Riyadh: The Sand and Dust Storm Regional Center has announced a notable 53% decrease in the frequency of sand and dust storms, as well as airborne dust, from January to July 2025, compared to historical averages for the same period. Executive Director of Sand and Dust Storm Regional Center Jumaan Al-Qahtani explained that monitored data revealed varying declines in the number of recorded cases over the first seven months of the year. The drop reached 80% in January, 40% in February, 75% in March, 41% in April, 40% in May, 59% in June, and 41% in July.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Qahtani noted that this improvement is the result of integrated national efforts under environmental initiatives, foremost among them the Saudi Green Initiative. Other contributing factors include cloud seeding programs, vegetation cover expansion projects, controlled grazing, the role of royal reserves in protecting ecosystems, and positive climatic shifts in air mass patterns. These factors have contributed to improved air quality and reduced sources of dust generation.
The center affirmed that the achieved results represent a qualitative indicator of the effectiveness of national plans in addressing weather-related phenomena and advancing environmental sustainability in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.