In a move reflecting its firm commitment to protecting the environment and sustaining natural resources, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the first World Coral Reef Summit during the last quarter of 2026. This global event confirms the Kingdom’s international leadership in the field of protecting marine ecosystems and highlights its advanced position in leading international efforts to confront the climate and environmental challenges that threaten the oceans around the world.
A global announcement from the heart of Davos
The official announcement of the Kingdom's hosting of this extraordinary 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 global environmental issues.
The importance of the Red Sea as a center for biodiversity
The Kingdom's hosting of this summit is of particular importance given its strategic geographical location on the Red Sea coast. The Red Sea is home to one of the world's most unique and resilient coral reef systems, with scientific studies demonstrating that the coral reefs in the northern Red Sea are more resistant to rising water temperatures than those in other regions. This distinction makes the Kingdom a global natural laboratory and a pivotal center for research related to climate change and its impact on marine wildlife, thus enhancing the value of the summit's anticipated outcomes.
Summit pillars: policy, science, and finance
The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea (Shams), Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, affirmed that the summit embodies the Kingdom's efforts in adopting the best innovative programs and technologies. He explained that the summit aims to achieve sustainable development goals through the rehabilitation of coral reefs and the restoration of ecological balance.
For his part, Dr. Khaled Al-Asfahani, CEO of the "Shams" Foundation, outlined the three main themes that the summit's work will focus on:
- Policies and legislation: Establishing practical frameworks that enable the protection of maritime systems.
- Scientific research: Promoting innovation and understanding the mechanisms of coral reef resilience.
- Financing and Investment: Creating sustainable and scalable financing mechanisms.
The blue economy and the future of sustainability
The summit aims to move environmental dialogue from discussion to practical implementation by including coral reefs as vital economic assets within "blue economy" strategies. This includes developing investment models that engage the private sector and policymakers in protecting these resources, as coral reefs are a cornerstone of the tourism and fisheries sectors and provide natural protection for coastlines against erosion.
It is worth noting that the Kingdom is organizing this summit in its capacity as chair of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which has 45 member states, reflecting the growing international confidence in the Kingdom’s leadership role and its ability to mobilize global efforts to save the world’s most endangered ecosystems.
