From Deserts to Coral Reefs: Preserving Microbial Diversity for One Health in the Arabian Peninsula

Saudi Arabia is at a crossroads, facing mounting pressures from climate change, rapid development, population growth, and global travel. As outlined in Vision 2030, these challenges intensify strain on ecosystem processes and threaten microbiomes, wider ecosystems, and public health. This presentation examines how preserving microbial diversity in deserts, volcanic fields, coral reefs, and mangroves can address environmental and health challenges by supporting the breakdown of pollution, enhancing food security, preventing disease, and promoting ecosystem restoration. Robust microbiomes underpin the One Health and Planetary Health frameworks, which link environmental resilience to the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. The newly established Microbial Vault at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) consolidates thousands of microbial isolates from extreme and marine environments, creating a biobank that advances biotechnological innovation, the development of new medicines, and health research. Through the protection and application of this microbial diversity, Saudi Arabia has the potential to become a leading example in One Health, sustainability, and pandemic preparedness.