“Hidden” treasures in Saudi Arabia in the fourth largest coral reef...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Saudi Arabia may not be one of the first destinations that comes to your mind when it comes to diving, but this will change with the “Red Sea” project that is developing the fourth largest reef in the world.

Despite the marine biodiversity in the Red Sea, “but it is still one of the most unexplored and unexplored areas in the world,” according to Ahmed Darwish, chief administrator of the Red Sea Company.

Intangible environments

The “Red Sea” project is among the most ambitious tourism projects in the world, according to the official website of the Saudi Press Agency “SPA”.

The first phase of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022, includes luxury hotels that will be built on five islands, in addition to two resorts in the mountains and desert region, and yachting berths, recreational facilities, and an airport will be established for the destination, according to the “SPA”.

The project is located on a 200 km coastline in the Red Sea.

When the project opens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visitors will be able to enjoy diving in the fourth largest reef in the world, and explore the abundant coral reefs in it.

“There are many types of huge, pristine coral reefs,” Darwish said. “And we’re incredibly lucky that our coral reef ecosystems are apparently more resistant to rising seas than most other systems.”

The Red Sea is home to many endangered and protected species, including hawksbill turtles and bottom-nosed dolphins.

It incubates about 1,200 species of fish in its coastal waters, with 165 species specific to the region.

The importance of sustainability

Darwish emphasized that sustainability is one of the main pillars of the “Red Sea” project, saying, “We have been assigned to develop one of the most beautiful and most important natural treasures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With this confidence comes the responsibility to protect it for future generations.”

Therefore, the project will use the latest technology and sustainable infrastructure to give visitors the opportunity to explore the unique and thriving coral reefs in the region.

With the aim of contributing to the protection of the area, the project will develop policies that will prevent damage to marine habitats, by relying on electric diving boats, and setting speed limits in the water to protect marine mammals, for example.

“With these measures, we believe that we are creating a new relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment,” Darwish said.

Once this destination is completed in 2030, Darwish confirmed that they intend to set a maximum number of visitors, to reach one million visitors annually, in order to ensure that the natural environment is not overexploited.