Saudi Crown Prince Launches Red Sea Sustainability Strategy

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Riyadh – Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman launched the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy, a major initiative aimed at protecting the Red Sea’s ecosystem, empowering local communities, and facilitating the transition to a blue economy in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. The strategy is also a key part of the nation’s new national priorities for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI), focusing on sustainable environmental practices and ensuring the supply of essential needs. In his statement, HRH the Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to environmental sustainability and its vision for the Red Sea to become a global leader in blue economy activities. He said, “Through this strategy, the Kingdom positions the blue economy as a fundamental pillar of its diversified economy.”

The Red Sea region, with its rich biodiversity and sprawling coastline, is a crucial area for Saudi Arabia. Stretching across 186,000 square kilometers and home to the world's fourth-largest barrier reef system, it is vital to the Kingdom’s environmental conservation efforts.The strategy outlines comprehensive initiatives for preserving the region’s natural resources, ensuring their regeneration for future generations. By fostering a blue economy, it aims to unlock new economic opportunities, particularly in marine sectors like ecotourism, fisheries, renewable energy, desalination, and shipping.

Key goals of the strategy include increasing marine and coastal protected areas from 3% to 30% by 2030, boosting the share of renewable energy in the Kingdom’s energy mix to 50%, and generating thousands of new jobs tied to the blue economy. It also seeks to safeguard investments in coastal tourism projects, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.The strategy is built around five strategic pillars: Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, Social Development, Safety and Security, and Governance and Collaboration. With 48 initiatives, the framework aims to establish a sustainable future for the Red Sea while driving economic growth. This plan underscores Saudi Arabia’s central role in addressing global environmental challenges while balancing economic and ecological priorities.