Environment Week unites Saudis for a sustainable future

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The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority organized a volunteer trip for more than 550 students to plant more than 3,000 seedlings. (SPA)
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The Islamic Arts Biennale hosted an interactive workshop on Jeddah’s coral reefs, featuring academics from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. (SPA)
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During Environment Week in Jeddah, government, private, and nonprofit entities showcased initiatives to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainability. (SPA)
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The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority organized a volunteer trip for more than 550 students to plant more than 3,000 seedlings. (SPA)
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As part of Environment Week, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Umluj organized a seabed cleanup at Duqm Beach. (SPA)
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At the Environment Week event in Sakaka, the King Salman reserve highlighted its achievements, including habitat restoration, seed dispersal, and wildlife conservation. (SPA)
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At the Environment Week event in Sakaka, the King Salman reserve highlighted its achievements, including habitat restoration, seed dispersal, and wildlife conservation. (SPA)
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Updated 23 April 2025
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Environment Week unites Saudis for a sustainable future

  • Tree planting, coral reef workshops and coastal cleanups drive the Kingdom’s environmental vision for 2030

Riyadh: The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority organized a volunteer trip for more than 550 students to plant more than 3,000 seedlings during Environment Week.

The initiative encourages positive environmental behavior among students, raises early age awareness, and fosters individual and collective responsibility for protecting the environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Held annually from April 20 to 26, Environment Week focuses on environmental awareness and sustainable practices. The 2025 theme, “Our Environment is a Treasure,” reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to conserve natural resources.

The reserve supports sustainability and environmental education. It has planted more than 3 million seedlings, dispersed more than 4 tonnes of seeds and restored 700,000 hectares of land.

At the Environment Week event in Sakaka, the authority is highlighting its achievements, including habitat restoration, seed dispersal and wildlife conservation.

These efforts include reintroducing 1,455 animals and recording 177 new births, including endangered species such as the sand gazelle, Arabian oryx and mountain ibex.

The authority’s exhibition pavilion showcases the biodiversity of the reserve, home to more than 350 wildlife and 290 bird species.

It also highlights initiatives to protect ecosystems, support sustainability and engage the community in conservation efforts.

During Environment Week in Jeddah, government, private, and nonprofit entities showcased initiatives to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainability.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance highlighted the public’s role in environmental protection, compliance with regulations and reporting violations.

The Vegetation Cover Development Foundation, established by the Ministry of Environment and the National Center for Vegetation Cover, presented nine initiatives aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative. These focus on environmental protection, energy transition and sustainability.

Separately, the Islamic Arts Biennale hosted an interactive workshop on Jeddah’s coral reefs, featuring academics from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

The workshop explored the ecological and historical significance of coral reefs, threats like bleaching, and scientific efforts in reef restoration and biodiversity conservation.

Organized to connect art with environmental issues, the event aimed to foster dialogue between the arts and sciences while promoting awareness of sustainability in line with Vision 2030.

As part of Environment Week, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Umluj, along with partner agencies and volunteer divers, organized a seabed cleanup at Duqm Beach.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness about marine conservation by removing debris to protect coastal wildlife and ecosystems.

Volunteer divers and authorities collaborated in underwater cleanups, highlighting the impact of joint environmental efforts.

The initiative supports Vision 2030 goals of promoting sustainability and encouraging public responsibility for environmental protection.

In Riyadh, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification took part in the Environment Week exhibition alongside public and private sector entities.

The center launched nationwide awareness campaigns featuring interactive booths, educational activities, volunteer opportunities and greening efforts to promote public engagement in environmental protection.

Its initiatives focus on restoring degraded land, conserving biodiversity, managing rangelands and parks and addressing violations like unregulated firewood collection. These efforts aim to build a resilient vegetation ecosystem and support sustainability goals.

The Saudi Investment Recycling Co., a Public Investment Fund subsidiary, also took part in the event.

Through its subsidiaries, the company showcased its role in supporting a green and circular economy in line with Vision 2030, focusing on waste diversion, emissions reduction and advanced recycling technologies.

