Beautiful Sunset view from the mountains in Al Hajar

WELCOME TO THE ARABIAN PENINSULAIN A GLOBALNET-ZERO, CLIMATE-RESILIENT
2050.


Greener deserts. A circular economy built on a more diverse energy mix. New and more sustainable ways of farming and of living, that protect natural resources and help people adapt to the effects of climate change.


For the purposes of this project, academics and stakeholders from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were invited to participate from the Arabian Peninsula region.

WHAT THE
ARABIAN PENINSULA
COULD BE LIKE IN 2050

Hear from our workshop participants

“I think we need to invest in more research to understand the habitability of the region in the future - especially in 2050. And what action could be taken to today to try and prevent worse case scenarios”

ENERGY

Traditional Arabic family enjoying at lounge
“Grid interconnection between the Arabian Peninsula and the rest of the Arab region will need to happen”
- Workshop Participant

EVIDENCE AND INSIGHTS:

Renewable power is rapidly scaling in the region. The UAE recently achieved the lowest tariff in the world for solar energy and has plans for the world’s largest single-site solar plant of 5GW. And KSA’s recently announced Faisaliah plant is targeting a record-low energy price of ​​USD 0.0161/kWh.

Initiatives such as KSA’s Circular Carbon Economy Framework set out a “reduction, reuse, removal and recycling” model for lowering emissions while meeting the world’s energy needs.

IN 2050...

The region will lead the adoption of cleaner and renewable energy, as well as innovative technologies such as Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). These will bring new jobs and economic opportunities in the region.
Newly built futuristic metro station at the Business Bay area of Dubai, UAE
"
Food
security should be our biggest concern
- Workshop Participant

FOOD AND LAND

EVIDENCE AND INSIGHTS:

Better water efficiency, improving soil health and reducing erosion are all critical. New technologies such as agrivoltaics, where crops are grown in-between solar cells, may also play a crucial role.

IN 2050...

By 2050, the Arabian Peninsula will produce more of its own food locally, while embracing innovative agricultural practices. Meanwhile, vast deserts can be repurposed into solar farms, and salty marshlands replanted with mangroves.

WATER

Arab admiring the dunes of Arabia
“Water is already scarce here – how can we convince people to conserve it?”
- Workshop Participant

EVIDENCE AND INSIGHTS:

New agricultural techniques, low-water crops and desalination technology could all play an important role in replenishing groundwater and reducing water stress. Policies that reduce water waste are also likely to be key.

IN 2050...

The Arabian Peninsula treats and reuses domestic waste water. Synthetic indoor environments improve dry-land agriculture water efficiency, while freshwater reserves established through desalination may help protect against emergency outages.
A mangrove tree and Iran, Yazd, Unesco World Heritage Site, Zoroastrian chapel & badgirs (windcatchers) and tower of Silence

OTHER HOPES AND IDEAS

  • Protect the coast with water-oxygenating plants like mangroves and sea grasses

  • Turn arid land into carbon sinks by planting saline-resilient species like ghaf or acacia

  • Heat safety policies and other systems to protect those exposed to extreme weather

  • Transport powered by renewable energy or green hydrogen

  • Accurately monitor the way companies and households use energy so they can plan more effectively

  • Sustainable cities that work with the environment to protect citizens, for example with cooling wind towers and narrow, shaded streets

  • Expanding regenerative tourism projects that create economic opportunities while helping to protect ecosystems and environments

Read the full Arabian Peninsula Profile

Download PDF

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  • This is just a taste of what Arabian Peninsula could look like in a globally net-zero, climate-resilient future.

  • This is one of six regional visions, which together paint a picture of a feasible and desirable future.

  • Each country’s role in building this future will be different – and it can only be achieved through deep international cooperation.

Find out more about this project
“I hope we live sustainably, in a world that values nature and respects the limits of natural systems to support human life”
- Workshop participant