Saudi Projects Issue 49

AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 49 44ISSUE THE RED SEA INTL AIRPORT LIKE NO OTHER AIRPORT ON EARTH SAUDI ELECTRICITY CO. TAKING THE KINGDOM INTO A NEW ERA GROUP AMANA REVEALS NEW BRAND IDENTITY YACHTAMAALA CLUB DESIGNS REVEALS ICONIC NEW

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EDITOR EDITORS FOREwORD 05

There are also interviews with Simon Timmis, Smart Services Technical Director at the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), Neal Coote, Executive Director of Infrastructure at AMAALA, and Richard Haws Group Director of Operations – Marine at TRSDC, who takes us nicely back to the beginning of this foreword and the Triple Bay Yacht Club.

THE WORLD IS TAKING NOTICE CONTACT info@tpg.media https://saudi.tpg.media SOCIAL MEDIA  @saudiprojectsmag  @saudiprojectsmag  @saudiprojects.mag BECAUSE WE CARE All our publications are printed using recycled paper. WANT KINGDOM'SINTOCOMPANYYOURAPPEARTHELEADINGTRADEPUBLICATION AUGUST 2022 ISSUE 49 44ISSUE THE RED SEA INTL AIRPORT LIKE NO OTHER AIRPORT ON EARTH SAUDI ELECTRICITY CO. TAKING THE KINGDOM INTO A NEW ERA GROUP AMANA REVEALS NEW BRAND IDENTITY YACHTAMAALA CLUB DESIGNS REVEALS ICONIC NEW THE COVER STORY IN THIS ISSUE OF SAUDI PROJECTS, FOCUSING ON THE ICONIC DESIGN FOR THE TRIPLE BAY YACHT CLUB, CONCERNS A ONE-OF-A-KIND DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NOT ONLY PIONEERING BUT ALSO INSPIRING. AND IN THIS WAY, IT IS INDICATIVE OF SO MANY PROJECTS BEING UNDERTAKEN IN SAUDI ARABIA AT PRESENT – THIS IS A NATION ON THE MOVE, AND THE WORLD IS TAKING NOTICE. Certainly, The Red Sea Project is catching the attention of the international community, with its backdrop of misty mountaintops and waves lapping a pristine coast. The floating orbs on Sheybarah Island are an excellent example, with each overwater orb (villa) elevated above the water's surface and featuring a deck and an infinity pool with unobstructed views of the sea and horizon. We took the opportunity to visit the manufacturer of these orbs, Grankraft Industries LLC in Sharjah, to discover more about the design, construction and vision of this project, speaking with company director Yatindra Mudbidri. Away from The Red Sea, just 20 minutes northwest of Riyadh’s city center, lies Diriyah, which is being transformed into one of the Kingdom’s leading lifestyle destinations for heritage and culture, hospitality, retail and education. We look at how the environmental strategy being employed strikes the perfect balance at this ecological landmark.

There is no doubt that projects such as this, in tandem with Vision 2030, have changed opinions of Saudi Arabia globally, and we report on how recent research by CARMA, the media intelligence service provider, shows a shift in media perception of the Kingdom, which is now viewed in a much more positive light than it was even 15 months ago. As the nation builds, so does its commitment to sustainability and the environment, and in ‘Changing the Way We Build to Reduce Waste’, we find out why sustainability is one of the construction industry's supreme challenges, both in terms of input and production – it is estimated that approximately 50% of the world’s waste comes from the construction industry.

Rod Millington

BEAUTY IN FORM. VALUE IN FUNCTION.5222 BUILDING THE FUTURE AT SHEYBARAH ISLAND 30 COVER FEATURESSTORYAMAALA YACHT CLUB 36 ZERO-CARBON FUTURE CITY LAUNCHED AMAALA REVEALS ICONIC NEW YACHT CLUB DESIGNS 54 SMART CITIES INTERVIEW WITH SIMON TIMMIS CONTENTS06

18 GROUP AMANA REVEALS NEW BRAND IDENTITY ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 76 MOU SIGNED TO BUILD NEW GENERATION OF DESALINATION PLANT 38 VISION 2030 HAS CHANGED THE PERCEPTIONS OF SAUDI ARABIA 40 CHANGING THE WAY WE BUILD TO REDUCE WASTE 11 PIF AND CAIN INVEST $900 MILLION IN AMAN GROUP CONTENTS 07

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Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, explained: “We are committed to enhancing the role and the status of Jeddah’s Islamic port, which is strategically located on the Red Sea and has historically played a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of trade between the East and the West. A key part of our strategy as an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider is to package logistical services for our customers and bridge any existing gaps in the market. Facilities like these will enable us to make deeper inroads into the Kingdom, by extending our collaboration with leading logistics service providers.”

The two parties plan to build a logistics park with a total area of 415,000 m2, an inland container depot capacity of about 250,000 TEU, and 100,000 m2 of warehousing storage space, with the possibility of future expansions to 200,000 m2.

It is envisaged that the park will provide an integrated platform of services that connect port operations with last-mile activities, providing temperature-controlled storage for cargo, in addition to its processing, labelling, fulfilment, consolidation and de-consolidation.

SAUDI ARABIA AGREES

The facility, according to DP World, will help the company expand its footprint in the area by bringing cutting-edge multimodal logistics solutions to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabian investment in Egypt’s private sector has exceeded $35 billion and is expected to increase by about $10 billion in the next five years.

DP world and the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have signed a 30-year agreement with an investment value of more than 133.33 million to build a port-centric logistics park at the Jeddah Islamic Port.

The two parties plan to build a logistics park with a total area of 415,000 m2

DP world to Operate Logistics Park in Jeddah Islamic Port

$7.7 BILLION OF DEALS wITH EGYPT

Saudi Arabia and Egypt signed 14 agreements valued at $7.7 billion during a visit to Cairo by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deals cover sectors that include renewable energy, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce.

The new logistics park is expected to enhance Jeddah Islamic Port’s re-export activities, reducing the time and cost of logistics for both importers and exporters.

Bids have been invited for several projects in the Eastern Region in the health, tourism and farming sectors.

“These projects are part of nearly 230 eitheropportunitiesinvestmentwhichhavebeenpresented to investors or will be announced in the near future…several incentives are offered to investors to facilitate the implementation of the projects, including lower bank guarantee and a tax exemption for 10% of the contract’s period,” a statement from the Eastern Region Secretariat said.

A large specialised hospital and a medical city in the Eastern port of Khobar, cafes and restaurants on the Khobar Corniche, an agriculture nursery in the city, an entertainment centre and horse stables in nearby Dammam, and other projects have been launched by the Eastern Region Secretariat. The projects are part of plans to attract local and foreign investment to develop the Eastern side of the Kingdom.

“These projects are part of nearly 230 thebeinvestorsbeenwhichopportunitiesinvestmenthaveeitherpresentedtoorwillannouncedinnearfuture”NEwS

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As such, operations of Shuaibah 3 Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) will cease in 2025, saving nearly 45 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 22 million barrels of light crude oil annually.

ACwA POwER AND SAUDI ASHUAIBAHRECONFIGURECOMPANYPARTNERSHIPwATERTO3NEwSEAwATERREVERSEOSMOSISPLANT

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The agreement entails the conversion and replacement of the IWPP from an energy-intensive power generation and thermal desalination facility to a greenfield seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant under the name ‘Shuaibah 3 Independent Water Project (IWP)’.

Bids Invited for Various Projects in Eastern Region

REPLACE SHUAIBAH 3 IwPP AND PRODUCE 600,000 M3/DAY, PARTIALLY POwERED BY SOLAR ENERGY ACwA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen plants worldwide, Shuaibah water Electricity Company (SwEC), and Saudi water Partnership Company (SwPC), the off-taker of Shuaibah 3 IwPP, have signed an agreement to restructure the Shuaibah 3 Independent water and Power Project (IwPP).

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Additionally, Aramco and Sinopec will discuss the potential for developing a local manufacturing hub in King Salman Energy Park.

The $640 million desalination project is being developed by Shuaibah Three Water Desalination Company, a special purpose vehicle established by Acwa Power and Water & Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), a Saudi utility developer owned by the PIF sovereign wealth fund. Shuaibah Water Electricity Company (SWEC), Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), the off-taker of Shuaibah 3 IWPP, and Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor, and operator of power generation, desalinated water, and green hydrogen plants worldwide, signed an agreement to restructure the Shuaibah 3 Independent Water and Power Project IWPP) in June 2022. According to the agreement, the Shuaibah 3 Independent Water Project (IWP) would be replaced as an energyintensive thermal desalination and power generation complex with a new saltwater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility. As a result, Shuaibah 3 IWPP activities will finish in 2025, saving 22 million barrels of light crude oil yearly and roughly 45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

PROJECTSAUDI$640CONTRACTEPCFORMILLIONwATER

The project’s work is anticipated to begin in September 2022, and it is planned to be completed in May 2025. When finished, the desalination facility will provide two million people with potable water. The desalination plant will receive electric power from the solar farm.

South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility has won the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the Shuaibah 3 Independent water Project.

The Shuaibah 3 IWP is slated to be the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination facility.

ACQUIRESDOOSAN

Solar Power As stipulated in the EPC contract, Doosan Enerbility (formerly Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction) will construct a 60 MW solar power plant in addition to a desalination facility with a daily capacity of 600,000 cu m.

ARAMCO AND TheSIGNSINOPECMOUSaudiArabianOilCompany (Aramco) and the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining a number of potential areas for cooperation in Saudi Arabia. The MoU promotes the long-term partnership between the two companies and their current joint ventures in China and the Kingdom and identifies avenues for further strategic cooperation.

Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Senior Vice President of Downstream, explained: “We are delighted to be able to extend our relationship with Sinopec and leverage our mutual strength and reach while creating a path to bring our long-standing cooperation in China to our facilities in Saudi Arabia. This latest collaboration will help to further advance our strategic relationship with Sinopec into key areas of mutual benefit within the Kingdom.”

Yu Baocai, President of Sinopec Corporation, said: “Aramco is a very important partner of Sinopec. The two companies have yielded fruitful collaborations and developed a deep friendship over the years. The signing of the MoU introduces a new chapter of our partnership in the Kingdom. The two companies will join hands in renewing the vitality and scoring new progress of the Belt and Road Initiative and Vision 2030.”

“The two companies will join hands in renewing the vitality and scoring new progress of the Belt and Road Initiative and Vision 2030”

Assessing opportunities for petrochemical and refining integration, engineering, procurement, construction, oilfield services, upstream and downstream technologies, and collaboration between carbon capture and hydrogen processes are just a few of the many possible areas of cooperation.

“Our investment in Aman Group reflects PIF’s belief in the current potential of the hospitality and tourism industry, both internationally and in Saudi Arabia,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of PIF and head of the fund's international investments division. “The investment is in line with PIF’s strategy to invest in promising sectors to achieve sustainable, attractive returns in Saudi Arabia and globally.”

Aman has a pipeline of further initiatives in nations including the US, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and across Europe

Aman has a pipeline of further initiatives in nations including the US, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and across Europe. Aman opened its New York hotel and private residences, which are situated on the upper floors of Manhattan's landmark Crown Building, in early August.

The 34 hotels in 20 countries that make up the Aman Group feature Aman Branded Residences in 12 of those hotels, and nine other hotel and residence projects are now under construction.

The Public Investment Fund and Londonbased Cain International have invested $900 million in the hotelier company Aman Group, which values the Swiss hospitality brand at $3 billion. The investment will fuel the development of new Aman and Janu-branded properties as well as the hospitality company's plans to expand its portfolio of luxury hotels and branded residences across the globe. Furthermore, it will assist in the purchase and development of additional sites.

Sixteen of the 34 hotels are owned wholly or partially by affiliates of Aman, however, these ownership stakes were not included in this deal.

PIF AND CAIN INVEST $900 MILLION IN AMAN GROUP

Vlad Doronin, the owner, Chairman, and CEO of the Aman Group, commented: “My longterm strategic vision has been to continue to grow the Aman brand in key markets, all with Aman Branded Residences, as well as creating an ultra-luxury ecosystem which offers the complete Aman lifestyle.”

“The investment from PIF and Cain International is a vote of confidence in my vision and the work the team has done over the last eight years, cementing the brand’s evolution and ability to deliver this vision at pace. Together we will deliver considerable growth and maximize the extraordinary potential of Aman .”

The investment will fuel the development of new Aman and Janubranded properties

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The company’s total revenue for Q2 increased by $129 million, or 15%, to $1,009 million.

Since almost half of the projects now in the pipeline are scheduled to be completed next year, the rate of hotel building in Saudi Arabia is anticipated to practically triple in 2023. The next year will see around 63,753 rooms in the database coming online, up from the 9,207 keys from this year’s projects, with approximately 80 new hotels to be completed. Similar data, recently revealed by global hospitality analytics provider STR, indicates that Saudi Arabia led the Middle East in new hotel construction by the end of the second quarter of 2022, with some 37,654 rooms being created. CO.

TripleRateConstructionHotelToNearlyIn2023 NEwS12

KEIR International has signed a systemdeployDevelopmentbasedagreementpartnershipwithUS-QuadraticsLLCtotheQuadraticsinSaudiArabia.

Another new contract worth more than $75 million relates to developing the rapidly expanding entertainment industry in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 program’s objectives for economic diversification.

Efficient delivery of the Quadratics system to the Saudi market, even to remote building and construction sites, will be possible with full-cycle production locally, including through mobile factories.

INTERNATIONALKEIR

DEVELOPMENTWITHPARTNERSHIPANNOUNCESQUADRATICS

Parsons Awarded $223 Million in Contracts

Global engineering firm Parsons has announced in a statement as part of Q2 2022 results that it has awarded a new $148 million contract for program management on the Riyadh Metro program, which is the largest metro system development project in the world.

requirementsauthoritiescodesbuildingcompliantVisionalignedforrespondsbuildingenvironmentally-friendlyandtechnologythattomarketcallsnewmethodologieswithSaudi2030goals.Itiswithprevailingandconstructionofregulatoryandaddressesforheat

With the use of light gauge steel and lightweight concrete, the Quadratics system is an efficient and acoustics insulation as well as fire resistance. It is a system widely accepted by real estate developers and government entities in the Kingdom, having been developed to provide cost-effective and highspecification building and construction solutions for the housing, education, commercial, hospitality, and logistics sectors.

The Jeddah Airport City Concept Master Plan identifies 2,000,000m2 of built-up area framed on each side of the Haramain HighSpeed Rail over four quadrants, including Zone One (Exhibition Circuit), Zone Two (Business District), Zone Three (Fun Precinct), and Zone Four (Calm Community). The company plans to begin construction in 2023, with full project

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Sultan Bin Ali Al Harbi, chairman of SARH, explained: “Jeddah Airport City will introduce a variety of uses, building types, and amenities to create a 24/7 destination at the juncture of KAIA and Jeddah’s evolving urban area, serving the needs of visitors and locals, while evolving Jeddah as a world-class city. The broad range of uses and amenities will generate significant non-aeronautical revenues and financial returns while improving the competitiveness and branding of KAIA and Jeddah.”

