Red Sea
The body of water forming Saudi Arabia's western coastline, central to the Kingdom's tourism, logistics, and marine resource ambitions under Vision 2030.
Definition
The Red Sea is the body of saltwater lying between the Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa, with Saudi Arabia’s western coastline stretching approximately 1,800 kilometres along its eastern shore — a coastline now central to the Kingdom’s tourism, logistics, and marine economy ambitions.
Overview
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline extends from the Gulf of Aqaba in the north (where NEOM is located) to the Farasan Islands in the south. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments, with over 300 species of coral, 1,200 species of fish, and extensive seagrass meadows. Its warm, clear waters and largely untouched reefs make it a globally significant destination for diving and marine tourism.
Until Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline was largely undeveloped for tourism, with most international visitors choosing established Red Sea destinations in Egypt. The Kingdom is now investing hundreds of billions of dollars in developing this coastline through mega-projects including Red Sea Global (The Red Sea and AMAALA destinations), NEOM (including Sindalah island resort), and the Jeddah waterfront.
The Red Sea also has major strategic and economic significance as one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. Approximately 12-15 percent of global trade passes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal corridor, and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports (Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu) are critical nodes in international trade networks.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Saudi Coastline | ~1,800 km |
| Key Projects | Red Sea Global, AMAALA, NEOM, Sindalah |
| Marine Biodiversity | 300+ coral species, 1,200+ fish species |
| Trade | 12-15% of global trade transits Red Sea/Suez |
| Key Ports | Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu |
| Islands | Farasan Islands, NEOM archipelago, Red Sea islands |
Role in Vision 2030
The Red Sea coastline is one of Vision 2030’s most valuable natural assets for tourism development. The combination of pristine marine environments, uninhabited islands, dramatic desert coastline, and proximity to European and Asian source markets creates the potential for a world-class tourism corridor. Red Sea tourism projects represent hundreds of billions of riyals in investment and will collectively create tens of thousands of hospitality and tourism jobs.
The Red Sea’s strategic shipping position also supports Vision 2030’s logistics ambitions, as the Kingdom seeks to leverage its geographic position to become a global logistics and trade hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.