The giga-projects that are redefining the image of Saudi Arabia

Investments for NEOM’s first phase could reach SR1.2 trillion by 2030. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 September 2022
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The giga-projects that are redefining the image of Saudi Arabia

  • Infrastructure investments aim to transform Kingdom into a tourism, entertainment and adventure destination
  • Driven by innovation and sustainability, the projects seek to to spur economic growth and develop digital infrastructure

JEDDAH: A little over six years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a social and economic blueprint that would transform the Kingdom. The plan, Vision 2030, set out to create a vibrant society, overhaul the nation’s economy, and reduce its dependence on oil.

In what was viewed as a turning point for the country, several “giga-projects” were launched to provide a focal point for whole new sectors, driven by technology, innovation and sustainability, to stimulate broader economic growth and develop the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure.




A rendering of the Grand Mosque at Diriyah. (Supplied)

Diriyah

Among these new giga-projects, underwritten by the nation’s PIF, or Public Investment Fund, is Diriyah — the Kingdom’s crown jewel — home to the first Saudi dynasty, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is undergoing a $50-billion revamp.

Five years ago, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority was tasked by the Saudi government with redeveloping the “birthplace of the Kingdom” into a world-class and sustainable tourism, entertainment and cultural destination.

Diriyah’s mud-brick walls once housed a thriving desert city that was a powerhouse of culture and commerce. The area’s Turaif district, with its famous citadel, was the original seat of power for the Kingdom’s Al-Saud family. In 1727, the city was named the country’s capital, laying the foundations for what would later become a unified Saudi Arabia.

In July 2017, the 11-square-kilometer site became the subject of a painstaking restoration plan aimed at bringing its historical legacy back to life. Situated just 15 minutes’ drive from Riyadh, it will feature some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and restaurants built in traditional Najdi architectural style, alongside conservation areas and cultural venues, with a view to attract some 30 million visitors annually by 2030.

Tourists are not the only target market, however. There will be more than 3,000 residential units in the traditional Najdi design and another 300-plus luxury branded residences.

The site will also host a brand new academic institution, King Salman University, which will focus on heritage, culture and the arts, alongside several new cultural institutes specializing in Najdi architecture and mud-brick building, poetry, falconry, Qur’an recitation, local theater, dance, music and the culinary arts.




Qiddiya is Riyadh’s forthcoming entertainment, sports and culture hub. (Saudi Royal Palace/AFP)

Qiddiya

Also under development in the Riyadh region is Qiddiya, the Saudi capital’s forthcoming entertainment, sports and culture hub, which will feature theme parks, arenas, outdoor activities and motorsports.

The project is built on five main pillars: Sports and wellness, nature and environment, parks and attractions, motion and mobility, and arts and culture. Owned wholly by the PIF, its objective is to boost the Kingdom’s status as a leading tourist destination.

Over a total area of 334 square kilometers and a budget of $8 billion, construction began in early 2018. The latest contract is a $750-million joint venture between ALEC Saudi Arabia Engineering & Contracting and El Seif Engineering Contracting to build the Kingdom’s first water park — which is also tipped to be the region’s largest.

The Qiddiya Investment Company has also awarded a $1-billion contract to build Six Flags Qiddiya, which will contain 28 rides and attractions in six themed parks. It is one of the Kingdom’s most highly anticipated attractions.

A speed park will include an FIA grade-one racetrack dedicated to motorsports fans as well as a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time, open to elite and amateur players.

Qiddiya will also feature luxury tented retreats, animal encounters and outdoor adventure and exploration, several arts and culture centers, festival grounds, and a multiplex cinema.




AMAALA project’s first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. (Supplied)

The Red Sea Project and AMAALA

It is not just the Riyadh region that is enjoying a flurry of investment. On the Red Sea coast in the far west of the Kingdom, two luxurious tourist destinations are under development, both with a strong emphasis on sustainability, conservation, culture and heritage.

Aiming to be a world leader in regenerative tourism, the Red Sea Project is a luxury, sustainable project spanning an impressive 34,000 square kilometers.

The Red Sea Development Company, established in 2018, is fully owned by the PIF. Directly employing 35,000 people, the project showcases the landscape and rich cultural heritage of the coast.

Occupying an archipelago of more than 90 islands — some of them untouched — featuring dormant volcanoes, deserts and a wide variety of wildlife and mountainous scenery, it will emphasize environmental preservation while relying exclusively on renewable energy sources, with a ban on single-use plastics and zero waste-to-landfill.

The region’s new dedicated Red Sea International Airport is already nearing completion and is set to open in 2023, while 50 resorts featuring 8,000 rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties are due for completion by 2030.