By developing the western entrance to the Kingdom for business, tourism, hospitality, sports, culture, worship, education, wellness, leisure, and entertainment, Jeddah Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), the country’s busiest and largest, is conceivably raising airport-centric development to a new level.

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SKY’S THE LIMIT AT JEDDAH CITY AIRPORT

A Bold Plan SARH Development Company (SARH) is responsible for the planning and construction of Jeddah Airport City, which is a component of ‘Kingdom Vision 2030’, a bold plan for economic and social transformation that opens Saudi Arabia to the outside world. The company plans to begin construction in 2023, with full project completion by 2028. The first phase of construction will be completed in 2026 and will include the parking podium and lifestyle center, which will contain a shopping district, city terminal, office space, a university for culinary arts and hospitality, co-working space, co-retail space, restaurants, entertainment, and a 20,000 seat arena. The estimated $4.5 billion total investment in Jeddah Airport City will be paid for by SARH and its Austrian partner, AVORIS, utilizing both domestic and international financial models.

Located next to and connected to Jeddah Airport City, King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Terminal One’s 810,000m2 will enable KAIA to accommodate 45 million passengers annually by 2030. After 2035, KAIA’s expansion plans may well increase this capacity to 114 million passengers per annum.

The Haramain High-Speed Rail Station, which was inaugurated in 2019 and links KAIA with Jeddah and Makkah, is located in the center of Jeddah Airport City. Additionally, King Abdullah Economic City and Al Madinah Al Munarwarh are connected to KAIA via high-speed trains. The trip from KAIA to Madinah takes 75 minutes. Currently, it transports over 60 million people every year.

The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has recently awarded Zamil Air Conditioners contracts for the supply and installation of various HVAC systems in Jeddah.

At multiple SEC substations in Saudi Arabia’s western region, the company will also provide and install air conditioning systems and equipment, including testing and operational work in compliance with the highest international quality and safety standards. Additionally, a team of technicians with expertise in periodic and preventative maintenance work will be made available to SEC in Dammam by Zamil Air Conditioners. This will guarantee the HVAC systems’ optimal performance as well as adherence to quality and safety requirements.

The IMF forecasted 4.2% non-oil growth in the Kingdom, a 17.4% increase in the current account surplus, and overall inflation of 2.8% on average, noting that economic activity in Saudi Arabia is seeing a strong improvement supported by high oil prices and the reforms carried out by the government’s implementation of Vision 2023.

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The IMF praised the Kingdom’s economy and financial position in its preliminary statement last June, reiterating the Saudi economy’s positive economic horizons in the short and medium term, with the continued recovery of economic growth rates, containment of inflation, and a growing external economic position.

SEC AwARDS NEw CONTRACT TO ZAMIL

Saudi Arabia Among The world’s Fastest Growing Economies

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted a 7.6% growth in the Saudi economy this year in its annual report (world Economic Outlook, 2022), the highest growth rate among world economies.

DesalinationtheInnovationtootherAlfanarAwardInnovationGlobaltoAlfanarSponsorConstruction,alongwithseveralcompanies,hasreachedanagreementsponsorthe$10million‘GlobalAwardinwaterDesalination’atrecentlyconcludedInnovationDrivenConferenceinJeddah.

Misk's principal goal is to empower youth and foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and, from beautiful outdoor gardens where people can relax and exchange innovative ideas to expansive views of the wadi and Riyadh's skyline, every aspect of the new headquarters is specially designed to foster collaboration and creativity.

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Umm Alqura for Development and Construction has announced plans to build a mega shopping destination, Masar Mall in Makkah, at a total investment of $719 million.

Australian architecture firm, Conrad Gargett has won an international competition to design the Misk Foundation Headquarters, which will be located in the heart of the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh.

CONRAD GARGETT TO DESIGN MISK FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS Umm Alqura to Complete work on Makkah Mall by 2026

The project, being developed as part of Masar Destination, a cultural project in the western part of Makkah, is due for completion in 2026.

Alfanar’s Executive Vice President, Engineer Amer Al Ajmi, commented: "Alfanar is proud to be one of SWCC’s partners for the international award for innovation in desalination. Alfanar Construction specializes in the development of water projects, whether desalination, treatment, or strategic storage projects, and is always keen to adopt initiatives to support modern innovation in order lower the cost of treating water.”

Alfanar projectsdevelopmentspecializesConstructionintheofwater

Almosafer,ARABIAtheMiddle East’s leading travel brand, has experienced its best month ever for consumer travel bookings in Saudi Arabia in June 2022, with volumes exceeding pre-pandemic levels in June 2019 by 28%.

FOR

Spending on domestic travel in Saudi Arabia has also increased by 7% as Saudis continue to explore the many attractions in the Kingdom. Abha, the culturally rich capital of the Aseer region, is becoming an increasingly popular destination this summer with bookings up by 125% compared to the summer of 2019.

Travellers are also displaying resilient confidence in the travel industry as they continue to book their holidays in advance, with an average booking window of 36 days in summer 2022. With travel restrictions being eased, or removed entirely, across the world, there are now much fewer sudden changes to international travel rules which could jeopardise travel plans leading to growing consumer confidence.

SAUDI TRAVELSUMMERTRENDS - 2022 BEHAVIOURBOOKING50% of bookings are 5 star hotels 2%10%38% Average order value 2019 vs 2022 Top Destinations International DESTINATIONSTOP - 2022 Dubai London Cairo Sharm El SheikhParis 2019 2022 Booking Volume Summer season + 66 % Hotels + 19% Flights NEwS 17

The volume of bookings in Saudi Arabia for consumer travel in June 2022 has exceeded the prepandemic levels of June 2019 by 28%

The growth in bookings reveals a strong appetite for consumer travel as pent-up demand is unleashed with the removal of pandemic restrictions across the world. Data collated from across Almosafer’s omnichannel booking platforms has revealed the booking behaviours of Saudi travellers for this summer period.

For international travel, Dubai, London, Cairo, Paris and Sharm El Sheikh ranked as the most popular destinations for Saudi travellers. Bookings for London this summer have increased by 133% compared to summer 2019, driven by the introduction of the electronic visa waiver for Saudi nationals on 1 June 2022. Bookings for Paris this summer have also increased by 65% compared to summer 2019 as Saudis eagerly return to a longstanding favourite destination as pandemic restrictions are lifted.

Saudi travellers continue to enjoy luxury experiences, opting to book stays at luxury accommodation, with five-star hotels accounting for almost 50% of hotel bookings this summer. As people return to travel, they are spending more money for meaningful experiences as average order values for bookings have increased by 66% for hotels and 19% for flights, compared to the summer travel season in 2019.

ALMOSAFER REVEALS SUMMER TRAVEL TRENDS 2022 IN SAUDI

Riad Bsaibes, President and CEO of Amana Investments, said: “Group AMANA has built a formidable reputation over three decades of operations in the region, with our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and digitalization. While our name remains the same, our evolution reflects our realigned business strategies for the future and our collaborative approach to realizing successful projects. AMANA is poised to seize the opportunities of the future, and to partner with the GCC region in its economic growth.”

AMANA has helped clients produce more than 80,000,000 kWh of clean solar energy, enough to power 3,239 homes for one year, saving AED 18.25 million on energy costs and preserving 200,000 trees since 2018. With almost 500,000m2 of industrial buildings and associated rooftops constructed yearly, AMANA is a pioneer in building rooftop solar power plants. AMANA was one of the first contractors approved by DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) to provide installation and maintenance services for solar energy systems in early 2015. This classification coupled with AMANA personnel certified by DEWA as ‘solar PV experts” makes AMANA the go-to contractor of choice for designing, installing, and maintaining roof-mounted solar power plants. With over 8,000 employees in 11 cities across seven countries, AMANA continues to evolve, from a traditional construction company into a modern, diversified change engine that can unlock innovation and collective success.

The revitalized brand identity reflects unity and harmony and speaks to Group AMANA’s promise of delivering certainty. The new tagline, ‘we Build with You’ epitomizes strengths in certainty.intelligence,collaboration,and

DuBox is a specialist in next-generation offsite volumetric modular construction, which offers a safer building environment, potentially reducing material waste by up to 30% and improving work safety by up to 70%. These numbers are proven, not projected.

Group AMANA’s three verticals, businessfortheidentityaEnhance,ManufactureConstruct,andhavedistinctbrandalignedwithGroup’sofferingsanevolvinglandscape

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Over the past two years, DuBox, an AMANA company, has bagged several contracts for high-profile clients in KSA, such as the Qiddiya Investment Company and The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), shifting 85% of construction from sites to the factory.

GROUP AMANA REVEALS

AMANA Construct includes AMANA Contracting and AMANA Aviation Fueling and builds on a 30-year legacy of industrial construction. Since being founded in 1993, AMANA has constructed more than 1,500 buildings in the region, for clientele including AD Ports Company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Almarai, Amazon, CocaCola, DHL, Emirates Airlines, Jebel Ali Free Zone, KIZAD, Landmark Group, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Mars, Nestle, Noon and Unilever.

AMANA Manufacture leverages the transformational potential of manufacturing construction through AMANA companies, DuBox and DuPod. Together they have delivered over 130,000m2 of built-up area (BUA) in modular construction for clients including Adnoc, Emaar, The Red Sea Development Company, Qiddiya Investment Company, and Wasl Properties among others.

AMANA Enhance supports the region’s sustainability agenda and is helping businesses achieve their green ambitions with its brands AMANA Solar and AMANA Energy-Saving. The UAE has set a 2050 target to achieve net-zero emissions, followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 2060. These sustainability ambitions are well aligned with national initiatives across the GCC that are driving the renewables agenda, such as the UAE Green Agenda 2015-2030 and Vision 2021 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Regional leader in design-build construction, Group AMANA has announced a new brand identity that showcases its capabilities. Now organized into three verticals: Construct, Manufacture and Enhance, the transformation reflects the Group’s offerings for an evolving business landscape and the drive to build cleaner, greener, and smarter.

The final products are easily relocatable, further enabling the client to shift and relocate in sync with market demands. DuBox is supporting the Kingdom’s national agendas of sustainability, nurturing Saudi talent and supporting economic diversification.

AMANA’s revitalized brand identity is focused around a circle, reflecting strength and harmony, and speaks to its promise of delivering certainty. The new tagline, ‘We Build with You’ epitomizes its strengths in collaboration and intelligence.

 RIAD BSAIBES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AMANA INVESTMENTS NEwS 19

The thefranchiseStarbucksinregionhasoutletsin14countries

AND CAPITAL BANK GROUP ANNOUNCE SIGNING

STARBUCKS MENA

Alshaya, the region's leading brand franchise owner, hired investment banking firm, JP Morgan, last year to sell a significant minority stake in the business, which could generate up to $5 billion.

The projected investment is the latest sign of Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost coffee production and heritage recognition. The Saudi Coffee Company, a government-backed organization entrusted with increasing the Kingdom's coffee production, was created in May by the PIF.

The Starbucks franchise in the region has outlets in 14 countries, including approximately 1,000 stores in the MENA region and 300 in Saudi Arabia.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Capital Bank Group, one of the largest banking groups in Jordan, Iraq and the MENA region, have announced the signing of a subscription agreement, through which PIF becomes a strategic investor in the Group. Upon the successful completion of the deal, PIF will have a 23.97% interest in the Group’s capital, at a value of approximately $185 million, and represented by the issuance of 63 million in new shares. The completion of the deal is subject to completing the conditions in the relevant agreements and obtaining the required approvals from regulators and the relevant government authorities.

The deal aims to increase the Group’s capital, thereby raising its total shareholders’ equity to around $846 million, and bolstering the Group's ability to execute its strategy and expand its business through introducing new services and products in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and other markets where it operates, including through the Group’s investment arm, Capital Investments. In addition, the deal will strengthen the Group’s digital transformation plans by offering the most up-to-date electronic services, including the launch of digital banks.

PIF OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT TO STAKE IN AND

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has designated 2022 as 'The Year of Saudi Coffee'.

PIF will have a 23.97% interest in the Group’s capital, at a value of approximately $185m

According to a Reuters report, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been shortlisted to buy a stake in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia Starbucks franchise, currently operated by Alshaya Group. The PIF could purchase up to 30% of Kuwait-based Alshaya Group’s minority share.

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This deal is in line with PIF's strategy, which includes exploring new investment opportunities in the MENA region that support the creation of long-term strategic economic partnerships to achieve sustainable returns that contribute to maximizing the Fund's assets and diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy in line with Vision 2030.

CENTRAL ASIA

The investment contributes to the Capital Bank Group's initiative of positively impacting the Jordanian economy, and highlights the growth prospects that the Bank offers, especially given the Group’s solid position in terms of equity. The Group enjoys a strong financial and credit position following its acquisition of the assets and branches of Bank Audi in Jordan and Iraq, as well as Société Generale –Jordan, in less than a year.

ACQUIRE

REPORT CLAIMS PIF APPLY

PIF INVESTS $1 BILLION IN SwEDISH GAMING INDUSTRY

The fund bought a 5.01% interest in Nintendo in May of this year

PIF's Savvy Gaming Group will become the second-largest shareholder in the Karlstadbased company

TAfter acquiring nearly 100 million shares in Embracer Group AB, the PIF's Savvy Gaming Group will become the second-largest shareholder in the Karlstad-based company. Savvy made a similarsized acquisition in January when it bought Modern Times Group's e-sports subsidiary for $1.05 billion.

The PIF is stepping up its efforts in the continually expanding and evolving gaming industry. The fund bought a 5.01% interest in Nintendo in May of this year, making it its third investment in a Japanese video game Embracer'scompany.CEOLars Wingefors said in a statement that the partnership with Savvy will allow the company to establish a regional base in Saudi Arabia from which it will be able to make investments in the region. The funds raised from the stock offering will be utilized to continue the company's acquisition strategy.

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The Public Investment Fund made its second $1 billion investment in the Swedish gaming industry as part of a global push to increase holdings in video game developers and e-sports companies.

