• Authority will help to conserve the environment of the Red Sea 
  • Maritime industries to support growth through job creation and investment

Riyadh: - The Council of Ministers, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, today approved the Regulatory Arrangements of the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA). The Authority, chaired by His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism, will streamline regulation to enable the sustainable development of a ‘Red Sea Economy’ for the Kingdom.  

The Authority’s mandate is to ensure a seamless tourist experience through regulation of marine tourism activities such as cruises and yachting, as well as enabling other recreational activities such as diving and sailing. 

The SRSA’s activities will play an important role in stimulating the creation of a prosperous local tourism economy along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, while preserving and protecting the sea’s pristine environment. 

The Authority will be responsible for streamlining regulation to encourage investment, and job creation and provide support to small and medium sized enterprises engaged in marine recreational and tourism activities. 

Welcoming today's announcement, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, who will chair the new Authority, said: “The SRSA’s objective is to enable a thriving tourism economy throughout the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline, with sustainability at its heart, in line with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s guidance and vision. 

“The Red Sea’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets.  This will support our ambitious plans for tourism development, generate new job opportunities for Saudi citizens, and help us to attract international and domestic tourists, meeting our target of 100 million visitors by 2030. 

“Stretching 1,760-kilometre and situated between multiple countries, the Red Sea’s pristine coastline will make it a top destination within the Kingdom and is a key feature of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious sustainable development plans. The Red Sea’s offer of sun and sea tourism and the area’s ancient cultural heritage make it unique asset, ripe for investment.” 

The SRSA will work together with a wide range of stakeholders to establish a mechanism to ensure that the marine activities taking part in its area of geographical focus are carried out sustainably, in order to safeguard the environment and wildlife that call the Red Sea home. In time this role will expand to enforce compliance with environmental rules, in line with international best practice for the preservation of marine habitats. The SRSA will take action in cases where rules are breached.

By preserving the Red Sea’s natural environment, experts believe the area will have an even stronger appeal to attract cruise liners, yachting and other activities like diving and sailing.

Chaired by His Excellency Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism, the board of the Saudi Red Sea Authority will be comprised of the Minister of Sports, the Minister of Culture, the Mayor of Jeddah, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Border Guard, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing, the Transport General Authority, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Ports Authority, the Public Investment Fund, and the CEOs of NEOM Company and the Red Sea Development Company as well as a number of subject matter experts to ensure close coordination and collaboration. 

The Red Sea is characterized by its stunning nature, unique heritage, and historical significance. Three out of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kingdom are located in the Red Sea, in addition to many sites for practicing diving, sailing and kayaking.

-Ends-

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.