49th Saudi relief plane for Gazans arrives in Egypt
The food baskets will be transported to Palestinian people inside the Gaza Strip and is part of the Kingdom’s support for them
Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The 49th Saudi relief plane carrying food baskets for Gazans arrived at Egypt’s El Arish International Airport on Tuesday.
The plane was operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The food baskets will be transported to Palestinian people inside the Gaza Strip and is part of the Kingdom’s support for them.
The war in the Strip has pushed much of Gaza’s population to the brink of famine, the UN says, and has devastated its medical facilities, where hospitals, if working at all, are running short of fuel to power generators and other essential supplies.
Saudi king, crown prince donate SAR150 million to Jood Regions campaign
Launched each year during Ramadan, the campaign seeks to provide more than 10,000 housing units for the most needy Saudi families
Updated 14 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman donated a total of SAR150 million to the second Jood Regions Campaign, launched on the occasion of the advent of Ramadan.
The SAR100 million from the king and SAR50 million from the crown prince is in support of housing programs and initiatives aimed at providing homes for needy families in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing its significant impact on the families' quality of life and stability.
“This will have a tremendous and effective impact on providing suitable housing units for the needy families within the Jood Regions Campaign during the month of Ramadan,” he said.
The Jood Regions campaign was first launched during Ramadan 2024 by the non-profit Housing Development Organization “Sakan” to provide more than 10,000 housing units for the most needy families across the Kingdom's 13 provinces.
The campaigns include events to raise awareness and encourage community participation. Organized by local authorities, the campaigns bring together entrepreneurs, leaders, and others to ensure citizens get suitable housing with ease and reliability, fulfilling the goals of developmental housing initiatives.
Saudi Arabia outlines water security achievements at global forum in Indonesia
Integrated, sustainable system serves as model for programs to tackle water scarcity worldwide, Jakarta focus group told
Updated 34 min 13 sec ago
Arab News
JAKARTA: Saudi Arabia has defied its arid desert climate to successfully develop an integrated and sustainable model for water security, a World Water Forum focus group was told on Friday.
The achievement, driven by significant investments in desalination and an extensive water network, has ensured a reliable water supply for the population as well as key commercial sectors, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture told stakeholders in Indonesia.
Deputy Minister for Water, Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts while speaking at a global dialogue session “From Bali to Riyadh and Beyond,“ which was hosted by the World Water Forum in Jakarta on Thursday and Friday.
The session reviewed the outcomes from the 10th World Water Forum, which took place in Bali in May 2024 and gathered leaders, ministers, and officials from 160 countries.
Al-Shaibani emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s sophisticated water system was a testament to the foresight of its leadership and its commitment to sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Addressing global water challenges, he called for greater international collaboration to develop innovative and sustainable solutions, recognizing water as a fundamental pillar of stability and development.
Saudi Arabia valued knowledge-sharing through platforms such as the World Water Forum to tackle water scarcity worldwide, Al-Shaibani said.
Kingdom expands support for Yemen’s cholera crisis with $2m agreement with WHO
Deal signed during fourth annual Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum
Updated 44 min 13 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strengthened its efforts to combat Yemen’s ongoing cholera crisis with a new $2 million cooperation agreement between the Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the World Health Organization.
Signed during the fourth annual Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, the agreement was formalized by Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz, KSrelief’s assistant supervisor for operations and programs, and Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the regional director of WHO, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This latest contribution raises Saudi Arabia’s total financial support for cholera response efforts in Yemen to $5 million.
The funding will be used to provide hospitals and health centers with essential medical supplies, including medicines, intravenous solutions, and antibiotics. In addition to medical aid, the initiative will support environmental sanitation, water management, and community education programs.
The agreement will also boost vaccination campaigns led by WHO aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
Yemen has been grappling with one of the world’s worst cholera outbreaks since the beginning of the country’s civil war in 2014.
The country’s fragile healthcare system, which has been devastated by years of war, has struggled to contain repeated waves of the disease.
Cholera, which spreads through contaminated water and food, has infected over 2 million people in Yemen since 2017, with thousands of deaths recorded, many of them children.