YEARS OPERATING IN GCC 140+ COLLECTIVE EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE YEARS 11 CAIRO AMSTERDAM ABUDUBAIDHABI 4 Architecture Interiors Master Planning Engineering Renovation Sustainability Project Management TEAM CAPABILITIES 150+ PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED 8+ SPOKENLANGUAGESINTERNATIONAL OFFICES IN 3 CONTINENTSwww.whitespace.ae +971 (0) 4451 6868 +31 (0) 61927 9288 wsa.architectsWhitespace Architects Whitespace Architects WHITESPACE ARCHITECTS

GROUP AMANA24

ITH 8000+ EMPLOYEES WORKING IN OVER SEVEN COUNTRIES, AND WITH MORE THAN 130 REPEAT CLIENTS, GROUP AMANA IS RENOWNED FOR ITS TRUSTWORTHINESS,RELIABILITY, AND WIDE SCOPE OF EXPERTISE. AS THE REGION’S MOST TRUSTED DESIGN-BUILD COMPANY, DELIVERING TURNKEY SOLUTIONS FOR FAST-TRACK PROJECTS, REPEATEDLY, IT PROVIDES CERTAINTY BY BALANCING COST, TIME, AND QUALITY. SAUDI PROJECTS SPOKE TO RIAD BSAIBES, PRESIDENT AND CEO, AMANA INVESTMENTS, AND KAREN KASSOUF, HEAD OF MARKETING, GROUP AMANA, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS DISTINCT AND INNOVATIVE COMPANY AND ITS ROLE IN THE GROWTH OF THE ‘NEW’ SAUDI WITHWEAMANA:GROUPARABIA.BUILDYOU w WATCH OUR BRAND FILM GROUP AMANA 25

 KAREN KASSOUF, HEAD OF MARKETING, GROUP AMANA  RIAD BSAIBES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AMANA INVESTMENTS BRANDREVITALIZED“AMANA’SIDENTITY IS FOCUSED AROUND A CIRCLE, HARMONY”STRENGTHREFLECTINGAND GROUP AMANA26

KK: Group AMANA has a three-decade legacy of delivering certainty to our people, clients, and partners. Our new tagline, ‘We Build with You’ epitomizes our strengths in collaboration and intelligence. To give you one example - at AMANA, we champion intelligent solutions like Building Information Modelling (BIM) that improve efficiency and ensure time savings and cost reductions. BIM enables collaboration through cloud-based and network servers and enhances project coordination between teams and clients. BIM enabled us to design and integrate our key projects in Saudi Arabia for The Red Sea Development Company. Our project delivery team worked with engineers in different offices and countries to design and build in real-time as both design and construction progressed, enabling us to deliver the project in record time.

SP: How is modular construction a ‘green’ method? RB: Modular techniques are more efficient, leaner, and result in less waste production, meaning that modular is the greener option. Up to 85% of the construction can be completed away from the site, in the factory. The building components are pre-assembled in the factory and shipped to the site to be installed. Unlike traditional construction that is done on-site, building components in modular construction are manufactured off-site, then delivered for assembly and installation. In modular construction, components are manufactured in a lean and efficient environment with lowered labor requirements. Off-site manufacturing required in modular construction also ensures consistent standards throughout the project, providing better value for end-users. Shortened build times provide owners with an earlier return on investment and a faster time to market.

SP: The Group’s new tagline ‘We Build with You’ suggests increased collaboration, but what does this mean on a day-to-day basis for clients and partners?

Karen Kassouf: Our new brand identity showcases our capabilities. Group AMANA is now organized into three verticals: Construct, Manufacture and Enhance, a transformation that reflects the Group’s offerings for an evolving business landscape and the drive to build cleaner, greener, and smarter.

Saudi Projects: Group AMANA has announced a new brand identity that showcases its capabilities. Tell me about this and how the Group has approached this change?

Riad Bsaibes: Modular construction is becoming increasingly popular because the industry has recognized that it is a time-saving, no wastage, super safe, and clean process that benefits all stakeholders - developers, contractors, and the environment. The turnaround time on the projects is shorter with modular construction and it prevents cost overruns by reducing material wastage and labor requirements by 30%. It also improves workplace safety and reduces environmental impact when compared to traditional on-site construction. The ability to upscale and downscale whenever you want is the key benefit and modular buildings can be constructed in 50-75% of the time of a conventional site-built project of comparable size. For example, DuBox, an AMANA company, has the expertise to design and deliver complete single or multi-story buildings in concrete using modular methodologies, according to client and site requirements. Entire buildings are manufactured off-site in the DuBox factory where the pre-finished modules are then shipped to job sites, where they are installed.

GROUP AMANA 27

AMANA’s revitalized brand identity is focused around a circle, reflecting strength and harmony, and speaks to its promise of delivering certainty. The new tagline, ‘We Build with You’ epitomizes its strengths in collaboration and intelligence.

SP: Modular construction has a long history (in 1908, Sears Roebuck in the US began selling home kits that contained all the materials needed to build a home), but can you talk about the latest developments in the sector and why modular buildings are becoming an increasingly popular solution?

“GROUP AMANA WORKS WITH CLIENTS ACROSS INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL, AUTOMOTIVE, AVIATION, FOOD PROCESSING, INSTITUTIONAL, MANUFACTURING, MEDICAL, OIL, POWER, WATER, AND RETAIL” “WE HAVE BUILT A FORMIDABLE REPUTATION OVER THREE DECADES OF OPERATIONS IN THE REGION” GROUP AMANA28

AMANA has helped clients produce more than 80,000,000 kWh of clean solar energy, enough to power 3,239 homes for one year, saving AED 18.25 million on energy costs and preserving 200,000 trees since 2018. With almost 500,000m2 of industrial buildings and associated rooftops constructed yearly, AMANA is a pioneer in building rooftop solar power plants.

SP: How has digitalization and evolving technology helped the Group to evolve?

GROUPVISITAMANAwEBSITE

AMANA was selected as the contractor for this project with DuBox, an AMANA company, for its track record in delivering pre-finished modular units to a high standard of quality. Work is progressing smoothly - and we expect to deliver all units by the agreed timeline. Modular projects, including The Red Sea Development Company delivered by AMANA, have won prestigious industry awards and recognition, and are a testament to our work in the Kingdom.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GROUP AMANA AND DISCOVER HOW IT IS BUILDINGIMPROVESOLUTIONSINTELLIGENTCHAMPIONINGTHATTHEENTIREPROCESS.

RB: Group AMANA works with clients across industries, including agricultural, automotive, aviation, food processing, institutional, manufacturing, medical, oil, power, water, and retail. Since being founded in 1993, we have constructed more than 1,500 buildings in the region. We are now the regional leader in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities. In Saudi Arabia, housing, hospitality, and entertainment mega projects have driven demand for construction. To meet this demand, we set up a 94,000m2 factory in Rabigh in 2019, and we will continue to invest in off-site construction methods that can reduce project timelines and boost cost-effectiveness for large-scale projects in KSA across housing and other segments.

RB: Group AMANA is supporting the region’s sustainability agenda and helping businesses achieve their green ambitions through its vertical Enhance with its brands AMANA Solar and AMANA Energy-Saving. The UAE has set a 2050 target to achieve net zero emissions, followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 2060. These sustainability ambitions are well aligned with national initiatives across the GCC that are driving the renewables agenda, such as the UAE Green Agenda 2015-2030 and Vision 2021 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

SP: Group AMANA is currently working on gigaprojects such as The Red Sea Project – can you tell me about these, what your brief is and how things are progressing?

SP: The Group is an industry leader in solar power, too - what are you working on currently in this sector?

KK: Being an AMANAian is the opportunity to be part of an agile, evolving, diverse and innovative disruptor in construction.

KK: We are most excited about what the future holds for Group AMANA. We have built a formidable reputation over three decades of operations in the region, with our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and digitalization. Our brand transformation reflects our realigned business strategies for the future and our collaborative approach to realizing successful projects. AMANA is poised to seize the opportunities of the future and partner with the GCC region in its economic growth. As the region is pivoting towards a decarbonized future, we foresee AMANA’s expertise in manufacturing, construction, and sustainable technologies playing a key role in the striving for a circular economy. Innovation, the adoption of new technologies, and a shift toward sustainable practices will put us on the fast-track to growth.

SP: What are you most excited about at present and why?

RB: The Red Sea Development Company awarded Saudi AMANA Contracting, an AMANA subsidiary, the contract to design and build a 150-room hotel at the project site. The management hotel is part of the Coastal Village initiative providing accommodation, office space, and supporting amenities to approximately 40,000 employees and staff who will work at the Red Sea Project pre and post-development.

AMANA was one of the first contractors approved by DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) to provide installation and maintenance services for solar energy systems in early 2015. This classification coupled with AMANA personnel certified by DEWA as ‘solar PV experts’ makes AMANA the go-to contractor of choice for designing, installing, and maintaining roof-mounted solar power plants.

RB: Digitalization is at the heart of what we do at AMANA. To fulfill this, we have embarked on an ambitious brand transformation across the construction value chain. We continue to invest in state-of-the-art construction technology across our verticals: Construct, Manufacture, and Enhance. Leveraging technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) in a manufacturing environment, smart machinery, the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and robots, we are transforming building design and construction from concept to completion. Technologies such as AI, big data, and analytics are helping to make the construction sector more reliable, efficient, and sustainable. There have been advancements even in areas beyond the field and factory operations. For instance, the ERP software used by AMANA enables real-time reporting that covers all areas such as procurement, HR, and business and development.

GROUP AMANA 29

SP: In 20 words or less, can you answer the question, “Why work with AMANA?”

SP: Aside from these big projects, Saudi Arabia has a huge shortage of housing - this is surely a huge opportunity for the Group?

COVER STORY - AMAALA, YACHT CLUB30

Set within the Triple Bay Marina of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nature Reserve, AMAALA’s new Yacht Club is a keystone development with a captivating free-flowing structure that aims to create a one-of-a-kind meeting point between land and sea.

“AMAALA offers an unparalleled opportunity to shape a new tourism destination and a new home for yachting on the Red Sea. It is a privilege to be involved as designers of this iconic yacht club, which is a centerpiece for the marina and set to evolve the guest experience,” explained Kevin Underwood, Global Head of Hospitality at HKS.

“AMAALA is one of the flagship Saudi Vision 2030 projects and remains central to the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global tourism leader. We anticipate that AMAALA will become an international hub for luxury yachting, and as such, the yacht club required a world-class design, influenced by the surrounding natural elements and Arabic heritage, and underpinned by our commitment to sustainability,” said John Pagano, CEO, AMAALA.

MAALA, THE ULTRA-LUXURY DEVELOPMENT LOCATED ALONG SAUDI ARABIA’S NORTH-WESTERN COAST, HAS REVEALED ITS ICONIC DESIGN FOR THE

TRIPLE BAY YACHT ICONICAMAALACLUB.REVEALSNEWYACHT CLUB DESIGNS A FRONTED BY AN 80M QUAI D’HONNEUR FOR YACHTING ANDREGATTAS,EVENTS,LAUNCHESPASSEGIATA COVER STORY - AMAALA, YACHT CLUB 31

Alongside the ‘sea meets land’ concept, the design references the concept of a traditional Arabian house with a simple smooth white exterior that is cut back to reveal luxurious metal externally and a rich palette of natural and locally sourced materials internally such as stone, timber and leather.

Drawing design inspiration from two sets of geometry, HKS first looked to the unique rock formations on the Saudi Red Sea coastline to create the club’s bespoke cantilevered terraces, which echo the natural shape of the surrounding cliffs, eroded over time by wind and sea.

“We were clear from the outset that we wanted to create a building of its place, with the design drawing inspiration from local landscapes and culture, alongside the nature of the marine lifestyle. The team wanted to reimagine the yacht club as a modern concept, a home from home for nautical enthusiasts from all backgrounds, from leisure to elite sport,” said Dan Flower, HKS Design Director and Lead Architect for AMAALA Yacht Club.

“HKS has created a signature piece of architecture at the heart of Triple Bay, and I look forward to seeing the concept become a globally iconic meeting place for luxury yachting enthusiasts from all over the world.”

AMAALA, the ultra-luxury development located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, has revealed its iconic design for the Triple Bay Yacht Club.

The second inspiration is drawn from mankind’s relationship with the sea and maritime history. This nautical edge will ensure the building sits seamlessly within the marina as a central hub and focal point.

Arrival is a key moment for guests by land or by water, with the entrance set within an arch that forms a shaded plaza and frames dramatic views of the Red Sea. The area has a mirrored vaulted ceiling over a star-lit floor which creates an alternative night sky for guests in the evening.

Complementing the yacht club’s functions, the 10-hectare basin hosts a 120-berth marina for yachts up to 130m in length and is designed for residents and yachting events, regattas and launches. Deepwater superyacht berths, fuel dock and personalised service ensure Triple Bay’s future rating as a destination for visiting superyachts, international regattas and domestic cruising.

The interior of the club, also designed by HKS, along with the landscaping detail, is as visually stimulating as the exterior, with unparalleled attention to detail to ensure guests remain connected to the landscapes around them. Utilizing local materials with a focus on stone, timber and metals, and embracing a luxurious, yet authentic brass champagne colour scheme, the lounges and restaurant blend seamlessly together with an infinity loop-like shape throughout.

DESIGN IS INSPIRED BY LOCAL ERODED ROCK FEATURES AND TRADITIONAL AIR SUPPORTEDARCHITECTUREMOVEMENTBY A FULL-SERVICE MARINA WITH 120 BERTHS FOR YACHTS UP TO 130M IN LENGTH AND A UNIQUE PORTE-COCHERE FOR DISCREET ARRIVAL BY YACHT TENDER COVER STORY - AMAALA, YACHT CLUB32

Covering 7,900m2 and set on four levels, the ultra-luxurious club is set to create a home from home for its members whether to do business, relax, entertain or take part in a calendar of yachting events.

“We brought together the global expertise of our firm, using our experience of creating luxury destinations to create something truly innovative and contemporary. Sustainability in all aspects is at the heart of our design, seamlessly integrating the building with the stunning mountain and marine landscape of the Red Sea,” he added.

Set across 4,155km2 and due to welcome its first guests in 2024, Triple Bay spans three natural bays along the coastline. The destination is designed to create a one-of-a-kind global wellness hub and is underpinned by a commitment to sustainable development. The whole development is targeting a minimum LEED Gold standard for environmental sustainability.

AMAALAVISIT wEBSITE FEATURES INCLUDE A CABANADECKINFINITYRESTAURANT,TERRACEPOOLANDROOFTOPLOUNGE COVER STORY - AMAALA, YACHT CLUB 33

A further 1.2 billion riyals is expected to be awarded in the second quarter of the year and an RFP for the Utilities PPP has already been issued to the market, to ensure the development meets its sustainability ambitions. The destination will be off-grid, powered solely by renewable energy.

AMAALA is a core component of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy by enabling rapid growth in the tourism sector. The project is expected to create upwards of 50,000 new direct, indirect and induced jobs for Saudis, as well as upwards of 11 billion riyals to the country’s GDP once fully operational.

Work is well underway on-site to progress enabling infrastructure, groundwork, and key assets with more than 1,000 workers already on site. More than 250 contracts have been awarded to date in excess of 5 billion riyals, with nearly one billion riyals awarded in the first quarter of this year alone, as delivery of the project ramps up on site.

Phase One of Triple Bay is on track to complete in 2024. It consists of eight resorts offering upwards of 1,300 hotel keys and will also feature a range of luxury F&B outlets, retail, and leisure facilities.

Imagination, an award-winning design firm, has added a new creative director and logistics director to its Saudi Arabia office, bolstering its senior leadership team in preparation for expansion and growth. The announcement comes after Imagination opened a new office in Riyadh, strengthening the company's presence and ability to produce worldclass experiences in the Kingdom.

Paulo Novoa, the new Creative Director, comes to Imagination from TOLD, where he was Associate Creative Director. Paolo oversaw projects from conception to completion, leading the creative team to develop solutions and brand strategies for clients. He comes to Imagination with nine years of senior creative experience.

