Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) has planted over 2.1 million trees across the Madinah Region over the past five years, marking a major milestone in the Saudi Green Initiative, the company said.
The tree-planting initiative, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), is carried out by the company’s northwestern sector. It began with the launch of the national afforestation drive and is aimed at expanding vegetation cover, combating desertification, and improving environmental sustainability. SGI, launched in March 2021, aims to plant 10 million trees across Saudi Arabia and focuses on maximizing the use of treated wastewater produced by environmental treatment plants.
In 2025, the company planted more than 472,000 trees in Madinah, bringing the cumulative total since the start of the initiative to over 2.1 million. The projects are guided by an implementation plan designed to ensure efficient use of treated water while improving environmental quality and overall quality of life.
Planting sites span several locations across the region, including Madinah, Yanbu, Badr, Al-Mahd, Khaybar, Al-Hanakiyah, AlUla, and the Wahat Abar Al-Mashi area, particularly in zones surrounding wastewater treatment facilities. The company said it selected a wide range of tree species suited to the local environment, including acacia, sidr, neem, basil, lemon, and bougainvillea, among others.
According to the company, more than 10 percent of the trees planted earlier, which amount to over 200,000 trees, have become self-sustaining and no longer require regular irrigation or care.
Officials further announced that the company plans to continue expanding its afforestation projects during suitable planting seasons, in coordination with relevant authorities, including the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, a Saudi governmental entity established in 2019 to combat desertification and increase green areas.
The projects are part of wider efforts to make better use of treated wastewater while supporting the Saudi Green Initiative’s goals, including improving air quality, increasing oxygen levels, enhancing biodiversity, reducing harmful emissions, and expanding green spaces across the Kingdom.
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