As a seasoned Projects Delivery Executive Director, Faisal Butt brings a wealth of strategic leadership and proven expertise in orchestrating successful project lifecycles across the ever-expanding Red Sea Global (RSG) portfolio.
Saudi Projects spoke to Faisal to discuss progress made in 2023, the challenges encountered, and what to look out for in 2024.
Saudi Projects: What were the key milestones or achievements in RSG projects over the past year?
Faisal Butt: 2023 was a landmark year for Red Sea Global, with its pioneering destination, The Red Sea, becoming the first of the Vision 2030 mega-projects to open its doors to paying guests.
We have shown that grand visions can become a reality and have put Saudi Arabia firmly on the global tourism map
The Six Senses Southern Dunes and St Regis Red Sea resorts are providing visitors with unrivaled luxury
Alongside the opening of these resorts were the first domestic flights from Red Sea International (RSI), which is well on track to be the Middle East’s first carbon-neutral airport and will soon accept international flights. Among the aircraft setting off from RSI is Fly Red Sea’s fleet of seaplanes (one of the multiple subsidiaries we launched last year), offering our guests seamless transportation to their resorts. The seaplanes run on sustainable aviation fuel in line with our commitment to protect the natural environment.
We also made strong progress toward our other goals. We unveiled Thuwal Private Retreat, a highly exclusive, ultra-personalized destination, which will open later in 2024, and continued to develop AMAALA, which is set to establish new standards in wellness and will welcome visitors in 2025. Overall, we have shown that grand visions can become a reality and have put Saudi Arabia firmly on the global tourism map.
For us at Red Sea, 2023 was not just a milestone, it is our mark as the leading regenerative developer in the world proving that we can do it differently, we can develop in harmony with the environment – and we are just getting started!
Saudi Projects: Please talk about the various subsidiaries RSG launched in 2023 and how this has fuelled the overall vision.
Faisal Butt: Red Sea Global has established several subsidiary brands to help deliver unparalleled guest experiences across its destinations. As well as boosting the Saudi tourism sector more broadly, these will continue to prioritize stringent sustainability standards, using environmentally friendly materials and equipment.
As well as Fly Red Sea, our subsidiaries include WAMA and Galaxea, which will deliver exclusive water sports and diving activities for guests across RSG’s destinations. Akun, meanwhile, will provide world-class adventure experiences across the destinations, including gravel, mountain, fat tire and electric biking, as well as trail running and hiking through a diverse array of landscapes.
The diversity of activities on offer is unparalleled, and something that numerous visitors have already commented on
The launch of these brands forms an important part of enabling us to deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests and will help to open their eyes to the extraordinary landscapes and activities the Kingdom has to offer.
Saudi Projects: RSG welcomed its first guests in 2023. How has that gone and what feedback have you received?
Faisal Butt: Inspired by the incredible landscapes of the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline, the visitor experience at The Red Sea is based on a spirit of discovery and luxury. The diversity of activities on offer is unparalleled, and something that numerous visitors have already commented on. Guests can hike through dormant volcanoes, explore archaeology and history trails, snorkel amongst the vibrant reefs, partake in a range of water sports activities, and experience the very best of Saudi culture and hospitality.
Visitor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, describing the RSG team as “building the new paradise”.
Saudi Projects: Can you discuss some of the most significant challenges you encountered in your development work and how you addressed them?
Faisal Butt: The Red Sea and AMAALA sit on a combined land mass of over 32,000 km2, which is the size of a small country, so developing destinations that not only deliver new standards in luxury but sustainability, too, was always going to be challenging.
Red Sea International Airport is a unique, sustainable gateway opening Saudi Arabia up to the world
A major part in overcoming this was our marine spatial planning simulation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to assess the impact of The Red Sea on the environment. This was the largest study of its kind ever conducted in Saudi Arabia and allowed us to inform our final master plan, which included designating nine islands as special conservation zones and limiting the number of guests to The Red Sea to one million a year. The study also enabled us to set a baseline for our target of delivering a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040. This intelligence-led approach has been crucial in helping us show that tourism developers can have a positive impact on the environment.
Additionally, given the landscapes we have been working with – sweeping deserts, an island archipelago, and mountainous terrains – we knew that accessibility would be a challenge. To overcome this, we insisted that every contractor ensure that guest experiences take a universally inclusive approach. This commitment includes using new technologies – such as smart mobility and logistics – to radically enhance luxury tourism and responsibly develop our destinations in line with our commitments to the sensitive ecology we operate in.
Saudi Projects: Tell us about RSG’s ‘Coral Commitment’ and how that progressed in 2023.
Faisal Butt: The Red Sea coastline is home to some of the world’s most productive and diverse coral reefs. Our Coral Commitment is our promise to protect and regenerate these vital marine ecosystems in Saudi Arabia and beyond, demonstrating that tourism developers can deliver a positive impact on the planet and setting new standards in responsible development.
We have already achieved a great deal. As part of our Coral Gardening Project, our scientists have monitored 300 reef sites and have achieved a 97% success rate in establishing offshore floating nurseries to sustain and grow a small number of rescued corals. The next phase of activity will involve delivering a million-dollar coral breeding lab, which will allow our team to produce juvenile coral at multiple points throughout the year. Compared with corals in the wild, which only breed over a few days each year, this could mean an exponential increase in the number of corals grown for reef enhancement.
