From an isolated coastal expanse to a global tourism centre, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project is paving the way as the blueprint for regenerative urbanism, which is more than just being sustainable.
The multibillion-dollar project, currently under construction on more than 90 islands off the kingdom’s west coast, has already created 2,000 jobs and has an end goal to employ 30,000 people when fully operational.
Dr Maryam Ficociello, chief governance officer for the Red Sea Development Company, said with three resorts scheduled to open to the public by the end of next year, that "depleting the natural environment" should never be an option when building future mega destinations.
We found that during that lengthy exercise there were lots of islands that were natural homes for turtles, so we had to build away from those identified areas
Dr Maryam Ficociello,
Red Sea Development Company
“Regenerative urbanism is about creating a balance where buildings, their occupants and the surrounding systems, whether natural or man-made, work together,” she said during a panel discussion on urbanisation at the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
“Our project spans an area of 32,000 square kilometres, it’s not small, but we have made the decision to only develop 1 per cent of that land and leave the majority of it untouched.
“We’ve been working on ensuring that we develop a tourism destination that is not just sustainable, but even more than that, [it's] regenerative.”
Replanting coral reefs
As early as 2016, Ms Ficociello said the team carried out social and environmental impact assessments to ensure that construction and development did not hurt the natural environment.
The core of the project was to build around nature and with nature, she said.
“We found that during that lengthy exercise there were lots of islands that were natural homes for turtles.”
“Turtles do not change their homes. They continue to come back to where they were born for years and years, so we had to build away from those identified areas.
“We also found there were lots of islands that were home to migratory birds, so we made sure we master planned in areas that did not hurt the environment.”
With a vision to reach 30 per cent net positive conservation by 2040, Ms Ficociello said they have had to move and replant coral as part of the project.
To make way for a small amount of infrastructure, the developer had to uproot small areas of live coral reef and move it to an area where there would be less disruption.
“We have been moving it in a way that it doesn’t die, but we’re rebuilding and planting more as a result,” she said.
“That’s what we mean by regenerative tourism. We’re essentially regenerating the environment.”
Local workforce with hospitality skills
Citing the goals of Vision 2030, Ms Ficociello said efforts to achieve social sustainability were heavily imbedded in the project.
So far, as part of the Red Sea Project, 2,000 jobs have been created, including employees from villages and towns near to the development site.
The team has also worked with local farmers to provide fresh produce for the resorts such as figs, cucumbers and tomatoes.
“We need 30,000 employees to staff all the resorts so we are also working with universities to create technical and vocational programmes and courses in hospitality and management,” she said.
“We have had some students graduate already, but we want to add two, even three zeros to that number.
“In terms of employment statistics, we have so far reached 50 per cent Saudisation and 22 per cent of the total workforce at present is female. We want to work on that number to increase it.”
Saudisation, officially known as the Saudi nationalisation scheme, is a policy implemented by the kingdom’s government whereby Saudi companies and enterprises are required to fill their workforce with Saudi citizens to certain levels.
The Red Sea Project is part of a huge undertaking to build Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry and reduce its reliance on oil and diversify the economy.
It plans to attract tourists to kilometres of pristine beaches, heritage sites and luxury resorts.
The destination will offer a range of experiences, from island getaways to resort holidays, mountain retreats and desert adventures.
Once fully operational, the site aims to run on 100 per cent renewable energy and, being at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, can be reached within just four hours flying time by 250 million people.
In pictures - Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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Results
5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).
6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
6.40pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Immortalised, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Franz Kafka, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.
9pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Chiefdom, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
BABYLON
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MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
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'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
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UAE%20Warriors%20fight%20card
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
