• The Red Sea Project is designed to enhance the natural environment for future generations. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project is designed to enhance the natural environment for future generations. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • 75 percent of the 90+ islands in the Red Sea Project area have been set aside for conservation, with nine islands designated as areas of significant ecological value. Courtesy Red Sea Development Company
    75 percent of the 90+ islands in the Red Sea Project area have been set aside for conservation, with nine islands designated as areas of significant ecological value. Courtesy Red Sea Development Company
  • The location of some of the overwater villas at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project have been set. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The location of some of the overwater villas at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project have been set. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea Project will develop an area of 28,000 square meters in total, including a vast archipelago of more than 50 untouched islands. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project will develop an area of 28,000 square meters in total, including a vast archipelago of more than 50 untouched islands. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The first phase of the resort is set to open at the end of 2022 with 14 hotels across five islands. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The first phase of the resort is set to open at the end of 2022 with 14 hotels across five islands. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea Project includes a vast archipelago of more than 50 untouched islands, with direct access to unspoiled, and thriving coral reefs. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project includes a vast archipelago of more than 50 untouched islands, with direct access to unspoiled, and thriving coral reefs. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea Project offers access to a unique underwater world, home to some of the world’s few remaining thriving coral reefs. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project offers access to a unique underwater world, home to some of the world’s few remaining thriving coral reefs. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea project is home to a number of endangered species, including the hawksbill sea turtle. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea project is home to a number of endangered species, including the hawksbill sea turtle. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea Project is home to exotic wildlife, and a wide range of flora and fauna. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project is home to exotic wildlife, and a wide range of flora and fauna. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Red Sea Project offers a unique constellation of experiences, made possible by the unique and varied landscape of the region. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Red Sea Project offers a unique constellation of experiences, made possible by the unique and varied landscape of the region. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • The Harrat Lunayyir volcano and lava field provides a stunning setting for outdoor and wellness activities. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
    The Harrat Lunayyir volcano and lava field provides a stunning setting for outdoor and wellness activities. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company
  • Participants watch a movie advertising Saudi's Red Sea project on the sidelines of the three-day Future Investment Initiatives conference in Riyadh, on October 25, 2017. AFP
    Participants watch a movie advertising Saudi's Red Sea project on the sidelines of the three-day Future Investment Initiatives conference in Riyadh, on October 25, 2017. AFP

What is Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Tourism Project?


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia is developing several mega-projects to build its nascent tourism industry as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on oil and diversify the economy. The Red Sea project is one of its most ambitious plans to attract tourists to miles of pristine beaches, heritage sites and luxury resorts.

The Red Sea Development Company, developer of the mega-project on Saudi Arabia's west coast, has already signed deals with a  "large number" of hotel operators for the first phase and is preparing to announce the line-up soon.

With Saudi Arabia opening its doors to visitors, The National explains the significance of its flagship tourism project and what it means for the tourism industry amid continued economic and social overhaul in the kingdom.

What is Saudi Arabia's Red Sea tourism project?

It is a luxury tourism destination located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, spanning 28,000 square kilometers and covering more than 90 islands. Set to welcome its first visitors in 2022, the project is expected to be completed by 2030. Billed as a sustainable development, the project aims to position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.

What can visitors expect to experience at the Red Sea tourism site?

Nature, culture and adventure await visitors to the Red Sea tourism site. It promises to keep visitors busy with ancient archeological sites dating back to the Nabatean civilization, dives on the world's fourth-largest barrier reef system, wildlife and marine habitats in the Hijaz mountains and in the Red Sea and even a dormant volacano.

How much will the project cost and how will it be funded?

The first phase will cost an estimated 28 billion Saudi riyals to 29bn riyals ($7.46bn to $7.73bn) to develop, 14bn riyals of which will be debt funded through a syndicated loan, with participation principally from local lenders.

Has work started on the Red Sea project?

Yes. About 5,000 workers are already on site and TRSDC has awarded about 500 contracts worth 12 billion riyals ($3.2bn), which is set to rise to nearly 15bn riyals by the end of 2020. On December 7, the developer awarded a contract to engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald to determine the best sustainable vehicle and fleet configuration at the destination.

How do you get there and where can you stay?

An international airport designed by Foster + Partners is set to be opened in 2022 along with the first four of 16 hotels planned for the site. The remaining 12 hotels scheduled for completion during the first phase will open in 2023, amounting to a total of 3,000 rooms across five islands and two inland resorts. Once completed in 2030, the destination will include 50 hotels offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and 1,300 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.

What are Saudi Arabia's plans for developing its nascent tourism industry?

The kingdom wants tourism to contribute 10 per cent of its gross domestic product by 2030, up from 3.4 per cent currently, as part of a strategy to diversify the Arab world’s biggest economy away from oil.

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UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

Match info:

Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Specs

Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 2pm:

Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]

Not before 7pm:

Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)

Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]

 

Court One

Starting at midday:

Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)

Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)

Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo 

 Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua

 Based: Dubai, UAE

 Number of employees: 28

 Sector: Financial services

 Investment: $9.5m

 Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 

 
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Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

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West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

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Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)