How Saudi Arabia is making the construction industry greener and more sustainable

A conceptual view of The Line, a project of NEOM in Saudi Arabia's northern region of Tabuk. (Supplied)
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Updated 25 January 2025
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How Saudi Arabia is making the construction industry greener and more sustainable

  • The Kingdom is advancing green construction techniques with cutting-edge technologies, local partnerships, and regulatory support 
  • Red Sea Global, SCG International, VEKR Environmental Services, and SABIC are setting the standard for sustainable construction

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is embracing sustainability as a core element of its Vision 2030 economic reform agenda, driving transformative practices across whole industries.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Kingdom’s construction sector, where innovative solutions and eco-conscious strategies are reshaping the urban landscape.

Through cutting-edge technologies, collaborative efforts and the adoption of environmentally responsible materials, companies like Red Sea Global, SCG International, VEKR Environmental Services and SABIC are setting a high standard for sustainable development.

Red Sea Global has made environmental stewardship a priority across its mega-projects, ensuring that development enhances rather than disrupts the delicate ecosystem.

“At Red Sea Global, we have initiated several critical programs to safeguard endangered species such as the hawksbill turtles and sooty falcons,” Raed Al-Basseet, RSG’s group chief environment and sustainability officer, told Arab News.

“These efforts include habitat conservation, the protection of turtles’ nesting sites, and tagging programs to monitor their behaviors. On birds, we’ve established artificial nesting sites for the sooty falcon and implemented preventive measures to mitigate bird collisions.”




Engineers and construction professionals at a sustainable building site. (AN file)

The organization has also embraced advanced technologies to protect marine ecosystems.

“RSG is leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, including drone surveys equipped with multispectral cameras and satellite imagery for coral reef mapping,” Al-Basseet said.

These tools ensure the real-time monitoring of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, while helping respond swiftly to environmental changes.

DID YOUKNOW?

• Saudi Arabia’s construction sector produces about 38% of the Kingdom’s carbon emissions, highlighting the critical need for sustainable practices.

• Mangroves, like those planted by RSG, can sequester up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests.

• LEED Gold-certified buildings, like SABIC’s Jubail headquarters, consume 30% less energy than traditional buildings.

• 3D-printed construction reduces material waste by up to 60%, significantly lowering environmental impact.

RSG’s achievements extend beyond conservation. The company’s renewable energy initiatives have resulted in the installation of more than 760,500 solar panels, reducing CO2 emissions by 46,350 tonnes annually.

Additionally, its mangrove nursery produced more than 1 million seedlings in 2024, with a target of reaching 3 million this year.

“Our commitment to achieving a net conservation benefit of 30 percent by 2040 is integral to our vision of creating harmonious development,” Al-Basseet added.

Another key player in Saudi Arabia’s sustainability journey is SABIC, a global leader in materials innovation and environmental solutions.




A modern sustainable building with cascading greenery, representing eco-friendly architectural practices that merge design with nature. (AN File)

SABIC’s Jubail headquarters, which has been certified with LEED Gold, stands as a symbol of green construction.

The building incorporates solar energy systems, wind turbines and electric vehicle charging stations, while also utilizing water recycling systems and low-energy lighting controls.

Beyond infrastructure, SABIC is pioneering efforts in carbon capture and utilization. The company operates the world’s largest CO2 purification and liquefaction plant, capturing 500,000 tonnes annually to convert into valuable products such as methanol and ammonia.

These initiatives reflect SABIC’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030.

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In addition to these efforts, SABIC has launched a circular carbon economy model, promoting renewable energy, chemical recycling and afforestation projects.

The company’s recent exports of low-carbon ammonia to global markets, including Japan and South Korea, highlight its leadership in sustainable industrial practices.

Sustainability in construction is not just about preserving nature but also about adopting technologies that redefine how buildings are constructed. SCG International, a global leader in green building solutions, is paving the way for technological innovation in the Kingdom.

“3D printing technology enables accelerated construction timelines, reducing time by up to 30 to 50 percent and labor requirements by 50 percent,” Abhijit Datta, managing director of SCG International, told Arab News.