We are also deploying advanced technology, including robots and machine learning, to monitor coral cover. These innovations can capture 3D images, which are stitched together into a digital twin, allowing scientists to quickly identify and respond to any potential negative events such as coral bleaching and the arrival of invasive species. Soon, it will begin testing 3-D printed materials to create artificial substrates for transplanting large coral colonies. This will enable RSG to build small, highly functional, high-value reefs to support abundant marine life.
We are also working to embed marine conservation within the visitor experience. Our marine life institute at AMAALA, Corallium, will not only contain world-class research facilities, but will provide a platform for educating guests, so that they leave with a better understanding of the challenges facing our oceans and, hopefully, a desire to act themselves. We are also exploring hands-on opportunities for guests to directly contribute to our coral conservation efforts.
Saudi Projects: How did the opening of the airport go and how has it evolved over the first few months?
Faisal Butt: The opening of The Red Sea International Airport has gone very smoothly. It is accepting a regular schedule of domestic flights, with three a week from Riyadh and two from Jeddah, and will soon welcome international services to its iconic terminal, designed by Foster + Partners.
The airport boasts several unique features. As well as being powered by 100% renewable energy, the terminal is divided into five ‘pods’, which can be operated independently or concurrently depending on demand. This reduces the overall energy demand of the building when compared with a standard centralized terminal approach. We are also collaborating with our partners, SAUDIA, and the operator, daai international, on exploring the use of Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at The Red Sea International Airport.
Situated within three hours’ flying time of 250 million people, and eight hours’ flying time for 8% of the world’s population, Red Sea International Airport is a unique, sustainable gateway opening Saudi Arabia up to the world. We are proud of what has been achieved so far and are looking forward to welcoming international visitors very soon.
Lastly, we are planning for our first direct international flight very soon which will further boost our destination airlift within the Middle East.
At The Red Sea, we will soon open Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve – one of only six globally
Saudi Projects: Did you explore or adopt any new technologies in the past year? How did they impact your projects?
Faisal Butt: Technology is a constant focus for us at Red Sea Global and we have adopted several innovations over the last year.
To help us deliver on our ambitions to protect and enhance underwater environments, we partnered with VAARST, a leader in marine robotics, which is enabling our researchers to create high-resolution, 3D digital representations of Al Wajh Lagoon’s coral reefs and vital habitats.
Additionally, we have partnered with Zain KSA, a leading telecom and digital services provider in Saudi Arabia, to create the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network at the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort at The Red Sea. This will offer guests the highest 5G connectivity speeds in the region and will be powered by 100% renewable energy from the five solar farms we have built for the destination.
We also recently signed an agreement with Hyundai Motor Group to pioneer innovative mobility solutions across our destinations. These include battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and will eventually encompass autonomous vehicles, advanced air mobility, and maritime vessels.
Saudi Projects: Explain the energy initiatives that advanced or came to fruition in 2023, such as the photovoltaic panels across five solar farms.
Faisal Butt: We have always been clear that our destinations will be powered by 24/7, 100% renewable energy. At The Red Sea, we have made this ambition a reality by installing five solar farms to support Phase One of the destination. These consist of 760,000 photovoltaic panels, supported by the world’s largest off-grid battery storage facility to conserve energy.
We have also committed to a smart mobility strategy, using electric and hybrid vehicles, boats, aircraft and the first carbon-neutral electric buses ever introduced to Saudi Arabia. By bringing together solar panels and stations, utility infrastructure, and a smart transport network, we are poised to fulfil our vision of destinations entirely powered by clean and renewable energy.
Saudi Projects: Can you share a success story or a particularly rewarding moment from your work in the past year?
Faisal Butt: There are so many success stories to choose from, but the moment we opened the doors of The Red Sea must be the most rewarding.
The look of joy and wonder on people’s faces as they explore the stunning Six Senses Southern Dunes and St Regis Red Sea resorts has been a sight to behold, and to welcome guests from around the world who comment so positively about their experience has been hugely energizing for everyone involved.
Of course, we know that there is more work to do, but already we feel we are transforming people’s perceptions of Saudi Arabia – right now!
Saudi Projects: What are RSG’s major goals in 2024?
Faisal Butt: We have several important openings this year, which will form a central focus.
At The Red Sea, we will soon open Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve – one of only six globally – which will feature 63 villas fit with panoramic windows, open living space, a sea-view pool, as well as a telescope to discover Saudi Arabia’s enchanting star-filled sky. Located on Ummahat Islands, guests can also experience diving and snorkeling adventures in one of the world’s most untouched destinations.
Other resorts opening this year include Shebara, featuring a 30 to 40-meter reef drop-off near the beach, providing the ultimate spot for exploring ocean life, and Desert Rock, a unique and hyper-luxury resort integrated into the mountainside. Elsewhere, we will also open Thuwal Private Retreat, a buy-out-only destination offering a peerless escape to a magical island and the highest levels of personalization and luxury.
Ensuring we are ready to open AMAALA in 2025 will be another major focus. From integrative wellness to sea and sun-soaked adventure, world-class art, and intimate, awe-inspiring events, AMAALA will offer the opportunity to connect deeply with nature, ourselves, and our greater community. We are excited to welcome visitors to this global wellness destination of choice.
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