The first nursery is operational in the Red Sea with a second one underway, initially producing 40,000 corals annually, with plans to expand.

KAUST, a top-tier graduate research university, aims to construct the world's largest and most advanced land-based coral nursery by December 2025, capable of nurturing 400,000 corals annually.

Coral reefs, which make up less than 1% of the ocean floor but are home to 25% of marine species, are under threat from mass bleaching events and severe heat stress.

Up to 90% of global coral reefs could be affected annually by 2050.

The KAUST Coral Reef Initiative (KCRI) is a new project aimed at enhancing marine conservation efforts and trialing innovative restoration techniques.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, KCRI will be based on a 100-hectare site and will deploy 2 million coral fragments as part of a significant conservation effort.

KAUST President Prof. Tony Chan emphasized the need to transition from labor-intensive restoration methods to industrial-scale processes to combat coral reef degradation.

The project aims to contribute to effective coral recovery solutions amid increasing environmental challenges.

KAUST and NEOM have announced a collaboration to develop technologies aimed at significantly reversing the current rate of coral reef degradation.

Chan from KAUST emphasized KAUST's role in this transformation, while Al-Nasr from NEOM expressed the initiative's alignment with NEOM's commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.

The partnership aims to restore vital coral reefs and raise awareness about the importance of preserving these essential marine systems for future generations.