Arabia is pioneering soil quality and water conservation solutions

Special How Saudi Arabia is pioneering soil quality and water conservation solutions
A layer of SandX applied like mulch over wet soil greatly reduces evaporation. (KAUST/Terraxy photo)
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Updated 22 March 2025
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How Saudi Arabia is pioneering soil quality and water conservation solutions

How Saudi Arabia is pioneering soil quality and water conservation solutions
  • SandX is a biodegradable sand coating that reduces water evaporation by 80 percent using nature-inspired technology
  • CarboSoil is a breakthrough in soil amendment and carbon capture, enhancing plant growth and reducing emissions

JEDDAH: For more than a decade Saudi Arabia has invested in sustainability, implementing groundbreaking initiatives to combat desertification, improve soil quality and preserve water.

These efforts are transforming the Kingdom’s landscape, aligning with the broader goals of the Saudi Green Initiative.

One of the most ambitious projects is King Salman Park in Riyadh — one of the world’s largest urban parks. The initiative focuses on increasing green spaces, restoring soil health and mitigating the urban heat island effect.

Native tree planting and sustainable water management systems are key components, ensuring long-term environmental benefits.

Meanwhile, on the Kingdom’s east coast, Saudi Aramco has spearheaded efforts to manage soil erosion, improve water retention and enhance biodiversity.

But it is in the laboratories of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology where cutting-edge technology is shaping the future of sustainable soil solutions.




Terraxy technology in the lab. (KAUST photo)

Himanshu Mishra, an associate professor at KAUST, has spent the last decade addressing some of Saudi Arabia’s biggest environmental challenges. A specialist in water properties, his early research led him to an eye-opening realization about the Kingdom’s water usage.

“When I came to Saudi Arabia, I learned about the stress on water,” Mishra told Arab News. “Somebody told me that 80 percent of Saudi Arabia’s water is used for food production, yet (the country) is importing most of its food. That just blew my mind. I was disturbed by it.”

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Inspired by nature’s ability to repel water, Mishra co-founded SandX, a biodegradable, water-repellent sand coating designed to reduce water evaporation.

The technology mimics nature’s super water-repellent surfaces — like butterfly wings and bird feathers — to create a revolutionary material.

“This material, it hates water. It absolutely hates water,” said Mishra. “This is SandX, and water doesn’t penetrate it.




Screen grab from a video showing KAUST researchers applying Carbosoil at a SandX testing site. (KAUST video)

Each grain of SandX is coated with a nanoscale layer of biodegradable paraffin wax, reducing water evaporation by over 80 percent without the use of plastics. “Bacteria will eat the wax, so SandX will become sand again,” Mishra said.

“No one has ever done this in Saudi Arabia. We are the engineers, the first ones to do that. We are pioneers in this.”

Water scarcity, however, is only part of the challenge. “Do you know how old this water is?” Mishra asked, holding up a bottle. “This water is older than our planet. We have limited water resources, but we still have some resources. What we don’t have (are) fertile soils.”




Himanshu Mishra. (Supplied)

Green spaces in Saudi Arabia are heavily dependent on imported peat moss, he said, a practice that is not only expensive but also counterproductive to sustainability.

“You import so much peat moss every year — it’s a multi-million-dollar market. And you rely on these imports. It defeats the whole purpose of sustainability.”

To address this, Mishra developed CarboSoil, a groundbreaking soil amendment and carbon capture technology derived from organic waste.




A layer of SandX applied like mulch over wet soil greatly reduces evaporation. (KAUST/Terraxy photo)

Unlike traditional compost, which eventually releases carbon back into the air, CarboSoil locks carbon into the soil while enhancing plant growth.

“This is the only technology known to humanity that does soil amendment and carbon capture at the same time,” he said.

Field trials for CarboSoil are ongoing, with production scaling up following a KAUST Innovation and Economic Development grant. Mishra believes the impact will be transformative.

“Our technology will contribute to food production and greening projects in arid regions,” he said. “When you apply it on plants, they grow bigger and stronger — like 60 percent bigger, with wider trunks. Enhanced food production. Enhanced yields. That’s additional carbon capture.”




