RIYADH — March unfolded amid rising tensions in the Middle East, heightened risks of a global energy crisis, and mounting climate challenges, yet Saudi Arabia closed the month with strong domestic performance and continued regional leadership.
Despite external pressures, the Kingdom maintained operational stability while supporting regional supply chains and advancing key environmental milestones.
While the Kingdom’s achievements are reflected in a range of statistics, its strength is most evident in its agile regional stewardship.
Amid escalating tensions, Saudi Arabia swiftly activated its logistical infrastructure to ensure continuity in Gulf and international supply chains. The General Authority of Civil Aviation facilitated more than 120 flights for neighboring carriers, supporting regional air navigation stability.
To ease bottlenecks and maintain the flow of goods, the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) introduced five new maritime shipping services in partnership with global operators including Maersk and MSC. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council—with Saudi Arabia playing a leading role—implemented measures such as extending truck lifespans and establishing joint redistribution zones in Dammam.
Beyond regional stewardship, the Kingdom also advanced environmental goals and improved quality of life.
Under the Saudi Green Initiative, Saudi Arabia rehabilitated its first million hectares of degraded land and has planted more than 159 million trees since the initiative’s launch. This comprehensive development approach is reflected in social outcomes, with the Kingdom rising to 22nd globally in the World Happiness Report, ahead of several G7 nations.
Agricultural output also expanded, with rose production in Taif increasing by 15%, reaching 500 million roses annually.
Saudi Arabia’s achievements in numbers
Ramadan remains one of the busiest periods in the Kingdom, with tens of millions visiting the Two Holy Mosques. This year, Saudi Arabia recorded new operational highs while continuing to enhance visitor experiences.
A total of 33.8 million iftar meals were distributed, alongside 41 million cubic meters of water across Makkah and Madinah. In addition, 10.8 million bottles of Zamzam water were distributed to more than 1,400 cities during Ramadan.
Connectivity also saw notable improvements. Mobile internet speeds in Madinah averaged 318 Mbps, according to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, marking a 17% year-on-year increase during peak Ramadan usage.
Transport systems operated at high efficiency, with 2.79 million vehicles smoothly accessing roads leading to the Grand Mosque between the first and 28th of Ramadan.
The Presidency of Religious Affairs reported 366 million digital views of its religious and scholarly content during the month.
In the charitable sector, donations reached SAR1.757 billion during the sixth National Campaign for Charitable Work on the Ehsan platform, while cumulative voluntary zakat contributions through the ZAKATY platform surpassed SAR1 billion.
Saudi humanitarian efforts also expanded globally, with KSrelief implementing 152 water and sanitation projects worth $409.9 million across 22 countries.
In the industrial sector, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 161 licenses in January alone, representing investments exceeding SAR3.14 billion.
The Kingdom also recorded strong performance in the gaming sector, with a 57% improvement in online gaming connection quality across telecom providers in Q4 2025, according to the CST GameMode report.
Source: Saudi Gazette