Algnoon has previously held several major positions, including Executive Director, Distribution and Customer Services in the Saudi Electricity Company.

Imagination Boosts Saudi Arabia's Leadership Team

Saudi Electricity Company Engineer

Saudi Electricity Company has appointed Engineer Khalid Hamad Algnoon as its new CEO. An industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience working in diverse engineering and leadership positions, Algnoon had been the acting CEO since June 2021 when Fahad Al Sudairi stepped down from his post due to personal reasons.

Both Novoa and Baarda will be headquartered in Imagination's new office in Riyadh, giving a greater range of specialised in-country disciplines. They'll engage with a wide range of existing clients, including both government and private-sector companies, to assist Imagination's core offers.

ALGNOON HAD BEEN THE ACTING CEO SINCE JUNE 2021

 PAULO NOVOA  CLARE BAARDA

APPOINTMENTS34

BOTH NOVOA AND BAARDA wILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN IMAGINATION'S NEw OFFICE IN RIYADH

Clare Baarda, who has been named Logistics Director, will also be joining the team. Clare has over 15 years of event management expertise and has worked with large brands such as Audi, L'Oreal, and Ericsson. Baarda joins Imagination after working on successful projects with the company for the KSA Ministry of Culture, the G20 Cultural Programme, and NEOM.

Khalid Hamad Algnoon as CEO

“wE ARE DELIGHTED TO wELCOME MASHAAL, wHO BRINGS wITH HIM OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN INVESTMENT BANKING”

Investcorp Appoints Mashaal AlJomaih as Managing Director

Since 2008, Investcorp has been one of the most active private equity players in Saudi Arabia, deploying about $1.4 billion across 16 investments in diverse sectors. The group has supported many leading family businesses in their journey toward going public on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).

Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, has announced the appointment of Mashaal AlJomaih as Managing Director of Investcorp’s Private wealth for the KSA market, who will be based in Riyadh.

As Managing Director for Private Wealth, Mashaal will also support the expansion of our client base in Saudi Arabia.”

Yasser Bajsair, CEO of Investcorp KSA, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Mashaal, who brings with him over 20 years of experience in investment banking. His deep knowledge and understanding of Saudi Arabia’s market, which is a key market for Investcorp, as well as his experience in wealth management, make him ideal for this role. We believe the economic transformation of the Kingdom and the evolution of the family business model have created opportunities to establish higher value and larger-scale businesses that require complex and sophisticated processes and enhanced management capabilities.

On his appointment, AlJomaih said: “I am excited to be joining Investcorp at this time in its growth journey and I look forward to helping lead the expansion of the firm’s footprint in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is an incredibly exciting and dynamic market with a wealth of opportunities emerging as its economy diversifies. Investcorp has an excellent opportunity to capitalize on this transformation and I am focused on implementing a strategy that delivers growth and value for our shareholders, stakeholders and the communities within which we operate.”

Arabian Centres Company (ACC), the largest owner, developer, and operator of contemporary lifestyle centres in Saudi Arabia has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alison Rehill-Erguven.

Alison Rehill-Erguven Appointed as New CEO of Arabian Centres Company

APPOINTMENTS 35

Joining in August 2022, Alison joins Arabian Centres from her position as Head of Commercial Real Estate at Brookfield Properties, based in Shanghai, China. Here, she was responsible for all retail assets, including shopping malls, offices, and mixed-use developments.

Derived from the Arabic word ‘thrive’, Riyadh’s smart city is planned to provide 11,000 residential units for a population of 44,000 people. The 1,000-hectare development will create 10,000 jobs in various sectors, including green-tech industries to create a green circular economy for the city. The project is masterminded by URB and provides the highest standards of social, environmental and economic sustainability. Various hubs will transform the city into a unique destination as well as an attraction for eco-tourists and medical tourists. The green-tech hub will provide an innovative ecosystem for urban-tech companies related to food, energy, water, waste, mobility and building materials.

ALNAMA IS A NEW BENCHMARK FOR FUTURE SMART CITIES THAT WILL ENABLE PEOPLE, THE PLANET AND PROFIT TO THRIVE IN BALANCE CEO of URB, Baharash Bagherian, who has masterminded designs of various sustainable cities including recently launched projects such as The Sustainable City in Yiti, The Sustainable City Yas Island, Nexgen Sustainable City and many more yet to be revealed, explains ALNAMA as the next evolution in smart cities.

“ALNAMA aims to be the next generation of the self-sufficient city, producing all the city’s renewable energy needs, as well as the resident’s caloric food intake on site. Biosaline agriculture, productive gardens, wadis and carbon-rich habitats are key features of the development’s innovative & resilient landscape design. The city was planned through the design of its landscape, rather than its buildings. This creates urbanism that is more socially inclusive, more economically valuable, and more sensitive to the environment.”

A ZERO-CARBONFUTURECITYLAUNCHED PROJECT FOCUS36

LNAMA Smart City is planned to become a zero carbon destination, promoting sustainable living in a 10-squarekilometer community with various hubs, including residential, educational, commercial, tourism and medical.

PROJECT FOCUS 37

100% WASTERECYCLINGENERGY,RENEWABLEWATERANDRECYCLING

Ultimately, ALNAMA will become a work, live and visit destination where people, the planet and profit can thrive in balance. It will become a new benchmark model for all future cities to be planned to promote greener economies that center around food, water, energy and waste.

Eco-friendly glamping lodges, eco resorts as well as a nature conservation centre are key components of the hospitality hub, which will promote ecotourism. An autism village, wellness centre and clinics within the medical hub will promote medical tourism.

ACCORDING TO RECENT RESEARCH FROM CARMA, THE MEDIA INTELLIGENCE SERVICE PROVIDER, SAUDI ARABIA'S VISION 2030 HAS CHANGED THE WORLD'S OPINION OF THE KINGDOM, WITH VARIOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRAMS ATTRACTING ATTENTION. VISION 2030 HAS CHANGED THE PERCEPTIONS OF SAUDI ARABIA VISION 203038

In comparison to 2020, there was a major swing in perception in 2021, with overall positive reactions increasing by 9%.

Taken as a whole, generic references to economic concerns were the second most common topic in mainstream media pieces, accounting for 18%, followed by Oil & Gas (11%), and Tourism & Culture (9%).

esearch conducted on the shift in media perception of Saudi Arabia from 2020 to the first quarter of 2022, clearly illustrates that Vision 2030 has become the most significant single contributor to the Kingdom’s global media coverage. Consequently, it is now viewed in a more positive light than it was 15 months ago.

Vision 2030, according to Nahawi, will continue to play a significant part in Saudi Arabia's future coverage. “While Vision 2030 media coverage now has grown by 74% from 2020 until today, it still represents just 33% of overall coverage: we see a lot of upsides and expect this share to grow over time.”

Another interesting conclusion of this research was that economic coverage climbed from 39% to 44% between 2020 and 2021, while social concerns increased from 19% to 21%.

Mazen Nahawi, CEO of CARMA, explained: “The Kingdom’s overall positive share of coverage has increased from 2020 to 2021 from 66% to 72%. The coverage analysed was across 30 major markets and over 1,800 major international titles from broadcast, online and print media. “Our research undoubtedly shows that purpose-led projects within Vision 2030 are clearly capturing the interest of global media. In the past, Saudi Arabia’s media coverage was heavily focused on oil and politics. This has clearly changed, and we now see a diversity of social and economic projects not just taking the lead in overall coverage, but also in how the Kingdom’s reputation is being re-shaped across the world.”

Conversations about social changes taking place within the Kingdom are also increasing, according to the research, around key topics such as female empowerment, tourism, improved quality of life, moving beyond oil, digital infrastructure and transformation, human capital efficiency, and intensifying diplomacy.

R VISION 2030 MEDIA COVERAGE NOW HAS GROWN BY 74% FROM 2020 KSA SOCIAL, ECONOMIC & POLITICAL OUTLOOK Overview of 2020 19% Social 39% Economic 42% Political Overview of 2021 21% Social 44% Economic 35% Political 42% 21%19%39%35%44% CARMAVISITEMAILwEBSITEUS IN COMPARISON TO 2020, THERE WAS A MAJOR SWING IN PERCEPTION IN 2021, WITH OVERALL POSITIVE INCREASINGREACTIONSBY9% VISION 2030 39

CHANGING THE wAY wE BUILD TO REDUCE wASTE IT IS ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE WORLD’S WASTE COMES FROM CONSTRUCTION (THAT’S CLOSE TO ONE BILLION TONNES), SO ISN’T IT TIME WE ABANDON THE OLD WAYS OF BUILDING AND START USING THE MATERIALS WE ALREADY HAVE? GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY40

GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY 41

GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY42

ENHANCING THE PARTNERSHIP wITH THE UN

We continue to build and generate massive amounts of waste as the world's population, and the cities in which they live, continue to expand. The answer to this conundrum, though, is ‘simple’: in conjunction with the global construction industry, reimagine how to utilize waste to create new building materials. It’s basically taking note of the old motto kids learn in school - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The agreement aims to enhance the partnership between Saudi Arabia and the UN to accelerate their joint efforts to deliver progress on sustainable development in Saudi Arabia and meet the goals outlined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the UN 2030 Agenda, as well as the socioeconomic ambitions of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

onstruction and demolition waste can range from bricks and electrical cables to cardboard packaging, plastics and tree stumps, and it's notoriously difficult to get rid of because it's frequently produced in large quantities. It's usually disposed of in an industrial waste landfill, where lead and other toxic compounds can contaminate groundwater. These vast quantities are driven by the construction industry’s tendency to buy new materials, which puts intense pressure on what are already limited natural resources. In addition, many of the materials used, such as concrete, are hazardous to both the environment and human health when manufactured. Because of this raft of considerations, sustainability is one of the construction industry's supreme challenges, both in terms of input and production.

Commenting on the agreement, Faisal Alibrahim said: “At times of great global challenges, our responses must be coordinated, collaborative and truly global in scale. Signing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework takes us another step closer to delivering exactly this. “Through the framework, we are enhancing our partnership with the United Nations at a time when international partnerships have C “AT TIMES OF GREAT GLOBAL CHALLENGES, OUR RESPONSES MUST BE COORDINATED, COLLABORATIVE AND TRULY GLOBAL IN SCALE”

On 13 June 2002, the Kingdom’s commitment to this sustainability philosophy was underlined when Faisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, and Nathalie Fustier, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed the ‘United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’ (UNSDCF 2022-2026).

“Through our collaboration, we can further enhance Saudi’s evolving economy to diversify our industrial mix, forge critical future knowledge in emerging sectors and create new jobs for future generations who can unleash the full potential of our globally competitive economy.”

IT’S BASICALLY TAKING NOTE OF THE OLD MOTTO KIDS LEARN IN SCHOOL - REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY 43

never been more critical. By working closely with our partners, Saudi Arabia can capture the economic opportunities that stem from the urgent need to deliver inclusive human, social and economic development – at both the local and international levels.

The Public Investment Fund's various giga-projects, for instance, are required to implement properly planned waste management programs. Meanwhile, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has established a program to clear up ocean debris and has joined the United Nations' public action initiative #ACT4SDG as an official partner. TRSDC is working to remove rubbish that washes up on the islands and mainland shorelines within the project’s boundaries regions, as well as raising local understanding about waste disposal techniques and how to reduce, recycle, and reuse these materials.

These future generations were no doubt at the front of his mind when HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman unveiled the ‘Saudi Arabia Green Initiative’ and the ‘Middle East Green Initiative on 27 March 2021.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) population growth, of course, has necessitated the expansion of the country's housing and infrastructure inventory, resulting in an inevitable accumulation of construction and demolition waste (C&D). However, KSA is trying hard to keep ahead of the curve, implementing plans and strategies designed to save the environment and ‘clean up’ the construction industry.

GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY44

STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE

The Prince stated in his declaration that KSA will strive more to conserve the land by lowering carbon emissions, combating pollution and land degradation, and preserving marine life, explaining: “As a leading global oil producer, we are fully aware of our responsibility in advancing the fight against the climate crisis, and that just as we played a leading role in stabilizing energy markets during the oil and gas era, we will work to lead the coming green era.”

THE FROM THE OF ROBOTICS IN SORTING AND

As a result, the Saudi waste market has a lot of potential - for public-private partnerships, for new technology promotion and adoption, and for considerable economic gains in terms of how business is conducted.

The Saudi construction sector has seen a lot of changes, but unlike in the past, the bottom line is no longer the key driver of the market's evolution. Sustainability is now increasingly vital and will be critical to construction companies' competitiveness in the coming years. Consequently, to ensure success, forward-looking companies need to become early adopters and industry role models, making them preferred partners that lead the way toward a more sustainable future.

MARKET WILL BENEFIT

GROWING USAGE

The rewards will be substantial, while the hazards for organizations that do not take their responsibilities seriously are set to grow.

SEPARATING WASTE IT CAN TREAT UP TO 600 TONNES OF WASTE PER HOUR AND ACHIEVE RECYCLING RATES OF OVER 90% GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY 45

AI-BASED

The use of recycled construction raw materials has acquired a lot of traction among well-known builders and developers. These materials have many advantages, including environmental friendliness, costeffectiveness, procurement flexibility, and ease of availability. According to industry experts, recycled coarse concrete can assist reduce the expenses of traditional building. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of recycling is piquing the interest of many companies.

AI-integrated recycling facilities, IoT-based gadgets, and robotic technologies are all gaining a foothold in the global market.

The Public Investment Fund's (PIF) Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) launched its first construction and demolition waste recycling plant in 2020 and is another great example of how the Kingdom is tackling the waste challenge. Signalling the first step towards meeting the national ambition of diverting 60% of construction and demolition waste from landfills by 2035, as the Kingdom accelerates its transition to a circular economy, it is located in northern Riyadh and can treat up to 600 tonnes of waste per hour and achieve recycling rates of over 90%.

TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL

Experts say that recycling construction waste can conserve raw material, energy and water, as well as reduce the production of greenhouse emissions and other pollutants that can contribute to climate change.

To assist in this, artificial intelligence and IoT-based devices are being widely deployed in the construction industry, providing a slew of lucrative opportunities. Indeed, the market will benefit from the growing usage of AI-based robotics in sorting and separating waste to provide high-value and high-purity commodities from mixed construction.

The upcoming major UN-led environmental events in the Arab World, COP 27 in Egypt and COP 28 in UAE, will showcase the importance of SDGs for public and private stakeholders to build a healthy and prosperous future for the region. As momentum builds to CULTURAL AGENCY SPECIALIZING IN ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND DESIGN, HAS THAT ALL PROJECTS PROTECT THE PLANET AND ENSURE PEOPLE

“We have been carbon neutral since 2020, leading a planet-positive design revolution.

CRTKL embeds a sustainability mindset into everything it does, influencing consumers to be more planet-positive. Resources in projects are used efficiently, providing for both immediate needs as well as long-term benefits to support all life on this planet and contribute to safe and affordable access to varied human needs in the community.

