Saudi Arabia to lead initiative against deadly sand storms in the Middle East
- Saudi Arabia is establishing an early warning system for sand storms in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization.
- The country is investing approximately $2 billion in this initiative to assist vulnerable nations.
- This announcement coincides with FIFA's ratification of Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia, during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to combat desertification, announced a leading role in a global initiative to monitor sand and dust storms in the Middle East. The initiative, backed by about $2 billion from participating countries and the World Meteorological Organization, targets 80 countries vulnerable to drought. Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup, following scrutiny of its application, which was submitted through a delegation led by Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal. Saudi Arabia's willingness to host international tournaments is reinforced by its recent experience and ongoing preparations for major sporting events, including the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 and 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The country remains committed to enhancing its global sporting presence, exemplified by its record-breaking technical rating from FIFA for the 2034 bid, which signifies strong adherence to the criteria set by the governing body of football. This successful bid reflects Saudi Arabia’s greater vision of sports development and public engagement in entertainment, while simultaneously addressing various environmental challenges in the region.