What Environmental Fund does

The Environmental Fund (صندوق البيئة) is a Saudi Arabian government entity established in 2019 by Cabinet Resolution No. 416, with legal personality and financial/administrative independence. It operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, with the Minister serving as Chairman of the Board, and is headquartered in Riyadh. Its mandate is to enable the financial sustainability of Saudi Arabia's environmental sector in alignment with the National Environment Strategy and Vision 2030, through non-repayable grants (up to 100% of project costs), loan guarantees (up to 80% of financed amount), operational budget financing for five national environmental centers, and management of an investment portfolio that returned 7.9% in 2024.

The fund serves four primary customer segments: universities and research institutions receiving research grants, nonprofit organizations receiving environmental grants, small and medium enterprises accessing loan guarantees via accredited banking partners (Al Rajhi, Saudi French, Saudi First, Arab National Bank, Samba, and Riyadh Bank), and the five national environmental centers covering meteorology, wildlife and marine life, vegetation cover, environmental compliance, waste management, and coral reef and sea turtle conservation. Distribution runs exclusively through digital channels — a primary government website (ef.gov.sa) and a dedicated Incentives and Grants Platform (efund.ef.gov.sa) for application submission, evaluation, milestone-based disbursement, and status tracking. Operations are supported by Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP for procurement and supply chain management.

The business model is grant- and guarantee-based rather than fee-based: no service fees are charged for grant applications, and the fund generates financial returns through investment portfolio management rather than commercial pricing. Recent strategic activity (2025–2026) includes Service Level Agreements with national environmental centers for shared HR and procurement services, MoUs with the Imam Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Authority and Kudo for ecosystem conservation and community engagement, expansion of the accredited banking network, and the launch of the Environment League stadium initiative reaching 350,000+ spectators and the Beach Treatment initiative using AI-assisted volunteer coordination across 100,000 square meters of Jeddah coastline.

Name

Environmental Fund

Legal name

Environmental Fund (صندوق البيئة)

Website

https://ef.gov.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Saudi Arabian government entity providing non-repayable grants, loan guarantees up to 80%, and investment portfolio financing to universities, nonprofits, SMEs, and five national environmental centers under Vision 2030, via a digital incentives platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Finance and Government Grant Programs

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH), Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Environmental grants funding
• Loan guarantee programs
• Government environmental finance
• Sustainability investment funding
• Nonprofit environmental support

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Portfolio Returns: The fund invests its assets to generate returns that support the financial sustainability of Saudi Arabia's environmental sector. Portfolio returns of SAR-denominated investments generated a total return rate of 7.9% in 2024.
2. Financing Operating Budgets: Funds operating budgets of national environmental centers in Saudi Arabia, enabling them to execute their mandates and achieve sector goals.
3. Grants and Incentives Disbursement: Provides non-repayable grants covering up to 100% of project costs for environmental research, nonprofit initiatives, and sustainable practices, disbursed in tranches based on milestones.
4. Loan Guarantees: Provides loan guarantees of up to 80% of the total financed amount to reduce lending risk for private sector investment in environmental projects, executed through accredited financing channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Environmental Fund is a Saudi government financial entity that enables the environmental sector's financial sustainability by providing non-repayable Environmental Grants (covering up to 100% of project costs) to universities, research institutions, and nonprofits, and by issuing Loan Guarantees (covering up to 80% of loan principal) to de-risk private sector financing for SMEs undertaking environmental projects. It funds the operating budgets of five national environmental centers and manages a multi-billion SAR investment portfolio that generated 7.9% total returns in 2024, all accessed through its Incentives and Grants Platform (efund.ef.gov.sa).