Last month, the Red Sea Development Company told Arab News that three of the 22 islands will be complete by 2024, hosting 16 hotels, three of which will be ready by next year, including the St. Regis Red Sea Resort at Ummahat Island.

It also announced the opening of its Turtle Bay Hotel and the completion of its 1.2-kilometer Shura Bridge connecting the mainland with its central island hub, and the first inland access roads over 16 kilometers connecting its Southern Dunes resort to the main highway. Around 200 villas and townhouses are now also complete at its Coastal Village.

Further to the north is Saudi Arabia’s ultra-luxury wellness retreat AMAALA, tailored for relaxation and meditation and sports enthusiasts. The initial development phase of the 3,300-square-kilometer site is set to conclude in late 2024 with the opening of nine hotels.




New attractions on Asir’s mountain peaks will turn the province into a year-round destination. (Shutterstock)

Asir

Down in the country’s southwest, the Kingdom’s highest mountain peaks are also getting a revamp. Last September, the crown prince announced a tourism strategy to develop Asir with an investment of $13 billion, to attract more than 10 million visitors by 2030.

The region’s picturesque green mountains, its fair weather, archeological sites, and dense forests that cannot be found anywhere else in the Kingdom, combined with its renowned hospitality, have attracted thousands of tourists in recent years.

New attractions on Asir’s mountain peaks will turn the province into a year-round destination, exploiting the tourism potential of its geographic and natural diversity, culture and heritage.

In addition, it will provide new jobs, boost quality of life, and upgrade essential services and infrastructure in the region. The PIF plans to set aside $3 billion to build 2,700 hotel rooms, 1,300 residential units, and 30 commercial and entertainment attractions in Asir by 2030.




The Line is the flagship development in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM megacity project. (Supplied)

NEOM

The Kingdom’s flagship and arguably its most ambitious giga-project is NEOM, first unveiled in 2017.

Located in the Kingdom’s northwest, the futuristic smart city will span 26,500 square kilometers and will be powered entirely by renewable clean energy, providing a model for sustainable living and development.

Three phases of the $500-billion project are currently underway, including Trojena, Oxagon and The Line.

Trojena, a high-altitude destination nestled between the northernmost ranges of the Sarawat mountains, will offer unique, all-year outdoor sports experiences, including the region’s first and only ski resort.

The project will also feature ultra-luxury family and wellness resorts, the region’s largest freshwater lake, an interactive nature reserve, and a range of dining and retail options. It is due for completion in 2026.

Oxagon, meanwhile, is a floating industrial and commercial hub, which will incorporate the most advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence to robotics, and will be powered entirely by clean energy.

Finally, The Line, a 200-meter-wide, 170-kilometer-long city that will accommodate 9 million residents, embodies how urban communities will live in the future in an environment free from roads, cars and emissions, offering a new approach to urban design that will run on 100 percent renewable energy and prioritize people’s health.

According to the design plan, The Line will have an outer mirror facade that will provide the structure its unique character and allow even its small footprint to blend with nature.

Different from tall buildings, the concept layers public parks and pedestrian areas, schools, homes and places for work. The narrow design is intended to reduce the human-made footprint on the landscape and promote greater efficiency. The city will feature a high-speed rail link with an end-to-end transit time of just 20 minutes.


Saudi Cabinet discusses Syria, Lebanon and Kingdom’s success at WEF

Updated 28 January 2025
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Saudi Cabinet discusses Syria, Lebanon and Kingdom’s success at WEF

  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefs members on telephone call with US President Donald Trump
  • Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus and Beirut last week for talks with the new Syrian ruler and Lebanese president

RIYADH: The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday discussed the outcomes of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visits to Syria and Lebanon last week.

The prince met newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut and the new Syrian ruler, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Damascus.

The Cabinet session in Riyadh was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who briefed members on his telephone conversation with new US President Donald Trump last Wednesday, and his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday during her visit to AlUla.

After the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said Saudi diplomacy supports Syria and Lebanon, and the efforts to restore their rightful positions within the Arab and international communities.

Cabinet members also praised the work of the Kingdom’s delegation at the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos last week. Several Saudi ministers and business leaders attended the event, at which the Kingdom hosted a Saudi House pavilion to showcase the nation’s transformation and help forge connections with government and business stakeholders.

The Cabinet said that the announcement by Saudi Arabia that it will regularly host WEF meetings in Riyadh beginning in 2026 reaffirms the country’s leadership role as a global center for international dialogue, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh

Updated 28 January 2025
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Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh

  • Designers tell Arab News what inspires their creativity
  • Haruss founder says ‘it’s an honor’ to represent the Saudi fashion industry

RIYADH: As part of their mission to empower Arab designers, Layali Maraya is featuring regional designers at the Mansard Hotel in Riyadh until Wednesday.

