Publisher: Maaal International Media Company
License: 465734
Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee (SOPC), represented by its commercial and team brand, Team Saudi.
Team Saudi is the official identity under which the Kingdom’s athletes compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, and other multi-sport games. It symbolizes national pride, unity, and the values of perseverance and excellence. As a unifying platform, Team Saudi represents the spirit and ambition of Saudi athletes as they compete on regional and global stages while engaging the public in celebrating a shared sporting identity.
The signing ceremony was held at Red Sea Global’s headquarters in Riyadh in the presence of RSG’s Group Chief Development Officer Nick King and SOPC’s Chief Shared Services and Solutions Officer Bakr Darwish. The arrangement outlines a shared commitment to welcoming Saudi Paralympic athletes to RSG’s destinations, using their participation and feedback to help shape the future of sporting and entertainment experiences that cater to all communities, regardless of ability or background. The partnership also reflects both organizations’ commitment to promoting a more inclusive society, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
“This agreement supports our aim to develop truly inclusive, world-class destinations that excite and delight all who visit. By engaging with Saudi athletes and learning from their feedback and insights, we will continue to improve our destinations, ensuring that they are enjoyable and accessible for everyone, including Saudi nationals, residents, and international visitors,” said Nick King, Chief Development Officer at RSG.
Under the MoU, RSG and SOPC will also explore ways to showcase the experiences available at Red Sea Global’s destinations for active people across the Kingdom, whether they are elite athletes or amateurs, able-bodied or less able, joint campaigns during important calendar events, such as the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, to reinforce the mutual commitment to universal inclusion and promote an active lifestyle for all Saudi nationals, residents, and visitors, regardless of their disability, and further opportunities to enhance the partnership, particularly through the ‘Team Saudi’ mobile app, in order to foster long-term community engagement.
“This partnership with Red Sea Global not only reinforces our national vision for inclusion but also celebrates the spirit of unity and ambition that defines Team Saudi,” said Bakr Darwish, Chief Shared Services & Solutions Officer at SOPC. “Together with Red Sea Global, we aim to ensure that every individual, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, can enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
Red Sea Sports & Entertainment (RSSE), a subsidiary of RSG and operator of The Red Sea destination’s land and marine experiences, will play a central role in delivering the partnership. Through its dedicated sporting and activity brands, WAMA, Akun, and Galaxea, RSSE offers a variety of experiences designed to deliver unforgettable guest experiences.
The MoU will remain in place for an initial three years, and both parties are committed to developing a phased plan to build on this momentum.
It builds on Red Sea Global’s broader commitment to accessibility, following its 2023 Pledge to ensure its destinations and experiences are inclusive for guests with disabilities, specific needs, and access requirements.
The Red Sea welcomed its first guests in 2023. It now has five hotels open. Red Sea International Airport (RSI) is within three hours’ flying time of 250 million people and eight hours’ flying time for 85% of the world’s population. Once complete, The Red Sea destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential units across 22 islands and six inland sites. It will also feature luxury marinas, golf courses, diverse dining options, and entertainment facilities.
AMAALA is set to welcome its first guests later this year with more than 1,400 hotel rooms across eight luxury resorts. When complete, it will be home to around 4,000 hotel rooms across 30 hotels, and more than 1,200 luxury residential villas, apartments, and branded residences alongside high-end retail establishments, fine dining, wellness, and recreational facilities.