John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea International, revealed the company’s plans to open five resorts in the Amaala project this April, in addition to five more resorts in the Red Sea project in the coming months.
According to Al Arabiya, Pagano added in an interview on the sidelines of the Priority Future Investment Initiative Summit in Miami that the Red Sea project is located 500 kilometers north of Jeddah. An international airport serving the project currently operates 16 flights per week, including daily flights from Riyadh and three weekly flights from Jeddah. It also receives flights from Qatar and Dubai, as well as flights from Milan, the airport’s first European destination. This expansion is expected to continue with the opening of the remaining resorts.
He stated that the Red Sea project comprises 16 resorts, 11 of which have already opened, while the remaining five will open in the coming months.
He also mentioned the Amaala project, located 150 kilometers further north, which will see the opening of five resorts next month and three more before the end of the year. This brings the total number of resorts to 27, with a significant component of residential units, particularly second homes. There are future plans to expand this residential offering, allowing individuals to stay for longer periods or own homes they can return to multiple times a year, given the destination’s accessibility.
He stated that the region boasts a pristine natural environment, and the Red Sea coast, with its turquoise waters and stunning white-sand beaches, closely resembles the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions. The climate is also exceptionally mild, with no hurricanes, meaning there’s no need to leave the area during the summer, unlike in South Florida or the Caribbean.
He emphasized that the project aligns with efforts to diversify the economy. Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors globally, and its representation in Saudi Arabia has historically been limited, not exceeding 3% of GDP before Vision 2030. Most of this was religious tourism, compared to a global average of approximately 10%, indicating significant growth potential.
Pagano said, “We are building the kind of hotels that tourists are looking for.”
He noted that, according to statistics, Saudi Arabia received approximately 122 million visitors last year, 30 million of whom were international. About half of these international visitors came from outside the Gulf and Middle East, from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. It is noteworthy that the number of visitors coming for leisure and tourism has tripled, a trend likely to continue as tourists seek new and diverse destinations.
He emphasized that the development of these projects is being carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, as they are powered entirely by 100% renewable energy, in line with the global trend toward sustainable tourism. The Red Sea Project and Amaala are prime examples of this approach. More