CRTKL has implemented climate-neutral operations since 2020, building on successes each year, and has pledged that all projects will be climate positive for operation by 2030 and extend to climate-positive materials by 2040. These ambitious goals take into consideration both operational and embodied carbon. Where operational carbon refers to the total carbon produced from all energy sources used to keep our buildings warm, cool, ventilated, lighted and powered; embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the mining, logging, harvesting, extracting, processing, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of all the materials that go into a building.

SUSTAINABILITY MINDSET

Preeti Mogali, Associate at CRTKL commented: “We are pleased to see the progress of the SDGs in the region and we are committed to driving reliable and sustainable solutions to the biggest issues of both today and the future. Countries in the Middle East have pledged to leave no one behind and the built environment will be significant in solving complex challenges as buildings are currently responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.”

At CRTKL, we adopt a human-centric approach to sustainable development and are at the forefront with our significant strides recognized through the AIA 2030 challenge, an actionable climate strategy that provides a set of standards and goals for reaching net-zero emissions in the built environment. We are proud to be forward-thinking and are using advanced digital design to empower people to live full, healthy lives and shape a better, more sustainable world,” he added.

RTKL has outlined its commitments to developing projects that are planet-positive, promoting the 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), key drivers of sustainability in the region and adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. This commitment to the SDGs recognizes that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

SDGS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

CRTKLC RELEASES ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT FRAMED AROUND THE 17 UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CRTKL, A GLOBAL

RELEASED AN INDUSTRY-LEADING ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT PLEDGING

WILL ANSWER THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO ACTION TO END POVERTY,

ENJOY PEACE AND PROSPERITY BY 2030. GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY46

“BUILDINGS ARE CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR 40% OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS”

REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT

Successes in 2021 for CRTKL include a reduction of electricity footprint by more than 30%, largely based on right-sizing selected office spaces based on hybrid work models and a paper carbon footprint reduction by over 60% based on reduced paper usage as digital communication became fully embedded.

THIS COMMITMENT TO THE RECOGNIZESSDGS THAT ACTION IN ONE AREA WILL OUTCOMESAFFECTINOTHERS

CRTKL is mitigating the environmental impact of design projects as buildings are estimated to consume 50% of global materials and contribute to approximately half of global solid waste. CRTKL will continue to take climate action, and support the development of sustainable cities and responsible consumption.

The annual sustainability report outlines the seven SDGs most applicable to CRTKL operations and the positive action taken in advance of the landmark UN events. These include good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and a commitment to working in partnership for the goals.

BUILDINGS ARE ESTIMATED TO CONSUME 50% OF GLOBAL MATERIALS AND CONTRIBUTE TO APPROXIMATELY HALF OF GLOBAL SOLID WASTE

CRTKLVISIT wEBSITE GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY 47

build back better and support long-term growth, CRTKL is embedding sustainability in projects to protect the planet, improve health and increase resilience.

The company is transparently tracking carbon calculations using the GHG Protocol, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard.

SAUDI ELECTRICITY CO. (SEC), THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARIES, GENERATES, TRANSMITS, AND DISTRIBUTES ELECTRICITY AS WELL AS OPERATING FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS, ENGAGING IN TRADING, AND UTILIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. IT GENERATES GAS IN COMBINED, STEAM, AND DIESEL POWER PLANTS AND, IN ADDITION, CONSTRUCTS AUTONOMOUS POWER PLANTS ON A BUILD-OWN-OPERATE BASIS. IN THE CENTRAL, EASTERN, WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SECTORS, THE COMPANY DISTRIBUTES POWER TO CLIENTS IN TOWNS, CITIES, AND COMMUNITIES. AS OF JULY 2022, SEC HAS A MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF $26.89 BILLION, MAKING IT THE WORLD'S 622ND MOST VALUABLE COMPANY. he company’s commitment to innovation and ensuring power for future generations will see SEC continue to lead the field too. The Kingdom, for instance, has made considerable efforts in recent years to harness the power of the sun and wind to produce electricity, and SEC has been at the forefront. Of course, Saudi Arabia has considerable potential for renewable energy. It is geographically situated close to the Sun Belt, and there are plenty of empty desert stretches that might house solar power generation facilities. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is a desirable location for both CSP and PV power generation due to the huge sand resources that may be used in the production of silicon photovoltaic cells. These initiatives will not only protect the environment but also safeguard valuable reserves of oil and gas that could otherwise be exported or turned into goods with added value. Considering that energy usage increased by 60% in the ten years preceding 2019, diversifying the electricity mix is crucial. By 2030, demand is anticipated to have increased even further, from 62.7 GW in 2019.

SEC: TAKING THE KINGDOM INTO A NEw ERA

SAUDI ELECTRICITY

Saudi Arabia can play a significant role in the spread of solar energy in the whole MENA region, too, given its dominance in the Middle East. The Kingdom’s solar energy initiative might soon make it a net exporter of solar power.

In late 2020, SEC awarded five stars to the Waad Al Shamal integrated solar and combined cycle power plant project for Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), which illustrated its determination to stay on top of quality and performance. Fahad H. Al-Sudairi, the then President and CEO of SEC, said: "At SEC, we continuously assess progress against strict measures meant to ensure T CO.

(SEC)48

The Kingdom also has plans for further investments in countries across the Middle East and North Africa, which could make Saudi Arabia a key supporter, if not producer, of solar power throughout the region. With Saudi investment and local support for solar power, these investments could establish a new sense of collaboration and renewable investment in the region.

Using the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards helps organizations manage the security of assets such as financial information, intellectual property, employee details or information entrusted to the company by third parties. An information security management system is a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure. ISO/ IEC 20000-1 promotes the adoption of a service management system to provide value and consistency for both the customer and the service provider. These certifications validate SEC’s focus on its customers through establishing international communication centers supported by new technologies that comply with global standards.

CRUCIALELECTRICITYDIVERSIFYINGPRECEDINGININCREASEDUSAGEBY60%THETENYEARS2019,THEMIXIS “SEC IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGHQUALITY IT STANDARDS”INTERNATIONALONSAUDISERVICESCOMMUNICATIONANDACROSSARABIABASEDTHEHIGHEST SAUDI ELECTRICITY CO. (SEC) 49

SPPC and SEC also signed energy conversion agreements, bulk supplies, and fuel supply innovations, all effective from 1 July. Alongside that, SEC, SPPC and the Ministry of Finance signed a fuel inventory sale agreement, which stipulates that the ministry shall pay SEC its net book value for the fuel inventory. The sale price shall be calculated based on the book value of SPPC’s net assets at the end of the second quarter of 2022. SEC does not expect the carve-out of SPPC to negatively impact its business since SPPC possesses no material tangible assets.

ISO CERTIFICATION Underlining and in recognition of its proactive stance in the energy sector, SEC has recently been awarded two ISO certificates for complying with international standards of ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 for Information Technology Service Management and ISO/ IEC 27001:2013 for Information Security Management. Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, presented the certificates, following up on two ISO certifications it awarded two years ago. These were bestowed for continuing to uphold global standards and expanding its scope across 68 different services within the SEC’s Information Technology and Digital Transformation.

CONTINUALLY MOVING FORwARDS SEC has transferred its entire stake in the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) to the Saudi government. SPPC is now an independent company wholly owned by the government, following completion of all legal arrangements for the sale and transfer of assets, liabilities, and contracts.

occupational safety and health across all our offices, existing facilities and projects.”

Waqas Ahmed, Area Manager for the Eastern Region at Intertek presented the award to Zaid A. Al-Jendel, Executive Director of SEC and the Senior Management team during a special ceremony held at SEC headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sandeep Vig, Director, Business Assurance – MENAP and India added: “SEC is committed to providing high-quality IT and communication services across Saudi Arabia based on the highest international standards. Getting certified for 68 services enables the company to manage its IT systems more efficiently while further mitigating any security risk to the business.”

Finally, SEC has appointed Engineer Khalid Hamad Algnoon as its new CEO. An industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience working in diverse engineering and leadership positions, Algnoon had been the acting CEO since June 2021 when Fahad Al Sudairi stepped down from his post due to personal reasons. Algnoon has previously held several major positions, including Executive Director, Distribution and Customer Services in the Saudi Electricity Company. SEC continues to set the pace in the energy sector, not least within the arena of solar power, and will remain a vital cog in the evolution and success of Saudi Arabia in the years ahead. SAUDI ELECTRICITY CO. (SEC) wEBSITE

Speaking at the event, Zaid A. Al-Jendel said: "Information Technology and Digital Transformation are at the heart of many core activities that businesses and individuals conduct every day, and it is crucial for an industry leader like SEC to implement and maintain the highest international standards and to continue to enhance them. Our customers trust us for this continuous commitment and drive. Having these two certifications from Intertek demonstrate that we are steadfast about ensuring that we always implement best-in-class management system practices and provide high-quality services.”

VISIT

CONSIDERING THAT ENERGY

PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN TOURISM THE

AN ENVIRONMENTAL

RICH HISTORY PROJECT FOCUS - DIRIYAH SUSTAINABILITY50

DIRIYAH

PERFECTSTRATEGYENVIRONMENTALSTRIKESTHEBALANCE

DIRIYAH, LOCATED JUST 20 MINUTES NORTHWEST OF RIYADH'S CITY CENTRE, IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING LIFESTYLE DESTINATIONS FOR CULTURE AND HERITAGE, HOSPITALITY, RETAIL AND EDUCATION. AND WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INCREASINGLY TURNING ITS ATTENTION TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, SAUDI ARABIA IS SEEN TO BE TAKING THE LEAD IN RESTORING A HISTORIC CITY INTO A WORLD-RENOWNED ECOLOGICAL LANDMARK. NONSTOP TO DEVELOP STRATEGY THAT STRIKES THE CITY'S

WORKING

There will be 150 rooms and suites, as well as large meeting and event spaces, a wellness spa, and a fitness facility inside the hotel. The hotel will be positioned next to Diriyah's culturally important district along the Wadi Hanifah escarpment, with breathtaking views of At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As part of the MoU, DGDA will restore and rehabilitate the historic city by employing traditional Najdi architecture principles that have given the Kingdom's central region its distinct long-held identity.

The DGDA and the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage the use of sustainable polymer construction materials in the project. The OSP, which is being overseen by the Ministry of Energy, ensures that hydrocarbons are used as efficiently and sustainably as possible in the global energy mix.

One aspect of this is that the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) is working to create a specialized ecotourism region to the south of the city, which will include the Barari Diriyah Wildlife Conservation Center and the Palm Heritage Center for Research and Development.

The DGDP is historically and culturally significant because the Turaif area was Saudi Arabia's first capital.

The DGDA has also recently partnered with the international luxury hospitality chain Four Seasons to construct a new hotel on the site.

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SAUDI COMPANIESCONSTRUCTIONwINCONTRACTS

A DGDA spokesperson explained: “We at Diriyah are within the intersection of multiple issues, contemplating innovative yet practical ways to create the right solutions. Some of these issues deal with environmental sustainability, and others relate to maximizing the economic return from cities as tourist destinations.

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

According to the DGDA, once completed, the project is expected to draw over seven million tourists per year, which is in keeping with Vision 2030's goals of creating a sustainable economy, a vibrant environment, and a bustling community inside the Kingdom.

he Kingdom has left no stone unturned in its quest for the Diriyah Gate Development Project to become a global tourism destination, as envisioned in its Vision 2030 blueprint, and it is currently working nonstop to develop an environmental strategy that strikes the perfect balance between tourism and the city's rich history.

Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of DGDA, speaking at the Future Hospitality Summit, stated that women make up 36% of the project's workforce, with the management sector alone employing 16% of women. He further revealed that the Diriyah Gate Project's workforce is made up of 40% Diriyah residents. After completion, the project will have 20,000 residential units, and the contracts to build these have been handed to Saudi construction companies.

“Other issues concern how to raise awareness of people’s ecological conduct and impact, including administering legislation - both existing and desired - that governs, or should govern, human environmental conduct based on sustainable objectives, requirements, and standards.”

Another intriguing component of the initiative is that it has prioritized people in its development. With this in mind, it also intends to raise public awareness concerning the need for environmental protection and maximizing the economic return from the city, which will soon become a major tourist destination.

“When people start putting the pictures up of every place they’ve been, people will say, ‘where is that?’ People collect pictures of themselves in front of great icons of the worldthe Acropolis, Eiffel Tower - and now they need a picture in front of Diriyah,” said Inzerillo.

BUILDING THE FUTURE AT SHEYBARAH ISLAND WITH ITS IMAGE OF FLOATING ORBS ON SHEYBARAH ISLAND, THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY HAS CREATED WAVES ACROSS THE DESIGN WORLD. EACH OVERWATER ORB (VILLA) IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE WATER'S SURFACE, MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF THE GROUND FOUNDATION, AND FEATURES SLIDING DOORS THAT OPEN TO A DECK, A SEATING SPACE, AND AN INFINITY POOL WITH UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF THE SEA AND HORIZON. VIDEOPLAY THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - GRANKRAFT52

THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY'S partners' creativity in design and production is closely matched with the Saudi Vision 2030 aspirations, and this spectacular new resort really embodies the Kingdom's tourist future.

Of course, when people think of steel and water, one of the first thoughts is rust. As Yatindra says, though, this is well in hand at Sheybarah Resort. “There are three ways in which we can stop the stainless steel from rusting. If you look at the finish of the stainless steel, that plays an important role in producing anti-rust properties. We have chosen an extremely polished surface, and when you have this it repels dust, that is number one. The second thing is the stainless steel itself, which has anti-rusting properties. And third, very important, is periodic cleaning and maintenance.”

PLUG N’ PLAY Sustainability is at the heart of Sheybarah Island Resort, which is designed to be a LEED Platinum, off-grid, zero energy, and zero water development, powered by a centralized solar farm and supplied with fresh water from a solar-powered desalination plant. “Everything about this project is about sustainability, Yatindra says. “And the first thing has been, don’t build it in Sheybarah, because that goes against the principles of sustainability. So the solution we provided to the client is we build it here in Sharjah, where we take out all the possibilities of waste and disposal of waste. Secondly, we are using recyclable material and our stainless steel comes with very high recyclable content. The third thing revolves around Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which create environmental problems. We are using systems that have VOCs that are within the limits required for LEED Platinum. And we’re doing it in Sharjah, so we’re not spoiling the environment on the Red Sea. The final thing is a very efficient transportation and placing methodology, which involves a lot less impact on the coral reefs. If you look at the whole ‘orbs’ project, it’s almost like plug n’ play, and over the lifecycle of the project, only 5-10% of the work is carried out on-site.”

THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BEING BY GRANKRAFT WAS CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THIS PROJECT AND HAS NEVER BEEN UTILIZED ANYWHERE BEFORE

UNDERTAKEN

The approach to the façade design has been to reduce the visual impact with each villa having polished stainless steel cladding that reflects the sea, the sky, and the reef. This material is the key feature of the project, with Yatindra saying: “We are using two types of metals. One is for the structure, which is a steel structure (Marine Grade 316L), while the skin is stainless steel. The stainless steel, the raw material, is produced by Outokumpu in Finland, and we process the steel over here. It comes to us in sheets, and we have a process that starts with pre-polishing; we form the sheets and then we cut them to shape, and then another round of polishing. Then we put them together like a jigsaw puzzle.”

