Saudi Arabia has unveiled its first Direct Air Capture (DAC) demonstration unit in Riyadh, marking a new milestone in the Kingdom’s climate action strategy. The launch was a joint effort by the Ministry of Energy, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), and Climeworks, and was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy.
This demonstration unit, operated by Climeworks, is designed to extract carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and is being tested in Riyadh’s challenging heat, according to the Associated Press. The project aims to assess how DAC technology performs in hot, arid environments, offering valuable insights for potential global applications in similar climates.
The initiative is part of a broader plan to expand DAC and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, with the goal of capturing up to 44 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035, as reported by the Associated Press. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s net-zero ambitions and its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to practical, scalable solutions in line with the Circular Carbon Economy. Fahad Alajlan, President of KAPSARC, highlighted the importance of this project in supporting national climate strategies and developing local supply chains.
By localizing production of DAC components, Saudi Arabia aims to stimulate new industries and economic opportunities. The demonstration also supports the Kingdom’s plan to establish major CCUS hubs in its Eastern and Western regions, consolidating emissions and enabling both storage and conversion of CO₂ into valuable products.
With this launch, Saudi Arabia reinforces its proactive approach to emissions reduction and its drive to lead in innovative climate technologies.
