The partnership aims to restore a minimum of 5,000 hectares of mangrove forests in Saudi Arabia.

Blue Forest, a UAE-based mangrove reforestation specialist, has forged a strategic partnership with Netzero through its subsidiary company Nabatik, a leading forestry and urban tree planting company based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The partnership aims to restore a minimum of 5,000 hectares of mangrove forests in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the organizations’ shared commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability. The official signing ceremony took place at the Blue Forest office located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Throughout the next three years, Blue Forest and Netzero will aim to implement both mangrove restoration and afforestation initiatives, planting a total of approximately 50 million mangrove trees across Saudi Arabia. The partnership will focus on supporting global climate goals through a tangible increase in carbon sequestration while accelerating sustainable mangrove forest use in the kingdom. Additionally, KSA companies will have the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions and potentially derive revenue through blue carbon credits.

“Blue Forest is excited to join hands with Netzero, bringing our expertise in mangrove reforestation and carbon accounting to the partnership,” said Vahid Fotuhi, CEO and Founder of Blue Forest. “Together, we will drive impactful projects, safeguarding KSA's mangrove forests and contributing to a greener future for the region.”

Dr. Mohammed Alshaikh, the Co-Founder of Netzero, emphasized that the partnership with Blue Forest will be a valuable addition to future projects in the Kingdom, particularly in mangrove tree planting. Mangroves are characterized by their high carbon sequestration capacity, which contributes to achieving the goals of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s initiatives, “Green Saudi” and “Green Middle East,” aiming to plant 10 billion trees and reduce carbon emissions by 278,000 tons.

“The Saudi Green Initiative and The Middle East Green Initiative are bold and ambitious steps to position the region at the forefront of climate action. This is achieved through the participation of all sectors in a harmonious effort,” said Dr. Mohammed Alshaikh.

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