Riyadh, Safar 8, 1448 AH, corresponding to July 22, 2026, SPA -- The Executive Committee of the Green Middle East Initiative held its twentieth meeting today via video conference, chaired by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Initiative and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environment, Dr. Osama Faqeeha, with the participation of officials from the initiative's member states. The meeting aimed to follow up on the implementation of decisions from the second ministerial meeting hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on January 29, 2026, and to review key achievements of the General Secretariat and its future plans. During the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Middle East Initiative, Engineer Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Turki, presented a report covering the most significant developments achieved by the General Secretariat during the first half of 2026, including the implementation of capacity-building and knowledge transfer programs, the enhancement of strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations and development finance institutions, as well as the completion of operational preparations for the General Secretariat, and the preparation of a communication strategy with member states and partners, which included launching the website and the initiative's accounts on social media platforms, in addition to the General Secretariat's work plan for the second half of the year. Committee members discussed the nominations submitted for membership of the initiative's Scientific Advisory Committee, which includes a select group of international experts and provides scientific and technical advice and studies issues related to vegetation development in the region, thereby supporting the achievement of the initiative's targets. The meeting also discussed five internal policies to regulate the work of the General Secretariat, including a communication and transparency policy, a stakeholder engagement policy, an administrative affairs policy, and a number of organizational policies aimed at enhancing institutional work efficiency. The General Secretariat reviewed the program for preparing its strategy for the next five years and its roadmap, pending submission to the upcoming meeting of the Ministerial Council of the initiative. Regarding the initiative's targets, the meeting reviewed the latest data received from member states concerning their national targets for vegetation development, which contribute to achieving the initiative's regional target. The total targets amount to planting 35.4 billion trees and rehabilitating 99.4 million hectares of degraded land. It is noteworthy that the Executive Committee is the body responsible for making operational decisions for the Green Middle East Initiative, represented by delegations of deputy ministers and undersecretaries of relevant ministries in the initiative's member states. // End // 15:44 PM 0121

Riyadh, Safar 8, 1448 AH, corresponding to July 22, 2026, SPA -- The Executive Committee of the Green Middle East Initiative held its twentieth meeting today via video conference, chaired by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Initiative and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environment, Dr. Osama Faqeeha, with the participation of officials from the initiative's member states. The meeting aimed to follow up on the implementation of decisions from the second ministerial meeting hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on January 29, 2026, and to review key achievements of the General Secretariat and its future plans. During the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Middle East Initiative, Engineer Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Turki, presented a report covering the most significant developments achieved by the General Secretariat during the first half of 2026, including the implementation of capacity-building and knowledge transfer programs, the enhancement of strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations and development finance institutions, as well as the completion of operational preparations for the General Secretariat, and the preparation of a communication strategy with member states and partners, which included launching the website and the initiative's accounts on social media platforms, in addition to the General Secretariat's work plan for the second half of the year. Committee members discussed the nominations submitted for membership of the initiative's Scientific Advisory Committee, which includes a select group of international experts and provides scientific and technical advice and studies issues related to vegetation development in the region, thereby supporting the achievement of the initiative's targets. The meeting also discussed five internal policies to regulate the work of the General Secretariat, including a communication and transparency policy, a stakeholder engagement policy, an administrative affairs policy, and a number of organizational policies aimed at enhancing institutional work efficiency. The General Secretariat reviewed the program for preparing its strategy for the next five years and its roadmap, pending submission to the upcoming meeting of the Ministerial Council of the initiative. Regarding the initiative's targets, the meeting reviewed the latest data received from member states concerning their national targets for vegetation development, which contribute to achieving the initiative's regional target. The total targets amount to planting 35.4 billion trees and rehabilitating 99.4 million hectares of degraded land. It is noteworthy that the Executive Committee is the body responsible for making operational decisions for the Green Middle East Initiative, represented by delegations of deputy ministers and undersecretaries of relevant ministries in the initiative's member states. // End // 15:44 PM 0121