Oil palm waste. (Getty Images)

Looking ahead, Mishra envisions Saudi Arabia leading the world in carbon dioxide removal.

“I can guarantee you that as we continue to scale up this production under the stewardship of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, in less than five years, Saudi Arabia will be ranked number one in carbon dioxide removal deliveries on the planet.”

The startup’s ambitions extend far beyond the Kingdom. “Right now, our goal is to contribute to the landscaping and green sector in the Kingdom,” he said.

“In phase three, we start building factories for poultry farms, date farms, and other industries. Phase four is we will expand to the wider Middle East.”
 

 


NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation

NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation
Updated 5 sec ago
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NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation

NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation
  • Project is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts under its COP16 presidency and aligned with initiatives to address climate challenges
  • Plan aims to strengthen national resilience against desertification and drought by developing and implementing effective strategies

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, or NCVC, has launched an executive plan for combating desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation.

The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts under its COP16 presidency and in alignment with global initiatives to address environmental and climate challenges.

According to an NCVC press release, the plan aims to strengthen national resilience against desertification and drought by developing and implementing effective strategies that align with national policies, regional initiatives and international commitments. 

It focuses on formulating sustainable policies and programs based on a comprehensive assessment of current conditions, global practices and an integrated approach to natural resource management, the statement said.

In addition to enhancing readiness and response mechanisms, the plan seeks to develop early warning systems, implement mitigation and adaptation strategies, and foster cooperation among relevant entities in planning and execution. 

It also includes efforts to establish sustainable financing mechanisms and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and advanced technologies to ensure the successful implementation of its initiatives.

The project consists of two primary scopes: The executive plan for combating desertification and the executive plan for integrated drought management.

NCVC continues its mission to restore and preserve vegetation cover by rehabilitating degraded lands and protecting biodiversity in natural ecosystems, the press release said. 

It also oversees the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands, forests and national parks, combats illegal logging, and safeguards Saudi Arabia’s natural resources. 

These efforts align with its vision to foster a thriving and diverse vegetation cover that promotes environmental sustainability and enhances the quality of life.


Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic

Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic
Updated 39 min 13 sec ago
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Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic

Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic
  • Arabic-first large language model is said to outperform industry leaders on key benchmarks
  • Software understands “nuances of Arabic across multiple dialects and contexts,” founder says

RIYADH: In a market saturated with English-first large language models, Tarjama is flipping the narrative.

The UAE-based technology company today launched its Arabic.AI platform, based on the Pronoia V2 Arabic-first large language model that it claims has outscored industry leaders ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Cohere on key Arabic benchmarks.

Designed to process Arabic with near-human understanding, Pronoia touts itself as a tool for a range of uses including legal analysis, translation and proposal writing.

“It was a big surprise for us that this small model for specific niche tasks, can be better than (ChatGPT) 4o,” Andrii Klyman, senior AI product manager at Tarjama, told Arab News at a recent event in Riyadh.

Founder Nour Al-Hassan in a statement: “For too long, Arabic has remained an afterthought in the global AI landscape,

“We’ve built something fundamentally different—an autonomous system that actually understands the nuances of Arabic across multiple dialects and contexts.”

In testing, Pronoia V2 achieved an average score of 76.8 percent across Arabic language benchmarks, outperforming GPT-4o by more than 18 percentage points.

While the model can handle multilingual text, its strength lies in high-context Arabic. Tarjama has already developed several applications on top of it, including a spell-checker, legal contract analyzer, and its most recent interface, Arabic.AI — a tool for business users.

In one live demo, the system restructured an Arabic contract and highlighted risks based on local law.

In another, a user uploaded a PowerPoint file, and the system not only translated the slides but reversed their direction — adapting layout and language simultaneously.

A third version, Pronoia V3, is now in testing. Tarjama says it will deliver even stronger performance across Arabic dialects and achieve a COMET score above 94 — a key benchmark for translation quality.

Tarjama’s push to dominate Arabic AI is both technical and cultural. For years, the Arabic language has been underserved by leading AI tools, which often fail to understand its grammar, dialects, or even its script direction. Pronoia, by contrast, was purpose-built to fill that gap.


KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility

KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility
Updated 47 min 58 sec ago
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KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility

KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility
  • Project aims to reduce the cost of producing the element to make the process more economically viable
  • Uses a portable solar panel to power a process known as water splitting, which separates the hydrogen atoms from oxygen in water

RIYADH: A research project to improve the feasibility of green hydrogen production has been launched by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Led by Prof. Mohammed Gondal, the project aims to reduce the cost of producing the element to make the process more economically viable.

It uses a portable solar panel to power a process known as water splitting, which separates the hydrogen atoms from oxygen in water.

This setup has several advantages: It operates at a lower energy input compared to traditional electrochemical water splitting, produces valuable byproducts, and utilizes the abundant solar energy available across Saudi Arabia.

The project also uses methanol, the oxidation of which traditionally results in hydrogen and CO2 emissions.

However, KFUPM’s method focuses on selectively converting methanol into valuable chemicals without CO2 emissions, significantly boosting the overall efficiency of the process.

Electrochemical water splitting carries some environmental challenges, as a large amount of energy is required for the reaction and there is a risk of mixing the two gases, hydrogen and oxygen.

Through the project, Gondal was able to overcome major challenges faced in hydrogen production, improving the output and quality of the byproducts such as formate and formic acid.

Looking forward, the project aims to scale up production by interlinking multiple cells, demonstrating the feasibility of industrial-scale green hydrogen generation using locally synthesized materials.

Hydrogen holds potential value as a fuel source for shipping, aviation and the automotive industry.

It can also be used to decarbonize heavy industries, including steel production.

Saudi Arabia is making a significant push into the production of green hydrogen, or hydrogen produced from completely sustainable sources.

It is building one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants at the megacity of NEOM, powered by solar and wind energy.


Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks

Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks
Updated 22 April 2025
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Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks

Riyadh hosts Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker for bilateral talks
  • Parties discuss topics of mutual interest, further strengthening ties
  • Pakistani speaker also met Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh

RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar has received Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the Saudi capital.

The parties discussed topics of mutual interest and further strengthening the strong ties between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Pakistani speaker also met Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh in Riyadh.

Al-Asheikh welcomed Sadiq and his delegation, highlighting the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan at various levels.

He stressed the importance of enhancing ties through effective joint meetings between the Shoura Council and Pakistan’s National Assembly to meet leadership aspirations.

Sadiq praised the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, commending the Kingdom’s continued role in fostering solidarity within the Islamic world and serving Islam and Muslims globally.

The talks covered mutual interests and explored ways to enhance Saudi-Pakistani parliamentary relations.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the Kingdom’s grand mufti and president of the Council of Senior Scholars, also received the Pakistani National Assembly speaker.

The grand mufti, who is also the president of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, stressed the presidency’s role in clarifying Islamic rulings on issues affecting Muslims, including contemporary jurisprudential matters requiring scholarly guidance.

Al-Asheikh also highlighted the commitment to promoting moderation and combating extremism and terrorism, the SPA reported.

Sadiq praised the Kingdom’s vital support for Pakistan on various issues, commending the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.


Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation
Updated 22 April 2025
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Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

Visa overstayers face $13,000 fine, prison, deportation

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia gears up for Hajj 2025, the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday warned that expatriates who fail to leave the Kingdom after their visas expire face heavy penalties.

The ministry announced on X that expatriates may face fines of up to SR50,000 (about $13,000), imprisonment for up to six months, and/or deportation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi Arabia government has appealed to citizens and residents to ensure that their guests who arrived on visit or Umrah visas abide by the regulations.

“Visas of all types — with the exception of the Hajj visa — do not entitle their holder to perform the Hajj pilgrimage,” the ministry stated on X.

Welcoming the decision Osama Ghanem Alobaidy, a law professor in Riyadh, told Arab News the ministry’s decision was “crucial” to ensure visitors comply with the law.

“This move by the Ministry of Interior will help deal with crowd management efficiently, and ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during Hajj,” he added.

Earlier this month, the ministry also warned Hajj and Umrah companies and establishments to adhere to the country’s laws and regulations.

The ministry said that companies or establishments that delay reporting individuals who have failed to leave will be fined up to SR100,000. The fine will be multiplied based on the number of individuals involved.