In a move reflecting its global leadership in the field of environmental sustainability, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the first World Coral Reef Summit during the last quarter of 2026. This prominent event confirms the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting marine ecosystems and highlights its pivotal role in leading international efforts to address climate challenges that threaten biodiversity around the world.
Strategic announcement from Davos
The official announcement of the Kingdom's hosting of this summit came during the "Saudi House" events held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos. The event was revealed by Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United States of America, reflecting the high-level diplomatic and political attention the Kingdom gives to environmental and climate issues.
Summit objectives and fundamental pillars
The CEO of the Red Sea Coral Reef and Turtle Conservation Foundation (Shams), Khaled Al-Asfahani, explained that the summit will focus on three main and vital axes:
- Policies and legislation: Establishing legal frameworks that support the protection of the marine environment.
- Scientific research: Promoting innovation and modern technologies in monitoring and developing coral reefs.
- Sustainable financing: Creating financial mechanisms to transform environmental conservation into investment opportunities.
The summit aims to transform coral reefs from mere marine organisms into "economic assets" within "blue economy" strategies, contributing to the creation of viable investment models and the organized mobilization of international efforts.
Environmental context and global importance
This summit is of particular importance given the threats facing coral reefs globally due to global warming and ocean acidification. The Red Sea's coral reefs, in particular, are among the most unique and resilient ecosystems, making the Kingdom a natural laboratory and a global reference point for climate adaptation research.
In this context, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, affirmed that hosting the summit embodies the Kingdom’s efforts in adopting the best innovative programs and technologies to rehabilitate ecosystems, in line with the objectives of “Saudi Vision 2030” and the “Green Saudi Arabia” initiative, to ensure the restoration of environmental balance and improve the quality of life.
The Kingdom's leading role
It is worth noting that the Kingdom is organizing this event in its capacity as chair of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which comprises 45 member states. This selection reflects the growing international confidence in the Kingdom's ability to mobilize global support and unite efforts to protect marine resources for future generations.
