National Water Company plants 2 million trees in Madinah to boost Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company has planted more than 2.1 million trees in the Madinah region as part of its commitment to the Saudi Green Initiative. (Supplied)
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Updated 30 January 2026
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National Water Company plants 2 million trees in Madinah to boost Saudi Green Initiative

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company, through its northwest sector, has planted more than 2.1 million trees in the Madinah region as part of its commitment to the Saudi Green Initiative.

NWC’s efforts also reflects the company’s efforts to expand vegetation cover, combat desertification and enhance environmental sustainability by using tertiary-treated wastewater from its treatment plants, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

NWC says it is uniting all sustainability efforts in the country to rapidly scale up the Kingdom’s climate action.

In 2025, NWC planted more than 472,000 trees, ensuring that the project remains on track with strategic plans to optimize water resources and improve quality of life.

NWC confirmed that more than 200,000 of these trees — roughly 10 percent of the total — have already reached a level of maturity that allows them to thrive independently without further irrigation or specialized care.

Working in close integration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, NWC plans to scale its afforestation projects during upcoming agricultural seasons.

These efforts are designed to improve air quality and increase oxygen levels, reduce harmful environmental emissions, support local biodiversity, and raise overall vegetation rates, SPA reported.

By transforming treated water into a vital resource for greening, the NWC continues to play a pivotal role in achieving the Kingdom’s ambitious climate and sustainability objectives.

SGI is an ambitious national initiative that is focused on combating climate change, improving quality of life, and protecting the environment for future generations.

Launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, SGI supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2060 through the Circular Carbon Economy approach and is also accelerating the country’s transition to a green economy. Three overarching targets guide the Saudi Green Initiative’s work — emissions reduction, afforestation, and land and sea protection.


Saudi FM joins Arab counterparts in talks with Slovenia on Gaza, regional stability

Updated 06 February 2026
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Saudi FM joins Arab counterparts in talks with Slovenia on Gaza, regional stability

  • Prince Faisal and Tanja Fajon later signed general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing ties between Kingdom and Slovenia

LJUBLJANA: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana on Friday, as he joined Arab counterparts for an expanded meeting focused on Gaza and wider regional developments.

Prince Faisal met Fajon separately to review Saudi-Slovenian relations and explore ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two sides later signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing ties between the Kingdom and Slovenia and intensifying joint efforts to support further progress and prosperity for both countries, SPA added.

The expanded ministerial meeting also brought together Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan Al-Muraikhi.

During the talks, ministers discussed ways to bolster regional and international security and stability, with a focus on the situation in Gaza.

They stressed the need to uphold the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, ensure its full implementation and deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to the enclave.

The officials also reviewed efforts to advance US President Donald Trump’s peace plan and reiterated the importance of achieving a clear political horizon leading to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.

They addressed developments in the occupied West Bank, calling for an end to illegal, unilateral Israeli measures and violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, warning that such actions undermined de-escalation efforts.

The ministers praised Slovenia’s support for Palestinian rights and its recognition of a Palestinian state, and also discussed broader regional developments, ways to reduce escalation through dialogue, and efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis.