Latest news with #RedSea
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Shifting tourism from preservation to regeneration
Since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, tourism has rebounded rapidly. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, it is expected to hit record levels in 2025. But this growth demands an urgent reassessment of how tourism impacts the natural world. This is especially critical in coastal regions, which attract nearly half of all international travelers and are home to some of the planet's most vulnerable ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. A new model is emerging: regenerative tourism. Rather than focusing solely on preservation, it aims to restore and enhance these ecosystems. Rooted in science, innovation and careful planning, regenerative tourism offers a new relationship between people and place — one that strengthens biodiversity, supports communities, and creates lasting value. At Red Sea Global, this approach is applied across every stage of development, using data, design and ecological insight to show how tourism can contribute to long-term environmental recovery. Regeneration begins not with restoration, but with rethinking how we design and build from the start. The Red Sea and AMAALA, two of our flagship destinations, are developed with this question in mind: How can we leave a place healthier than we found it? In Al-Wajh Lagoon, for example, development is limited to just 22 of more than 90 islands, with nine designated as conservation areas. At AMAALA, development is capped to accommodate no more than 500,000 guests per year to protect delicate habitats from overuse. At Shebara, overwater villas were built directly above the sea, avoiding sensitive beach zones and using marine-safe materials. The Desert Rock resort was carefully integrated into the landscape, preserving the natural contours of the mountains while minimizing disruption to the surrounding environment. And at AMAALA's organic farms, sustainable food production operates entirely off-grid, powered by solar energy and integrated into the local ecosystem. Together, these projects reflect our broader goal of delivering a 30 percent net conservation benefit across The Red Sea and AMAALA by 2040. Our environmental restoration programs go beyond conservation — they aim to rebuild ecosystems at scale and boost their long-term resilience. We have launched an extensive seagrass restoration initiative, recognizing the critical role these underwater meadows play in nurturing marine biodiversity, from dugongs to sea turtles. Seagrasses also improve water quality and act as efficient carbon sinks. At the same time, our coral gardening program has transplanted more than 100,000 corals across the Red Sea, achieving survival rates that exceed global benchmarks. These efforts help reestablish reef habitats that support a wide range of marine life. Perhaps most ambitious is our mangrove regeneration program. Supported by a nursery of 1 million sq. meters, we have planted more than 3 million mangrove trees across our destinations. These trees stabilize coastlines, support fisheries, filter pollutants and store significantly more carbon than tropical rainforests. Rooted in science, innovation and careful planning, regenerative tourism offers a new relationship between people and place. Rashid Alhatilah To ensure long-term impact, we have partnered with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and other stakeholders to protect and expand these efforts. At Red Sea Global, technology is a core part of the infrastructure for regeneration. From real-time marine sensors to nature-based solutions, innovation helps us make smarter, faster decisions and expand our impact across sectors. Our marine environments are monitored using AI-powered sensors that track water quality, biodiversity and environmental changes in real time. This enables rapid response, reduces reliance on human divers and improves data accuracy. We also invest in technologies that mimic or enhance natural systems — often called nature-based solutions. These span construction, clean energy, agriculture and water treatment, offering practical ways to cut costs, boost efficiency and restore ecosystems. This approach redefines how we value the natural world. Ecosystems are no longer seen as passive scenery or extractable assets, but as active participants in a regenerative economy. The Corallium Marine Life Institute lies at the heart of our regenerative approach. As both a research center and visitor experience hub, Corallium enables marine species to reproduce in controlled environments that replicate the Red Sea's natural conditions. These 'living laboratories' allow us to test and refine ecological interventions before applying them in the wild. Collaboration is key to our progress. We work closely with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform, and innovation platforms such as WAVE — an initiative launched by Princess Reema bint Bandar — to support ocean-positive solutions. These partnerships bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and conservationists to align innovation with environmental impact. Looking