“It significantly reduces material waste and ensures no leftover raw materials, contributing to a cleaner and safer working environment, by lowering dust and noise levels.”

Among its innovations, SCG’s concrete fabric offers a sustainable solution for erosion control and water management.

“This flexible material conforms to various shapes, reducing logistics costs and emissions while ensuring durability,” Datta said.




Engineers and construction professionals at a sustainable building site. 
(Shutterstock)

The company’s commitment to local empowerment is equally noteworthy. SCG actively collaborates with Saudi firms to train teams in low-carbon cement and ready-mix consultancy services.

Despite recent progress, the adoption of sustainable construction technologies has faced difficulties.

“One of the primary challenges is the high upfront cost of sustainable building practices, which can be a concern for clients,” Dana Al-Damegh, an environmental consultant at VEKR Environmental Services, told Arab News.

“Many are not fully aware of the long-term benefits, including cost savings and enhanced efficiency, that sustainable materials can offer.”

Another pressing issue is the scarcity of resources.




A modern sustainable building with cascading greenery, representing eco-friendly architectural practices that merge design with nature. (AN File)

“There is currently a shortage of locally sourced materials, which poses a challenge to sustainable construction efforts,” Al-Damegh said.

“This scarcity extends to skilled manpower as well, which further impacts the ability to fully leverage local resources. Addressing these gaps is crucial for achieving greater sustainability in the sector.”

Nonetheless, Al-Damegh is optimistic about the future. “The collaboration between environmental services companies and regulatory bodies has been instrumental in driving progress,” she said.

As the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 reform agenda, the focus on green construction continues to grow. The integration of advanced technologies, development of local supply chains and investments in education as well as training will be critical to scaling sustainable practices.

“The successful implementation of sustainable methods requires collaboration, commitment and the right resources,” said Al-Damegh. “All of which are becoming increasingly accessible in Saudi Arabia’s evolving environmental landscape.”
 

 


Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM

Updated 07 February 2025
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Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM

  • Sid Ahmed Ghozali, who died age 88, was Algeria’s PM from June 1991 to July 1992

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have sent condolences to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the passing of former Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali.

In his message, King Salman expressed his deepest sympathy to the Algerian president and the family of the deceased, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The crown prince conveyed his condolences in a separate message, echoing the king’s sentiments, the SPA added.

Ghozali died at the age of 88 on Feb. 4 at the Ain Naaja military hospital in Algiers, state television reported. He was buried the next day at Ben Aknoun cemetery.

A graduate of Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, Ghozali’s career in public service started in 1964 when he was named under-secretary of state for public works shortly after Algeria’s independence.

He subsequently held numerous high-ranking ministerial positions including energy, water resources, finance and foreign affairs, before being appointed prime minister from June 1991 to July 8, 1992.

As minister of energy and industry, he headed Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil company, from 1966 to 1977, overseeing the nationalization of the hydrocarbons industry in 1971.


Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route

Updated 07 February 2025
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Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route

  • Plan to operate 2 weekly flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport
  • El-Alamein is popular tourist destination on northern coast of Egypt

RIYADH: Flynas, the Saudi Arabian airline, is to launch a new direct flight route connecting Jeddah with the Egyptian city of El-Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea.

The airline announced on Thursday that it will operate two weekly budget flights between Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and El-Alamein International Airport, starting on July 1.

Flynas, a budget airline established in 2007, has been operating flights between Riyadh and El-Alamein — a popular tourist destination on the northwest coast of Egypt — since last year.

Flynas last month celebrated the start of its first direct flights between Riyadh and Entebbe in Uganda.

The airline currently operates about 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries, with more than 1,500 flights weekly, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It has served more than 80 million passengers since its launch and plans to expand to 165 destinations by 2030, in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.


‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger

Updated 06 February 2025
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‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger

  • Yoga and diet journey led Sukkari Life to become one of Kingdom’s top creators
  • Cookbook published in September was 5 years in the making 

RIYADH: Around nine years ago, Raoum Al-Suhaibani started a blog with the aim of sharing recipes and articles about her plant-based diet and lifestyle.