The three-day event, held under the patronage of Ameera Al-Taweel, Layali Maraya features modern luxury in a collection of Arab brands including Okhtein, an Egyptian label known for its handcrafted handbags with detailed accents that represent the beauty of Egyptian culture.

The products offered by Maraya range from fashion and fragrance to accessories, jewelry and home decor. (AN Photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)

Also featured is Lynyer, a Lebanese brand by Leen Abelnour, who finds inspiration in Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry aesthetics and nature to create bold pieces.

“I ended up going for very big statement pieces that go with Middle Eastern women, and make women stand out wherever they are, especially for confident women who want to walk into the room and turn heads,” she said.

HIGHLIGHT

Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.

“All the pieces that you see here are nature inspired. They are also very culturally inspired by India, Pakistan, and by Lebanon, which is where I’m from.”

Leen Abelnour, the founder of Lynyer Statement Jewels, is inspired by Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry, blending nature's delicacy into bold pieces. (AN Photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)

Growing up in the Kingdom and traveling internationally to pursue her career, Abelnour said that being back in Riyadh was a full-circle moment for her.

“When I launched the brand, I wanted to work with small artisans around the world … I started realizing that growing up in Saudi Arabia has really affected my taste in jewelry,” she said.

Saudi clothing brand Harjuss is designed to meet "basic, essential, human needs," according to its founder Saud Saleh. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)

The founder of Saudi clothing brand Harjuss, Saud Saleh, said the label completes “basic, essential, human needs.”

Harjuss’s ready-to-wear collections are created around the seasons. The winter collection plays with texture and heavy fabrics while the summer line uses linen for breathability.

“It’s a very smart casual, very simple, very classy collection and it’s a 100 percent Saudi brand, founded by young Saudi talents,” Saleh said. “This is an honor to us to be representing the fashion industry of Saudi Arabia to the region and the outside world.”

Layali Maraya also featured Saudi labels 1886, Abadia, Dalal Jewelry, and Nora Alshaikh, among others.

Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.

The products offered by Maraya range from fashion and fragrance to accessories, jewelry and home decor.

 


Japanese ambassador visits Japan Cultural Days at Ithra

Japanese Ambassador Morino Yasunari toured various Japan Cultural Days exhibits at Ithra. (Supplied/Ahmed Al-Thani)
Updated 28 January 2025
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Japanese ambassador visits Japan Cultural Days at Ithra

  • Yasunari tours exhibits, drops in on sushi-making workshop
  • Locals, expats and Japanese visitors try tea ceremonies and other activities

DHAHRAN: Japan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia attended a cultural event in Dhahran on Monday as the two countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Ambassador Morino Yasunari toured various Japan Cultural Days exhibits at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where events run until Feb. 8. The envoy even dropped in on a sushi-making workshop where Arab News was in attendance.

Communal tables were set up and a professional sushi chef instructed the 20 participants on how to prepare three kinds of sushi, using select ingredients. The ticketed class allowed sushi-lovers to roll out their own sushi and then eat it.

It is the first time that Japanese culture is truly immersed at Ithra. (Photo by Ahmed Al-Thani)

Those at the table joked that perhaps the ambassador popped in to see their work because he could not resist the delicious aromas coming out of the space.

One of those participants at the class was Danah Al-Harbi. The ambassador happened to visit her session, and she told Arab News that his visit showed his commitment to understanding the similarities between the two countries.

“It was honestly a completely new experience for us in the Eastern Province. It is the first time that Japanese culture is truly immersed at Ithra, and one of the most notable highlights of this event for me was the sushi-making experience.

Saudis that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.

Rieko Ono, Workshop facilitator

“I had to try it and it was truly exceptional. I love eating sushi, but I didn’t know how to make it until today,” Al-Harbi told Arab News. “Now, I can eat it after making it.”

Saudis making sushi at the Japan Cultural Days workshop. (Photo by Ahmed Al-Thani)

Yasunari also visited the Japanese House experience where visitors took part in a traditional tea ceremony, serving and drinking matcha while making wagashi, the delicate, plant-based traditional Japanese confectionary crafted by hand to complement the unsweetened tea.

“The most interesting part is that I find something similar and also something in common between the two countries, Japan and Saudi, I found that the Arabic coffee and tea culture is something very close to each other, and we use this too for friendship and harmony,” Rieko Ono, who flew over from Tokyo to lead some of the workshops, told Arab News.

“I came to Saudi Arabia a few years ago, that was also fun, so it’s my second time and I love this. I’m very happy that Saudi Arabia is open now and so welcoming — I admire this.

“Saudi people love Japanese culture and anime helped us a lot,” she said. “Saudi people that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.”

