Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has unveiled on Wednesday the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy.
This initiative aims to protect the Red Sea, empower local communities, and transition to a blue economy, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and the recently announced national priorities for research, development, and innovation (RDI), particularly in the areas of sustainable environment and essential needs.
Speaking on the occasion, the Crown Prince emphasized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to unlock its vast economic, geographical, and cultural potential while championing sustainability and environmental conservation.
He described the strategy as pivotal in establishing the blue economy as a core component of the Kingdom’s diversified economy.
“The Kingdom aspires for the Red Sea region to become a global reference for leading blue economy activities and reaffirms its commitment to a sustainable future for the Red Sea,” he said, calling for collective efforts to safeguard the Red Sea coast and the communities that rely on it.
The Red Sea, covering 186,000 square kilometers with a coastline stretching 1,800 kilometers, is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. It is home to the fourth-largest barrier reef system, 6.2% of global coral reefs, and hundreds of islands.
The strategy outlines a comprehensive framework to preserve and regenerate these natural treasures while ensuring their enjoyment and sustainability for future generations. It also demonstrates how protecting the environment can unlock the economic potential of the region and initiate the transition to a blue economy.
This transition will create investment opportunities in various marine sectors such as ecotourism, fisheries, renewable energy, water desalination, shipping, and industry.
A key component of the strategy is its ambitious vision for 2030. It aims to expand marine and coastal protected areas from 3% to 30%, increase the contribution of renewable energy to 50% of the energy mix, and create thousands of new jobs linked to blue economy activities.
Furthermore, it seeks to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s substantial investments in coastal tourism, which are expected to make significant contributions to the national GDP.
The strategy is built around five main objectives: Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, Social Development, Safety and Security, and Governance and Collaboration. Within this framework, 48 targeted initiatives have been developed to support the Kingdom’s aspirations for the blue economy.