Known online as “Sukkari” after the dates from her home region of Al-Qassim, she has gained a prominent following and cultivated more than 640 thousand followers across her social media platforms.

“I knew I had a message that I wanted to share with people. I hated seeing people just dieting for years and yo-yoing on that, and because I struggled at the beginning, finding my journey to eating healthy and actually enjoying it instead of it being a struggle,” she told Arab News.

To critics who say veganism is not a balanced diet, she states: “Protein is overhyped. If anything, people should eat more fiber. No one is getting enough fiber, and they’re all having digestive issues. But instead of looking into that, (they’re) just like ‘keep cutting more food and cutting gluten’.”

Published in September, her cookbook “Tamr wa Tahina” (“Dates and Tahini”) was in the works for five years and includes some of her first blog recipes.

It not only offers cooking instructions, but also explains the nutritional value behind certain ingredients, offers solutions to common digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome, and provides tips for hair and skin care.

Al-Suhaibani was keen to create simple recipes incorporating easily accessible and common ingredients.

“I do have a few unique ingredients in certain recipes, like black garlic or whatnot, but they are always optional, and I always like to try to give alternatives to people, because I know not everyone lives in a big city and has access to things like tofu and almond butter,” she said.

Al-Suhaibani’s journey began when she started posting the vegan recipes she had created. After she discovered vlogging on YouTube, she became intrigued by the idea of creators connecting with viewers.

“With YouTube, you feel really close to the creator. You can relate to them, even if they live a very different life from you,” she said.

She explained the video platform also allowed her to figure out what she wanted her own life to look like by discovering other lifestyles, furthering her horizons beyond Saudi Arabia.

“It helped me figure out what I want, and it’s what gave me a purpose to start a YouTube channel. I was like, oh, it’d be nice to show people that you can live a healthy life in Saudi. You can be vegan. You can be active,” she explained.

Al-Suhaibani decided to try a vegetarian diet for one week while studying in the US.

“I used to absolutely hate vegetables, and I always joked that I would never be a vegetarian. And then, literally the next year, I became vegetarian,” she said.

She wrote a research paper for one of her classes about vegetarianism and its impact on health, the environment, and the economy.

“That played a role in convincing me that it’s not just for my health. After the week finished, I just absolutely could not go back to eating even chicken,” she recalled.

Her decision opened up a world of options and challenged her creativity to switch up ingredients and come up with innovative meal ideas.

“Everyone thought it was going to be a phase,” she said. “After I graduated, I started thinking about dairy and eggs and how they don’t really make sense for us to consume as humans. I started doing my research about that too, because I’m the type of a person that doesn’t commit to something easily, but if I commit, I’m committed.”

She embraced a vegan diet around the end of 2016. “I always tell people who want to be vegan to do it gradually,” she said, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself on nutritional and ethical aspects.

Around the same time, she began practicing yoga after taking a university course and completed her yoga teacher training in India in 2017.

“As someone who had zero knowledge about yoga, it was pretty challenging. But even with that I was still drawn to it afterwards, and I wanted to continue,” she told Arab News.

“Before I started yoga, I had a lot of anger issues, and I think it helped calm me down a lot … No matter what I’m going through, how sad I am, how angry or frustrated, whatever it is, it just centers me,” she said.

“Tamr wa Tahina” is available to purchase at Jarir Bookstore and online at Sukkari Store, which also offers an e-book version.


How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna

Updated 06 February 2025
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How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna

  • Originally launched for COVID-19 management, the app now offers over 600 government services, streamlining daily tasks
  • The platform integrates AI to enhance digital governance, user accessibility, and service efficiency, supporting Saudi Vision 2030

RIYADH: As governments worldwide embrace digital transformation, artificial intelligence is playing a pivotal role in making public services more accessible and user-friendly.

From streamlining bureaucratic processes to enhancing user experiences, AI-driven platforms are redefining how citizens interact with their governments.

Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this revolution, with its Tawakkalna app emerging as a model for digital governance and AI integration.

Originally introduced in 2020 to manage COVID-19 restrictions, Tawakkalna has since evolved into a comprehensive digital hub, providing seamless access to more than 600 government services.