ahead, global platforms such as The Ocean Race 2027, which will celebrate its Grand Finale at AMAALA, will bring international attention to the urgent need to protect ocean health. Through sport, science and storytelling, such events help catalyze public engagement and drive meaningful change. At Red Sea Global, we are building destinations where guests play an active role in regeneration. Through education, immersive experiences and hands-on restoration efforts, tourism becomes a practical tool for protecting natural systems. There is growing recognition that environmental health and economic resilience are deeply connected. Regenerative tourism offers a realistic way to align development with long-term ecological and social value. The path forward depends on collective commitment, thoughtful design and a willingness to rethink how development, nature and people coexist. The opportunity is clear: to make regeneration the baseline — setting a new standard for tourism to build smarter, travel better, and help restore what has been lost. • Rashid Alhatilah is the group head of environment at Red Sea Global
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
‘We will make our country proud': Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps
JEDDAH: Hundreds of Saudi students on Thursday graduated from a specialized program targeting job creation in the Kingdom's fast-growing tourism sector. The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program, held in partnership with King Abdulaziz University and the Human Resources Development Fund, celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis, the scheme's third cohort of students, across specializations including wellness tourism and hospitality. The ceremony was attended by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company. The two officials delivered a speech highlighting the importance of achieving Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering the nation's youth, building a thriving Saudi industry, and showcasing the Kingdom's natural beauty and hospitality to the world. Pagano said: 'We are proud to see our skill development initiative empower youth and transform lives. By providing access to high quality and job-oriented training programs, we empower the students with the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry of Saudi Arabia.' RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners, he added. The graduation, held at King Faisal Auditorium, saw the signing of an agreement between the Human Resources Development Fund and Red Sea Global to train and employ 1,000 young Saudi men and women in specialized fields, including wellness tourism, hospitality, tourism security and technical services. Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, HRDF director general, said that the fund helped more than 153,000 Saudi men and women find employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024. Al-Jawini showcased the fund's most prominent campaigns, and said that the HRDF develops its programs in partnership with various sectors, with the aim of improving job opportunities and developing human capital. The event also included a keynote address by Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at RSG. He praised the graduates for their resilience, hard work and dedication. 'From the first day you entered the Red Sea Vocational Training Program, you've proven to us that ambition has no limits, and that those with determination and passion can go further than they imagined. Your hard work has become an accomplishment. Your efforts are the beginning of a great professional journey, filled with opportunities and successes that exceed our expectations,' Al-Basseet said. 'Don't stop at this achievement; let it be the beginning of a great and prosperous future. We are always behind you, and we are proud of you.' Later, graduates Naif Najmi, Mishari Al-Jehani, Ghala Al-Buhairi and Ghada Al-Jehani gave thank-you speeches on behalf of their cohort. They highlighted the importance of the support they received, reflected on their journeys and described their hopes for the future. The ceremony was full of emotion and joy among students and their parents. Amer Al-Marawani, a graduate student of tourism security, told Arab News: 'I'm feeling really happy and excited for the beginning of my new journey. In the future, I hope I can contribute to the tourism sector of my country.' Hala Nadri, a graduate specializing in hospitality, said: 'After graduation, it is an outstanding honor for us to serve the country, we are really looking forward to join the workforce anywhere in our touristic sites.' Meanwhile, Jood Majed, a graduate of tourism safety, praised the program's technical depth and encouraged other Saudi women to apply: 'The training programs have been a resounding success and we learned a lot from it. Now, it is our time to pay back our leadership who supported us all these years by working hard, and eventually, we will make our country proud.' Yousef Al-Amri, a graduate in information technology, said: 'I consider myself very lucky to be equipped with these invaluable skills and I am forever grateful to RSG and KAU.'
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
Plastic Bag Bans And Fees Can Reduce Shoreline Litter, Study Finds
EGYPT, RED SEA - DECEMBER 2007: Overview of plastic pollution during a dive on December 6, 2007, off ... More Egypt, Red Sea. In 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans if nothing is done, its the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Plastics pollution has a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Thousands of seabirds and sea turtles, seals and other marine mammals are killed each year. (Photo by) Plastic bag bans and fees could help reduce the number ending up littering shorelines by at least a quarter, according to a new analysis. The study by researchers at the University of Delaware and Columbia University found that plastic bag policies led to a 25% to 47% decrease in plastic bags as a share of total items collected in shoreline cleanups, compared to areas without policies. It also found a 30 to 37% reduction in presence of entangled animals in areas with plastic bag policies. It used data collected by volunteers with Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup annual event, which sees volunteers remove trash from beaches and waterways around the world. The U.S. currently has now no federal plastic bag policy, but there are various policies at the town, county and state level, which include bans, partial bans and charges. The study says some types of policies seemed to be more effective than others in reducing plastic litter. For instance, it said fees appear to reduce litter even more than bans, though more study is needed to understand why. Another finding was that the bag bans and fees were most effective in places where the plastic bag litter problem was more severe to begin with. Report co-author Anna Papp said roughly one-third of Americans are living in an area with some sort of plastic bag policy in place in a statement. Papp added the findings do show that plastic bag policies are broadly effective in limiting litter along shorelines. 'Ours is the first large-scale study to use hundreds of policies and tens of thousands of cleanups to look at their effects,' she said. 'But it is important to keep in mind that this is a relative decrease in affected areas compared to areas without policies.' A previous analysis by Ocean Conservancy showed a 29% reduction in plastic grocery bags found on beaches following an increase in statewide plastic bag bans. It also claimed Americans use 100 billion plastic grocery bags each year and on average, plastic grocery bags are used for only 12 minutes before being thrown away. Ocean Conservancy's manager for ocean plastics research, Dr. Erin Murphy said plastic bags are particularly dangerous for the environment in an interview. Dr. Murphy said sea animals can either become entangled with them or ingest them. She added the ingestion of plastic bags has been linked to death in many species, including marine mammals and sea turtles. 'Plastic bags can look to some sea creatures like prey such as jellyfish, and so they may be consumed preferentially in the environment,' she told me. Dr. Murphy said there have also been previous studies, which highlight how high levels of plastic litter can impact tourism in coastal resorts. She added the study provides good evidence about why 'more comprehensive plastic bag bans or well-developed plastic bag fees' need to be introduced. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's lead of strategy and thought leadership for the plastics initiative, Sander Defruyt said the new research provides clear evidence that plastic bag bans and fees are effective tools in reducing plastic pollution in an email. Defruyt added plastic bags represent just a fraction of all plastics used globally and tackling the plastic pollution crisis requires a much broader systems change. 'We must change how we design, use, and reuse plastics. We cannot simply recycle or reduce our way out of the plastic pollution crisis,' he said. 'Our current wasteful linear plastics economy is broken," added Defruyt. "In this system, fossil resources are extracted from the ground, made into packaging or products, and most often discarded after a very short, single use to end up in landfills, incinerators, or worse, into the environment. 'To fundamentally transform today's linear economy into a circular economy will require a combination of ambitious industry action and policy measures, working in tandem to provide the systems change required," said Defruyt.
Al Bawaba
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
Jeddah E-prix Double-header Becomes Most-watched Formula E Weekend in History, Data Analysis Shows
Saudi Arabia continues to make history on the global motorsport stage, as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship confirmed that the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix double-header became the most-watched Formula E weekend in history, with an unprecedented 65 million global cumulative viewers, according to data analysis from Kantar under the lights of the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 14-15, the races marked the championship's thrilling debut in the Red Sea city after six successful seasons in Diriyah. Jeddah's unique night racing spectacle, coupled with a state-of-the-art circuit and electric atmosphere, has cemented the Kingdom's growing reputation as a premier destination for world-class is confirmed to once again host the only double-header night races on the Formula E calendar in Season 12, which will be held on February 13-14, addition to the record-setting Jeddah rounds, Formula E has seen exceptional growth this season with the data analysis showing unprecedented audience growth across TV and social media for the first half of the 2024-25 season, with its cumulative audience due to surpass 500 million by the end of Season audiences analysed through Emplifi have also shown impressive growth, with social video views and engagement up 13% and 12% respectively, underscoring