A Desert in Bloom

People often wonder how we claim to be enhancing the environment while building some 80 hotels and associated infrastructure at our pioneering tourism destinations on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Indeed, we’re targeting a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040 – meaning we expect to enhance the terrestrial and marine areas we’re developing by 30% over the next 20 years.

One way that we’re doing this is by setting up the region’s largest landscape nursery, at 100 hectares, or 1 million square meters.

We’re growing plants, shrubs, trees, and more – and lots of them. We’ve already grown more than 4 million plants from a target of 30 million by 2030.

We’ve also commissioned our tropical grow house to boost aquatic plant and tropical palm production, reinforcing our commitment to long-term responsible development. We have 1,200 plant species from all over the world.

All these plants will be used throughout our regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and AMAALA. Half a million have already been distributed to the first three resorts to open at The Red Sea.

Another part of our regeneration commitment is to uplift the local economy. At the nursery, we employ local Saudis to manage and operate it.

“When I started my studies in agriculture, my father said, ‘But you will be a gardener, become an engineer.’ I said, ‘No, I will do agricultural engineering because when I see green, I feel happy,’” says Muteb AlOsaimi, Senior Manager of Nursery Administration.

“When I first arrived here, I didn’t have that much experience,” he continues. “I came here to just learn and develop my career because I would really love to be a leader in the future.”

One such leader and mentor of Muteb is Grant Shaw, Senior Nursery Director. “He empowers his employees so they can improve and develop themselves to be a leader or expert in this industry,” says Muteb.

Working in Muteb’s team is Hajer Yeslam, Assistant Manager of Nursery Administration, and the first Saudi woman to join the department.

“Saudi Arabia is empowering women to join each and every field,” says Hajer. “It’s great to be part of it. It feels amazing!”

“To have women in this industry, that’s a great opportunity," adds Muteb. “That will help us to build this industry in the future.”