Saudi Arabia delivers 330 housing units in Tunisia as part of $150m development project
The housing units form part of the initial phase of a larger project aimed at providing 4,715 social housing units across multiple Tunisian governorates
Updated 01 March 2025
Arab News
TUNIS: Saudi Arabia has handed over 330 newly constructed housing units in Tunisia’s Ben Arous governorate, marking a significant milestone in a broader social housing initiative supported by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The delivery ceremony was overseen by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Abdulaziz Al-Saqr and Tunisian Minister of Equipment and Housing Sarah Zaafrani.
The housing units form part of the initial phase of a larger project aimed at providing 4,715 social housing units across multiple Tunisian governorates, backed by $150 million in concessional financing from the SFD.
Tunisian Minister Zaafrani thanked the Saudi government for its steadfast commitment to supporting Tunisia’s development efforts.
She emphasized that the Kingdom’s contributions play a crucial role in improving living conditions and fostering economic growth.
Al-Saqr extended his congratulations to the beneficiary families, highlighting the Kingdom’s dedication to enhancing quality of life through sustainable development initiatives.
He underscored Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for key sectors in Tunisia, particularly housing and health care, through funding provided by the SFD.
Why Saudi Arabia is ditching plastic bottles in favor of tap water
Refill stations and home filtration offer sustainable alternatives to bottled water as 65 percent of Saudis worry about plastic’s health risks
Solutions like Wisewell’s smart filtration system can build trust in tap water by providing real-time data on water quality and usage
Updated 01 March 2025
MANAL AL-BARAKATI
RIYADH: Plastic consumption remains a deeply ingrained part of daily life in Saudi Arabia. However, growing public awareness and innovative solutions have brought the country to a crossroads in its sustainability journey.
Each year, 5 billion plastic water bottles are discarded in Saudi Arabia, of which less than 5 percent are recycled.
Despite mounting public concern about the environmental impact of plastic waste, 77 percent of Saudis continue to rely on bottled water as their main source of hydration, according to a study by Wisewell, a UAE-based water technology company.
Sami Khoreibi, founder and CEO of Wisewell, refers to this contradiction as “the plastic paradox” — a term that captures the disconnect between environmental concerns and real-world behavior.
“People know the risks, they’re aware of the damage, but they don’t feel like they have an alternative,” he told Arab News. “And until now, they really haven’t.”
Unlike other materials, plastic does not biodegrade and can take up to 1,000 years to break down, according to the UN Environment Program. As it accumulates, it pollutes ecosystems, harms marine life, degrades soil, contaminates groundwater, and poses serious health risks.
Plastic waste wash ashore in the beach next to the Panama Canal. (Shutterstock file photo)
However, Saudi taste for bottled water is not entirely by choice. Khoreibi says Saudi residents have historically tended to prefer bottled water due to a lack of viable alternatives.
“For decades, tap water hasn’t been widely trusted for drinking,” he said. “And filtration solutions, when available, have either been too complex, lacked transparency, or weren’t positioned as a real replacement for bottled water.”
DID YOU KNOW?
• Producing and transporting 1 kg of bottled water uses 27 kg of water, 0.85 kg of fossil fuel, and emits 562 grams of greenhouse gases.
• Chemicals like BPA in plastic bottles are linked to health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
• Bottled water’s environmental impact is up to 3,500 times greater than tap water.
Saudi Arabia ensures tap water safety through advanced desalination and strict quality control. Due to its arid climate and absence of permanent rivers, about 60 percent of the country’s potable water comes from desalination, with the rest from non-renewable groundwater.
However, a mix of distrust in tap water, limited filtration options, and the extreme climate driving high hydration needs has led to a system where single-use plastic bottles are the default.
Fortunately, this is not an irreversible trend. “This is a region that has transformed itself time and time again,” said Khoreibi. “If we can shift from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified one, we can absolutely change the way people consume water.”
People drinking from plastic bottles everyday are exposing themselves to microplastics daily, say scientists. (Shutterstock photo)
Beyond environmental damage, microplastics and nanoplastics also threaten public health.
