Construction Red Sea project gets world’s first zero-carbon 5G network Mega-developer Red Sea Global and Saudi-listed telco Zain KSA have launched the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network at the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort in The Red Sea project. The 5G network is powered by 100 percent renewable energy from over 760,000 solar panels that Red Sea has built to power the entire 28,000 sq […] August 15, 2023
Analysis Sustainability Middle East economies feel the heat from climate change Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates rivers famously gave birth to some of the world’s first civilisations thousands of years ago. Now, climate change advocates warn that drought means they are now too weak to sustain agriculture and feed the communities who depend on them. At a press conference in Baghdad on Wednesday, United Nations human rights […] August 11, 2023
Tourism Saudi mountain resort Desert Rock edges closer Construction work on Desert Rock, a Saudi mountain resort being built into the rockface, is more than half complete, developer Red Sea Global has confirmed. Launched in 2021, the resort is located in the wadi vistas in the west of the kingdom. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture in the US, guests will enter Desert Rock through […] August 3, 2023
Tourism Saudi giga-project Red Sea to open first hotels this year The first three hotels at Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion dollar Red Sea destination are on track to open later this year, its developer announced on Wednesday. Red Sea Global (RSG), the company behind tourism destinations Amaala and The Red Sea, also said the first domestic flights are set to take off from its international airport before […] August 2, 2023
Analysis Lifestyle Hollywood strikes a blow to Mena film industry When it came to creating the epic sunset scenes for the upcoming Dune movie sequel, director Denis Villeneuve chose the sand dunes of Jordan and Abu Dhabi to stand in for the futuristic desert planet of Arrakis. Local fans sitting down to watch the movie this November should relish the occasion, as it may be […] July 31, 2023
Tourism Sustainable tourism the new priority for Middle East Sustainable tourism was once viewed as a marginal segment of the Middle East’s offering – an eco-lodge in Jordanian desert, or a Bedouin trail in the Sinai. Times are changing. The Gulf’s marketing chiefs are rolling out ambitious projects that are designed to lure the eco-conscious traveller. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global project airport will […] July 17, 2023
Tourism Reimagined kingdom: Saudi Arabia’s tourism challenge Not so long ago, the extent of tourism in Saudi Arabia amounted to pilgrims and business travellers. Other visitors were largely discouraged. Attracting them is now a priority, in a reimagined kingdom where hotels, leisure venues and cultural assets stand to generate income and jobs. Saudi Arabia now has ambitious goals in tourism: it wants […] July 14, 2023
Energy PIF and Engie to collaborate on green hydrogen French utilities firm Engie and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have signed an initial agreement to develop green hydrogen projects in the kingdom, building on Gulf ambitions to become a world leader in the fast-growing renewable energy segment. Under the memorandum of understanding signed this week, Engie and PIF will explore opportunities to jointly develop […] July 13, 2023
Renewable Energy Red Sea ready to power hotels on renewable energy Saudi developer Red Sea Global has completed the installation of 750,000 solar panels and five solar stations to supply renewable energy for the first phase of the Red Sea mega-project. The first phase will house 16 hotels, retail, and entertainment venues, state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano said that the […] July 9, 2023
Food & Drink Saudi catering firm signs $2.4bn deal with Red Sea Global Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) has signed two contracts worth SAR9 billion ($2.4 billion) with Red Sea Global, the developer of Red Sea and Amaala mega projects. The first contract, valued at SAR6.3 billion, is to design, build, operate and transfer a central production unit for catering and facilities management to service RSG hotels, resorts […] July 4, 2023
Development Saudi special economic zone plot sold for $98m The master developer of King Abdullah Economic City has announced a land sale worth SAR367 million ($98 million) as Saudi Arabia presses on with plans to create further economic zones in the kingdom. Emaar The Economic City, which is listed on Tadawul, said in a filing to the Saudi stock exchange that it has sold […] July 3, 2023
Opinion Aviation Riyadh Air tantalises Paris with promise of ‘Saudi hospitality’ As a 'no legacy' airline, there is room to try a different approach – and that could mean in-flight alcohol June 23, 2023
Exclusive Aviation Saudi flight bookings above pre-Covid levels International flight bookings to Saudi Arabia this summer are up 8 percent compared with the same time in 2019, indicating a post-pandemic recovery as the kingdom develops its tourism industry. As of May 23, flight bookings to Saudi Arabia in June, July and August were mainly driven by arrivals from Egypt. They were up 204 […] June 12, 2023
Construction Neom secures $5.6bn to expand workforce housing Saudi Arabia’s smart city developer Neom has secured more than SAR21 billion ($5.6 billion) in financing to start work on the first phase of residential housing for its workforce through a public-private partnership. The preferred bidders in the first phase include local contractors such as Alfanar Global Development, Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Company, Nesma Holding […] June 7, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Giga-projects Red Sea signs ‘pioneering’ carbon-negative concrete deal Red Sea Global and Bahamas startup Partanna have agreed to trial the use of carbon-negative concrete and other products at the kingdom’s Red Sea and Amaala giga-projects. The deal – the value of which is not disclosed – is the next stage of partnership between the companies. As revealed by AGBI, the two began exploring ways […] June 1, 2023
Manufacturing Saudi and UK to strengthen supply chain for minerals The UK and Saudi Arabia have signed a declaration of intent to develop supply chains for critical minerals. The agreement aims to support the global energy transition by increasing the supply of minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. Lithium, nickel and copper are among the metals covered by the declaration, which […] May 30, 2023
Analysis Neom Italy woos Saudi and other Gulf nations in trade drive Italy is courting Saudi Arabia to invest in a new fund, as the European country increasingly turns to the GCC to boost trade and investment volumes. Industry minister Adolfo Urso said Saudi was ready for further investments following a video call with the kingdom’s investment minister, Khalid Al Falih. Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni plans […] May 25, 2023
Opinion Tourism Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions are making waves However the kingdom still has a lot of work to do May 24, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Lifestyle McLaren gears up for Middle East supercar spending spree McLaren is aiming to double supercar sales in the Middle East and Africa this year, largely driven by demand in the UAE and the arrival of its Artura hybrid model. The carmaker, which is based in Woking in the UK and has Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat as its largest shareholder, expects Dubai to be […] May 23, 2023
Energy Saudi approves 106 firms to help hit solar power target Saudi Arabia has approved a list of 106 companies qualified to install solar power systems. The decision aligns with the kingdom’s aim for 68.1 percent of its renewables capacity to be generated by solar power by 2030. The Saudi Electricity and Water Regulatory Authority has qualified a list of both contractors and consultants to design, […] May 19, 2023
Logistics New $2bn port to serve Saudi’s Neom More than SAR7.5 billion ($2 billion) has so far been invested in a new port at Saudi Arabia’s planned $500 billion smart city Neom, with plans to open a new terminal in 2025. Located on the Red Sea at the crossroads of global trading routes, the port will be a critical enabler for Neom and […] May 18, 2023
Opinion Tourism Saudi’s tourism ambitions rely on its youth Rising support from young Saudis will help drive the kingdom's eco-tourism aims May 17, 2023
