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IN RIYADH , Saudi Arabia on 21 October 2002, His Royal
Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince,
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation
and Inspector General, announced the commencement of
candidates’ nominations for the ‘Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz
International Prize for Water’. This international scientific prize
represents a significant contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia to the global water issues that represent one of the most
pressing human, economic and political concerns worldwide.
The prize council is headed by His Royal Highness Prince
Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz. The General Secretariat of
the prize is headquartered in the Prince Sultan Research Centre
for Environment, Water and Desert, at King Saud University in
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There follows an account
of the centre and its activities, including a more in-depth look
at the reasons and accomplishments of the prize.
The Prince Sultan Research Centre for Environment,
Water and Desert )
Prince Sultan Research Centre for Environment, Water and
Desert (formerly known as the Centre for Desert Studies) was
established in 1986 as an independent administration directly
linked to the office of the Rector of King Saud University. It
was set up as part of a national initiative, under the leadership
of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to create special-
ized research centres, particularly in important areas
concerning the prevailing dry desert climate of the Kingdom.
Its purpose is to design and conduct scientific research related
to desert development and combating desertification in the
Arabian Peninsula in general, and in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia in particular.
The centre works to fulfil its mission through scientific
studies and research, particularly in the realms of combating
desertification, preserving natural and environmental resources
and organizing their exploitation through afforestation and the
expansion of natural vegetation cover, forest and rangeland. It
also endeavours perpetually to ameliorate its technical and
research capacities in the field of remote sensing and geograph-
ical information systems, in order to support its scientific
research activities. In addition, it uses these technologies in its
work with specialised authorities to implement applied research
projects devoted to studying the Kingdom’s desert environment.
Among the research products published by the centre are
several scientific and advisory publications. It acts as a home
Fostering sustainable water resources:
the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz
International Prize for Water
Dr. Abdulmalek A. Al Al-Shaikh, General Secretary of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz
International Prize for Water, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz (centre) with HRH Prince
Khalad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz and Professor Howard Wheater
Photo: PSIPW
Some winners of the PSIPW 2nd Award 2004-2006 Photo: PSIPW