Furthermore, the manufacturing process being undertaken by Grankraft was created exclusively for this project and has never been utilized anywhere before. Meanwhile, Mammoet, a global leader in engineered heavy lifting and transportation, has been tasked with transporting the prefabricated villas from Grankraft's yard to the construction site and installing them on their foundations: on the beach and over water.

Saudi Projects took the opportunity to visit the manufacturer of these orbs, Grankraft Industries LLC in Sharjah, to discover more about the design, construction and vision of this project, speaking with company director Yatindra Mudbidri.

38 OF WHICH

“WE ARE

GRANKRAFT  +971 6 544 0366 VISIT EMAILwEBSITEUS BUILDING ABOUT 73 OF THESE VILLAS, WILL BE OVER WATER

LEEDDESIGNEDRESORT,SHEYBARAHATSUSTAINABILITYVILLAS”ISTHEHEARTOFISLANDWHICHISTOBEAPLATINUM

“We got involved in the project when the design of the villas started, so we were involved with the architects and the structural engineers, ”Yatindra begins. “We geared up our input and were able to help the design to come to a stage where it could actually be constructed.”

REDUCING THE VISUAL IMPACT Sheybarah Island Resort on the Red Sea archipelago was designed by Killa Design in Dubai and comprises a series of overwater and inland villas. Located on the uninhabited Sheybarah Island, home to a highly diverse environment with mangroves, sandy beach, and some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, it will house over 70 villas, as Yatindra explains: “We are building about 73 of these villas, 38 of which are over water. There will be a wooden boardwalk that connects all these water villas; the land access is through the boardwalk. The villas come in different sizes: one-bedroom (18-meter diameter), two-bedroom (22-meter diameter) and three bedroom (26-meter diameter). Each villa weighs approximately 120 tonnes.”

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SMARTERNATUREMAKING  SIMON TIMMIS, SMART SERVICES TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC) THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - SMART CITIES54

SP: It’s a huge undertaking, what are the specific challenges - is it the sheer scale?

It's all about making the guest journey seamless and efficient, and feeling like they've got a concierge with them when they don't necessarily have to have a physical concierge. The entire development’s mobility is run by us and contained by us. So to get from one resort to another for a meal, or maybe staying one night in one resort and then moving to another, that requires us to move them around. And the mobility, whether it be boat, car, seaplane, all of that is controlled by us through a mobility service, basically an Uber of the Red Sea. That linked together with the hotels and all of the different systems, are there to create a frictionless guest experience. So very much like a guest would book an Uber from a hotel, it’s a similar experience.

The third aspect is environmental monitoring. We have committed to the world, and not just to Saudi Arabia or the Gulf, that we will not interfere with nature while we’re constructing, but rather look to improve the area significantly - improve the corals and other key habitats, improve the flora and fauna, increasing the net conservation benefit of the site. So for that, we have to record, and we are recording now, through a range of sensors across the marine environment and the land environment to prove it to the world.

Simon: It’s not necessarily scale, because although it’s a very large area, the development plots are relatively small - we’re developing less than 1% of the total area. The challenge for us, and the reason we did a lot of design work at the very beginning before we went to market for tenders, is because it’s heavily interconnected. So services share data with other services and they share it through a big platform we call the Smart Destination platform. This is a singular data platform with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Saudi Projects: What exactly do smart city initiatives include at TRSDC? Simon Timmis: The main initiatives are there to deal with guests and to make the city more efficient. It’s a significant area, the size of Belgium in landmass, but when you put all the developments, microdevelopments, together for the islands, it’s virtually a city in its own right. So we have city technology and city smart services. Then we have services for the environment, such as environmental monitoring and observation, because that's extremely important for us.

IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING THE GUEST JOURNEY SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT, AND FEELING LIKE THEY'VE GOT A CONCIERGE WITH THEM SO SERVICES SHARE DATA WITH OTHER SERVICES AND THEY SHARE IT THROUGH A BIG PLATFORM WE CALL THE SMART DESTINATION PLATFORM I THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - SMART CITIES 55

N A NUTSHELL, A SMART CITY IS A FRAMEWORK, PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT), THAT DEVELOPS, DEPLOYS, AND PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES TO ADDRESS GROWING URBANIZATION CHALLENGES. BUT WHICH SMART SOLUTIONS ARE BEING INTRODUCED ON THE RED SEA PROJECT AND HOW DOES THIS TIE IN WITH PROTECTING NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ASKED SIMON TIMMIS, SMART SERVICES TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC).

Unlike Dubai, London or wherever it may be, though, we are running everything within the destination - we are in control of everything. So, for example, we know, because we are monitoring heavily, where all the flora and fauna are, and particularly where the sea creatures are, the turtles and the dolphins. If we so choose, we can take that data, for instance, to assess the turtle population and put that together with information for the captain of a boat to inform the guests traveling from one island to another, “by the way there is a pod of dolphins over there” or “turtles are coming just beneath us.” All of this data is used and shared to enhance the guest experience. Regarding the city, we need to bring it into complete efficiency and harmony because we are totally off-grid. At night we will be on battery power and are in fact constructing the world’s largest battery storage facility at the site. So for that reason, we have to be extremely energy efficient; electricity-efficient, as in cooling and heating efficiency, but also water-efficient because we are undertaking desalination and although we're doing it very, very carefully, and considerately, it's still a process that needs to be efficient because you do not want to produce water when you don't need to. So city technology is there to ensure efficiency for the guests, so it's running as clean as possible, as efficiently as possible, and so that we can effectively run the city carefully with the environment in mind. Also, we’re looking to attain Dark Sky Certification, which means our lighting is kept to an extreme minimum so that we can actually see the night sky here. And for that we have to control lighting and the potential areas for light pollution; we have to get data on the lighting of the huge areas involved. For that, we have to use technology to ensure that we keep in compliance with the certification and remain certified, which is important to both the board and to us.

Going back to seeing a pod of dolphins or a number of turtles or a school of fish move across the water -we need to record that for environmental reasons, but at the same time give the same information to another service, which will add benefit; it will give meaning and be an interesting guest experience, and this is important to us. Equally, we have metered all of the apartments that our employees live in, and we do that to keep a balance concerning the utilities that we have. At the same time, it will give a granular measurement on the environmental impact of, for instance, a member of staff running the oven in their apartment for a certain amount of time.

The challenge is not the individual services. The challenge is in the data mesh, the data web, which puts all that together so we can be as efficient as possible.

WE’RE LOOKING TO ATTAIN DARK SKY CERTIFICATION, WHICH MEANS OUR LIGHTING IS KEPT TO AN EXTREME MINIMUM  SIMON TIMMIS, SMART SERVICES TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC) SEA DEVELOPMENT

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Simon: I think each project gives different challenges. The ones I’ve been involved in recently, the Dubai Expo, the World Cup in Qatar and the Olympics, all are time-bound projects. So your technological cutting-edge is a little less, mainly because the likes of FIFA and the IOC like to do it the way that they've always done it before. The technology challenges are therefore a bit different. The projects are still quite leading edge because FIFA and the IOC like to show something new, and of course, the hosting countries like to show something innovative too. The challenge on those projects is purely time, so you sometimes pull away on technology advances because you haven’t got the confidence it can be delivered in time, and time is crucial. The Qatar World Cup was awarded a lot earlier than other World Cups, so time for us was a bit of an anomaly, almost a hindrance, because we were designing a lot earlier than you would normally. And the problem with that is that you have to go back to them a couple of years later because things have gone out of date. With those projects, it’s all about time, technology, and advancement, with a connection.

With the Red Sea, it’s definitely all about time – our ambition and the drive of our leadership will not allow us to go slow. At the same time, we have a little more flexibility in some aspects, and the way we’ve done things in this programme revolves around intense design and working together with the stakeholders before it goes to tender, so all parties have signed off on the approach before we move.

SP: Finally, in the future do you think smart cities and destinations will be determined by how well they connect with each other to form an ecosystem?

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Simon: Our situation is interesting because as The Red Sea Development Company, we launched with The Red Sea Project but acquired additional responsibilities, first in AMAALA, and now with a growing portfolio of other projects along the west coast. We spent a lot of time on design work for The Red Sea Project, and I expect this experience will mean those other projects are going to be easier to do – they are also going to be data interconnected and share the similar experiences. Consequently, we will end up having a technology spine running the length of the west coast, and we are working in tandem with NEOM and KAUST, and the other projects and key stakeholders to learn and share information. As we all grow, we are going to be an interconnected smart city, and at the same time, our experiences will blend into other smart cities to improve their performance and reliability.

SP: On a personal level, you’ve been involved in some of the world’s major events, from Football World Cups to the Olympics and onto the planning for major transportation systems – how does TRSDC stack up against these? What excites you about this project?

Simon: What we’ve done for flexibility’s sake is create framework contracts in the procurement packages to the bidders to underline that things do move fast. It’s a jigsaw puzzle and we’re moving it at speed together. We’ve done as much as we can to keep it flexible and to keep it moving.

SP: The world is moving fast and things will change, so how flexible is TRSDC when it comes to growth and upgrading?

THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY VISIT wEBSITE THE WAY WE’VE DONE THINGS IN THIS PROGRAMME REVOLVES AROUND INTENSE DESIGN AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE IT GOES TO TENDER, SO ALL PARTIES ARE ALL SIGNED ON THE APPROACH AS WE MOVE

So, we are approaching this very differently; even for our employees this is a personal commitment to live and breath sustainability.

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The project has also had its fair share of challenges, not least two years of Covid-19 restrictions, incorporating challenging logistical shipping problems and electronics components shortages on a global scale.

To date, over 2,800 people have worked around the clock to deliver the airside works. Strict health and safety rules have been implemented throughout all construction works, resulting in 8 million safe man-hours worked without a Lost Time Injury to date (LTI).

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THE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED IN Q1 2023, WITH AN INAUGURAL FLIGHT PLANNED FOR Q4 OF 2022

THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY VISIT wEBSITE ITS ARCHITECTURE WILL BE INFORMED BY THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE

HE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH IS SET TO SERVE AN ESTIMATED ONE MILLION ANNUAL TOURISTS VISITING THE RED SEA BY 2030, IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN AS PART OF PHASE ONE, SEEKING TO BE BOTH ELEGANT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. In line with The Red Sea Development Company’s (TRSDC) sustainability goals, the new airport has an eco-friendly and sustainable design, led by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners. Its architecture is informed by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and represents the overarching vision of The Red Sea Project.

The project has passed many significant milestones too, including: 11 million m3 of earth balancing works to establish the new Runway Safety Initiative (RSI) airport footprint Terminal excavation works (included a total excavation of 280,000 m3) 14 km of perimeter secure boundary fence and perimeter road 16 km of open channel drain system Main Primary Runway – 3.7 km (75 meters width) Dedicated Seaplane Runway –525m (42 meters width)  Parallel Taxiway – 3.7 km (56 meters width) with four Link Taxiways One dedicated isolated parking stand for emergency vehicles Contact Stands (a designated area where an aircraft could use a Passenger Boarding Bridge) Remote Stands (parking area for aircraft): 12 Seaplane Stands, 12 Business Jet Stands, and three Helipads completed

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STRIVING FOR 100% RENEwABLE ENERGY

The Red Sea International Airport will be powered by 100% renewable solar energy, implement a full prohibition on single-use plastics, and deliver overall net neutrality, to set new norms in sustainable development across design, construction, and operation. The airport will be accessible by 80% of the world’s population in fewer than eight hours of travel.

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TRSDC has had to create ‘workarounds’ for all staff and workers during this period, especially in relation to worldwide and regional lockdowns. The force of nature has had to be contended with too, with 400km of specialist cables having to be replaced in record time due to the original cables being destroyed in extraordinary flash floods in Europe.

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SIX SOUTHERNSENSES DUNES, THE RED SEA HE SIX SENSES SOUTHERN DUNES, THE RED SEA RESORT IS ONE OF THE TWO INLAND LOCATIONS IN PHASE ONE OF THE RED SEA PROJECT, DESIGNED BY FOSTER+PARTNERS AND RENOWNED FOR ITS ECO-CREDENTIALS. THE ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH PAYS HOMAGE TO THE NABATAEAN HERITAGE AND MAJESTIC DESERT AND SAND DUNES SURROUNDINGS. T THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - SOUTHERN DUNES UPDATE 61

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Southern Dunes will be operated by Six Senses, the first of its kind to open in Saudi Arabia and will include:  40 villas  A central hotel building with 36 rooms, restaurants, a pool and a spa.

It’s the engineering under the surface that helps the resort set a new standard for environmental sustainability and the ambition is to achieve LEED Platinum standard. The entire destination has already secured the first stage of LEED for Cities Platinum certification, and is the first development in the region to do so.

“With its world-leading approach to sustainability and wellness, and of course, famed for providing ultimate luxury, Six Senses mirrors our development's ethos. The Red Sea Project is set to deliver a new type of barefoot luxury experience, underpinned by a commitment to regenerative tourism development,” added TRSDC’s CEO John Pagano. The design uses sustainable, lightweight materials reflecting the textures of the Saudi Arabian desert. The base structure is a modular, precast system that ensures the building only touches the ground lightly to leave most of the site undisturbed, with minimal paving to ensure the surrounding pathways remain natural and authentic.

Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs comments: “The mission of early travelers was to trade, document, observe and see things in a new way. Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is an invitation to explore a region that is undiscovered. Our job here is to tread very lightly. This has been a unique opportunity to see how we can bring to life wellness and sustainability – two great values of Six Senses – in an exciting new destination.”

THE DESIGN

DESERTSAUDITEXTURESREFLECTINGMATERIALSLIGHTWEIGHTSUSTAINABLE,USESTHEOFTHEARABIAN

The project has:  Passed the 50% completion milestone  Has approximately 20,000 workers busy on site  Upwards of SR 25 billion has already been awarded in contracts  TRSDC expects this number to exceed SR 40 billion by the end of the year across its two flagship projects. Work is on track to welcome the first guests in early 2023, in line with the wider completion of resorts and other key assets at the destination as part of Phase One. THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY VISIT wEBSITE IT’S THE ENGINEERING UNDER THE SURFACE THAT HELPS THE RESORT SET A NEW STANDARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY “THIS HAS BEEN A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW WE CAN BRING TO LIFE WELLNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY – TWO GREAT VALUES OF SIX SENSES – IN AN EXCITING NEW DESTINATION” THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - SOUTHERN DUNES UPDATE 63

Ritz Carlton Reserve is situated at the destination’s idyllic Ummahat Islands, whilst Miraval and Rosewood are located on Shura Island, the main hub for the resort.

