Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Saudi Arabia is carrying out massive construction in the areas around the Red Sea. This is related to the steps of the country’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister (PM), Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), who want to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision in order to distance Riyadh from dependence on oil revenues.
One that is currently being worked on is Tiran Island and Sanafir. The island itself was under Egyptian control until 2016.
Later, the Saudis will build a magnificent casino and hotel on the two islands. In addition, it will include a connecting bridge to the Sinai region, Egypt.
Riyadh will also open its doors on the island to foreign tourists. Including from Israel, which has been banned from entering Saudi Arabia because of the attitude of the kingdom led by King Salman in supporting Palestine.
In fact, Tiran and Sanafir are not the only ‘crazy’ alias MBS’s ambitious projects. The following are five other projects as summarized by CNBC Indonesia, Wednesday (25/1/2023):
1. NEOM
NEOM is a new city under construction in the Tabuk Province on the shores of the Red Sea. Later, the NEOM zone will span an area of 26,500 square kilometers (km2).
Designed as a futuristic smart city, NEOM will be powered by clean energy. The city is promised to have various attractions within its territory.
The US$ 500 billion giga project will be treated as a state within a state. Later, NEOM will have its own economic zone and authority so that it is separate from the rules governing the rest of the kingdom.
“People living there will not be referred to as Saudis but will be referred to as ‘Neomians’, and the development is planned to have a population of millions by 2030,” Project Head Tourism Andrew McEvoy told The National Mei 2022.
An airport network that will become an international hub will also be created. In addition, within NEOM, there will be a giant glass project consisting of a skyscraper 170 km long, 200 meters wide and over 300 meters high, named The Line.
2. The Red Sea Project
Apart from NEOM, there are also the Red Sea projects worth billions of riyals. The project will consist of 50 resorts, offer up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six mainland locations.
This destination also features mountain gorges, dormant volcanoes, and ancient cultural and heritage sites. It is expected that Saudi Arabia will receive 22 billion riyals in revenue annually by 2030 and 464 billion riyals by 2040 according to the report The Red Sea Development Company.
Phase one of the Red Sea Project is slated for completion by the end of 2023. The second phase includes the development of four or five additional islands to follow.
3. Don’t know
This luxury resort on the North West coast of Saudi Arabia will “limit” NEOM and the Red Sea Project. Amaala is expected to be a driving force for the kingdom’s tourism.
There will be 2,500 hotel rooms and 700 private residential villas, there will also be a retail area with 200 outlets. Amaala will also have Triple Bay Yacht Club in the MBS Nature Reserve which is designed in a traditional Arabic house design.
“We anticipated that Amaala would become an international hub for luxury yachts, and as such, the yacht club needed a world-class design, influenced by elements of the natural environment and Arab heritage, and underpinned by our commitment to sustainability,” said Amaala’s Chief Executive, John Paganos.
4. Ad Diriyah
Located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Ad Diriyah is considered a “heritage gem”. The US$17 billion development will include several luxury resorts, including major international hotel brands.
Diriyah I Gate will feature 18 hotels in a multi-purpose traditional urban community that will be made in an authentic Najdi architectural style. This is synonymous with the typical design of villages that use the same mud and plaster bricks as was done hundreds of years ago.
Diriyah II Gate is envisioned as a Parisian-scale, pedestrian-focused mixed-use development, with all the cultural entertainment assets. The Diriyah III gate will have a large residential aspect.
Mega projects this is worth it valued at US$ 50.6 billion. This is expected able to bring 27 million domestic and international visitors by 2030.
5. Kiddia
Just like Ad Diriyah, this project on the outskirts of Riyadh will carry the concept of entertainment. It includes the Six Flags amusement park, golf course and arts complex.
Qiddiya Investment Company in February awarded a US$746.6 million contract to joint ventures Alec Saudi Arabia Engineering and Contracting and El Seif Engineering Contracting for the construction of the region’s first and largest water theme park.
The park will sit on 22.5 hectares of land and will be home to 22 rides and attractions, including nine that will be ‘world firsts’. It will include nine zones, inspired by the animals that inhabit the area around Qiddiya.=
Some rides have been designed to use 75% less water compared to the more conventional ones at other water parks. By 2030, Qiddiya hopes to attract up to 17 million visitors annually
Next Article
Saudi Arabia is just waiting for the time to open relations with Israel
(sef/sef)
