Saudi Arabia’s Blue Economy vision to generate SR22bn,100,000 jobs by 2030

Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts to protect its marine ecosystems and secure the future of its blue economy, projected to contribute SR22 billion and create 100,000 jobs by 2030. The Kingdom is tackling a major threat to this vision, invasive marine species introduced through shipping and aquaculture, which can cause tens of billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year.

To address the challenge, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has partnered with the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) to monitor these species, assess their risks and build a national knowledge database aimed at enhancing the sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s environmental and economic resources.

NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban stressed the urgency of the initiative, saying that protecting marine ecosystems is critical for developing sectors such as coastal tourism and aquaculture. He noted that the research partnership with KAUST will enable the Kingdom to develop scientific assessment tools, risk models and early warning systems to anticipate and mitigate environmental threats.

As part of the collaboration, researchers surveyed 34 sites along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts, collecting over 10,000 marine samples. The surveys identified around 200 potentially invasive species, including more than 70 non-native species already present in Saudi waters.

The initiative also includes capacity-building efforts. In May, NCW employees took part in a specialized KAUST workshop that covered risk assessment protocols and provided training in advanced monitoring technologies, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, for early detection of invasive species.

Officials say the partnership stands as a model for how research institutions and national agencies can work together to protect biodiversity, strengthen environmental resilience and support the growth of the blue economy.