Studies show that particles shed from plastic bottles over time have entered human food systems and even the bloodstream. Scientists are now linking microplastic exposure to fertility issues, neurological disorders, and other health concerns.
Khoreibi believes health concerns will be the biggest driver of change. “People care about the planet, but let’s be honest — what really moves people is personal health,” he said.
“If you’re drinking from plastic bottles, you’re exposing yourself to microplastics daily. And what we’re seeing in new research is alarming — these particles are showing up in human organs, even in unborn babies.
“This isn’t just an environmental issue anymore. It’s a human health crisis.”
To cut single-use plastics and triple recycling targets by 2030, the Saudi government has launched numerous initiatives under Vision 2030. (Shutterstock)
A recent survey by Wisewell found that 65 percent of Saudi residents are already concerned about the health implications of plastic consumption. However, many have continued using bottled water because no widely trusted alternative has been available.
, including banning plastic bags and straws as part of its intensified sustainability efforts.
Khoreibi stresses that tackling plastic waste at its source is more effective than relying solely on recycling. “The best way to increase recycling rates is actually to reduce what needs to be recycled in the first place,” he said.
“We don’t need more efficient ways to deal with plastic waste — we need to eliminate single-use plastic bottles entirely.”
Khoreibi drew a direct parallel between the rise of sustainable water solutions and the early development of solar energy in the region. In 2007, he launched Abu Dhabi’s first solar company at a time when the idea of using solar power in an oil-rich country was met with skepticism.
“They thought it was crazy,” he said. “Why would a country with so much oil invest in solar? But fast forward a few years, and now solar is a key part of the energy mix.”
He added: “The same thing will happen with water — the idea that you need bottled water for safety and quality is a myth that’s going to disappear.”
Alternative solutions such as refill stations, biodegradable packaging, and home filtration systems are already transforming how people access clean water. Wisewell, for example, has developed a smart filtration system that provides real-time data on water quality, filter life, and consumption patterns.
Khoreibi believes trust is key to adoption. “Filtration isn’t new, but people need to see and understand that it works,” he said. “That’s why our system gives users real-time data — they can actually monitor their water quality, so there’s no more mystery about what they’re drinking.”
Saudi Arabia offers a prime landscape for shifting from bottled water consumption to sustainable alternatives. With one of the world’s youngest populations, the country is eager for innovation.
Additionally, the government is actively promoting sustainability and technology, while consumer awareness about plastic waste and microplastics is at an all-time high.
Recognizing this shift, Wisewell has recently entered the Saudi market. The expansion aligns with Vision 2030’s environmental goals, offering Saudi households a sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles.
Sami Khoreibi, founder and CEO of Wisewell. (Supplied)
Khoreibi sees this as a crucial step in reducing the Kingdom’s reliance on single-use plastics. “This is one of the most exciting markets in the world right now for sustainability-driven solutions,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia is undergoing massive change, and there’s a real appetite for innovation. We’re not just launching a product — we’re helping drive a movement.”
Nonetheless, consumer education remains a challenge. “It’s not just about giving people an alternative — it’s about making them feel confident in it,” Khoreibi said.
“They need to believe that a filtration-based system is not just an option, but the best option for their health, their convenience, and their wallets.”
Filtration plant developed by a team from the reuse unit invented at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. (AN file photo)
Khoreibi views Saudi Arabia’s embrace of sustainable water solutions as part of a broader regional shift, positioning the Gulf not just as an importer of innovation but as a driver of global solutions.
“For so long, we’ve looked to the West for technology,” he said. “Is it German? Is it American? Is it Japanese? But that’s changing. The Gulf is now producing world-class technology — not just for itself, but for export.
“The future of sustainable water solutions doesn’t have to come from Europe or North America. It can come from here.”
Saudi Arabia has the potential to lead the region in eliminating single-use plastics, setting a precedent for neighboring countries. A successful effort would not only address its own plastic crisis but also help shape the global conversation on water consumption and sustainability.
“This isn’t just about stopping plastic waste,” Khoreibi said. “It’s about rethinking the way we consume water entirely. And Saudi Arabia has the power to lead that change.”