The Red Sea Development Company and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed a major research agreement, and this renewable agreement comes after five years, following extensive cooperation between the two parties in which work has been done to develop assessments of plant and animal life in the region, and a marine cadastral planning process In addition to launching the “Innovate to Excellence” global competition, it also strengthens the legal framework for mutually beneficial research projects in several areas such as the sustainability of marine environments, building and construction waste management systems, food security, energy conservation, and carbon sequestration.

“There is a growing realization that tourism must be more sustainable and renewable, and the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast is among the purest ecosystems in the world, so our collaboration with KAUST helps go beyond just conservation,” said John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company. on the environment to enhance this unique ecological treasure for future generations.”

He pointed out that the first task that has already begun within the framework of the new research agreement is the continuous scientific monitoring to monitor environmental changes over time, as this helps the Red Sea Development Company to fulfill its commitment to achieve an increase in the value of biodiversity in the project area by 30% by year 2040.

For his part, Head of Environmental Sustainability at the Red Sea Development Company, Dr. Rusty Brainard, explained that achieving carbon neutrality and improving biodiversity in this pristine and unique site is a difficult task, but it is extremely important for the company, indicating the ability to meet the challenge in cooperation with a number of elite researchers. and academics from all over the world through King Abdullah University of Technology and Science.

He reported that 11 of the current employees in the Environment and Sustainability Department of the Red Sea Development Company have previous professional experiences at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, including seven employees who obtained a doctorate degree, and two who completed an associate's degree at the same university.

A joint working group between the Red Sea Development Company and King Abdullah University of Technology and Science is currently planning to establish a joint center for marine research and the protection of coral reefs at a project site, where this space will become a permanent base for marine research and monitoring, and will open its doors in the future for visitors to learn about the natural environment and wildlife in this area.

For his part, Vice President for Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Donal Bradley confirmed that the Red Sea Project forms an important part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the local economy and provide new and sustainable job opportunities for Saudi youth.

He pointed out that KAUST scientists and researchers contributed to the development of the general plan of the destination by conducting an extensive study of marine areal planning. It concluded that 75% of the destination islands were not developed, which is an unprecedented rate of environmental conservation at the level of coastal development projects around the world.