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The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Executive Committee of the Middle East Green Initiative held its 20th virtual meeting on July 23, 2026, to examine progress on core environmental targets. Chaired by Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister of environment, water and agriculture, the session brought together deputy ministers and senior officials from participating countries. The committee functions as the initiative’s primary operational body, and the gathering reviewed national data on vegetation coverage goals that support the wider 35.4 billion tree planting and 99.4 million hectare land restoration aims. The Middle East Green Initiative itself was launched in 2021 to coordinate regional responses to climate challenges, according to documentation from the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, participants evaluated implementation of decisions adopted at the Ministerial Council meeting in Jeddah on January 29, 2026. The review included detailed assessments of how member states are aligning their domestic programs with collective objectives. Secretariat updates formed a central part of the agenda, allowing officials to track advancements against established timelines.
The agency further reported that the secretariat recorded notable achievements in the first half of 2026, including delivery of capacity-building programs for regional experts. Strategic partnerships were expanded to support technical cooperation, while operational preparations reached key milestones. A communications strategy was also activated, resulting in the launch of an official website and coordinated social media channels to disseminate initiative updates.
Nominations for the Scientific Advisory Committee were considered at the meeting, with the body set to include international experts who will supply specialized guidance on scientific and technical questions. Five governance policies received approval, spanning communications and transparency standards, stakeholder engagement protocols, administrative procedures and additional operational frameworks. These policies are intended to formalize internal processes across the initiative’s structures, the Saudi Press Agency stated.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, a proposed five-year strategy and roadmap were developed for submission to the next Ministerial Council session. The document compiles insights from the executive review and outlines prioritized actions for the coming period. Discussions at the virtual meeting remained centered on practical measures to advance the shared targets without deviation into unrelated topics.
