# Al-Baha completes thermal-camera coverage of forests

> Twenty solar-powered towers linked to a central hub provide the region’s reported full coverage for early fire detection.

- Canonical URL: https://newsverum.com/en/news/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026
- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Environment
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Published: 2026-10-20T14:20:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-20T14:20:11+00:00
- Source review period: 2026-10-19
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*The source does not state the event date; the period shown is the source review period.*

Al-Baha became the first Saudi region to fully implement surveillance towers and thermal cameras for early fire detection, the Saudi Press Agency reported on October 19. Twenty operating towers are linked to a central hub and are reported to cover all forests and vegetation in the region.

The branch director of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification said the 20-metre solar-powered towers detect smoke, heat and hotspots and feed into geographic information systems. The report says a wider initiative plans 100 towers across Al-Baha, Aseer, Makkah, Jazan and Najran; it gives no completion date for that broader rollout.

## Data

### Announced programme

Scope and implementation status stated by the source.

Methodology: Based on the source’s October 19 report; reported implementation is distinguished from future plans or aims.

| date | label | description | status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 | Announcement | Development reported by SPA. | occurred |

Sources: <https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2705140> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/reported-development?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/reported-development?lang=en&format=csv)

### Announced programme

Scope and implementation status stated by the source.

Methodology: Figures retain the regional scope and qualifiers stated by the source. The table infers neither national totals nor a new measurement period; plans are identified in the indicator.

| Indicator and scope | Value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Operating surveillance towers in Al-Baha | 20 | Stated number |
| Total towers planned across five regions | 100 | Stated number |

Sources: <https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2705140> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/regional-figures-1?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/regional-figures-1?lang=en&format=csv)

### Announced programme

Scope and implementation status stated by the source.

Methodology: Figures retain the regional scope and qualifiers stated by the source. The table infers neither national totals nor a new measurement period; plans are identified in the indicator.

| Indicator and scope | Value | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| Reported tower height | 20 | Stated number |

Sources: <https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2705140> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/regional-figures-2?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-al-baha-solar-thermal-surveillance-towers-cover-forests-2026/data/regional-figures-2?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [Saudi Press Agency](<https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2705140>) (Source checked: 2026-10-20; Published: 2026-10-19)

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