Available in seven languages and accessible in 77 countries, the app has become an indispensable tool for Saudi citizens, residents and visitors alike.

From managing personal data, medical records and professional documents to accessing religious, educational,and legal services, Tawakkalna consolidates essential services into a single, user-friendly interface.

Users can request an ambulance, register for organ donation, access weather forecasts, or even find volunteering opportunities — all at their fingertips.

“In the context of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has placed AI at the core of its economic diversification strategy,” Muhammad Khurram Khan, a professor of cybersecurity at King Saud University in Riyadh, told Arab News.

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“The Kingdom aims to become a global leader in AI, positioning the technology as a key enabler of smart cities, digital governance and advanced industries.”

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, which oversees Tawakkalna, has continually updated the platform to improve efficiency and user experience.

In October 2023, the launch of Tawakkalna 2.0 marked a significant milestone in the app’s development, enhancing accessibility and streamlining government services.

Key features introduced in Tawakkalna 2.0 include a redesigned homepage for quick access to essential services and Wakeb services, a real-time update system that keeps users informed about important developments.

The platform also allows government and private sector partners to engage directly with users, further enriching the digital experience.

“Tawakkalna is not just a success story of a government app, but a model of how AI can be harnessed to drive innovation in the public sector, transforming digital governance and significantly enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike in Saudi Arabia,” said Khan.

“As AI continues to drive the evolution of digital services, Tawakkalna stands as an example for other nations, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a leader in the global AI race.”

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative places digital transformation at the heart of national development. The government is actively integrating AI across sectors to enhance efficiency, transparency and accessibility.

Tawakkalna exemplifies this vision, allowing users to handle administrative tasks in a matter of seconds — errands that would otherwise require lengthy in-person visits to government offices.

With a focus on continuous improvement, Tawakkalna has expanded to include legal and business services such as Najiz, a Ministry of Justice classification service; university and training institution portals; and business sector support.

Find donation opportunities through Ehsan services on the Tawakkalna app. (X/Tawakkalna)

This reflects the Kingdom’s broader goal of fostering a thriving digital economy.

The success of Tawakkalna has not gone unnoticed. The app was named the top government platform in the Kingdom’s Digital Experience Maturity Index for 2024 and received the UN Public Service Award in 2022 for its innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The app’s journey from a pandemic management tool to a full-fledged super app underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to leveraging AI for public service excellence.

It also highlights how digital governance, when executed effectively, can simplify daily life while boosting efficiency and inclusivity.

As Tawakkalna continues to evolve, the SDAIA is exploring further enhancements to ensure the platform remains at the cutting edge of digital transformation.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Saudi Arabia has digitized 97 percent of all government services.

• The Kingdom ranked fourth globally on the UN’s E-Government Development Index for 2024.

• The Tawakkalna app offers access to over 600 e-government services, including justice, health, education, and tourism.

Plans include expanding AI-driven personalization, integrating more predictive analytics for user needs and leveraging blockchain for greater security in government transactions.

For users in Saudi Arabia and beyond, the message is clear: Digital transformation is no longer a distant vision but a reality shaping everyday life.

Through AI-powered initiatives like Tawakkalna, the Kingdom is setting a precedent for how governments worldwide can embrace technology to create smarter, more efficient societies.

 


Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting

Updated 06 February 2025
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Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting

  • King, crown prince condemn attack, extend sympathy to victims’ families

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday sent messages of condolence to Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf following a mass shooting on Tuesday at an adult education center in the city of Orebro.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the king strongly condemned the attack, which resulted in 11 fatalities and several injuries. He extended his sympathy to his counterpart in Sweden, the families of the victims, and the Swedish people, while wishing the injured a swift recovery.

The crown prince also conveyed his condolences in a separate message, echoing the king’s sentiments and condemning the attack as a “criminal act,” SPA added.

Swedish authorities identified the suspected gunman as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, an unemployed recluse who may have been a student at the school.

Police believe he acted alone in the attack, and police described the aftermath as an “inferno.” Officials said Andersson killed nearly a dozen people before taking his own life in what is now considered Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.