 


Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony

Updated 28 January 2025
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Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony

  • Local brands AMUSED, Darah, and Asteri recognized for their efforts in green fashion
  • Winners will attend a week-long mentoring program in Paris

RIYADH: Leaders in sustainable fashion in Saudi Arabia were honored at an awards ceremony in Riyadh on Monday.

Preowned luxury marketplace AMUSED, upcycling startup Darah, and sustainable makeup brand Asteri were the three winners of the inaugural Middle East Kering Generation Award.

The event was hosted by the French corporation that owns brands including Gucci and Balenciaga, in partnership with the Saudi Fashion Commission.

Rawan Alderaibi, CEO of Darah, spoke to Arab News about how she quit her corporate job to pursue her passion for fashion, before realizing that there was practically no secondhand market in Saudi Arabia.

“After exploring the idea further, I was led to an entrepreneurial incubator, developed the idea even further and came up with the idea of Darah — the circular model, where we start by reselling secondhand items … and upcycle some of the items into something more creative that makes people feel more unique and they only have one piece,” she said.

Darah buys clothing items by the kilogram: items in good conduction are sold as is, and the ones with some damage or issues are upcycled.

This idea has brought the startup some success and they now plan to expand into a recycling and local production factory.

AMUSED is a platform that connects buyers and sellers of previously owned, authenticated luxury items in Saudi Arabia. Mindful that fashion is the second-largest polluting industry in the world, AMUSED aims to create a more circular economy to break away from the make-use-dispose model that has dominated the fashion culture.

Sara Teymoor, co-founder of AMUSED, told Arab News: “It’s been five years of hard work creating this business and to receive the recognition for sustainability to us entrepreneurs is invaluable to our confidence and also to the connections, the mentorship and the opportunity that this award will bring us.

“We have a green field for fashion here in Saudi and we are now able to start with sustainability in mind. That is just priceless for our economy here in fashion and paving the way for our future generations.”

The third winner, Asteri, is one of the fastest growing makeup brands in the Middle East, designed specifically for the Arab woman. The company prides itself on its desert-proof, clean, and vegan products that also have sustainable and refillable packaging, certified by global nonprofit B Lab.

Burak Cakmak, the commission’s CEO, told Arab News: “I think for all of the winners, we’ve identified that there is a component of localized engagement, which is critical because we want to make sure that what is selected is going to succeed in the region.

“All of these three businesses were very much relevant to the Saudi context, and it was somewhat linked to Saudi lifestyle or culture or the environment, but also they were bringing something that doesn’t exist in the region, and different than what we are seeing necessarily in the rest of the world.”

The three winners will take a week-long trip to Paris, where they will have the opportunity to engage in exclusive mentoring sessions with Kering’s Sustainability teams.

Cakmak added: “I think Saudi has proven to the world that it’s the biggest growth opportunity as a market for many sectors when it comes to fashion and creativity.

“It’s also offering a lot of opportunities. We’ve seen in the past few years, as the Fashion Commission, the potential of the industry and the talent that exists, as well as a lot of the startups going into business in the country.

“We are very keen to engage the right partners who can help us in that journey and be able to bring the right perspective and the right support to a growing, prospering economy.”


Riyadh forum highlights healthcare model progress

Updated 28 January 2025
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Riyadh forum highlights healthcare model progress

  • Forum’s scientific program began with the participation of more than 25 local and international speakers, 80 exhibitors and over 1,500 healthcare professionals
  • Mohammed Al-Abdulaali: The Model of Care is confidently and clearly progressing through health clusters

RIYADH: The second Model of Care Forum was inaugurated in Riyadh on Tuesday under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel.

The two-day event, held under the theme “Care and Impact,” was attended by Assistant Minister of Health Mohammed Al-Abdulaali.

The forum’s scientific program began with the participation of more than 25 local and international speakers, 80 exhibitors and over 1,500 healthcare professionals from across the Kingdom.

Al-Abdulaali highlighted the significant achievements of the modern healthcare model in Saudi Arabia, implemented through 20 health clusters, delivering integrated and sustainable care based on innovative, world-class practices.

“The Model of Care is confidently and clearly progressing through health clusters, extending its impact to encompass public healthcare providers alongside the private sector and other entities across the healthcare system,” he said.

Al-Abdulaali concluded his speech by welcoming all attendees and international speakers to witness the success stories achieved in Saudi Arabia through the implementation of the Model of Care across the 20 health clusters.

Discussions at the forum will revolve around the modern healthcare model, care systems and pathways such as palliative care, emergency care, outpatient care, maternal and child care, chronic disease care, preventive care systems, and their role in achieving health excellence.

The forum includes an accompanying exhibition showcasing success stories from the implementation of healthcare model initiatives across the Kingdom.