RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s incoming COP16 president vowed to work with the international community to tackle drought and desertification on the first day of a UN conference in Riyadh.

Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, the Kingdom’s minister of environment, used his speech at the event – being held from Dec. 2 to 13 under the theme “Our Land. Our Future” – to reflect on the challenges facing the global community.

Outgoing COP15 president, Côte d'Ivoire’s Alain-Richard Donwahi, handed over leadership of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification with a call for continued urgency, while Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, warned that close to 40 percent of the planet’s surface is affected by land degradation. 

Al-Fadli said he was “honoured” to have been elected president, adding: “We look forward to intensifying action under this convention to face the challenges and promote integration between various international environment organizations.” 

Reflecting on the challenges ahead, he emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to combating desertification, adding: “The Middle East is one of the regions most impacted by land degradation, drought, and desertification. We seek to address environmental challenges in partnership with the international community.” 

The environment minister highlighted Vision 2030 as a cornerstone for the Kingdom’s green agenda, saying: “Protecting the environment and natural resources is essential for achieving sustainable development and quality of life.”

Saudi Arabia’s environmental commitment  

Al-Fadli detailed the Kingdom’s objectives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land and increase national reserves by 30 percent by 2030.  

He added: “We have established initiatives and programs to limit pollution, develop vegetation cover, and improve waste management and meteorological services.” 

Addressing broader approaches, Al-Fadli highlighted that Saudi Arabia has adopted the National Environment Strategy and established a fund for environmental causes, as well as five specialized centers. 

He underlined efforts in renewable energy: “We aim to ensure more than 50 percent of our energy mix comes from renewable sources by 2030, reducing carbon emissions significantly.” 

Global and local perspectives 

Mayor of Riyadh Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Ayyaf highlighted the interconnected nature of environmental challenges, saying: “No country or city can address these challenges alone. Through international cooperation and collective work, we can find innovative solutions to restore our land and develop our cities.” 

He added: “We coordinate initiatives to ensure Riyadh can be a model for the world.” 

Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN, called for urgent global action, particularly around strengthening international cooperation on land degradation, ramping up restoration work, and mobilizing finance at scale. 

“Land sustains us, and we are destroying it. Action cannot wait,” she said. 

Outgoing president’s reflections 

COP15 president Donwahi praised Saudi Arabia’s capability to continue the battle against land degradation, saying there is no doubt in the Kingdom’s ability to  “elevate our shared legacy even further” as it stands at the forefront of challenges such as sandstorms and drought. 

Stressing the ongoing nature of the mission, he said: “We have remained optimistic. However, the situation remains urgent. We must go further and faster.” 

Donwahi acknowledged the progress made by previous COPs, particularly the inclusion of youth, saying: “For the first time, we have appointed a special youth envoy, a strong symbolic gesture that demonstrates our commitment to young people.” 

International collaboration 

Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UNCCD, used his speech to warn that close to 40 percent of the planet’s surface is affected by land degradation. 

“This disease is progressing at a terrifying pace,” he added. 

Thiaw expressed his “deepest gratitude” to Saudi Arabia for its “vision in elevating the global land restoration and drought resilience agenda.” 

The conference also looked ahead to COP17 in Mongolia, with Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene expressing his country’s readiness.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector is poised for significant growth following a new tripartite partnership designed to enhance housing finance and establish a secondary mortgage market.

Under the patronage of Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Majid Al-Hogail a memorandum of understanding was signed on Sunday by the Real Estate Development Fund, Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co., and Al-Ahli Bank. The agreement aims to support the Kingdom’s housing sector and accelerate the development of a secondary mortgage market.

The MoU, which involves the Public Investment Fund’s fully owned SRC and Al-Ahli Bank, marks an important step in fostering closer collaboration between financial institutions. As part of the agreement, Al-Ahli Bank will continue to create mortgage portfolios, which will be refinanced through the SRC, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

This partnership is expected to fast-track the creation of mortgage-backed securities (MBS), both domestically and internationally. By doing so, it will help realize the goals of the Kingdom's housing program, promoting the development of a sustainable and integrated real estate financing system. The initiative will also contribute to expanding housing options for Saudi citizens.

Recent data from the Saudi Central Bank shows that banks in Saudi Arabia disbursed SR60.92 billion ($16.24 billion) in residential mortgages during the first nine months of 2024, marking a 4.88 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Of this amount, SR38.85 billion was allocated for home purchases, accounting for 64 percent of the total mortgage loans. However, the share of loans for house purchases declined slightly by 3.38 percent year on year, dropping from 69 percent in 2023.

Demand for apartments has surged in response to urbanization and demographic shifts. Apartments now account for 31 percent of all mortgages, up from 25 percent last year, with lending for apartment purchases reaching SR18.6 billion — an increase of 26.8 percent. Loans for land purchases also grew by 8.26 percent to reach SR3.5 billion, underscoring continued interest in land investment across the Kingdom.

The new partnership aims to provide liquidity in the market, ensuring a continuous flow of mortgage financing and supporting the development of the secondary mortgage market in Saudi Arabia.

At the signing ceremony, Al-Hogail also launched a new financing offer from Al-Ahli Bank, with rates starting as low as 2.59% for those interested in purchasing units under construction.

Mansour bin Madi, CEO of the Real Estate Development Fund, emphasized that the strategic partnership with SRC and financial institutions aims to improve the residential mortgage market and reduce financing costs for Saudi families. He highlighted that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the “Sakani” program and the broader real estate goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Majeed Al-Abduljabbar, CEO of SRC, noted: “This partnership with Al-Ahli Bank is a crucial step in advancing the mortgage financing market in the Kingdom. Through this collaboration, we aim to offer innovative solutions that enhance liquidity, allowing financial institutions to provide mortgage financing tailored to market needs, while expanding property options for citizens.”

Tareq Al-Sadhan, CEO of Al-Ahli Bank, affirmed that the partnership with SRC demonstrates the bank’s commitment to fostering growth in the housing sector and contributing to the development of a dynamic secondary mortgage market. This, he added, will support Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification efforts.