A Route to Environmental Sustainability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review of Challenges, Initiatives and Future Directions

Abstract

Environmental sustainability demands an immediate attention for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as the nation takes forward a deep economic transformation under Vision 2030. Despite the pivotal role of environmental sustainability in promoting long-term human well-being, the relationship between environmentally sustainable practices and long-term human needs fulfilment remain an under explored in the Saudi context context. The current study carried out a thorough review in addressing this gap by systematic evaluation of sustainable practices in KSA, identifying the structural and behavioural barriers in the implementation process. Further, the study puts forward an integrated Environmental Sustainability Framework that unequivocally integrates sustainability interventions with basic needs fulfilment across four key domains. A systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines is carried out.  127 records were identified by systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.  The initial screening generated 68 records. These along with 45 peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and policy publications between 2017 and 2026 were included in the final thematic synthesis. Data were synthesised across four domains: renewable energy, water conservation, waste management, and land restoration. The present research unveils potential advancements and intractable hurdles. The landmark projects like Sakaka Solar PV facility and the Dumat AI Jandal Wind Farm has driven KSA’s renewable energy capacity from 0.4 GW in 2020 to 13 GW by 2025, including 15 Power Purchase Agreements indicating 24.389 GW signed in 2025. The Saudi Green Initiative devotes focus on decarbonisation with funding $187 billion, afforestation of 10 billion trees and a net-zero emissions level by 2060. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), has topped the global largest desalination programme, while functioning with 33 desalination plants and a unified daily production capacity of 7.5 million cubic metres. However, per-capita daily water utilisation records at 263 litres — which doubles the global average of 140 litres — demanding a goal of 43% reduction to meet the 2030 mark of 150 litres. Groundwater extraction continues at 321% of the renewable recharge volume, endangering long-term water security. In waste management, total waste generation hit 135.1 million tons in 2024, with organic waste comprising 45.7% and 22.8% including construction waste of the total stream, emphasizing the importance of circular economy mechanisms. An integrated Environmental Sustainability Integration Framework is put forward, connecting Vision 2030's three pillars — a dynamic society, a flourishing economy, and an aspiring nation — to the realisation of basic needs through integrated water, energy, waste, and land management pathways. Besides, establishing policy recommendations that include sustainable governance mechanisms that span across industries, emphasis was laid on expediting to achieve a target of 130 GW for renewable energy production, deploying both demand-side water administration and and desalination scaling, corroborating circular economy infrastructure with public-private partnerships. Further, land restoration was employed through Al Baydha permaculture model. Endowed with financial assets, geographical attributes and political resolve, place KSA in sustainable leadership position internationally, however, success demands translation of obligations into verifiable, finite actions at the community and institutional levels.