The group manages companies specializing in recycling, treating various types of waste and producing soil improvers, contributing to the Kingdom’s broader sustainability efforts.


Joy Awards 2026 spotlights arts in the Arab world

Updated 18 January 2026
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Joy Awards 2026 spotlights arts in the Arab world

RIYADH: Riyadh hosted its annual Joy Awards, bringing together stars and creative projects from across the Arab world as part of an event that has been held annually since 2022. The 2026 ceremony continued its focus on recognizing storytelling and creative work, while highlighting projects released over the past year.
As audiences anticipated the winners following the release of the nominees, awards were presented across six sectors; music, cinema, series, directors, sports and influencers. In addition to category awards, the ceremony also honored recipients of special accolades including Personality of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Joy Honorary awards.
Previous events have recognized Arab and international figures for their contributions to the arts, including Matthew McConaughey, who received the Personality of the Year Award in 2025.
Amid the Kingdom’s expansion of its entertainment sector — spanning film, music and sports — the Joy Awards reflected Riyadh Season’s role in hosting large-scale cultural events.
This year’s fan-favorite nominees, many of whom were Saudi nationals, were cheered on as they walked the Joy Awards’ iconic lavender carpet, where fashion once again took center stage as a key expression of the region’s evolving creative identity.
Among winners who took home the Joy Awards was Saudi 14 year old Rateel Alshehri, who won Favorite Female Influencer. Speaking to Arab News on the lavender carpet, Rateel shared her excitement towards Joy Awards:
“I’m so excited about being at Joy Awards today, it’s something I’ve been looking forward to (…) Everyone here deserves to be here.” On her beautiful sky-blue gown, Rateel shared that she was wearing Saudi designer, Adnan Akbar.
Rateel’s excitement towards the awards was echoed by both Arab and non-Arab guests on the lavender carpet as many took in the unique atmosphere that Riyadh offers Joy Awards; where Arab entertainment and art is celebrated.
Lebanese actress Laila Abdullah also shared her enthusiasm towards both the award show and the Kingdom’s ambitions in hosting the Joy Awards and creating a hub for creative voices.
Speaking to Arab News she emphasized Saudi’s unique qualities: “It’s this mix of culture and luxury (…) It has that Gulf Arab character, the Saudi touch, you know? And that’s what really makes it stand out” Joy Awards was filled with a bustling energy that was eager and excited to give a platform to dreamers, artists, and talents who have been waiting to showcase their visions within the Arab world. It was a celebration that went beyond mere award-giving, reflecting the same ambition and creative momentum that defines Riyadh Season.
The lavender carpet paved way for international guests to speak to Saudi media on how it feels to be a part of an artistic celebration of Arab talent. Speaking to Arab News, Australian actor Luke Arnold shared his excitement towards attending the Joy Awards: “What I’m most excited about is kind of what I love about film and television, which is people from all over the world coming together to tell stories and share their expertise (…) It’s really exciting hearing about some of the potential projects happening, meeting some of the local talent here…just really excited to have more stories out in the world.”
Speaking to Arab News, Lebanese fashion influencer Karen Wazen reiterated the sentiment on Riyadh giving Joy Awards a special and unique energy for the arts, saying: “I am so impressed, I’m so proud to be at an event like this in our region, in Saudi Arabia. This is probably the most impressive and big carpet that I’ve ever seen (…) I’m very excited to watch the ceremony, but also I think to just meet so many people from our industries, it’s a beautiful place to do so.”
That vibrant atmosphere was on full display at the Joy Awards as the ceremony continued with stars like Millie Bobby Brown winning the Personality of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Honor presented to acting legend Forest Whitaker. The stardom was not limited to the film sector, as American pop star Katy Perry performed her iconic songs live; and British singer Robbie Williams took to stage to give a standout performance.
The Joy Awards 2026 once again proved that setting new benchmarks in entertainment and creative expression is not only achievable, but celebrated when driven by local talent and support. As stars from around the world took to Riyadh’s lavender carpet, Arab culture was placed firmly at the forefront — spanning film, music, and digital creativity. The Joy Awards stand as a symbol of the broader cultural transformation that Riyadh is championing across the Arab world’s entertainment industry.