Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea and Amaala tourism projects, has set an ambitious goal to achieve a 30 percent net conservation gain by 2040. This target entails that the ecological condition and abundance of species within its managed areas show measurable improvement compared to baseline environmental data, despite the impacts of construction and ongoing operations.
Ahmed Al-Ansari, head of Red Sea Zone Environmental Protection and Regeneration, explained that the objective requires balancing environmental damage caused by development with enhanced conservation outcomes. RSG is responsible for monitoring and managing approximately 32,000 square kilometers across the two destinations and employs its SIIG framework—Survey, Identify, Intervene, and Gain—to drive conservation efforts, focusing particularly on 7,000 square kilometers of marine ecosystems. Baseline marine surveys began in 2020, with terrestrial assessments conducted from 2023 to 2025.
Experts emphasize that the success of such a target hinges not just on modeling or restoration activities but on tangible evidence from ecosystems themselves. Saleh Maghrabi, a marine environmental consultant and sustainability expert, noted that development and conservation could coexist, particularly in environments with coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, but only if environmental impacts are fully accounted for and monitored. He stressed that models are useful for setting goals and exploring scenarios but cannot substitute for direct ecological data showing improvement.
Measurable indicators for success, according to Maghrabi, include coral growth rates, reef health, mangrove survival and natural regeneration, as well as the extent and condition of seagrass meadows. Simple measures such as planting seedlings, he argued, are insufficient on their own to demonstrate ecological progress.
Maghrabi also called for consistent long-term monitoring, transparent methodologies, and independent scientific review. He advocated for periodic evaluation by external scientists or institutions not involved in the development process, with results made publicly available for scrutiny.
Al-Ansari acknowledged that ongoing monitoring would guide adaptive management strategies if conservation progress lags. Potential interventions might include strengthening habitat protections, modifying area management practices, adjusting operational procedures, or introducing other measures to mitigate specific environmental pressures.
Ultimately, RSG’s ability to meet its 2040 target will depend on credible, measurable ecological improvements that withstand scrutiny after factoring in the full environmental costs of tourism development in the Red Sea and Amaala regions.