Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research

Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research is one of the research institutes focused on environmental studies. It conducts scientific research related to arid regions in the Arabian Peninsula. The institute is affiliated with King Saud University in Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1986, it also serves as the center for the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water.

The institute was established under the name 'Center of Desert Studies' as an independent administration linked to the rector of King Saud University on July 2, 1986. This initiative stemmed from the Saudi government's interest in creating specialized research centers, particularly in vital and important areas related to the arid desert environment prevalent in the Kingdom.

In 2000, a decision was issued by the Higher Education Council with the approval of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to change the name of the 'Center of Desert Studies' at King Saud University to the 'Prince Sultan Center for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research.' Then, in 2011, a decision was made to change the name from the 'Prince Sultan Center for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research' to the 'Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research.'

The institute aims to develop and manage water resources, attract and retain outstanding talents in the institute's specialized fields, develop the institute's infrastructure, technology, and information systems, and enhance research and studies in the fields of environment, water, and desert, and encourage the use of modern technologies and renewable energy to achieve sustainability.

It also aims to build bridges of communication with the community, provide consultations, studies, and research, establish strategic partnerships for Arab and international cooperation, introduce specialized graduate programs that contribute to the transfer and localization of technology, and develop qualified national cadres, as well as increase the institute's financial resources.

The institute's mandates include designing and conducting scientific research related to arid regions, particularly those concerning the environment, water, and desert. It supports scientific research conducted by relevant university departments related to the environment, water, and desert, and coordinates and collaborates with concerned entities within and outside the university in studies, research, and activities related to the environment, water, and desert.

The institute's mandates also include collecting and documenting information related to the environment, water, and desert, and presenting it in an applicable form for direct use. It employs modern technologies, especially remote sensing and geographic information systems, in studies and research on the desert environment. The institute organizes conferences, meetings, seminars, and workshops related to the environment, water, and desert. Additionally, it prepares training courses to qualify some professionals in various fields related to environmental, water, and desert studies, and remote sensing technologies. The institute provides technical consultations and assistance to researchers and students both within and outside the university. It also engages in the scientific publication of research and topics related to the institute's research activities and supports and develops the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water through the presence of the prize's General Secretariat at the institute.