ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Environmental stewardship is a critical component of KAUST'S research agenda, campus planning and operations.

It is a national priority for Saudi Arabia to explore and develop non oil-based alternative energy sources. Because the desert climate of the Kingdom and the Middle East generally has ample sunlight, limited rainfall and potable water resources, Saudi Arabia has an important role to play in conserving these resources and finding new and innovative methods for managing them.

KAUST will study new methods of generating potable water resources through water management and next-generation desalination technologies. On the campus, rainwater will be harvested and stored for use, and – to protect its natural ecosystems and recreational facilities – KAUST will utilize landscaping that does not require supplemental irrigation.

The Red Sea coral reefs are especially sensitive to environmental change, and the KAUST campus will be constructed in a manner that preserves this marine ecosystem, including the use of safe dredging practices.

View highlights of the Red Sea marine sanctuary on KAUST’s coastal campus.