NOWHOSPITALITYWITHREDCONFIDENCEINDUSTRYDEMONSTRATESANNOUNCEMENTINTHESEAPROJECT,ATOTALOF12BRANDSCONFIRMED” THE NEW COLLECTION OF 500FEATURESBRANDSHOSPITALITYCOLLECTIVELYNEARLYHOTELKEYS T THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - HOTEL SIGNING64

Jay Rosen, Chief Financial Officer at TRSDC, commented: “Our impressive roster of hospitality brands are united in their commitment to help us create a one-of-akind world-class luxury destination. They have all agreed to adhere to our stringent measures when it comes to embedding sustainability, luxury and Saudi heritage in their designs and share best practices in terms of the environment once operational.

The agreements, signed at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, are with Ritz Carlton Reserve, Miraval Hotels, and Rosewood.

The new collection of hospitality brands collectively features nearly 500 hotel keys of the total 3,000 planned for phase one.

"These additional hotel management agreements mark the significant progress we are making as we work towards welcoming visitors from around the world. The Red Sea Project has already passed significant milestones and work is on track to welcome the first guests in less than a year when the first hotels will open. Phase one, which includes 16 hotels in total, will be complete by the end of 2023.”

TRSDC SIGNS AGREEMENTS

“THIS

HE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC) HAS CONFIRMED THAT THREE NEW HOTEL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED WITH INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BRANDS TO OPERATE RESORTS IN THE FIRST PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE RED SEA PROJECT.

This trio of luxury hotel companies join a stellar line-up of globally renowned brands that have already confirmed they will operate at The Red Sea Project, including EDITION Hotels and St Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International; Fairmont Hotel & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, and SLS Hotels & Residences, part of global hospitality group Accor; Grand Hyatt, part of Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts and Six Senses, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts; and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts.

"Together with our collection of globally recognized and respected partners, we are excited to play our part in opening up this unique and undiscovered part of the world, setting new benchmarks for sustainable development along the way," he added.

WITH THREE MAJOR GLOBAL HOTEL BRANDS

“This announcement demonstrates industry confidence in The Red Sea Project, with a total of 12 hospitality brands now confirmed, and signifies a growing appetite from global leaders to participate in the expansion of the Saudi tourism market. With two brands now entering the region for the first time, I believe the future of tourism in the Kingdom is bright,” said John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC.

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Zahid Tractor has already delivered, installed and commissioned most of the generator sets in weather-resistant, sound-attenuated enclosures that are currently being used to support construction activities and workforce accommodations.

Caterpillar Inc. has announced that Cat® dealer Zahid Tractor has been selected by the main contractor to supply power solutions that deliver 32 Mw of prime power for The Red Sea Project.

CATERPILLAR'S WINS RED

“The Red Sea Project is a global showcase for demonstrating how large-scale economic development projects can incorporate sustainability into their operations to help them achieve their business goals,” said Bart Myers, General Manager for Caterpillar Large Electric Power. “Caterpillar and Zahid Tractor have the advanced technologies and local expertise needed to support every phase of this high-profile project and help attain its business and sustainability targets.”

Zahid Tractor is also addressing uptime needs through Customer Value Agreements (CVAs), which include customer technician training, regular maintenance at scheduled intervals, and roundthe-clock, on-demand technical support. Additionally, most of the units are equipped with Cat Connect Remote Access Monitoring (RAM), Caterpillar’s advanced data visualization, reporting and alert offering.

SAUDI DEALER

Zahid Tractor is supplying 69 generator sets capable of running on both conventional diesel and B100 biodiesel to supply energy during the construction phase of The Red Sea Project.

SEA PROJECT SUPPLY CONTRACT THE NEW COLLECTION OF 500FEATURESBRANDSHOSPITALITYCOLLECTIVELYNEARLYHOTELKEYS CATERPILLARVISITwEBSITE THE RED SEA DEVBELOPMENT COMPANY NEwS - HOTEL SIGNING66

The project leverages Caterpillar’s expertise in supplying and maintaining field-proven power solutions that have enabled operation on various hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biodiesel, and blended fuel products for more than a decade.

EMPLOYS

A ‘floating crane’ has been deployed for the construction of a 1.2km bridge in the Red Sea. The bridge will connect Saudi Arabia’s mainland with Shurayrah Island, which is being built as a luxury tourist destination by the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC).

Developed in partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the technology plans, collects and analyzes oceanographic data that influences marine and terrestrial ecosystems and tracks net conservation benefits.

TRSDC is using adaptive ecosystembased management for the environmental regulatory system, which will make use of observational data and associated modeling to provide scientific guidance for developing and protecting the ecosystem.

FLOATING CRANE UTILIZED FOR RED SEA INSTALLATIONBRIDGE

“Marine spatial planning helps the company decide which island to develop and which is most important to protect by integrating expert opinion, ecological principles, and a software-based decision support tool,” Lina Eyouni, Environmental Physical Science Manager, TRSDC According to a TRSDC scientific paper titled ‘Reconciling Tourism Development and Conservation Outcomes Through Marine Spatial Planning for a Saudi Giga-Project in the Red Sea’, published in the scientific journal ‘Frontiers in Marine Science’, the company is developing across-the-board plans for enhancing coral reefs, which involves growing coral nurseries and breeding healthy corals.

However, after further investigation, Mammoet's engineering team presented an alternate installation approach, including the use of Mammoet's mobile floating crane concept: an MTC 15 crane positioned on a barge, resulting in a 500t capacity containerised floating sheer leg with a 30m outreach. This installation method reduces installation time by half, allowing contractors to complete one piece each day rather than one in two days. The Shurayrah Bridge will become one of the main access points for guests onto the island.

Marine engineering firm Archirodon contacted Mammoet to handle the transportation and installation of 60 pre-cast bridge-beam and edge-beam segments onto piers. The customer originally intended for SPMTs to install the bridge sections on a barge using SPMT's suspension cylinders to lift and lower the pre-cast segments on the bridge bearings.

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) is using a marine spatial planning simulation - utilizing software specially developed in Saudi Arabia - to assess the developmental impact and enhance biodiversity.

“TRSDC destinations will be environmentally smart by utilizing the latest technology to enhance visitors’ experiences. Additionally, the data will be uploaded and stored into a smart environmental platform to support science-informed adaptive ecosystembased management,” Eyouni concluded.

TRSDC MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING TOOL TO ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY

“MARINE

ISLANDPLANNINGSPATIALHELPSTHECOMPANYDECIDEWHICHTODEVELOPANDWHICHISMOSTIMPORTANTTOPROTECT” THE RED SEA DEVBELOPMENT COMPANY NEwS - HOTEL SIGNING 67

Saudi Projects: AMAALA means ‘clean and pure’ and the environmental focus on the project is well-known, but what are you doing differently concerning infrastructure to ensure that the ecosystem remains at the heart of the project? In which ways will your work respond to the area’s natural environment and heritage?

SP: You had a blank slate when you started, so what’s the most revolutionary aspect of the project?

SP: Have you had a few surprises popping up?

Neal: Yes, we have. For instance, the archeological surveys discovered some high value archaeological findings in the Triple Bay area. We’re working with the Ministry of Culture to preserve significant archaeological sites and burial grounds across the project area. There is also some interesting flora and fauna. In fact, there are many very fascinating surprises on a project of this scale and location.

Neal: We are currently focusing on Phase 1 of the Development i.e. Triple Bay. The infrastructure to support the developments is progressing well. We currently have a Utilities PPP type RFP in the market to develop, finance, design, construct and operate the major water and power systems, including the renewable power supply and water supply for Phase 1.

ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE AT

Neal: The main infrastructure challenges are the remote site with very little by the way of existing infrastructure. Also, the mountainous topography and wadi network and the sensitive marine habitats. We’ve developed the design to try and minimize earthworks to reduce haulage of materials and were prioritizing the use of local materials wherever possible.

SP: Can you tell me a little about the Triple Bay project – it is in a wonderful but quite remote location, so what challenges do you face and how you are navigating them?

ET IN THE PRINCE MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN NATURE RESERVE ALONG SAUDI ARABIA’S NORTH WESTERN COAST AND SPANNING 4,155 SQ. KM, THE YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FEATURES A PRISTINE LANDSCAPE AND DIVERSE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS, COUPLED WITH A UNIQUE AND INTRIGUING HERITAGE AND LOCAL CULTURE. ONCE COMPLETE, AMAALA WILL BE HOME TO MORE THAN 3,000 HOTEL ROOMS ACROSS 25 HOTELS. WE SPOKE TO NEAL COOTE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT AMAALA, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DELIVERING THIS GIGA-PROJECT AND HOW AMAALA IS ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. AMAALA

SP: How are things moving along at present? Is everything on schedule?

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Neal: The infrastructure objectives are to deliver high quality, resilient levels of service with delivery certainty and scalability, whilst maintaining low environmental and visual impact during operations. One of the revolutionary aspects for a development of this type is that we will be powered solely by renewable energy, and we won’t be connected to the national grid. To make such a commitment to full renewable energy at the scale of AMAALA and The Red Sea Project is quite unique for tourism developments.

SP: You will have a large workforce on-site? Neal: We currently have 2,500 workers on site and expect this to peak at around 40,000. One of the first major projects completed on-site is Phase 1 of a large-scale Construction Village to provide a high standard of accommodation for workers; also focusing on sustainability, health and welfare, with solar for water heating, grey water recycling, and sports facilities.

Neal Coote: The environment at AMAALA is something we take very seriously. ESIAs (Environmental and Social Impact Assessments), supported by extensive terrestrial, marine and archaeological surveys were conducted for all the Masterplans. Areas of sensitivity were identified and solutions developed to minimize impact. For example, the Triple Bay road network alignment is designed to navigate existing escarpments and preserve wadi flow paths. Special attention has been given to the turtle nesting beaches and sensitive marine environment. The AMAALA design guidelines have clear set back requirements to respect the sensitivities and also help us achieve our commitment to Dark Skies accreditation.

We’re about to award the construction contracts for both of these projects.

SP: What infrastructure is being worked on at the present time in AMAALA? We have a lot of projects at various stages, too many to mention them all. The main ones are the Utilities PPP, which is in the procurement stage, and we’ve completed the design and procurement of the Triple Bay North Interchange, which will provide access from Highway 5 and the Triple Bay Primary Infrastructure which includes 31km of roads and associated utilities networks, 55 drainage culverts and 12 pumping stations.

BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH A BLANK SLATE, WE COULD ENSURE THAT IT WAS SCALABLE, HIGH QUALITY, INFRASTRUCTURE,RESILIENTWITHLOWENVIRONMENTALANDVISUALIMPACT AMAALA - INFRASTRUCTURE - NEAL COOTE 69

wEBSITE WE’RE

Neal: From a technology standpoint, we’ve become accustomed to working on online platforms such as Microsoft Teams. This was vital during the pandemic when we continued to progress the projects in a fasttrack environment. It helps us to keep work moving and communicate far more effectively, sharing information and documents; especially as we’re working with many international consultants and companies. It’s technology that’s been around for a while but evolved very quickly when the pandemic struck. We’re a forward-thinking company, always looking to the latest technologies to support our work. On the design side we’re using BIM 360, a part of the Autodesk suite of software, coordinating designs in a 3D and cloud environment.

SP: When you were first offered this opportunity, did you feel excitement or did you wonder if you were going to get any sleep for a few years?

Neal: Two things come to mind, the first being our commitment to the Environment and Sustainability, demonstrated by our fully renewable power supply. But I think I’m most proud of the Infrastructure team we’ve formed, starting from nothing to around 20 people and still growing. The commitment, collaboration and team spirit is inspiring. Everyone is pulling together and supporting each other to deliver this amazing once in a lifetime project. It’s a multicultural team and we have a number of very talented Saudi graduates who are part of our Elite Graduate Program.

Another technology that has come to the fore lately is the use of drones. We use them for carrying out surveys, and we’ll continue to use them for monitoring the work as it moves forward. We’re also adopting smart technology such as smart metering, real-time monitoring of utility systems and irrigation sensors to optimize operating efficiency and reduce water and energy usage.

Neal: I was already aware about some of the amazing projects being planned and the sheer ambition of Vision 2030, so the chance of being a part of something so groundbreaking was hugely exciting. My wife and I had a baby recently, so I’m already used to not sleeping much!

AMAALAVISIT USING BIM 360, A PART OF

SP: Has the constantly evolving technology been a boon for keeping things on track, particularly through the pandemic?

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SP: What are you most proud of on the project at the moment?

Prequalified developers invited to bid for the PPP package are believed to include local firms Acwa Power and Alfanar, as well as a consortium of France’s EDF and UAE-based Masdar.

The deadline for developers to submit bids for the AMAALA mega-tourism project, which will be implemented as a public-private partnership (PPP) utilities project, has been extended until 18 July. The bid deadline has been pushed back from 18 June.

The AMAALA Employee Village is located on the Red Sea coast, approximately 13 km north of the wider Triple Bay masterplan and will accommodate nearly 20,000 employees.

AMAALA has signed a major contract for the infrastructure development of the first phase of its world-class accommodation at the Employee Village in Triple Bay. The contract was awarded to Saudi-based Haif Trading and Contracting Company, in recognition of its extensive understanding of the local landscape and capabilities in creating short and long-term residential communities, coupled with its high environmental standards.

For the ISO 22301:2019 certification, BSI conducted an audit on the current operations of the organization, analyzing the strategic direction of the management system and comparing the current resilience controls and arrangements that have been put in place against the overall strategic goals of the organization and its risk appetite.

The audit successfully recognized the efficiencies of AMAALA’s risk management strategy, which guaranteed confident risk reporting, successful decision making, and accountability across the organization.

AMAALA has been awarded two ISO certifications covering Risk Management and Business Continuity Management Systems – the highest level of certification available by the awarding body.

Audited by the British Standards Institution BSI, AMAALA’s ISO 31000:2018 certification is a result of the implementation of a rigorous process toward risk identification, analysis, evaluation and treatment that adhere to the destination’s business objectives.

BID AMAALAEXTENDEDDEADLINEAT AMAALA AWARDS CONTRACT FOR SECONDARY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AT ITS EMPLOYEE VILLAGE AMAALA EARNS GLOBAL CERTIFICATION FOR RISK AND RESILIENCE EXTENDEDDEADLINE AMAALA - INFRASTRUCTURE - NEAL COOTE 71

“AMAALA will set new benchmarks in luxury community living, and this ambition starts with state-of-the-art residential facilities for the talented people who will eventually operate the destination,” said John Pagano, Chief Executive Officer of AMAALA.

Developers for the planned PPP multiutilities project at the AMAALA development were issued tender documents in October 2021, according to Energy & Utilities.

BSI found AMAALA’s approach to Resilience and its components of Crisis Management and Business Continuity to be compliant with the standard. This competence will continue to be re-assessed annually to ensure the highest levels of implementation are maintained.

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OCATED ON THE RED SEA COAST, TRIPLE BAY YACHT CLUB IS THE CENTERPIECE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TRIPLE BAY MARINA IN AMAALA AND IS SET TO PROVIDE GUESTS WITH UNIQUELY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES IN A SPECTACULAR SETTING. WE SPOKE TO RICHARD HAWS, MARINE DIRECTOR AT AMAALA, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT’S FABULOUS FACILITIES, ITS SUSTAINABILITY ETHOS, AND THE DESIGN CHALLENGE OF PLACING AN ULTRA-MODERN STRUCTURE IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING. AMAALA YACHT LIMITSLUXURYCLUB:WITHOUT L AMAALA - RICHARD HAwS 73

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SP: Can you tell me a little about the design of the Yacht Club, who is the architect (why you chose them), and where the inspiration comes from?

Richard: Despite all the challenges business continuity has been faced with, the Yacht Club is still on track for its 2024 launch. It is being constructed at the same time as the marina basin that fronts it, to ensure smooth phasing of groundworks, particularly with the basement areas that sit below the water table.

SP: Is there any impact on marine life and how have you tackled this?

Richard: Triple Bay Marina and Yacht Club are both being constructed on a greenfield rock outcrop, so there is no interference with existing marine habitats. The creation of the basin with shaded areas created by the overwater decks and pontoons is expected and planned to create new breeding grounds for sub-surface species that often do not have such secure zones in sand environments. The access channel to the new marina basin does cut through an existing reef, but the location was carefully chosen as the smallest and least inhabited section to remove, with a team from KAUST University spending months painstakingly cataloguing and relocating any corals found existing in the small section to be removed.

Richard: Interfacing the iconic and modernist building style into an adjacent vernacular more traditional in architectural style. As a standalone structure, the Yacht Club would not look out of place in any yachting destination, but integrating its levels, curved endpoints, elevated balconies and viewing spots into a lowrise hospitality-focused community required immense creative landscaping. How to ensure the building does not overpower the village feel, but with emancipating the significance of the arrival sequence; how to retain the unobstructed balcony views of the sea and mountains, without overlooking an adjacent property; how to draw large yachts directly into the yacht club, but not also be out staged by their air draft right in front of the terrace restaurants… it has been these adjacencies that have been the hardest to manage due to the integrated master planning approach.

ONE OF THE MOST POIGNANT ASPECTS OF SAUDI ARABIAN HISTORY HAS BEEN ITS ABILITY TO REINVENT ITSELF THE YACHT CLUB IS DESIGNED IN LINE WITH EXPERIENTIALAMAALA’SDNA

Richard: While the HKS team sculpted the architecture of the building the AMAALA Operations team carefully assessed what it means to be a modern yacht club, what it means to hold membership in the nomadic affluent world, and how should these values and requirements be captured within a building. Benchmarking different environments from the yacht and country clubs to private and beach clubs, a user profile was created and the facilities formed. As mentioned above, the Yacht Club is designed in line with AMAALA’s experiential DNA. It is not just a building, it is a venue. Designed to provide intimate experiences, and yet also capable of hosting events over 1000 pax, the ergonomics have been carefully considered to maximize hospitality opportunities. In area terms, the high-arched ground floor creates divided entrances, allowing an openkitchen deli café on the southern side to back onto the member’s entrance elevators, which ascend directly to the signature terrace restaurant and member’s lounge on +2.

Richard Haws: London-based HKS Architects won a design competition for the yacht club. Their design was inspired by local landscapes and culture as well as from mankind’s relationship with the sea and maritime history.

SP: What will the Yacht Club incorporate in terms of facilities?

The first floor is split between a dynamic business suite of dividable rooms and an executive office for the travelling professional; and a woodenpaneled yachting-themed café bar. Passing the member’s floor, +3 is an open pool terrace, with an alfresco “beach bar” on the north podium, and a more intimate covered dining area to the south. For most, that completes the tour, but for those renting the unique ‘Skylounge’, the private elevator that goes direct from the yacht-only access porte cochere at -1 to +4 presents a cabanastyle day suite on the southern tip of the yacht club, with 360-degree views from its elevated terraces, and completely secure service for the ultimate VIP experience.

SP: What is the timescale for completion of the project and where are we at now?

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Richard: One of the most poignant aspects of Saudi Arabian history has been its ability to reinvent itself and adapt to the changing environment. For not only is the modern desert carved with the beds of ancient rivers that once supported thriving communities, but the movement of trade routes from land to sea; the rise of competing empires, the discovery of oil, and the more recent vision of how to leverage other natural reserves show the true Saudi Arabian identity is imbedded in its people’s ability to embrace and advance. Its history is a legacy of creativity that flows through to the modern industrialized nation, and that forward-thinking use of space, light and time is what the Yacht Club design embodies.

SP: Is it important for the Yacht Club to keep its Arabic identity? What marks it out from other yacht clubs?

SP: What has been your biggest challenge on the project?

AS FEEDSTOCK TO PRODUCE VALUABLE MINERALS AND METALS AND ACHIEVE 100% ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE DOWNSTREAMIN BRINE INDUSTRIES FULLY DEVELOPED BY ENOWA COOPERATIONWILLPARTNERSEXPLORE TO BUILD A RENEWABLEPOWEREDDESALINATIONOF-THE-ARTSTATE-PLANTBY100%ENERGY  FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ROBERT GARNER, HEAD OF WATER SUPPLY, ENOWA. KENJI OTSUKA, CEO MIDDLE EASTERN BLOC, ITOCHU. PETER TERIUM, CEO, ENOWA. GAVIN VAN TONDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENOWA. PASCAL GRANTE, CEO NEAR & MIDDLE EAST, VEOLIA NEOM76

ENOWA, the energy, water, and hydrogen subsidiary of NEOM, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese trading company, ITOCHU, and Veolia, a global leader in water, waste, and energy management solutions. As part of the MoU, the companies have agreed to collaborate to develop a first-ofits-kind selective desalination plant powered by 100% renewable energy in OXAGON, NEOM's advanced manufacturing and innovation city. Set to produce its early water in 2024, the new facility will be key to realizing ENOWA's ambitions to create a sustainable, abundant water supply for residential, industrial, and commercial use. Aligned with NEOM's commitment to developing a circular economy the new state-of-the-art plant will use advanced membrane technology to produce separate brine streams. This enables ENOWA to produce brine-derived products, which will be developed and monetized downstream. Brine, which is usually considered a waste output of desalination, will be used to produce significant quantities of valuable industrial materials that can be used locally or exported internationally.

MOU SIGNED TO

Commenting on the MoU, Peter Terium, CEO of ENOWA, said: "Partnering with global leaders in sustainable water solutions is key to NEOM's ambition to become a global benchmark for integrated sustainable water systems. At ENOWA, our vision is to create a sustainable abundance of life's most essential elements, all in harmony with nature. We will be producing, treating, and reusing water in one of the most water-stressed regions in the world, through sustainable, innovative and integrated solutions. This new desalination plant is one example of the type of sustainable infrastructure and circular economy we are developing to meet our zero-carbon footprint and zero-waste goals."

THE BRINE STREAMS WILL BE USED

The new plant will meet the water needs of NEOM with a production capacity of 500,000m3 of desalinated water per day by project completion in 2025, approximately 30% of NEOM’s forecasted total water demand. In line with NEOM’s environmental goals, it will use advanced and innovative membrane separation technologies to produce water, as well as concentrated brine streams. This enables the brine to be classified as a product, rather than waste, therefore minimizing the plant’s environmental impact and redefining the entire business model for desalination facilities of the future. Brine generated from the desalination plant will be treated by ENOWA to feed industries utilizing High Purity Industrial Salt, Bromine, Boron, Potassium, Gypsum, Magnesium and Rare Metal feedstocks. BUILD OF DESALINATION PLANT

NEW GENERATION

NEOM’S INITIATIVE WILL SEE THE RETURN OF 100 MILLION NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS AND GRASSES THE

NEOMVISITEMAILwEBSITEUS NEOM 77

NEOM, the sustainable regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia, has launched its very own re-greening initiative in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification. As part of its program to rehabilitate at least 1.5 million hectares of land, NEOM’s program will see the return of 100 million native trees, shrubs and grasses by 2030 to aid the restoration of degraded land and repair of wildlife habitats.

NEOM INITIATIVERE-GREENINGLAUNCHING

NEOM has awarded drill and blast tunneling contracts for work on what is considered to be one of the world’s largest transportation and utility infrastructure projects. A critical building block in ensuring NEOM continues to meet its development schedule, the projects have been presented to two joint venture groups, separated by lower and upper geographies.

NEOM CONTRACTS

AWARDS MAJOR TUNNEL

The first contract has been awarded to FCC Construction SA/China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting Company Joint Venture (FCC/ CSCEC/SAJCO JV), while the second has gone to Samsung C&T Corporation/Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd/Saudi Archirodon Company Ltd Joint Venture (SHAJV).

PROJECTTUNNELLINGWILLSPAN28KILOMETRES

The tunneling project will span 28 kilometres and include separate tunnels for high-speed and freight rail services, making people and cargo transit faster, safer, and easier. To ensure minimal impact on natural landscapes, the rock excavated as part of this tunnelling project will be processed and reused in the permanent concrete lining of the tunnels and future NEOM projects.

The agreement, according to Prince Badr, attests to the two teams' synergies and excellent coordination. Partnerships, he argued, are critical to the common aim of supporting the development and preservation of Saudi Arabia's cultural ecosystem. “We enter the next stage of development where we add value to this precious historic site while protecting the cultural heritage and identity of its people,” he said.

The agreement with DGDA, according to the Minister, indicates a shared commitment to conserving Diriyah's unique history and generating opportunities to promote and celebrate this national treasure.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve cooperation between the Ministry, its connected agencies, and the authority.

The agreement calls for the joint implementation of cultural and heritage initiatives, as well as the development of educational assets within the Diriyah Gate master plan, such as academies for creative writing, performing arts, music, architecture, Arabic calligraphy, culinary traditions, and a museum for digital art and a contemporary art museum.

Diriyah, the Arab Capital of Culture for 2030, will be home to the Ministry of Culture’s headquarters. Both entities will be able to collaborate on creating awareness programs, events, and marketing activities for movies, music, visual and performing arts, literature, gastronomy, and design as a result of the agreement.

“We will continue to work with our partners at DGDA to meet the objectives of this MoU with a plethora of cultural and heritage events, activities, and megaprojects in the pipeline aimed at attracting investment and achieving short and longterm sustainability,” the Prince explained.

SAUDI MINISTRY OF CULTURE, DGDA SIGN MOU TO DEVELOP EDUCATION IN DIRIYAH

The MoU lays out a specific roadmap for the coordination, development, and implementation of cultural projects, initiatives, and events. It was signed by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan, the Secretary-General, and DGDA Director, Ahmed al-Khateeb.

Khateeb said: “We are honored to sign this MoU with the Ministry of Culture covering various aspects of Diriyah’s development.” He noted that the partnership will take Diriyah’s cultural and heritage events and activities to the next level, and will also create a solid platform for investment opportunities by attracting businesses of every kind.

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT DGDA TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS MOU WITH A PLETHORA OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE MEGA-PROJECTS”ACTIVITIES,EVENTS,AND

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LEED certification can be achieved at diverse levels: the building, neighbourhood, community and city levels. The first phase of the Diriyah development has targeted the certification at both the building and city levels. The pre-certification of LEED for buildings and cities at a platinum level shows that the development has sustainability at its very heart, and is incorporated into every facet of its planning, design, construction and operation phases.

Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has announced that the first phase masterplan of its giga-project has been awarded platinum-level pre-certification for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: "I am thrilled that our efforts have been recognized by the LEED precertification as climate and naturerelated considerations are at the heart of our development.”With regenerative tourism and a people first development at the epi-center of our philosophy, we want to ensure that Diriyah is a shining example when it comes to sustainability standards internationally, and will result in a highly liveable, pedestrian city.”

Mohamed Saad, the Acting DevCo President for DGDA, said the significance of Diriyah’s preliminary LEED accreditation cannot be overstated and has involved input from every portion of DGDA. "Thanks to this large collaborative effort, we are well on our way to demonstrating to the world that our development is comprehensively sustainable at every level,” he said.

Under the MoU, Samsung C&T will collaborate on the design, engineering and construction of Qiddiya’s sports complex. Samsung Electronics will become Qiddiya’s primary technology sponsor while building co-branding and naming rights for some of Qiddiya’s anchor facilities, and other Samsung IT and security affiliates, such as Samsung SDS, will participate in the project as systems providers.

QIDDIYA

“The signing of this milestone MoU between Qiddiya and Samsung C&T, an industry leader and global pioneer, demonstrates our commitment to achieving our dual goals of creating an unprecedented destination that enriches the lives of Saudi citizens while driving social and economic diversification within the Kingdom,” QIC CEO Michael Reininger said. Kim Wan-soo, Senior Vice President of Samsung C&T, said the deal will further cement its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.“We’re confident to leverage the full capabilities of both partners to deliver the most technologically advanced entertainment, sports and arts destination in the Kingdom.”

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A new and up-to-the-minute race track is being designed in Qiddiya to host Formula 1, but the MotoGP world Championship is also in the sights of the Qiddiya Investment Company, with CEO Mike Reininger explaining that the goal is to host a variety of major international motorsport events.

And Grade 1 is, as you know, synonymous with F1, so we're hopeful that that comes to pass for us. Our project in Qiddiya is on pace for a very large first phase offering, and that'll be ready at the beginning of 2023.”

At present, MotoGP has only one round in the Middle East, in Qatar. The Lusail track is the only one that hosts night races, with no nation before having hosted a race in the GCC. The interest in hosting the championship has grown in recent years, with several countries now interested.

TARGETS MAJOR MOTORSPORT EVENTS

“We're building the facilities so that we can ultimately host the biggest and the best motorsports events in all categories.

The Samsung Group will become part of the team working on Qiddiya following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Qiddiya Investment Co. (QIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

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“WE'RE BUILDING THE FACILITIES SO THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY HOST THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST MOTORSPORTS EVENTS IN ALL CATEGORIES” 

Meanwhile, the AlUla to Dammam route began operating on Thursday 23 June, with a Sunday service starting on Sunday 26 June. The second domestic route from AlUla to Riyadh will run every Sunday and from Riyadh to AlUla every Friday. In September, Flynas, as with Dubai, plans to double the number of weekly return flights between AlUla and Riyadh. ALULA NOW GETS DIRECT FROM RIYADH, DAMMAM AND DUBAI

ALULA TO HOST DISTINGUISHED FILM STUDIO

Talking to Screen at the Cannes Film Festival Film AlUla’s Film Commissioner, Stephen Strachan, explained: “We are keen to support local productions, but also attract more international productions to AlUla and building a studio (one of the first in Saudi Arabia) will help achieve this. We have already been granted permission to build the studio and are currently planning construction, with the aim of having the studio open by February 2023. We want filming to take place there all year round.” To support the studio infrastructure, a resort-style complex is also being built around 15 minutes away. The compound will have around 300 units mixed

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A major new film studio is being constructed in the Fadhla area of AlUla and will comprise two 24,000ft2 sound stages, catering, production offices, a backlot, and film clusters.

FLIGHTS

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, Flynas, has resumed direct services to AlUla from Riyadh and Dammam, as well as Dubai. The Dubai to AlUla service will operate every Friday and the AlUla to Dubai flight will be every Sunday. The airline said that it will double the number of weekly return flights between Dubai and AlUla in September.

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