Homemade in Saudi Arabia: Advancing Regional Climate Data

Saudi Arabia, through its National Center for Meteorology (NCM) and KAUST, is leading a transformative initiative to generate high-resolution climate data tailored to regional needs. The Climate Change Center (CCC), funded by a $26 million grant from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), is dedicated to producing climate projections and forecasts that will enhance national and regional resource management.

Located at KAUST, the Center leverages world-class expertise and cutting-edge technology to develop its own climate models—customized for Saudi Arabia’s unique weather patterns. “Global climate projections do not accurately resolve regional-scale phenomena,” explains CCC Scientific Director Prof. Ibrahim Hoteit. “Our goal is to create homemade climate projections that improve decision-making at the national level.”

With the upcoming installation of a dedicated supercomputer cluster, alongside KAUST’s new high-performance computing system, the CCC will be able to conduct large-scale simulations, advancing research in climate modeling, extreme weather prediction, and long-term climate trends. The initiative also benefits from collaborations with leading international institutions such as the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society, and the University of Cambridge.

By refining climate models based on historical and real-time data, the CCC is poised to set a new standard in regional climate research, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in global climate action.

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