Saudi Arabia to hand over UN desertification conference presidency to Mongolia on Monday

Saudi Arabia will participate next Monday in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), hosted by Mongolia from August 17 to 28, 2026, with the attendance of member states, international organizations, and relevant entities.

During the conference, Saudi Arabia will hand over the presidency of the session to Mongolia, following a term marked by the launch and implementation of several major international initiatives and partnerships that began at the Riyadh conference (COP16).

Saudi-led initiatives and international support

At the conference, Saudi Arabia will highlight key initiatives it led during its presidency, including the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience (RGDRP), the Riyadh Action Agenda, which expanded from 35 to over 100 initiatives, the International Initiative for Early Warning of Sand and Dust Storms, and the activation of the Business4Land initiative.

The Kingdom's participation underscores progress in environmental protection, natural resource conservation, vegetation development, and the adoption of sustainable solutions to combat desertification, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting multilateral environmental action and achieving sustainable development goals.

Riyadh conference achievements and Mongolia events

Saudi Arabia hosted the 16th session of the convention in December 2024 in Riyadh, the largest in the convention's history, with 197 parties (196 countries and the European Union) participating, the adoption of 39 decisions, and the mobilization of over $12 billion to support land restoration and drought resilience.

The conference serves as a platform to strengthen cooperation and exchange international expertise in land management and restoration, support global efforts to mitigate the effects of land degradation and drought, and enhance partnerships aimed at building a more sustainable future.

Saudi Arabia will participate in the conference with a national pavilion in the Blue Zone featuring more than 40 side events, a dedicated pavilion for the Middle East Green Initiative, chair the final meeting of the COP Bureau before transferring the presidency, and hold meetings for the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience.

With this participation, Saudi Arabia concludes its presidency of the Conference of the Parties, having established a legacy of impactful initiatives and effective partnerships that translated the outcomes of the Riyadh conference into practical steps, while reaffirming its commitment to continued international cooperation to achieve the goals of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and strengthen resilience to drought.