A global achievement: Saudi Arabia is free of epidemic animal diseases
In an exceptional achievement reflecting the development of the environmental and agricultural sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases “Weqaa” announced a qualitative leap during the year 2025. These efforts culminated in an official announcement and international certification confirming that the country is free of four epidemic animal diseases, which represents a milestone in the Kingdom’s journey towards enhancing biosecurity and food security, in accordance with the strict standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Historical context of efforts to combat epidemic animal diseases
This achievement was not a sudden occurrence, but rather the culmination of years of strategic planning and diligent work within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. Historically, the Middle East region has faced ongoing challenges related to the spread of animal diseases and agricultural pests due to climate change and trade patterns. To address these challenges, the Kingdom established the "Wiqa'a" Center as the unified national umbrella leading proactive efforts to protect natural resources. The national strategy focused on shifting from a reactive to an early prevention approach, contributing to the development of an integrated veterinary and agricultural health system capable of anticipating risks before they materialize.
Record numbers in protecting animal and plant life
The intensive efforts of the "Wiqa" Center resulted in the vaccination of more than 32,605,070 head of livestock, ensuring the sustainability of resources. Field teams conducted 26,485 epidemiological surveillance and investigation operations, in addition to completing more than 290,000 field operations for exploration and treatment to enforce preventive control. Furthermore, 49,533 monitoring visits were carried out at facilities to verify compliance with biosecurity requirements. Regarding plant resources, the center inspected more than 80 million palm trees for early detection of the red palm weevil and treated more than 640,000 palm trees. In the area of desert locust control, more than 1,527,055 hectares were surveyed, and 60,758.37 hectares were treated with high precision, in addition to treating 1,954,066 trees as part of agricultural pest control plans. To promote innovation, the center produced 713,501,804 beneficial organisms for biological control, conducted 127,434 laboratory tests on 108,857 samples, and classified 418,189 insects to improve the efficiency of the response to any potential epidemics.
Strategic dimensions and the impact of the achievement locally and internationally
The Kingdom's declaration of being free from these epidemics carries immense significance that transcends geographical boundaries. Domestically, this achievement ensures market stability and protects the investments of farmers and livestock breeders, thereby boosting the agricultural sector's contribution to the GDP. Regionally and internationally, this classification strengthens the Kingdom's position as a reliable trading partner and opens new horizons for exporting Saudi animal and agricultural products to global markets without health restrictions. These accumulated achievements not only support sustainable agricultural development but also solidify the umbrella of comprehensive food security and affirm the Kingdom's ability to provide a global model to be emulated in managing biological and environmental crises.