Product overview

Environmental Fund (صندوق البيئة) is a Saudi government financing entity established by Cabinet Resolution No. 416 to enable the environmental sector's financial sustainability in alignment with the National Environmental Strategy and Vision 2030. The fund operates a platform-plus-programs architecture consisting of the Incentives and Grants Platform (منصة الحوافز والمنح) as the unified digital application portal, supplemented by two core financial products: Environmental Grants (المنح البيئية) providing non-repayable funding up to 100% of project costs for nonprofits, universities, and research institutions; and Loan Guarantees (ضمانات القروض) covering up to 80% of loan principal to de-risk private sector investment in environmental activities. The fund also publishes periodic Environmental Insights reports (رؤى بيئية) and maintains an Open Data portal for transparency. Funded sectors include meteorology, wildlife and marine life, vegetation cover, environmental compliance, waste management, and coral reef and sea turtle conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Grants (المنح البيئية) Non-repayable financial grants provided through the Incentives and Grants Program to support environmental initiatives, covering up to 100% of project costs for eligible applicants including nonprofits, universities, and research institutions, disbursed in tranches based on milestones and deliverables.
• Loan Guarantees (ضمانات القروض) Financial product offered in partnership with approved funding institutions (Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi French Bank, Saudi First Bank, Arab National Bank), covering up to 80% of the principal amount in case of beneficiary default, to enable small and medium enterprises to access financing for environmental projects.
• Research Grants for Universities and Research Institutions (دعم البحوث للجامعات والمؤسسات البحثية) Research grants covering up to 100% of project costs for environmental studies and research conducted by universities and research institutions, disbursed in tranches based on research milestones, supporting Saudi Arabia's National Environmental Strategy.
• Incentives and Grants Platform (منصة الحوافز والمنح) Web-based digital platform (efund.ef.gov.sa) serving as the unified channel for submitting applications, managing grant and loan guarantee requests, and tracking application status for all Environmental Fund programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Portfolio return rate of 7.9% in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Environmental Centers (المراكز الوطنية للبيئة)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026SLA agreement for shared services (HR and procurement) with all five national environmental centers to unify support services, enhance institutional integration, improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and support the national centers in achieving their mandates.
• Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Royal Reserve Development Authority (هيئة تطوير محمية الإمام عبدالعزيز بن محمد الملكية)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026MoU to conserve and restore ecosystems, support community participation, and achieve environmental protection and sustainability in both Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad and King Khalid Royal Reserves.
• Kudo (كودو)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026MoU to strengthen environmental partnership, conduct environmental research, and implement eco-friendly practices through joint marketing and awareness campaigns targeting the community.
• King Saud University — Chair of Climate Change, Environment, and Vegetation Research (كرسي أبحاث التغير المناخي وتنمية البيئة والغطاء النباتي — جامعة الملك سعود)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to sponsor the Research Excellence Award in Environment Development, recognizing researchers across three categories: research productivity volume, research quality, and graduate student research excellence.
• Friends of Football Players Charity Association (جمعية أصدقاء لاعبي كرة القدم الخيرية)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironment League initiative supporting environmental awareness within Saudi football stadiums, engaging fans in waste sorting, cleanup campaigns, and eco-friendly behaviors across 4 stadiums in Riyadh and Jeddah.
• Al-Riḥla Association (جمعية الرحالة)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable Steps initiative to spread environmental awareness, eco-friendly practices, and nature protection through interactive activities and cleanup campaigns in Ad Diriyah governorate.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD): Arab League development finance institution providing loans, guarantees, and grants for environmental and infrastructure projects. Comparable as a regional Arab development financier with mixed grant/credit instruments, though not exclusively environmental.
• Abu Dhabi Fund for Development: UAE government fund providing concessional loans and grants for development projects including environmental infrastructure. Comparable as a GCC sovereign development financier blending grants and concessional credit, though externally oriented rather than domestic.
• Qatar Foundation: Gulf-region state-linked foundation funding research, environmental, and social initiatives through grants and endowments. Comparable as a GCC national grantmaking foundation supporting research and sustainability programs, though broader in scope.
• Kuwait Environment Public Authority: GCC government regulatory and program entity for environmental protection, afforestation, and pollution control. Comparable as a Gulf-region state environmental authority, but regulator/program operator rather than financier.
• NEOM (NEOM Company): Saudi mega-project with dedicated environmental and sustainability verticals (NEOM Nature Reserve, green hydrogen, sustainable cities). Comparable Saudi-Vision-2030 strategic mandate and environmental sector focus, but project-developer rather than financier.

Broad incumbents

• Green Climate Fund (GCF): International multilateral fund providing grants, concessional loans, and guarantees for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Comparable mandate (climate finance via blended instruments) and similar grant + guarantee toolkit, but operating globally rather than domestically.
• Public Investment Fund (PIF) — Saudi Arabia: Saudi sovereign wealth fund deploying capital into domestic transformation sectors including environmental infrastructure. Comparable as a state-owned capital deployment vehicle for Vision 2030 priorities, though broader in mandate (not environment-only) and far larger in AUM.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): UN system entity that mobilizes environmental finance, sets standards, and funds environmental projects globally. Comparable as a public-sector environmental financing and convening body, though international and grantmaking-focused rather than a financial institution with its own portfolio.

Direct peers

• Saudi Green Initiative: Saudi government-led umbrella program for afforestation, land restoration, and emissions reduction under Vision 2030. Directly comparable as a Saudi state-backed environmental funding and project-deployment vehicle targeting the same national environmental targets the Environmental Fund finances.

Others

• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST): Saudi research university with major environmental research funding and partnerships. Comparable as a Saudi Vision 2030-aligned research funding ecosystem player that the Environmental Fund supports through research grants (cf. King Saud University Research Excellence Award partnership).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/efgovsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environment-fund-sa
• TikToktiktok.com/@efgovsa?_r=1&_t=ZS-91L8QDArTBH

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Environmental Fund