the vibrant and interactive fan community the series continues to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship's 11th season - which started in São Paulo in December 2024 and will culminate in London on July 26-27 - has so far delivered some of the most exciting racing action in world motorsport, while continually pushing the boundaries of electric far this season, its 22 world-class drivers have engaged in intense, head-to-head competition, captivating fans with epic battles on iconic circuits and nail-biting finishes at new around the globe have tuned in and turned up in greater numbers than ever before, drawn by compelling racing and a shared vision for sustainable and cutting-edge from the series' latest TV and audience analysis include:The Jeddah double-header (Rounds 3 & 4) smashed records with 65 million global cumulative viewers, making it the most-watched Formula E weekend in City (Round 2) delivered the highest ever single-race TV audience in Formula E history, with a cumulative global audience of 44 the United States, CBS' coverage of Mexico City set a new benchmark as the most-watched Formula E broadcast ever in the country, reaching 11 million France, Round 8 in Monaco delivered a 25% increase in viewership compared to Season 10's (Rounds 9) saw the biggest Formula E TV audience ever in Japan, with the race recording a 20% higher audience than S10 on Fuji new fans discovering the championship to loyal supporters tuning in week after week, Formula E is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and relevant sports properties on the social media, Formula E's dynamic video content and behind-the-scenes action continue to capture hearts and drive engagement from fans:+13% YoY increase in video views+12% YoY growth in social engagements+10% YoY growth in social media followersJeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said: 'The latest figures from our external providers are truly phenomenal and show the tremendous momentum behind the growth of our sport. They highlight that not only do we have world-leading technology and acceleration in the cars, but that it's producing some of the best most-competitive racing that old and new fans can't get enough of." 'We're building fan bases and fan loyalty in key and new markets, with Mexico and the US examples of where our investment and longevity in the market is paying dividends. As the world's fastest growing motorsport though, we know we can't stand still. We know we need to continue offering the best racing, the best rivalries and the best most-inclusive events to continue on our steep trajectory and build a strong community of electric super fans.'
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
SISCO Holding's RSGT to operate 4 multi-purpose terminals in Red Sea
Riyadh - Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), a subsidiary of Sustained Infrastructure Holding Company (SISCO Holding), signed a 20-year concession agreement for the operation of four existing multi-purpose port facilities on the Red Sea with the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani). The build, operate and transfer (BOT) concessions cover general cargo, dry and liquid bulk, crude oil, petrochemical, Ro/Ro, and livestock terminals, according to a press release. The projects will be run by RSGT's fully owned Multi-purpose Terminals (MPT) business unit, which will assume operations of all non-containerized port facilities within the expanding RSGT portfolio. Meanwhile, the 20-year total capex investment stands at SAR 1.56 billion ($418 million) in upgrades for all four facilities. Over the first five years of the four concessions, RSGT will invest SAR 672 million ($180 million) in infrastructure, equipment, and technology to bring the four facilities to global operational standards. RSGT will consolidate the existing multi-purpose and Ro/Ro terminals at Jeddah Port, in addition to taking operational control of King Fahd Industrial Port Yanbu, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port. The new concessions will allow RSGT to positively contribute to the Kingdom's goals of economic diversification and international competitiveness. This step boosts RSGT's service offerings, operational capacity, reinforcing its ability to support growing trade flows through the Red Sea. The project also anchors the company's position as a leading multi-port operator both domestically and globally. The concessions will be effective from 1 July 2025, while the financial impact will be reflected in SISCO Holding and RSGT's financial statements from the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. Jens Floe, CEO of RSGT, commented: 'The signing of these concession agreements represents another major milestone in Red Sea Gateway Terminal's strategic growth plan, as well as another major step in the fulfilment of the Vision 2030 goals for privatization, and the emergence of new global trade and logistics hubs here in Saudi Arabia, located at the crossroads of so many key international trade lanes.' Khalid Suleimani, Group CEO of SISCO Holding, highlighted: "The addition of these four multi-purpose terminals to RSGT's portfolio is a transformative step in our expansion strategy, that is fully aligned with Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).' 'This strategic expansion also supports SISCO Holding's five-year strategy (6x26) objectives, which aim to achieve SAR 6 billion in assets under management (AUM) and SAR 2 billion in revenues by 2026,' Suleimani added. He concluded: 'By continuing to invest and grow our portfolio, through our various companies and investment arms, in addition to investing through the holding company, we are creating sustainable, long-term value for shareholders while reinforcing RSGT's position as a leading port operator in the region and the largest operator on the Red Sea." In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, SISCO Holding turned profitable at SAR 24.70 million, against net losses valued at SAR 21.10 million in Q1-24.
