SAUDI’S RED SEA PROJECT MASTERPLAN EYES 2030 COMPLETION

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea project has received the approval from its board of directors for the masterplan, with the development now aiming for completion in 2030. The Red Sea Development Company ( TRSDC) confirmed that the approved masterplan will see 22 islands developed between the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh, offering 10,000 hotel rooms across island resorts, mountain retreats and desert hideaways.

It will also offer luxury residential properties and commercial, retail and recreational facilities.

The tourism project, which is estimated to grow the kingdom’s GDP by SAR22bn ($5.86bn) when ready, is a key component of Saudi’s Vision 2030 strategy. Comprising a 28,000sqkm stretch of islands, beaches and other attractions on the Red Sea, the project, launched in the summer of 2017, is expected to create up to 70,000 new jobs and attract one million tourists per year.

The masterplan was developed in partnership with WATG and Buro Hapold and included design concepts from prominent global architecture firms, a statement said.

It preserves some 75 per cent of the destination’s islands for conservation and designates nine islands as sites of significant ecological value.

The masterplan required “several redesigns throughout the process to avoid potentially disrupting endangered species native to the area”, the statement said.

A series of environmental studies were conducted to ensure that the ecologically sensitive area is fully protected during and after development, it added.

The masterplan also features a smart destination management system that will support personalised products and services and help manage visitor flows to avoid over-crowding and delays.

The first phase of the project, scheduled for completion in 2022, includes 14 luxury and “hyper-luxury” hotels providing 3,000 rooms across five islands and two inland resorts.