Spotlight: Saudi Arabia's Green Transition Advances Its Global Leadership in Sustainability

This article provides a compilation of the most recent developments in the Saudi sustainability sector.

Launched in 2019, Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative aims to advance the country’s national agenda on sustainable development, uniting environmental protection, energy transition, and sustainability programs to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030.

Each of these pillars strives to encourage sustainable practices within several economic activities, such as water management, transportation, and construction.

This article explores the Kingdom's most recent strides in supporting sustainability endeavors in the afore-mentioned sectors while highlighting Saudi’s growing status as a testbed for green innovation.

Saudi Arabia Leads the Global Water Crisis Response

With global water demand set to double by 2050 as the world's population reaches 9.8 billion, nations face an urgent need for coordinated action. On May 28, Saudi Arabia stepped forward to lead this effort, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launching the Global Water Organization from Riyadh.

The Kingdom has positioned itself as both the host and primary financier of this new international body, committing to fund its operations for five years. This builds on substantial groundwork as Saudi Arabia has already allocated $6 billion across more than 200 water development projects spanning over 60 developing countries.

The Global Water Organization aims to unify international efforts while fostering collaboration with nations that possess advanced water management expertise. This approach leverages Saudi Arabia's previous work of elevating water issues during its G20 presidency in 2020 and builds toward hosting the 11th World Water Forum in 2027.

This water leadership initiative demonstrates how Vision 2030 extends beyond domestic transformation to global stewardship.

WeRide Begins Testing Robotaxis and Autonomous Cleaning Vehicles Across Saudi Cities

Autonomous vehicles represent one of the most transformative technologies that reshape urban traffic sustainability. Saudi Arabia is now positioning itself at the forefront of this revolution, attracting global businesses to set up a business and expand operations in its rapidly growing AV sector.

Chinese company WeRide is a leading example, having recently launched its robotaxis across Riyadh and AlUla.

WeRide's approach extends far beyond traditional passenger transport, demonstrating the versatility of autonomous technology in Saudi conditions. The company has begun comprehensive testing across multiple Saudi cities, with commercial operations planned through Uber's platform later in 2025, supported by the Transport General Authority.

The implementation strategy targets diverse transportation needs through specialized applications. Robobus services are being tested at strategic locations, including King Fahad Medical City and Aramco residential communities, addressing last-mile transportation gaps that complement existing networks like the Riyadh Metro. These Level-4 autonomous vehicles have been specifically engineered for the region's challenging hot climate conditions.

Perhaps most notably, WeRide has introduced the Robosweeper S1 for autonomous sanitation services at King Fahad Medical City, representing the region's first monetized autonomous cleaning project. This expansion into municipal services demonstrates how autonomous technology can address practical urban challenges beyond passenger movement, from park maintenance to hotel operations and tourist attraction services.

This multi-faceted deployment aligns directly with Vision 2030's commitment to fostering smart, sustainable cities while enhancing road safety and optimizing traffic management. By integrating with established platforms like Uber, WeRide's Saudi expansion represents a strategic approach to technological adoption that builds on existing infrastructure.

Diriyah Site Adopts Smart Transportation Systems Through Kakao Mobility Partnership

Diriyah’s commitment to green urban development offers a competitive advantage in attracting global companies offering sustainable mobility solutions such as Kakao Mobility.

Most recently, Diriyah Co. has announced a strategic partnership with the South Korean firm Kakao Mobility to enhance smart mobility infrastructure across Diriyah.

The partnership focuses on developing integrated transportation solutions that can handle massive visitor flows while respecting the site's historical character. The collaboration will implement digital transport systems, seamless transit services, and smart parking infrastructure across the development.

The scale of transformation extends beyond transportation infrastructure. The completed Diriyah project is projected to contribute SR18.6 billion ($4.96 billion) to Saudi Arabia's GDP while creating approximately 178,000 jobs. These numbers reflect the development's role in the National Tourism Strategy's target of attracting 150 million annual visitors by 2030.