Significant Progress Announced in Development of Saudi AMAALA Luxury Tourism Destination

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
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Significant Progress Announced in Development of Saudi AMAALA Luxury Tourism Destination

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations AMAALA and The Red Sea, said on Sunday it continues to make substantial progress in the ongoing development of AMAALA – a new luxury destination with wellness at its core, that empowers people to live longer, better lives.

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection—to nature, to self, and to community. From medical and integrative wellness and sun-drenched adventure to world-class art and transformative events, AMAALA seamlessly integrates meaningful spaces for people and the planet to flourish, said RSG in a statement.

“We have achieved remarkable progress across every aspect of AMAALA, from our signature resorts and immersive experiences to essential utilities and infrastructure. Our unwavering focus is on infusing sustainability and regenerative principles into every facet of development,” said RSG Group CEO John Pagano.

“Once complete, AMAALA will present an extraordinary collection of assets and experiences that will elevate wellness, lifestyle, and human connection," he added.

To date, RSG has awarded over 600 contracts on AMAALA worth nearly SAR23 billion ($6.13bn) to world-leading partners. These partners share RSG's ambition to co-create luxury and wellness destinations that are developed in line with responsible development practices, prioritizing regenerative initiatives and collaboration with local communities.

As development advances, a number of key areas of AMAALA are moving toward completion, each one bringing the destination closer to welcoming guests.

At Triple Bay Marina Village, the Equinox Resort is now topped out, and concrete structure work on the Village Boutique Hotel's main building, condos and villas is nearing completion. This bustling hub will soon offer guests a haven of scenic boardwalks, waterfront restaurants, luxurious boutiques and well-known retailers, plus a vibrant year-round events program, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Red Sea.

At the Marina: flooding of the marina basin was complete at the end of 2023, and contracts for the floating pontoons and fixed decks have been awarded as RSG begins putting the final touches on this stunning central feature.

At AMAALA Yacht Club, all construction contracts have been awarded, concrete works are close to completion, and structural steel and MEP works have been started.

At Wellness Core, superstructures are present on 80% of the 220 buildings within this zone. Including world-leading wellness resorts such as Jayasom and Clinique La Prairie, guests here will discover an environment where they can focus on mental, physical, and energetic regeneration.

In another significant development, the Ministry of Health, earlier this year, approved the design of the AMAALA Hospital. The hospital will provide healthcare services for residents and visitors to the 4,200 km2 destination.

Once complete, AMAALA will feature close to 4,000 hotel rooms across 30 hotels as well as 1,200 luxury villas, apartments, and estate homes. It will also be supported by high-end retail, fine dining, wellness, and recreational facilities. AMAALA will be powered entirely by solar energy, saving the equivalent of nearly half a million tons of CO2 emissions every year.



Saudi Arabia's Non-Oil Exports Hit Historic High of SAR515 Billion in 2024

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's Non-Oil Exports Hit Historic High of SAR515 Billion in 2024

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports reached an unprecedented SAR515 billion in 2024, marking the highest value in the Kingdom's history. This achievement represents a significant 13% increase compared to the previous year and an impressive growth of over 113% since the launch of Vision 2030.

The robust growth spanned all export sectors. Merchandise exports climbed to SAR217 billion (+4%), fueled by respective increases of 2% and 9% in petrochemical and non-petrochemical exports, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

Re-exports surged to SAR90 billion, demonstrating a remarkable 205% growth since the inception of Vision 2030. Services exports also reached an all-time high of SAR207 billion, exhibiting a 14% year-on-year increase and a substantial 220% rise since Vision 2030's announcement.

Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair attributed this historic non-oil export performance to the Kingdom's sustained efforts in economic diversification and enhancing the competitiveness of national products.

He highlighted the authority's commitment to facilitating national companies' access to new markets and bolstering their export capabilities through comprehensive programs encompassing training, empowerment, promotion, and advisory services. This aligns with Vision 2030's goals to establish a thriving economy where non-oil exports are a key driver of sustainable growth.

In 2024, petrochemical commodity exports amounted to SAR149 billion, constituting 68% of total commodity exports, and registered a 2% increase in value and weight compared to the previous year.

Non-petrochemical commodity exports achieved a remarkable SAR69 billion (32% of total commodity exports), the highest value in recent years. This included record export figures for over 205 Saudi products, such as food and dairy products, minerals, and building materials. Fertilizer exports also demonstrated exceptional growth, with product weight reaching a historic peak in 2024, increasing by 5% year-on-year, and more than fivefold in value since the launch of Vision 2030.

The Kingdom's re-export sector also delivered a historic performance in 2024, reaching SAR90 billion, a 205% increase compared to 2016, a 42% rise year-on-year, and a 114% increase compared to 2019. This was primarily driven by the re-export of mobile phones, which reached a record value of SAR25 billion, more than doubling their 2023 value. The operation of the integrated logistics zone at King Khalid International Airport played a significant role in this remarkable growth by enhancing supply chain efficiency and facilitating re-export operations.

Machinery, automated devices, transportation equipment, and parts thereof constituted 84% of total re-exports in 2024. Re-exports of aircraft parts also experienced substantial growth, increasing from SAR1.6 billion in 2022 to over SAR2 billion in 2024.

In 2024, the Kingdom exported goods, re-exports, and services to over 180 countries, with 37 countries registering record import values, including the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Algeria, Spain, France, Poland, Libya, and Syria. Other countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Pakistan, Nigeria, Germany, Greece, and Bulgaria, also achieved record import volumes.

Services exports reached a record SAR207 billion in 2024, marking a 14% year-on-year increase and a 220% rise since 2016. The travel and tourism sector was a key driver, increasing by 270% since 2016. In 2024, Saudi Arabia welcomed approximately 30 million international tourists, contributing to a 150% increase in travel exports compared to 2019, representing 74% of total service exports.

The Kingdom also recorded a 69% increase in international tourist numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels and a 148% increase in tourism revenues compared to 2019. Saudi Arabia led the G20 in tourist number growth, with a 73% growth rate during the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019. The transportation sector contributed 12% of total service exports, achieving a 5% year-on-year growth.