Saudi Arabia unveils National Red Sea sustainability strategy

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia has launched the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy, which protects the Red Sea, empowers communities and paves the way for the transition to a blue economy.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, launched the Strategy.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to unleash its enormous economic, geographical and cultural potential and pioneering efforts in sustainability and environmental conservation,” he said.

“Through this strategy, the kingdom positions the blue economy as a fundamental pillar of its diversified economy and aspires for the Red Sea region to become a global reference for leading blue economy activities and for the kingdom to become a global leader in the field of research, development and innovation in blue economy.

“The kingdom also reaffirms its commitment to a sustainable future for the Red Sea, and we look forward to everyone’s cooperation in protecting our Red Sea Coast and the nature and communities that depend on it.”

The Red Sea is one of Saudi Arabia’s unique and biodiverse regions. With an area of 186 thousand sq km and 1,800 km of coastline, the Red Sea itself is home to the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system, 6.2% of the globe’s coral reefs, and hundreds of islands, a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report said.

The strategy sets out a comprehensive national framework that explains how to preserve and regenerate the natural treasures in the Red Sea, ensuring that citizens, residents and visitors enjoy them and sustain them for generations to come.

It demonstrates the contribution of protecting the natural environment in unlocking the region’s economic potential and initiating the transition to the blue economy.

This creates investment opportunities for innovative companies in various marine sectors, including ecotourism, fisheries, renewable energy, water desalination, shipping, and industry.

To support the national economy, the strategy aims to increase the coverage of marine and coastal protected areas from 3% to 30% by 2030, support the contribution of renewable energy to 50% of the targeted energy mix, create thousands of new job opportunities related to blue economy activities, and protect the kingdom’s investments.

The strategy protects KSA’s investments in coastal tourism projects, potentially contributing to the GDP yearly.

The strategy is structured around five objectives: Environmental Sustainability, economic development, Social Development, Safety and Security, and Governance and Collaboration.

It includes 48 initiatives that were developed to achieve the kingdom’s ambitions for the blue economy.

The strategy’s announcement endorses the kingdom’s central role in protecting natural resources in light of the environmental and climate challenges the world is experiencing today and charts a new path that combines economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.